 |
The Pitcairn Island Government
[History
of Government & Laws]
Pitcairn Island, claimed by the United
Kingdom as one of its "Overseas Territories," was previous to 2002 claimed
as a "Dependant Territory" of the United Kingdom. It is governed from
the United Kingdom by an appointed Governor whose offices are in Wellington, New
Zealand. A Commissioner for the island who handles most on-going, practical matters
for Pitcairn is located in Auckland, New Zealand.
On Pitcairn Island there
is the Island Council which meets with the island’s Mayor in charge. Under
ideal circumstances the Council is in complete charge of governing the island
locally. In the last two years, though, there has arisen some tension between
the Island Council, representing the Pitcairn people, and the Governor as failures
have occurred in seeking the Council’s views on matters that importantly
affect Pitcairn’s present and future.
According to the government-published Guide to Pitcairn, “The
Council has authority to enact laws of the nature of by-laws which must be notified
to the Governor, in whom resides the power of revocation and alteration. In practice,
it is rarely that the Council exercises its legislative functions without consulting
the Governor before hand and, when it does, alteration is usually confined to
textual amendment to make the meaning and intention of the rules legally exact.”
In
point of fact, Pitcairn’s Governor has in 2003 issued a flurry of ordinances,
regulations, orders, and rules, some of which have been put into effect without
counsel with the Pitcairn Island Council. This governance without full consultation
has resulted in an exacerbation of tension, the Pitcairn people feeling that their
culture and remote island conditions need to be carefully factored into any law
or regulation that affects them.
The requirements for voting on Pitcairn
Island are three years’ residence and eighteen years of age. Candidates for
office must have minimum periods of residence on the island. The electoral role
is prepared by the Island Secretary in November of each year. Elections are held
annually some time during the first two weeks in December.
Pitcairn Island
is held by the United Kingdom to have come under the jurisdiction of the British
High Commission for the Western Pacific in 1898, and in 1952 the Pitcairn Island
Order in Council transferred the responsibility for administration to the person
of the Governor of Fiji, following separation of the offices of Governor and High
Commissioner. When Fiji gained independence in 1971 the administration was transferred
to Auckland within the jurisdiction of the British High Commissioner to New Zealand
who conjointly holds office as Governor of Pitcairn.
On March 4, 2010, a new Constitution for Pitcairn Island came into effect. Then Pitcairn Governor George Fergusson proclaimed the new system of fundamental principles during a visit to Pitcairn Island. According to the Governor, the new Constitution “is better suited to modern-day life and international obligations than its predecessor, the Pitcairn Order 1970.”
The new Constitution, among other provisions, provides an Ombudsman for the Pitcairn people, creates the role and assures the independence of an Attorney General, and includes an obligation for the Island Council to be consulted on all draft legislation. The Constitution came after human rights training had earlier been given the Pitcairn people by the new Commonwealth Foundation to help inform the islanders’ discussions about incorporating rights and freedoms into the Constitution. A steering group of Pitcairners led video-conference discussions with the Governor’s office in Wellington and officials in London.
---Herbert Ford, Pitcairn
Islands Study Center
British High Commissioners for the Western Pacific
(Locally represented by the British Consuls in Tahiti who occasionally visited
Pitcairn Island.)
1894-1908 |
Robert Teesdale Simons |
1908-1909 |
Alphonse J. Du Temple, Vice Consul |
1909-1911 |
Arthur Langford Shotto Rowley |
1912-1920 |
H. A. Richards |
The
British-appointed Governors of Pitcairn Island since 1970 have included:
1970 - 1973 |
Sir Arthur Norman Galsworthy, Governor. |
Jan 1973 – 1975 |
David Aubrey Scott, Governor. |
Feb 1976 – 1980 |
Harold Smedley, Governor. |
Sep 1980 – 1984 |
Richard Stratton, Governor. |
Jul 1984 – 1987 |
Terence Daniel O’Leary, Governor. |
Dec 1987 – 1990 |
Robin Byatt, Governor. |
Sep 1990 - 1994 |
David Moss, Governor. |
Aug 1994 – 10 Feb 1998 |
Robert John Alston, Governor. |
Apr 1998 – 2001 |
Martin Williams. Governor. |
10 Dec 2001 – Apr 2006 |
Richard Fell. Governor. |
2 May 2006 – 18 May 2010 |
George Raukawa Fergusson, Governor. |
19 May 2010 – 3 June 2010 |
Mike Cherrett (Act. Governor). |
3 June 2010 – Jul 2014 |
Victoria “Vicki” Marguerite Treadwell, Governor. |
15 Aug 2014 – 9 Dec 2017 |
Jonathan Sinclair, Governor. |
9 Dec 2017 – Jan 2018 |
Robin Shackell (Act. Governor). |
Jan 2018 – Present |
Laura Clarke, Governor. |
Island Officers
Leaders |
1790-1793 |
Fletcher Christian |
|
1793-1800 |
Edward Young |
|
1800-1829 |
John Adams |
|
|
President |
1832-1838 |
Joshua Hill |
|
|
|
|
Magistrates |
1838
- 1839 |
Edward Quintal |
1840
- 1841 |
Arthur Quintal I |
1842 |
Fletcher Christian II |
1843 |
Matthew
McCoy |
1844 |
Thursday October
Christian II |
1845 - 1846 |
Arthur
Quintal II |
1847 |
Charles Christian
III |
1848 |
George Adams |
1849 |
Simon
Young |
1850 |
Arthur Quintal
II |
1851 |
Thursday October Christian
II |
1852 |
Abraham Blatchly Quintal |
1853 |
Matthew
McCoy |
1854 |
Arthur Quintal
II |
1855 - 1857 |
George Martin
Frederick Young (On Pitcairn & Norfolk) |
1858 |
Isaac
Christian (Norfolk Island) |
1859 |
George
Martin Frederick Young (Norfolk Island) |
1860 - 1861 |
Thomas
Buffett (Norfolk Island) |
1862 - 1863 |
Arthur
Quintal II (Norfolk Island) |
1864 |
Thursday October Christian II (Pitcairn Island) |
1865
- 1866 |
Moses Young |
1867 |
Thursday
October Christian II |
1868 |
Robert
Pitcairn Buffett |
1869 |
Moses
Young |
1870-1872 |
James
Russell McCoy |
1873-1874 |
Thursday
October Christian II |
1875 |
Moses Young |
1876-1877 |
Thursday October
Christian II |
1878-1879 |
James Russell
McCoy |
1880 |
Thursday October Christian
II |
1881 |
Moses Young |
1882 |
Thursday October Christian II |
1883 |
James Russell McCoy |
1884-1885 |
Benjamin Stanley Young |
1886-1889 |
James Russell McCoy |
1890-1891 |
Charles Carleton Vieder Young |
1892 |
Benjamin Stanley Young |
Presidents of the Council |
1893-1896 |
James Russell McCoy |
1897 |
William
Alfred Young |
1898-1904 |
James Russell
McCoy |
1904 |
William Alfred
Young |
Magistrates |
1904-1906 |
James Russell McCoy |
1907 |
Arthur Herbert Young |
1908 |
William Alfred Young |
1909 |
Matthew Edmund McCoy |
1910-1919 |
Gerard Bromley Robert Christian |
1920 |
Charles R. Parkin
Christian |
1921 |
Fred Christian |
1922 |
Charles R. Parkin
Christian |
1923-1924 |
Edgar
Allen Christian |
1925 |
Charles
R. Parkin Christian |
1926-1929 |
Edgar Allen Christian |
1930-1931 |
Arthur Herbert Young |
1932 |
Edgar Allen Christian |
1933-1934 |
Charles R. Parkin Christian |
1935-1939 |
Edgar Allen Christian |
1940 |
Andrew Clarence David Young |
1941 |
Frederick Martin Christian |
1942 |
Charles R. Parkin Christian |
1943 |
Frederick Martin Christian |
1944 |
Charles R. Parkin Christian |
1945-1948 |
Norris Henry Young |
1956-1957 |
Parkin
Christian |
1958-1959 |
Warren
Christian |
1960-1966 |
John
Christian |
| |
|
Island Magistrate |
1967-1969 |
Pervis
Young |
The Island Officers of Pitcairn Island since
1970 have been:
Years |
Magistrate |
Chair
of Internal Comm. |
Councilors |
1970 |
Pervis
Ferris Young |
Len Brown |
Christie
Warren, Henry Young |
1971 |
Pervis
Ferris Young |
Cairn Christian |
Christie
Warren, Gifford Christian |
1972 |
Pervis
Ferris Young |
Cairn Christian |
Gifford
Christian, Ivan Christian |
1973 |
Pervis
Ferris Young |
Henry Young |
Gifford
Christian, Iaan Christian, Oscar Clark |
1974 |
Pervis
Ferris Young |
Ivan Christian |
Thelma
Brown, Carol Christian |
1975 |
Pervis
Ferris Young |
Ivan Christian |
Thelma
Brown, Carol Christian |
1976 |
Ivan
Christian |
Brian Young |
Thelma
Brown, Steve Christian, Oscar Clark, Floss Young |
1977 |
Ivan
Christian |
Brian Young |
Thelma
Brown, Floss Young |
1978 |
Ivan
Christian |
Brian Young |
Thelma
Brown, Carol Christian |
1979 |
Ivan
Christian |
Charles Christian |
Thelma
Brown, Dobrey Christian |
1980 |
Ivan
Christian |
Charles Christian |
Thelma
Brown, Dobrey Christian |
1981 |
Ivan
Christian |
Charles Christian |
Thelma
Brown, Lloyd Christian, Warren Christian, Carol Warren |
1982 |
Ivan
Christian |
Charles Christian |
Thelma
Brown, Steve Christian, Jay Warren, Vula Young |
1983 |
Ivan
Christian |
Charles Christian |
Thelma
Brown, Vula Young |
1984 |
Brian
Young |
Charles Christian |
Thelma
Brown, Vula Young |
1985 |
Brian
Young |
Jay Warren & Steve Christian |
Thelma
Brown, Meralda Warren |
1986 |
Brian
Young |
Jay Warren |
Carol Warren
& Meralda Warren |
1987 |
Brian
Young |
Jay Warren |
Thelma
Brown & Carol Warren |
1988 |
Brian
Young |
Jay Warren |
Carol Warren
& Vula Young |
1989 |
Brian
Young |
Jay Warren |
Carol Warren
& Meralda Warren |
1990 |
Brian
Young |
Jay Warren |
Nola Warren
& Betty Christian |
1991 |
Jay
Warren |
Steve Christian |
Carol
Warren, Meralda Warren, Kari Young, Dave Brown |
1992 |
Jay
Warren |
Steve Christian |
Clarice
Brown, David Brown, Meralda Warren, Kari Young |
1993 |
Jay
Warren |
Dave Brown |
Brian
Young, Meralda Warren, Carol Warren, Betty Christian |
1994 |
Jay
Warren |
Steve Christian |
Clarice
Brown, Dave Brown, Trent Christian, Pawl Warren |
1995 |
Jay
Warren |
Steve Christian |
Clarice
Brown, Dave Brown, Pawl Warren, Carol Warren |
1996 |
Jay
Warren |
Randall Christian |
Clarice
Brown, Lea Brown, Pawl Warren, Charles Christian |
1997 |
Jay
Warren |
Randall Christian |
Thomas
Christian, Clarice Brown, Lea Brown, Michael Warren |
1998 |
Jay
Warren |
Steve Christian |
Meralda
Warren, Lea Brown, Pawl Warren, Carol Warren |
1999 |
Jay
Warren |
Steve Christian |
Lea
Brown, Michael Warren, Thomas Christian, Dave Brown |
Pitcairn Island Council
Years |
Magistrate |
Chair
of Internal Comm. |
Councilors |
2000 |
Steve
Christian |
Jay Warren |
Brenda
Christian, Michael Warren, Thomas Christian, Meralda Warren |
2001 |
Steve
Christian |
Dave Brown |
Tom
Christian, Meralda Warren, Brenda Christian, Nola Warren |
2002 |
Steve
Christian |
Jay Warren |
Tom
Christian, Lea Brown, Nola Warren, Brenda Christian |
2003 |
Steve
Christian |
Randy Christian |
Tom
Christian, Meralda Warren, Lea Brown, Carol Warren |
2004 |
Steve
Christian |
Randy Christian |
Lea
Brown, Brenda Christian, Thomas Christian, Carol Warren |
2005 |
Jay Warren |
Mike Warren |
Meralda
Warren, Olive Christian, Carol Warren, Lea Brown |
2006 |
Jay Warren |
Mike Warren |
Meralda
Warren, Olive Christian, Carol Warren, Lea Brown |
2007 |
Jay Warren |
Mike Warren |
Meralda
Warren, Olive Christian, Carol Warren, Lea Brown |
2008 |
Mike Warren |
Dave Brown |
Turi Griffiths, Brenda Christian, Lea Brown, Kari Young |
2009 |
Mike Warren |
Jay Warren |
Turi Griffiths, Brenda Christian, Dave Brown, Jaqui Christian |
Years |
Mayor |
Deputy Mayor |
Councilors |
2010 |
Mike Warren |
Simon Young |
Dave Brown, Lea Brown, Brenda Lupton-Christian,Jay Warren |
2011 |
Mike Warren |
Simon Young |
Dave Brown, Lea Brown, Brenda Lupton-Christian,Jay Warrenn |
2012 |
Mike Warren |
Simon Young |
Brenda Lupton-Christian, Jacqui Christian, Michelle Christian,Jay Warren, Kerry Young |
2013 |
Shawn Christian |
Brenda Christian |
Charlene Warren, Darralyn Griffiths, David Brown Michele Christian, Leslie Jaques |
2014 |
Shawn Christian |
Brenda Lupton-Christian |
David Brown, Michele Christian,
Darralyn Griffiths, Leslie Jaques,
Charlene Warren-Peu |
2015 |
Shawn Christian |
Brenda Lupton-Christian |
David Brown, Melva Evans,
Leslie Jaques, Sue O’Keefe,
Charlene Warren-Peu |
2016 |
Shawn Christian |
Charlene Warren-Peu |
Lea Brown, Brenda Lupton-Christian, Michele Christian,
Darralyn Griffiths, Leslie Jaques |
2017 |
Shawn Christian |
Charlene Warren-Peu |
Brenda Christian, Michele Christian, Leslie Jaques, Darrlyn Griffiths, Lea Brown |
Postmasters
of Pitcairn Island have included:
- Roy Clark
- Oscar Clark
- Reynold
Warren
- Dennis Christian
- Brian Young
- Mavis Warren
- Dennis
Christian (since 1988).
Police Officers of Pitcairn Island have
included:
- Floyd McCoy
- Vernon Young
- Kay brown
(1984)
- Ron Christian (1991)
- Meralda Warren (1996 to April 2001)
- Brenda
Christian (since May 2001).
Radio Officer:
- Thomas
Christian (1955-2000)
Conservation Officer (Forestry):
- Jacob
Warren (1964-1990)
- Reynold Warren (1990-1996)
- Jay Warren (1996-2000)
From Guide to Pitcairn, 1999 Edition.
Used by permission.
List of Island Officers from 1970 to 2000 provided by Pitcairner
Betty Christian.
List of Island Officers since 2000 provided by Pitcairner
Mike Warren.
[History of Government &
Laws] |
