NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Commissioner of the British Indian Ocean Territory

The Commissioner of the British Indian Ocean Territory is the head of government in the United Kingdom's overseas territory of the British Indian Ocean Territory. The Commissioner is appointed by the British monarch on the advice of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The Commissioner does not reside in the territory, as they have had no native population since the 1970s, and the only population is the military of the United States and the United Kingdom on the joint base at Diego Garcia. A United Kingdom overseas territory (formerly known as a dependent territory or earlier as a crown colony) is a territory that is under the sovereignty and formal control of the United Kingdom but is not part of the United Kingdom proper (almost exclusively Great Britain and Northern Ireland). ... The British monarch or Sovereign is the monarch and head of state of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories, and is the source of all executive, judicial and (as the Queen-in-Parliament) legislative power. ... The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Whitehall, seen from St. ... This article refers to the atoll. ...

The Commissioner's role is to administer the territory on behalf of the British government. This involves the passing of any necessary legislation for the territory, usually Orders in council or Statutory Instruments. The Commissioner is also responsible in liasing with the military of the United States in matters concerning the territory. An Administrator of the British Indian Ocean Territory acts as the Commissioner's assistant. The Commissioner also appoints a representative on the territory, who is the senior British military officer at Diego Garcia. An Order-in-Council is an executive order issued in Commonwealth Realms operating under the Westminster system. ... As well as Acts of Parliament, United Kingdom law is also made through Statutory Instruments (SIs) (also referred to as delegated, or secondary legislation). ... The armed forces, also known as the armed services, of the United States of America consist of the United States Army United States Marine Corps United States Navy United States Air Force United States Coast Guard Approximately 1. ...

Unlike the other governors and commissioners of the British overseas territory, there is no separate flag for the Commissioner of the British Indian Ocean Territory. This is mainly because he is never resident in the territory, and he would be unable to fly any flag from his offices in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London.

Category: British Indian Ocean Territory A United Kingdom overseas territory (formerly known as a dependent territory or earlier as a crown colony) is a territory that is under the sovereignty and formal control of the United Kingdom but is not part of the United Kingdom proper (Great Britain and Northern Ireland). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... A United Kingdom overseas territory (formerly known as a dependent territory or earlier as a crown colony) is a territory that is under the sovereignty and formal control of the United Kingdom but is not part of the United Kingdom proper (almost exclusively Great Britain and Northern Ireland). ... The Flag of the Governor of Anguilla The Governor of Anguilla is the representative of the British monarch in the United Kingdoms overseas territory of Anguilla. ... Flag of the Governor of Bermuda The Governor of Bermuda is the representative of the British monarch in the United Kingdoms overseas territory of Bermuda. ... The flag of the Commissioner of the British Antarctic Territory M. Baker Bates (1990-1992) P. Newton (1992-1995) Anthony Longrigg (1995-1997) John White (1997-2001) Alan Huckle (2001-2004) Tony Crombie (2004-present) This list continues at: List of High Commissioners of the British Antarctic Territory and List... For leaders before this see: List of Administrators of the British Virgin Islands Derek George Cudmore (1971-1974) Walter Wilkinson Wallace (1974-1978) James Alfred Davidson (1978-1982) David Robert Barwick (1982-1986) J. Mark A. Herdman (1986-1991) Peter Alfred Penfold (1991-1995) David Mackilligin (1995-1998) Frank Savage... The flag of the Governor of the Cayman Islands The Governor of the Cayman Islands is the representative of the British monarch in the United Kingdoms overseas territory of the Cayman Islands. ... The Governor of the Falkland Islands is the local representative of the British Crown in the Falkland Islands. ... List of Governors of Gibraltar (Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office) See also Chief Minister of Gibraltar Categories: Politics of Gibraltar ... The Governor of Montserrat is the representative of the British monarch in the United Kingdoms overseas territory of Montserrat. ... Flag of the Governor of the Pitcairn Islands See main articles: List of Governors of Fiji (1898-1970) List of British High Commissioners to New Zealand (1970-present) The Pitcairn Islands are the last remaining British dependency in the Pacific. ... Flag of the Governor of Saint Helena The Governor of Saint Helena is the representative of the British monarch in the United Kingdoms overseas territory of Saint Helena. ... Flag of the Civil Commissioner of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands The Civil Commissioner of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands is the representative of the British monarch in the United Kingdoms overseas territory of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. ... Crown dependencies are possessions of the British Crown, as opposed to overseas territories or colonies of the United Kingdom. ... Flag of the Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey The Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey is the representative of the British monarch in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, a Crown dependency of the British Crown. ... The Flag of the Lieutenant Governor of Jersey The Lieutenant Governor of Jersey is the representative of the British monarch in the Bailiwick of Jersey, a Crown dependency of the United Kingdom. ...