C.
Security
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1
11. There is a police force in St Helena of 35 all ranks. There is a small police presence on Ascension and a single Sergeant on Tristan. Crime is minimal. There is no threat to internal security since the exclusion in 1975 of the South African entrepreneur, Thornton.
THE GOVERNOR
A.
Discretion for Executive Decision
12.
In the exercise of his powers and the performance of his duties, the Governor is required to consult the Executive Council except when in his judgement it would be prejudicial to HM Government's interests for him to do so.
13. The Governor, when a Bill passed by the Legislative Council is presented to him for assent, may declare that he assents, refuses to assent or reserves the Bill for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure. But unless he has the prior authority of the Secretary of State to assent he is required to reserve a Bill which appears to him to be inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution or which determines or regulates the privileges, immunities or powers of the Legislative Council.
14. The Governor may at any time prorogue or dissolve the Legis- lative Council.
B.
15.
Involvement in Judicial Process
The Governor may, at his discretion, grant to any person con- cerned in, or convicted of, any offence a pardon either free, or subject to lawful conditions. He appoints Magistrates and exercises the functions of the Chief Justice when the latter is absent from the island.
C. Special Qualities Required
16.
The job in St Helena is to pull the place up by its boot straps. The isolation with minimal communications, lack of sufficiently educated islanders, local apathy, Civil Service of insufficient quality, lack of natural resources and a rough terrain, all conspire together to make this a difficult and very challenging job.
Fortu- nately, the Governor's efforts to solve the island's economic and social problems are unlikely to be distracted by political worries.
17. To deal with these gentle, pleasant and simple folk, with all the in-built problems of a small, isolated island society, a Governor needs tact and persuasion; but he should also be a determined "doer" able to put his shoulder behind new ideas for development.
In essence,
/he
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