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CHAPTER 3
OFFICERS ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT
3.1 -
3.1
3.1.1
3.1.2
3.1.3
3.1.4
3.1.5
DEFINITIONS
The term "Officer Administering the Government" (OAG), is a general term to describe
A Governor and Commander-in-Chief
A Governor
A High Commissioner
A Commissioner
An Administrator
The term also describes an officer who takes the place of any of the officers mentioned above during their absence on leave or for consultations, or during a vacancy. This officer is to be distinguished from a Governor's Deputy, to whom the OAG delegates all or some of his functions during sickness or other short absences from duty.
The full titles of all OAGs, together with an explanation of the term "Commander-in-Chief", are given at Annex 3.
OAGS need not necessarily be members of, or even on loan to, HM Diplomatic Service. They are frequently recruited from Her Majesty's Overseas Civil Service (HMOCS) or elsewhere.
A Governor or Commissioner is the officer appointed by The Queen's Commission to administer a Dependent Territory (DT) "During Her Majesty's Pleasure". There is a difference between governing a country and representing one's own country under the directions of the Secretary of State in the diplomatic sphere. The position of a Governor in a DT is more analogous in many respects to that of an Executive President or a Head of State than to the Head of a Diplomatic Mission; he draws together in himself all the threads of the legislature (although a Governor has no "Party"), the executive, and the public services; he represents his country in the most important affairs albeit only vis-a-vis his own metropolitan government; and he occupies a social position within his Territory of unique dignity and eminence. On these grounds are based the special kind of respect paid to the Governors of DTs, however small.
An Administrator is subordinate to a Governor. He is responsible through his Governor to the Secretary of State. Unless otherwise directed in particular matters, he normally corresponds direct with the Secretary of State and the FCO. An Administrator also represents The Queen in his Territory, except when the Governor to whom he is subordinate is present in that Territory. He does not hold a Commission or Royal Instructions from The Queen. He will hold directives from the Governor to whom he is subordinate.
3.1.6
Details are as follows:
October 1978
The Admniatur of Ascension Island and the Administrator of Tristan da Cunha are subordinate to the Governor of St Helena
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