Post: | Commissioner for the British Antarctic Territory |
Flag: | Flag of the Commissioner of the British Antarctic Territory.svg |
Flagsize: | 120px |
Flagcaption: | Standard of the commissioner |
Insignia: | Coat_of_arms_of_the_British_Antarctic_Territory.svg |
Insigniasize: | 100px |
Insigniacaption: | Coat of arms of the British Antarctic Territory |
Incumbent: | Paul Candler |
Incumbentsince: | 1 July 2021 |
Appointer: | Charles III as King of the United Kingdom |
Termlength: | At His Majesty's pleasure |
Inaugural: | Edwin Porter Arrowsmith Merrick Baker-Bates First Commissioner |
Deputy: | Ms Jane Rumble Deputy Commissioner |
The Commissioner for the British Antarctic Territory, is the head of government of the British Antarctic Territory, a British Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom. The commissioner is appointed by the monarch of the United Kingdom on the advice of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Prior to 1962, the area was a part of the Falkland Islands Dependencies and as such was administered by the Governor of the Falkland Islands.[1] The British Antarctic Territory was established as a separate British overseas territory in 1962.[2] From 1962 to 1990, the Governor of the Falkland Islands also held the office of high commissioner for the territory. In 1990, administration of the BAT was transferred to a separate commissioner based in London. Since 1998, the commissioner of the BAT has also served as Commissioner of the British Indian Ocean Territory.
During this time also served as the Governor of the Falkland Islands
These are non-resident and based in London. Since 1998, has also served as Commissioner of the British Indian Ocean Territory.