Governor of Jamésie
| Governor of Jamésie | |
|---|---|
 Flag of the Governor of Jamésie | |
| Style | His/Her Excellency |
| Residence | Government House |
| Appointer | William Schaeffer as President of Rhodesia |
| Term length | Seven years, no term limit |
| Formation | 1 July 1988 |
| First holder | Michael Schaeffer |
| Salary | R$180,000 (2016) |
| Website | governor.jamesie.gov.rh |
The Governor of Jamésie is the representative of the Rhodesian President in Rhodesia's overseas territory of Jamésie. The Governor is appointed by the President on the advice of the Rhodesian government. The role of the Governor acts as the de facto head of state, and he/she is responsible for formally appointing the Premier and the Government of Jamésie after a general election. The Governor also serves as commander-in-chief of the island's security forces and has sole responsibility for its defense and security.
The 4th and current governor is Nancy Chen Kelly, who was appointed on 22 April 2011 to fulfill the remainder term of Governor George Salazer, who resigned in the face of corruption charges.
The Governor has his/her own flag, a Sky-blue flag with the territory's coat of arms in the centre. The official residence of the Governor is Government House located in Eastmain.
History
Jamésie was a Swanish possession from 1784 till it was sold to Rhodesia in 1988. The island was a dependency of the Swanish Arabia. After the transfer of sovereignty took place, the island received its own Governor for the first time in its history.
In February 2010, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was conducting a routine review of administration for Jamésie, when it received several reports of high-level official corruption in the island’s current administration. In response to those reports, President Michael Schaeffer announced the appointment of a Commission of Enquiry into the corruption allegations on March 10.
After more than a year of an extensive investigation by the Commission, their report was released on April 21, 2011 and concluded that the allegations of governmental corruption where true and charged both Governor George Salazer, Premier Paul Blust, as well as 5 others, that included top governmental officials and businessmen. The report stated both men with the help of the others where "able to build a multi-million-dollar fortune since Governor Salazer appointment in 2009 and Premier Blust election in 2005," to enriched themselves "by selling off government owned assets to fund personal investment on the island and abroad.” Within hours of the release of the report both Governor Salazer and Premier Blust resigned from office and where arrested on corruption charges. The following day President Schaeffer on the advice of Prime Minister Edward Whitehead announced the suspension of Jamésie self-government, imposed direct rule, and appointed Nancy Chen Kelly as the island’s new Governor. When Kelly arrived, she assumed direct political control. These powers where vested in Kelly for a period of four years, with the possibly of extension. However, self-government was returned to local administration after the April 2015 general election.
Powers
The Governor has sole responsible for the conduct of any business of the Government of Jamésie including the administration of any department of government, with respect to the following matters: External Affairs, Defense, Security, and the administration of the courts. As the commander-in-chief of the island's security forces, the Governor, as well as the President, may call on the security forces at a moment's notice to provide defense for the island, in a state of emergency.
The Governor also has the ceremonial role of dissolving or convening the Legislative Assembly, calling for new election, the swearing in and accepting the resignations of a Premier, Cabinet Members, and Members of the Assembly. The Governor appoints the Premier, who under ordinary circumstances (as are most parliamentary prime ministers) the head of the largest party in the Legislative Assembly. The Governor with the advice of the Premier, appoints the Cabinet of Jamésie. Once a year the Governor delivers the annual State of the Island address to a special session of the Legislative Assembly. The Governor also has the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Assembly.
The Governor also has various powers to make and remove appointments, and to commute or grant pardons to criminal sentences, except in cases of treason and impeachment.
List of Governors
| № | Name (Birth–Death) |
Portrait | Tenure | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took Office | Left Office | ||||
| 1 | Michael Schaeffer (1943–) |
|
1 July 1988 | 2 July 1995 | |
| 2 | Curtis Hollingsworth (1922–2017) |
|
2 July 1995 | 5 July 2009 | |
| 3 | George Salazer (1943–) |
|
5 July 2009 | 21 April 2011 | Resigned |
| 4 | Nancy Chen Kelly (1971–) |
|
22 April 2011 | Incumbent | |