Full Name: Ascension Island
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Status: Dependency of St Helena
Area: 90 Sqkm
Population: 1000
Capital City: Georgetown
Languages: English
Religion: Christian
Currency: St Helena/Ascension Pound
Governor: His Excellency Mr David J Hollamby (resides in St Helena)
Administrator: Andrew Kettlewell
GEOGRAPHY
Ascension lies 700 miles to the north west of St Helena. It is a rocky peak of volcanic origin with 44 distinct craters. The last eruption took place about 600 years ago. Ascension is an important breeding site for the green turtle and various species of sea bird, notably the Sooty Tern or Wideawake and the Frigate Bird. It has a fragile environment, which the Administrator is seeking to protect. As an example of this the British Government gave (in March 2001) the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) £500,000, to rid Ascension Island of feral cats that have destroyed the once huge seabird population, one of the world’s most important breeding colonies. By early 2003 four species of seabird had already re-colonised the mainland as breeding species and predation on the sooty tern population had been reduced to nil. There has been a perceived increase in the number of rats on Ascension. An eradication plan is not feasible and the authorities are actively seeking assistance in introducing an effective rat management plan.
HISTORY
The Portuguese discovered the island in 1501. It has no indigenous population. In 1815, a small British garrison was stationed on Ascension. It remained under Admiralty supervision until 1922, when it was made a dependency of St Helena. During the Second World War, the US Government established an airstrip and the US Space Command still use Ascension, primarily for the down-range tracking of missile launches. Ascension was also a staging post for the transport of troops and equipment to and from the Falklands during the conflict in 1982 and the RAF continues to have a base there to support its regular flights to the Falklands. The BBC World Service broadcasts radio programmes to Africa from Ascension and Cable and Wireless are also represented on the island.
POLITICS
Consitutional Status
In 1998 Ministers considered the constitutional future for Ascension Island and its link with St Helena. They concluded that we should advance the constitutional rights of residents of Ascension Island and promote its economic development. The island had been governed and financed by the main commercial organisations (the BBC and Cable and Wireless), known as the “Users” and the military. Ascension Island was like a company town where residents had no effective input into local decision making. The Users had informed HMG that they wanted, from April 2001, to opt out of service provision and concentrate on their commercial interests. This decision coincided with the Ministerial view that fundamental changes were necessary in the way Ascension was run.
The Governor, Administrator, and the FCO consulted widely with residents on Ascension Island about the form of democratic government to be introduced. A plebiscite was held on 22 and 23 August 2002 with the options of forming an Island Council or an Inter Island Council with St Helena. 95% of those who voted chose the Island Council option. The general election to appoint elected members to the Island Council took place on 1 November 2002.
The Island Council consists of seven elected members plus the Director of Financial Services and the Attorney general. It is chaired by the Governor, who is represented localy by the Island Administrator. The elected members all have full time jobs and participation in the Island Council is not remunerated. The Island Council advises the Governor on matters of law and policy, however the Governor retains special responsibility (eg defence, external affairs, internal security and the public service) to protect the UK Government’s overall responsibility for good governance. This is the first time in the island’s 500 year history that there is a modern system of democratic government.
The Island Council is heavily involved in developing a strategic plan to guide development of Ascension Island. Key amongst the issues involved in this is the establishment of a permanent population on Ascension, and making recommendations on the criteria for Right of Abode legislation, land ownership and inward investment.
Administrator’s Office
Administrator: Andrew Kettlewell
The Administrator’s Office
Georgetown
Ascension Island
South Atlantic Ocean
ASCN 1ZZ
Tel: 00 247 6311
Fax: 00 247 6152
Email: Andrew.Kettlewell@ascension.gov.ac
ECONOMY
In the absence of a conventional government with revenue raising powers, public and common services were funded and provided by the Users and the military, who each contributed an agreed sum annually. A fiscal and economic report on Ascension Island, conducted in March 2000, recommended that future revenue for the Ascension Island Government should come from the introduction of taxation. . As a result of this, and in close collaboration with the Users and the military, a concept paper was produced, which stated that from April 2001 the Ascension Island Government would take over responsibility for those public services normally provided by government. The commercial services not appropriate to government were sold to the private sector.
The introduction of the new fiscal regime took place in April 2002. Revenue is now raised from Personal Income Tax, Property Tax and Customs Duty, although the customs regime is limited covering only tobacco, alcohol and fuel. Recognising that the fiscal regime was put in place before the people of Ascension Island had elected representation, the Ascension Island Government had lengthy and detailed negotiations with the commercial organisations and the military to ensure that no individual saw a reduction in take home pay after the introduction of income tax. The commercial organisations and the military pay the property tax. Customs duty is an indirect tax and as such its impact on the individual is dependent on the quantity of the products purchased.
Ascension has a balanced fiscal budget, although with minimal reserves at this early stage in its development. The revenue budget for 2003/04 amounts to £4.3 million whilst fiscal expenditure amounts to £3.3 million for recurrent and £0.7 million for capital expenses, leaving a transfer to reserves of £0.3 million (7% of revenue). Government expenditure funds one school, one hospital (offering limited services but including basic operations), police and judicial services, all of which are provided free to local tax payers.
Ascension has a small but developing private sector. The former state owned Georgetown shop is now owned and managed in the private sector by Solomons as is the former Guest House, which now operates successfully as the Obsidian Hotel. The last year has seen the development of a sports fishing iindustry on the island, with two sports fishing operators operating four fishing boats. They are targeting mainly marlin. Several “granders” have also been caught (most of which have been tagged and released).
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Ascension Island’s Relations with the International Community
HMG is responsible for Ascension Island’s external relations.
ASCENSION’S RELATIONS WITH THE UK
Diplomatic Representation
HMG is responsible for Ascension Island’s external relations, defence and internal security. The principal point of contact is Overseas Territories Department, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Administrator’s Office, Georgetown, Ascension Island. Ascension was pleased to host HRH The Princess Royal to the Island in November 2002. HRH had the opportunity to meet newly elected Island Councillors at a reception hosted by the Administrator and was able to visit heritage sites and view environmental projects on the Island.
WIDEAWAKE
Wideawake airfield on Ascension, a US Military Base providing regular flights to and from Britain, is St Helena’s gateway to the world. Negotiations with the US authorities, are currently underway about the possibility of opening up Ascension to civil flights. Better links with the rest of the world will improve prospects for economic development on both Ascension and St Helena
TRAVEL
Country Advice: Ascension Island
USEFUL LINKS
Fiscal and Economic Report on Ascension Island (March 2000)
Last updated – 08 July 2003
Administrator’s Office
Administrator: Andrew Kettlewell
The Administrator’s Office
Georgetown
Ascension Island
South Atlantic Ocean
ASCN 1ZZ
Tel: 00 247 6311
Fax: 00 247 6152
Email: Andrew.Kettlewell@ascension.gov.ac
ECONOMY
In the absence of a conventional government with revenue raising powers, public and common services were funded and provided by the Users and the military, who each contributed an agreed sum annually. A fiscal and economic report on Ascension Island, conducted in March 2000, recommended that future revenue for the Ascension Island Government should come from the introduction of taxation. . As a result of this, and in close collaboration with the Users and the military, a concept paper was produced, which stated that from April 2001 the Ascension Island Government would take over responsibility for those public services normally provided by government. The commercial services not appropriate to government were sold to the private sector.
The introduction of the new fiscal regime took place in April 2002. Revenue is now raised from Personal Income Tax, Property Tax and Customs Duty, although the customs regime is limited covering only tobacco, alcohol and fuel. Recognising that the fiscal regime was put in place before the people of Ascension Island had elected representation, the Ascension Island Government had lengthy and detailed negotiations with the commercial organisations and the military to ensure that no individual saw a reduction in take home pay after the introduction of income tax. The commercial organisations and the military pay the property tax. Customs duty is an indirect tax and as such its impact on the individual is dependent on the quantity of the products purchased.
Ascension has a balanced fiscal budget, although with minimal reserves at this early stage in its development. The revenue budget for 2003/04 amounts to £4.3 million whilst fiscal expenditure amounts to £3.3 million for recurrent and £0.7 million for capital expenses, leaving a transfer to reserves of £0.3 million (7% of revenue). Government expenditure funds one school, one hospital (offering limited services but including basic operations), police and judicial services, all of which are provided free to local tax payers.
Ascension has a small but developing private sector. The former state owned Georgetown shop is now owned and managed in the private sector by Solomons as is the former Guest House, which now operates successfully as the Obsidian Hotel. The last year has seen the development of a sports fishing iindustry on the island, with two sports fishing operators operating four fishing boats. They are targeting mainly marlin. Several “granders” have also been caught (most of which have been tagged and released).
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Ascension Island’s Relations with the International Community
HMG is responsible for Ascension Island’s external relations.
ASCENSION’S RELATIONS WITH THE UK
Diplomatic Representation
HMG is responsible for Ascension Island’s external relations, defence and internal security. The principal point of contact is Overseas Territories Department, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Administrator’s Office, Georgetown, Ascension Island. Ascension was pleased to host HRH The Princess Royal to the Island in November 2002. HRH had the opportunity to meet newly elected Island Councillors at a reception hosted by the Administrator and was able to visit heritage sites and view environmental projects on the Island.
WIDEAWAKE
Wideawake airfield on Ascension, a US Military Base providing regular flights to and from Britain, is St Helena’s gateway to the world. Negotiations with the US authorities, are currently underway about the possibility of opening up Ascension to civil flights. Better links with the rest of the world will improve prospects for economic development on both Ascension and St Helena
TRAVEL
Country Advice: Ascension Island
USEFUL LINKS
Fiscal and Economic Report on Ascension Island (March 2000)
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Administrator's Office, Ascension Island |
Last updated – 08 July 2003