The Commissioner for the British Indian Ocean Territory is the head of government in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

overseas territory A territory is an area of land, sea, or space, belonging or connected to a particular country, person, or animal. In international politics, a territory is usually a geographic area which has not been granted the powers of self-government, ...

of the

British Indian Ocean Territory The British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) is an British Overseas Territories, Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom situated in the Indian Ocean, halfway between Tanzania and Indonesia. The territory comprises the seven atolls of the Chago ...

. The Commissioner was appointed by the

British monarch The monarchy of the United Kingdom, commonly referred to as the British monarchy, is the form of government used by the United Kingdom by which a hereditary monarch reigns as the head of state, with their powers regulated by the British con ...

on the advice of the

Foreign and Commonwealth Office The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is the ministry of foreign affairs and a Departments of the Government of the United Kingdom, ministerial department of the government of the United Kingdom. The office was created on 2 ...

. The Commissioner did not reside in the territory, as it has had no native population since the forced depopulation of the

Chagossian people The Chagossians — also called Chagos Islanders or — are an Afro-Asian ethnic group originating from freed African slaves as well as people of Asian (Indian and Malay) descent brought to the Chagos Islands, specifically Diego Garcia, Per ...

in the 1970s, and the only population is the military of the

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and the

at the joint base at

Diego Garcia Diego Garcia is the largest island of the Chagos Archipelago. It has been used as a joint UK–U.S. military base since the 1970s, following the expulsion of the Chagossians by the UK government. The Chagos Islands are set to become a former B ...

. The Commissioner's role was to administer the territory on behalf of the British government. This involves the passing of any necessary legislation for the territory, usually

Orders in Council An Order in Council is a type of legislation in many countries, especially the Commonwealth realms. In the United Kingdom, this legislation is formally made in the name of the monarch by and with the advice and consent of the Privy Council ('' ...

or Statutory Instruments. The Commissioner is also responsible for liaising with the

military of the United States The United States Armed Forces are the Military, military forces of the United States. U.S. United States Code, federal law names six armed forces: the United States Army, Army, United States Marine Corps, Marine Corps, United States Navy, Na ...

in matters concerning the territory. An Administrator for the British Indian Ocean Territory acts as the Commissioner's assistant. The Commissioner also appoints a representative on the territory, who is the senior British military officer at Diego Garcia.

List of commissioners

* 1965–1967: The Earl of Oxford and Asquith * 1967–1969: Sir Hugh Selby Norman-Walker * 1969–1973: Sir Bruce Greatbatch * 1973–1976: Colin Hamilton Allan * 1976: Norman Aspin * 1976–1979: Philip Robert Aked Mansfield * 1979–1982: John Adam Robson * 1982–1985: William Nigel Wenban-Smith * 1985–1988: William Marsden * 1988–1991: Richard John Smale Edis * 1991–1994: Thomas George Harris * 1994–1996:

David Ross MacLennan David (; , "beloved one") was a king of ancient Israel and Judah and the Kings of Israel and Judah, third king of the Kingdom of Israel (united monarchy), United Monarchy, according to the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament. The Tel Dan stel ...

* 1996–1998: Bruce Harry Dinwiddy * 1998: Christopher Edward John Wilton * 1998–2001: Charles John Branford White * 2001–2004: Alan Edden Huckle * 2004–2006: Anthony Campbell Crombie * 2006–2008: Robert Leigh Turner * 2008–2012: Colin Roberts * 2012–2016: Dr Peter Richard Hayes * 2016–2017: John Kittmer * 2017–2021: Benjamin Robert Merrick * 2021–2024: Paul Candler * 2024–present: Nishi Dholakia

References

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