British Indian Ocean Territory
 

8 Nov 1965 - 29 Jun 1976

Adopted 29 Jun 1976

Adopted 8 Nov 1990 Commissioner's Flag

Map of British Indian Ocean Territory  Hear National Anthem  "God Save the Queen"  Text of National Anthem Constitution Order (10 Jun 2004) Capital: London (Base on Diego Garcia) Currency: US Dollar (USD), British Pound (GBP) National Holiday: 2nd Sat. in Jun (1926) Birthday of Queen  Elizabeth II Population: 4,000 on Diego Garcia  (2006) GDP: $N/A Exports: $217.25 million (2003) Imports: $602.30 million (2003) Ethnic groups: British and American 95.88%, others (2001) Total UK and US Active Armed Forces: 1,500 (2005) Defense is the Responsibility of the U.K. Merchant marine: None (2008)  Religions: Christian 45.55%, Hindu 38.55%, Muslim 9.25% (2000) International Organizations/Treaties: UPU British Indian Ocean Territory Index Chronology 1512                       Possibly discovered by Pedro de Mascarenhas                              and claimed for Portugal, not occupied                              (Diego Garcia named Ilha de Dom Garcia). 1559                       Name Diego Garcia first used on a map created by                               Edward Wright. 23 Sep 1721                Claimed for France as part of Mauritius. Jan 1745                   First recorded landing on Diego Garcia by the                              British ship Pelham. 1768                       French Capt. Dufresne lands on Diego Garcia. 1785                       First French settlements begin on Diego Garcia. 27 Apr 1786                Chagos Islands and Diego Garcia claimed for Britain 1786                       Formally annexed by France. 17 May 1810                Part of British colony of Seychelles. 30 May 1814                British possession confirmed by the Treaty                              of Paris, part of Seychelles (Oil Islands). 31 Aug 1903                Chagos Archipelago separated from Seychelles and                              attached to Mauritius.  8 Nov 1965                British Indian Ocean Territory established from                              parts of the Seychelles and Mauritius (Chagos                               Archipelago, [including Diego Garcia], Aldabra                               Islands, Farquhar and the Des Roches Islands). 17 Jul 1966                British evacuation of native islanders beings                              (completed in 1973). 30 Dec 1966                British-U.S. base leasing agreement for Diego                              Garcia (U.S. Naval Communications Station                              Diego Garcia commissioned 20 Mar 1973).  3 Apr 1967                Britain buys all the plantations on the islands. 29 Jun 1976                Aldabra, Farquhar and Des Roches Islands returned                              to independent Seychelles.  1 Oct 1977                U.S. Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia opened.  2 Nov 2000                British High Court overturns 1971 immigration ban;                              11 June 2004 BIOT law overturns 2000 court ruling                              on 11 May 2006 the Court overturns the 2004 law;                              on 22 Oct 2008 the British House of Lords votes                              to support the government decision denying the                              islanders return. U.S. Naval Base Diego Garcia

British Agent
1824 - 1829                Le Camus
Plantation managers
1866 - 1883                James Spurt
1883 - 1885                Le Conte
Constable
1885 - 1888                Butler
British Commander
Feb 1942 - Sep? 1945       J. Alan Thompson
Commissioners (in London; from 1998 also commissioners for British Antarctic Territory)
 8 Nov 1965 -  4 Jul 1976  the governors of Seychelles
 4 Jul 1976 - 1976         Norman Aspin                       (b. 1922)
1979 - 1979                Philip R.A. Mansfield              (b. 1926)
1979 - 1982                John A. Robson                     (b. 1930)
1982 - 1985                W. Nigel Wenban-Smith              (b. 1936)
1985 - 1989                William Marsden                    (b. 1940)
1989 - 1991                Richard J.S. Edis                  (b. 1943 - d. 2002)
Sep 1991 - 1994            Thomas George Harris               (b. 1945)
1994 - 1996                David Ross MacLennan               (b. 1945)
1996 - 1998                Bruce Dinwiddy                     (b. 1946)
1998 - 2001                John White                         (b. 1946)
2001 - Jan 2004            Alan Edden Huckle                  (b. 1948)
Jan 2004 - Jul 2006        Tony Crombie                       (b. 1956)
Jul 2006 - Jul 2008        Robert Leigh Turner                (b. 1958)
Jul 2008 -                 Colin Roberts                      (b. 1959)
Administrators (in London)
 8 Nov 1965 - 1974         John Rawling Todd                  (b. 1929 - d. 2002)
1974 -  6 Jul 1975         David Kenneth Hay Dale             (b. 1927 - d. 2001)
 6 Jul 1976 - 1977         M.K. Ewans
1977 - 1978                Alan G. Munro                      (b. 1935)
1978 - 1979                John A. Robson                     (s.a.)
1979 - 1981                J.G. Wallace
1980 - 1982                Peter Albert Raftery               (b. 1929 - d. 1996)
1982 - 1984                Denis Henry Doble                  (b. 1936)
1984 - 1985                T. Clive Somerville Stitt          (b. 1948)
1985 - 1989                Peter Charles Freeman Gregory-Hood (b. 1943)
1989 - 1990                M. Robert Crompton
1990 - 1991                S.E. Turner (acting)
1991 - 1992                Roger G. Wells
1992 - 1995                Don H. Cairns
1995 - 1996                David J. Smith
1996 - 2002                Louise Margaret Savill (f)
2002 - Feb 2005            Charles A. Hamilton
Feb 2005 - Dec 2007        Tony Humphries
Dec 2007 -                 Joanne Yeadon (f)                  (b. 1965)

Commissioner's Representatives and Justices of the Peace
and Commanders British Forces on Diego Garcia
 8 Nov 1965 - 18 Feb 1973  ....
18 Feb 1973 - 15 Jun 1974  J. Canter
16 Jun 1974 - 19 Jul 1975  B. Credland
20 Jul 1975 - 24 Jul 1976  L.W. Spinks
25 Jul 1976 - 23 Jul 1977  A.G. Portwine
24 Jul 1977 - 17 Jul 1978  B.E. Clark
18 Jul 1978 - 13 May 1979  J.N. Martin
14 May 1979 - 15 Jul 1980  D.A. Goodling
16 Jul 1980 - 25 Mar 1982  G.N. Wells
26 Mar 1982 -  9 Mar 1983  P.T. Libby
10 Mar 1983 - 25 May 1983  K.G.V. Gill
26 May 1983 -  4 Apr 1984  A.J.G. Hodgson
 5 Apr 1984 -  4 Apr 1986  J.M.W. Topp  
 3 Apr 1986 - 13 May 1987  J. Maxwell
14 May 1987 - 16 May 1988  P.N. Drummond
17 May 1988 - 12 Jun 1989  R.J.R. Martin
13 Jun 1989 - 14 Jun 1990  A.J. Tremelling
15 Jun 1990 - 10 Jun 1991  R.A. Hornshaw
 7 Jun 1991 - 12 Jun 1992  P.A.W. Raine 
13 Jun 1992 - 12 Jul 1994  H.F. Hatton
13 Jul 1994 - 15 Jul 1995  J.P. Wraith
16 Jul 1995 -  8 Jul 1996  P.C.M. Baker
 9 Jul 1996 -  8 Jul 1997  S. Jackson  
11 Jul 1997 - 10 Jul 1998  D.G. Niven
11 Jul 1998 - 20 Aug 1999  P. White
21 Aug 1999 - 28 Jul 2000  S. Watt
29 Jul 2000 -  2 Aug 2001  Peter R. Lewis 
 3 Aug 2001 -  3 Feb 2003  Adam J.U. Peters
 4 Feb 2003 - 14 Feb 2004  N.E. Hinch
15 Feb 2004 - 22 Mar 2006  Chris Davies
23 Mar 2006 - Oct 2007     D.G. Howard
Oct 2007 - 2008            Gary L. Brooks                    (b. 1966)
2008 -                     Simon C.L. Nicholson

Commanders U.S. Naval Facility Diego Garcia 
1973 - ....                ....
.... - 27 Jun 2001         James H. Patrick                  (b. 1950)
27 Jun 2001 - Dec 2002     Michael C. Lucarelli 
Dec 2002 - Jul 2003        Robert Hibbert
Jul 2003 -  1 Jul 20004    Gary Cooper
 1 Jul 2004 - 21 Jun 2005  Edward Martin, Jr.
21 Jun 2005 - 2006         Gilmore Birklund 
2006 - 17 Jun 2007         Patrick J. Dougherty              (b. 1961?)
17 Jun 2007 -  3 Jun 2008  Gregory L. Looney
 3 Jun 2008 -              Daniel T. McNamara

     Flag of the Chagossians

No Political Parties Exist

Territorial Disputes: Mauritius claims the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia; in 2001, the former inhabitants of the Chagos Archipelago, evicted in 1967 and 1973 and now residing chiefly in Mauritius, were granted UK citizenship and the right to repatriation; in May 2007, the UK Court of Appeals upheld the May 2006 High Court of London judgment reversing the UK government's 2004 Orders of Council that banned habitation on the islands, but the ban was upheld 22 Oct 2008 by the British House of Lords; a small group of Chagossians visited Diego Garcia in Apr 2006; repatriation is complicated by the exclusive US military lease of Diego Garcia that restricts access to the largest viable island in the chain, the US lease on Diego Garcia expires in 2016.