Ascension Island

Ascension Island is an isolated volcanic island in the equatorial waters of the South Atlantic Ocean, around 1,600 kilometres (994 mi) from the coast of Africa, and 2,250 kilometres (1,398 mi) from the coast of South America which is roughly midway between the horn of South America and Africa. It is politically organized and governed as part of the British overseas territory of St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha from the capital St Helena, which is 1,287 kilometres (800 mi) to the southeast; and the protectorate also includes the "remotest populated archipelago" on earth, the sparsely populated Tristan da Cunha archipelago some 30 degrees farther south — about half the way to the Antarctic circle.

The Island is named after the day of its recorded discovery, Ascension Day and is located at 7°56′S 14°22′W / 7.933°S 14.367°W / -7.933; -14.367Coordinates: 7°56′S 14°22′W / 7.933°S 14.367°W / -7.933; -14.367 about as far south of the equator as tropical Venezuela is to its north.

Historically, it has played a role as an important safe haven and coaling station to mariners and for commercial airliners during the days of international air travel by air boats and during World War II was an important naval and air station especially providing antisubmarine warfare bases in the Battle of the Atlantic and throughout the war. Ascension Island was garrisoned by the British Royal Navy on 22 October 1815.

The island is the location of Wideawake Airfield, which is a joint facility of the United States Air Force and the Royal Air Force and the BBC World Service Atlantic Relay Station. The island was used extensively by the British military during the Falklands War. Ascension Island hosts one of five ground antennas (others are on Kwajalein, Diego Garcia, Colorado Springs and Hawaii) that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigational system.

Politics and law

Ascension Island is part of an overseas territory of the United Kingdom together with St Helena and Tristan da Cunha. Executive authority is vested in The Queen, who is represented by the Governor of St Helena. As the Governor resides in Jamestown, Saint Helena, an Administrator is appointed to represent the Governor on Ascension Island.

As a result of changes in the constitutional arrangements for Ascension Island, the first Island Council of seven members was elected and took office on 1 November 2002. Politics for such a small island is quite complex.

Ascension Island has its own local system of law, much of which is based on the laws of St Helena and some parts of English law with modifications. The Island Council advises on new or revised laws. Where local legislation does not exist, Saint Helenian law is used where appropriate. Employment legislation is a mixture of contract law and the Workmen's Protection Ordinance, which guarantees a contract, as well as obligating employers to provide accommodation, medical cover, travel etc.

The St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Constitution Order 2009 replaces the 1988 version and among other changes limits the Governor's powers, includes a Bill of Rights, establishes independence of the judiciary and the public service and formally designates the Governor of St Helena as, concurrently, the Governor for Ascension Island and for Tristan da Cunha. It also ends the "dependency" status of Ascension and Tristan da Cunha on St Helena that had been in place since 1922.

Education

The school on the island is St. Mary's School, which has children from ages three to sixteen. The current facility, which opened in 1975, has five classrooms, a kitchen, a stage, a computer room, and a craft and science room.

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