Governor of Svalbard

Highest representative of the Norwegian government in Svalbard

Governor of Svalbard

Sysselmesteren på Svalbard

Logo of the Governor of Svalbard

Incumbent
Lars Fause

since 24 June 2021 (2021-06-24)

Appointer| Ministry of Justice
Term length| Three years, renewable once[1]
Inaugural holder| Johannes Gerckens Bassøe
Formation| 17 July 1925; 100 years ago (1925-07-17)
Website| www.sysselmesteren.no

Politics of Svalbard

* Svalbard Treaty
* Svalbard Act
* Governor
* Lars Fause
* Longyearbyen Community Council
* Visa policy

See also
Politics of Norway

* Other countries

* v
* t
* e

Offices and residence of Sysselmesteren

The governor of Svalbard (Norwegian: Sysselmesteren på Svalbard) represents the Norwegian government in exercising its sovereignty over the Svalbard archipelago (Spitsbergen).[2]

The position reports to the Norwegian Ministry of Justice, but it maintains all Norwegian interests in the area, including environmental protection, law enforcement, representation, mediation, and civil matters, such as marriage and divorce.[3] An important part of the position is maintaining good working relations with the Russian community in Barentsburg.

To this end, the governor's organization consists of:[4]

* a staff section with Russian interpreters and advisors on legal matters, tourism, etc.
* a section for law enforcement
* a section for environmental protection
* an administrative section, including archiving, financial management and IT support

The governor's office also has at its disposition several helicopters, snowmobiles, speedboats, and other equipment needed to meet its responsibilities. The office's annual budget is determined by the Storting and runs at about NOK 60 million, of which the largest part is used for transportation.

The position was previously called Sysselmann in Norwegian until 1 July 2021, when it was changed to Sysselmester. This was part of a wider decision by the Solberg government to replace gender-specific governmental titles in Norway with gender-neutral terms.[5][6]

## List of governors of Svalbard

[edit]

Name  | Term began  | Term ended

|
|

Edvard Lassen  | ?  | August 1925
Johannes Gerckens Bassøe | August 1925  | 28 July 1933
Helge Ingstad (acting)  | 28 July 1933  | 1 September 1935
Wolmar Tycho Marlow  | 1 September 1935  | 1941
Vacant | 1941  | 1945
Håkon Balstad | 1945  | 1956
Odd Birketvedt  | 1956  | 1960
Finn Backer Midtbøe  | 1960  | 1963
Tollef Landsverk | 1963  | 1967
Stephen Stephensen  | 1967  | 1970
Fredrik Beichmann  | 1970  | 1974
Leif Eldring | 1974  | 1978
Jan Grøndahl | 1978  | 1982
Carl Alexander Wendt | 1982  | 1985
Leif Eldring | 1985  | 1991
Odd Blomdal | 1991  | 1995
Ann-Kristin Olsen | 1995  | 1998
Morten Ruud | 1998  | 2001
Odd Olsen Ingerø | 2001  | 2005
Sven Ole Fagernæs (acting)  | 2005  | 1 October 2005
Per Sefland | 1 October 2005  | 16 September 2009
Odd Olsen Ingerø | 16 September 2009  | 1 October 2015
Kjerstin Askholt | 1 October 2015  | 24 June 2021
Lars Fause[7] | 24 June 2021  | Incumbent

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "New Governor Appointed for Svalbard". polarjournal.com. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
2. ^ "About Governor the Svalbard". sysselmesteren.no. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
3. ^ "The Governor's Tasks". sysselmesteren.no. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
4. ^ "The Governor of Svalbard Informational Booklet" (PDF). sysselmesteren.no. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
5. ^ "Innstilling fra utenriks- og forsvarskomiteen om Endringer i Svalbardloven m.m. (endret navn på Sysselmannen)". Stortinget (in Norwegian). 2021-05-06. Retrieved 2024-10-31.
6. ^ "Sexless 'State' Government: Language Council recommends Sysselmannen ('governor') be renamed Svalbard Syssel ('country subdivision') to meet gender-neutral requirement". Ice People. 2020-11-13. Archived from the original on 2021-10-20. Retrieved 2024-10-31.
7. ^ "The Current Governor". sysselmesteren.no. Retrieved 17 March 2022.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

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Svalbard

General|

* Agriculture
* Archaeology
* Cannabis
* Outline
* Economy
* Geography
* Newtontoppen
* Languages
* Museums
* Transport
* In fiction

Politics|

* Act
* Longyearbyen Community Council
* Governor
* Treaty
* Visa policy

Settlements|

* Barentsburg
* Hopen Radio
* Longyearbyen
* Ny-Ålesund
* history
* Isbjørnhamna

Former settlements|

* Advent City
* Bölscheøya
* Finneset
* Gåshamna
* Grumant
* Hiorthhamn
* Isfjord Radio
* Kobbefjorden
* Lægerneset
* Ny-London
* Pyramiden
* Smeerenburg
* Sveagruva
* Virgohamna
* Ytre Norskøya

Environment|

* Climate
* Flora
* Protected areas

Islands|

* Amsterdam Island
* Barentsøya
* Bear Island
* Danes Island
* Edgeøya
* Hopen
* Kong Karls Land
* Kongsøya
* Kvitøya
* Lågøya
* Nordaustlandet
* Prins Karls Forland
* Sjuøyane
* Spitsbergen
* Svenskøya
* Thousand Islands
* Wilhelm Island

Land areas|

Spitsbergen
Albert I Land
Andrée Land
Bünsow Land
Dickson Land
Haakon VII Land
Heer Land
James I Land
Nathorst Land
Nordenskiöld Land
Ny-Friesland
Olav V Land
Oscar II Land
Sabine Land
Sørkapp Land
Torell Land
Wedel Jarlsberg Land
Nordaustlandet
Gustav Adolf Land
Gustav V Land
Orvin Land

National parks|

* Forlandet National Park
* Indre Wijdefjorden
* Nordenskiöld Land
* Nordre Isfjorden Land
* Northwest Spitsbergen
* Sassen–Bünsow Land
* Sør-Spitsbergen

Companies|

* Arctic Coal Company
* Arktikugol
* Bjørnøen
* Isfjorden AB
* Kings Bay
* Store Norske
* Spetsbergens Svenska kolfält

Research|

* Arctic World Archive
* Amundsen-Nobile Climate Change Tower
* Arctic Yellow River Station
* Dirigibile Italia Arctic Station
* Himadri Station
* IndARC Station
* Norwegian Polar Institute
* Polish Polar Station
* Seed Vault
* University Centre
* Zeppelin Station

Telecommunications|

* Hopen Radio
* Isfjord Radio
* Kongsfjord Telemetry Station
* .sj
* Satellite Station
* Svalbard Radio
* Undersea Cable

Transport|

* Barentsburg Heliport, Heerodden
* Ny-Ålesund Airport, Hamnerabben
* Pyramiden Heliport
* Svalbard Airport
* Svalbard Rocket Range
* Svea Airport

Education|

* Longyearbyen School

History|

* 2011 Svalbard polar bear attack
* Swedish settlement of Svalbard

* v
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Norwegian Police Service

* Ministry of Justice and Public Security

National agencies|

* Norwegian Bureau for the Investigation of Police Affairs (Spesialenheten)
* National Police Directorate (POD)
* Norwegian Police Security Service (PST)
* Norwegian Prosecuting Authority
* Sysselmesteren (Governor of Svalbard)

Police districts (2017)|

* Agder
* East
* Finnmark
* Innlandet
* Møre og Romsdal
* Nordland
* Oslo
* Southwest
* Southeast
* Troms
* Trøndelag
* West

National units (særorgan)|

* National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime in Norway (Økokrim)
* National Criminal Investigation Service (Kripos)
* National Mobile Police Service (UP)
* National Police Immigration Service (PU)
* Norwegian Police University College (PHS)

Other national units|

* Norwegian Border Commissioner (Grensekommissariatet)
* Norwegian ID Centre (Nasjonalt ID-senter)
* Norwegian Police Shared Services (Politiets fellestjenester)
* Police ICT Services (Politiets IKT-tjenester (PIT))

Other|

* Bombegruppen
* Beredskapstroppen (Delta)
* History
* Joint Rescue Coordination Centre of Northern Norway
* Joint Rescue Coordination Centre of Southern Norway
* Namsfogden
* Norwegian Bureau for the Investigation of Police Affairs (Spesialenheten)
* Norwegian Police Cross of Honour
* Norwegian Public Safety Radio (nødnettet)
* Vandelskontroll og politiattester
* Politiets helikoptertjeneste (HT)
* Politireserven
* Ranks
* Royal Police Escort
* SRGP
* Utrykningsenhetene

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