Norma Edwards OBE is a Falkland Islands politician. She served for two decades on the Falkland Islands Legislative Council[1] and has been described as a "noted hard-liner" in opposition to Argentine control of the islands.[2]
Norma Edwards | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Falkland Islands Legislative Council for Camp | |
| In office 12 October 1989 – 17 November 2005 | |
| Succeeded by | Richard Stevens |
| Member of the Falkland Islands Legislative Council for Stanley | |
| In office 3 October 1985 – 1987 | |
| Succeeded by | Terry Betts |
| Personal details | |
| Nationality | Falkland Islander |
| Political party | Nonpartisan |
| Spouse | Roger Edwards |
| Children | Emma, Rebecca |
Edwards is a native Falkland Islander, the fourth generation born on the islands.[3] She pursued her early schooling there before leaving for the United Kingdom, where she trained as a nurse.[1] She lived for a time in Portsmouth, England, where her daughters Emma and Rebecca were born, before returning to the Falklands with her family after the 1982 war.[4]
She was first elected to the Falkland Islands Legislative Council to represent Stanley in 1985, the first election after the islands' 1985 constitution came into force.[5] She resigned from that post in 1987,[6] and in 1989 she returned to the council as a representative of the Camp constituency, a position she held until her retirement in 2005.[7][8]
Edwards has advocated in favor of the Falkland Islands' right to self-determination, in opposition to Argentina's claim to the islands.[1][9] She was a fierce opponent of the 1999 Anglo-Argentine joint agreement[8] and offered testimony to the United Nations in favor of the British side of the dispute.[10]
Her husband, Roger Edwards, whom she married in 1970,[1] is a current member of the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly. The couple has lived on and run a farm on West Falkland since 1986.[11] Her daughter Emma Edwards also served on the Legislative Assembly from 2009 until 2011. Her younger daughter, Rebecca, is the first-ever female physician from the Falklands.[3][8]
Edwards was awarded the Order of the British Empire in the 2006 Birthday Honours for "services to the community."[12]
References edit
- ^ a b c d "Norma Edwards OBE". The Falkland Islands Association. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
- ^ "Argentine architects hope for early Memorial siteing". MercoPress. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
- ^ a b Cockwell, Jenny. "Our Islands, Our Home" (PDF). Falkland Islands Government.
- ^ "Hon. Emma Edwards". The Falkland Islands Government. Archived from the original on 2010-12-16.
- ^ "FI Gazette LEC/20/8". Jane Cameron National Archives. 1985.
- ^ "News in Brief" (PDF) (90). Penguin News. 30 January 1987: 11.
- ^ "Penguin News". Jane Cameron National Archives. 13 October 1989.
- ^ a b c "Royal Honour for Falklands' Champion". MercoPress. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
- ^ "Letter: Proudly British". The Independent. 1999-03-21. Archived from the original on 2022-06-21. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
- ^ "SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON DECOLONIZATION REITERATES CALL ON ARGENTINA, UNITED KINGDOM TO RESUME NEGOTIATIONS ON FALKLANDS/MALVINAS ISSUE | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases". www.un.org. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
- ^ "Hon. Roger Edwards". The Falkland Islands Government. Archived from the original on 2010-12-16.
- ^ "Birthday Honours List — United Kingdom" (PDF). The London Gazette. 2006-06-17.