Reports during Chief Islander Ian Lavarello's 2nd Term of Office 2013-2016

Final 2014 UK Meetings

Chief Islander Ian Lavarello joined UK Tristan Government UK Representative Chris Carnegy and UK Adviser Jim Kerr for meetings at JNCC and RSPB offices on 9th December with the main topic being the future eradication of mice on Gough Island.
Photos from Chris Carnegy show -
Left: JNCC's Tara Pelembe with, left to right, Chris Carnegy, Jim Kerr and Ian Lavarello;
Right: Ian with RSPB's Claire Stringer.

Tristan Lobster served for the first time in the UK

Chief Islander Ian Lavarello
at a Reception held in London
on 3rd December 2014 at which
Tristan Lobster was served
for the first time in the UK

See the 2014 JMC Page for more photos and a full report

Ian in London on 3rd and 4th November 2014

to attend important meetings:

See 2014 London JMC
(for Ian's meeting with Andrew Rosindell MP, Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Overseas Territories)

Renewable Energy
(Featuring Ian's attendance at a London Workshop)

and below for a Reception hosted by the UK Overseas Territories Association and attended by Ian.

Chris Bates' photo right shows Ian on Westminster Bridge
with the County Hall and the London Eye behind.

Chief Islander tours Empire Photo Exhibition

featuring life on Tristan

Chief Islander Ian Lavarello toured photographer Jon Tonks' exhibition Empire being staged at the Midland Arts Centre in Birmingham in November 2014.

See report and more photos
on the Tristan News Abroad page.

Tristan Chief Islander applauded in Palace of Westminster

Report from Tristan Government UK Representative Chris Bates

Tristan da Cunha Chief Islander Ian Lavarello was applauded by Parliamentarians, former Governor of Overseas Territories and guests at a reception on Tuesday 4th November 2014 to mark the 20th Anniversary of the UK Overseas Territories Association, of which Tristan is an active member. The event was held in the Palace of Westminster in London, enabling MPs and member of the House of Lords to be present.

Chairman Albert Poggio, Gibraltar's UK Representative, pointed out no-one had travelled further than Ian to be be present – though he did make the point he was in the UK for the Joint Ministerial Conference and for meetings with stakeholders, politicians and civil servants. Mr Poggio was supported by Andrew Rosindell, Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on the Overseas Territories, who said UKOTA had succeeded in raising awareness of the Territories and their contribution to the life of the United Kingdom.

Ian Lavarello said: “I was particularly pleased to be able to thank good friends of Tristan such as the former Overseas Territories Minister, Henry Bellingham and politicians and officials from Gibraltar who have been so supportive of Tristan’s concerns over the harbour and the future of the island. The Territories which are members of UKOTA and their leaders have all supported Tristan's calls for a new or replacement harbour to safeguard the future of our community and it was good to be able to tell so many influential people why this is crucial for us”.

Ian Lavarello with guests at the UKOTA 20th Anniversary Reception in the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Rooms in the Palace of Westminster. Photo: Andrew Mackinlay, HM Government of Gibraltar London office.

Chief Islander's 2014 German Visit

Chief Islander Ian Lavarello returned to Munich in Germany 7th-10th November 2014 to visit his relatives the Leitner family. Mariah Leitner (nee Green) reports that the family took Ian to visit the Royal Palace of King Ludwig II of Bavaria which is situated on an island in the Chiemsee, Bavaria's biggest lake, some 60kms SE of their home in Munich.

Mariah's photos show: Left: Ian in front of the Palace;
Below: Ian with Mariah's husband Marko
and their son Liam outside the palace;
Below left: Ian with Marko and Mariah's daughter Amelia.

We publish a separate birth announcement for Amelia
with photos on our 2014 Family News Page.

Chief Islander Ian Lavarello with Tristan Association Chairman Michael Swales

at Michael's Staffordshire home on 30th October 2014

Photo - Chris Bates

Ian is in the UK to attend a series of meetings
and attend the Joint Ministerial Council and the
Political Council of the UK Overseas Territories Association
in early December 2014.

We publish details of these events
on our 2014 London JMC page.

Chief Islander Ian Lavarello congratulates Alex Mitham

after he was sworn in as
Tristan da Cunha's 22nd Administrator

during a ceremony
at an Island Council Meeting
on 23rd September 2013

Ian Lavarello was elected Chief Islander

for a second consecutive term when he was returned unopposed in February 2013

Photo shows the newly elected Island Council at their first meeting on 11th March 2013.

Front seated at table are Beverley Swain, Administrator Sean Burns, and Chief Islander Ian Lavarello

Back left to right: Emma Swain, Joanne Green, Lorraine Repetto, Leon Glass, Warren Glass, Gerald Repetto, Neil Swain, Geraldine Repetto (Council Clerk)