Norma Edwards

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]

The Honourable

Norma Edwards

OBE
Member of the Falkland Islands Legislative Council
for Camp
In office
12 October 1989 – 17 November 2005
Succeeded byRichard Stevens
Member of the Falkland Islands Legislative Council
for Stanley
In office
3 October 1985 – 1987
Succeeded byTerry Betts
Personal details
NationalityFalkland Islander
Political partyNonpartisan
Spouse(s)Roger Edwards
ChildrenEmma, 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
  1. "Norma Edwards OBE". The Falkland Islands Association. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  2. "Argentine architects hope for early Memorial siteing". MercoPress. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  3. Cockwell, Jenny. "Our Islands, Our Home" (PDF). Falkland Islands Government.
  4. "Hon. Emma Edwards". The Falkland Islands Government. Archived from the original on 2010-12-16.
  5. "FI Gazette LEC/20/8". Jane Cameron National Archives. 1985.
  6. "News in Brief" (PDF) (90). Penguin News. 30 January 1987: 11.
  7. "Penguin News". Jane Cameron National Archives. 13 October 1989.
  8. "Royal Honour for Falklands' Champion". MercoPress. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  9. "Letter: Proudly British". The Independent. 1999-03-21. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  10. "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.
  11. "Hon. Roger Edwards". The Falkland Islands Government. Archived from the original on 2010-12-16.
  12. "Birthday Honours List — United Kingdom" (PDF). The London Gazette. 2006-06-17.
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