Georgeland Poet Laureate

The Georgeland Poet Laureate is the official poet of the United Islands of Georgeland, appointed by the government. Officially the Poet Laureate's position involves composing poetry to mark important State and Government occasions. In practice, however, the position has tended to be an honorary one, with few if any real duties. The position is usually given to a noteworthy figure in Georgeland poetry or literature in honour of their contributions.

History

The first Poet Laureate for Georgeland was appointed in 1932 when President Victor Martin appointed George Solis, a noted war poet who had published volumes of poetry about his experiences during World War I as an unofficial poet laureate and awarded him the Order of Georgeland. The following year, Parliament amended the Presidential Appointments Act 1930 to add a Poet Laureate to the list of official appointees that could be made by the President, thus legitimising Solis's appointment. The Act made no provision for duties or benefits to the office holder, and the Act still does not entitle the holder to any special benefits or denote any duties. From the mid-1960s, the Poet Laureate has tended to be appointed by the President with the consultation or on the recommendation of Parliament, usually through a Parliamentary Motion.

Appointment

Since the position is largely honorary, no formal procedure exists for the naming of a Poet Laureate, nor is there any legal requirement for one to be named at all. By convention the appointment is made by the President based on a recommendation from Parliament, but the President is legally empowered to name a Poet Laureate (or several) without recourse to Parliament. The Poet Laureate has no term of office and all have served a lifetime appointment. The Poet Laureate can theoretically resign his position, but none have done so. There have been several periods in which there has been no Poet Laureate and from 1974 until 1977 there were two simultaneously.

Controversies

• The appointment of John Payne as Poet Laureate in 1971 was contraversial because of Payne's early work, both poetic and prose, in which he had supported the Soviet Union. Payne had been a member of the Communist Party of Georgeland during World War II and was denied an entry visa to the United States in the mid-1950s, though he was later granted one. Payne's appointment created a minor scandal and the opposition Conservatives attempted to move for Payne's dismissal but nothing came of it and Payne served until his death.

List of Poets Laureate

1. George Solis (b. 1884 d. 1948) 1932-1948
2. Lester Fine (b. 1871 d. 1955) 1951-1955
3. Walter Kimmell (b. 1902 d. 1966) 1957-1966
4. John Payne (b. 1895 d. 1977) 1971-1977
5. Duncan McKellar (b. 1904 d. 1982) 1974-1982
6. Frances Mallory Nixon (b. 1908 d. 2010) 1985-2010