Administrative divisions of Greenland

The four major municipalities Greenland (Danish: Kommuner, Greenlandic, Come Unia ) are the administrative units of the autonomous territory Greenland. They include, with the exception of the unincorporated areas of Northeast Greenland National Park and Thule Air Base, the entire surface of Greenland.

History

The Municipal Code 1951 cleared the communities still relatively few rights: Unlike Danish municipalities they could levy taxes, schools, hospitals and medical care remained under the supervision of the state. Above all, the communities were controlled by the Danish combing ( kæmnerkontor ): In each municipality, the treasurer ( kæmnerne ) represented the Danish authority, especially in financial matters.

Since the abolition of combing 1975, the Greenlandic municipalities enjoy considerable autonomy about in the levying of taxes. With the attainment of self-government in 1979 they were transferred to other tasks in social, cultural, sporting and educational matters. In 1994, the competencies of the communities have expanded a second time. An important task is the management of the settlements in the municipality.

By 2009, Greenland was divided into 18 municipalities Nanortalik, Qaqortoq, Narsaq, Ivittuut, Paamiut, Nuuk, Maniitsoq, Spring Hill, Kangaatsiaq, Aasiaat, Qasigiannguit, Ilulissat, Qeqertarsuaq, Uummannaq, Upernavik, Ammassalik, Ittoqqortoormiit and Qaanaaq. This is valid until 1 January 2009 border demarcation was as early as 1950, was still under Danish management, defined and officially confirmed by the county council on 30 October 1998. 15 of the municipalities were in the administrative district Kitaa, two in the district and in the district tunu Avannaa.

After the dissolution of the prefectures and the municipalities previous Greenland now consists of four major municipalities Qeqqata Press Office, Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq, Qaasuitsup Press Office and Municipality Kujalleq.

7441 Of the 56 462 inhabitants of Greenland live in Kujalleq 21,559 in Sermersooq, 9684 in Qeqqata and 17,742 in Qaasuitsup Press Office, 189 inhabitants account for the unincorporated areas (as of 1 January 2008).

Management

The local councils are elected for four years and include, depending on the size of the community three to 17 people. Board is the mayor. Same time as the local elections are also held elections of the representatives of the most far-flung settlements. The Representation of the settlements in the municipal councils is regulated by the municipalities individually, either enter the settlement councils meet quarterly. In larger settlements own administrative offices of the municipalities exist. Since 1997, attempts to enhance the role of the municipal councils.

The Greenlandic communities are organized in the community association KANUKOKA ( Kalaallit Nunaanni Kommuneqarfiit Kattuffia ). Its task is to represent the interests of the communities towards self-government in Nuuk.