Category: News

The Liberated African Advisory Committee (LAAC) is proud to announce the launch of The Portrait Gallery- Stories of the Face, an exhibition commemorating the third anniversary of the reburial of Liberated Africans at Rupert’s Valley. The exhibition officially opened on Friday, 2 August 2025, and is a collaboration between Assistant Professor Andreana Cunningham, Boston University, the Museum of St Helena, and the St Helena National Trust, with support from the St Helena Tourist Office.

The exhibition features powerful portraits of three individuals from the Rupert’s Valley burial ground, created by Saint/Saint-descended artists in collaboration with a bioarchaeologist (who studies skeletal remains of the historic past). These portraits are a result of a unique process that merges scientific accuracy with artistic interpretation. Using methods of facial reconstruction traditionally used in forensic identification, the artists have brought to life what these individuals may have looked like, offering a poignant and personal way to honour their memory.

The Portrait Gallery highlights the importance of using both science and art to understand and commemorate the past. It shows that the act of creating a portrait can be a meaningful and respectful way to give a face to those who were once forgotten. The exhibition serves as a powerful reminder of the history of the Liberated Africans on St Helena and the significance of their final resting place.

Helena Bennett, Director of the St Helena National Trust and Chairperson of the LAAC, commented:

“This exhibition is a testament to the collaborative spirit of St Helena and our shared commitment to preserving our history. By blending art and science, we are able to connect with these individuals on a deeply human level by giving them an identity and ensuring their stories are told.”

The Portrait Gallery is open to the public at the Museum of St Helena in Jamestown until 30 August 2025. The exhibition is an essential part of the ongoing efforts to honour the history and legacy of the Liberated Africans of St Helena.

Photos

Collaborators in the project (left to right): Assistant Professor and bioarchaeologist Andreana Cunningham, artist and St Helena Tourist Office representative – Sophia Joshua, SHNT representatives and LAAC members Shelley Magellan-Wade and Helena Bennett, artist Anna Henry, Museum of St Helena Director Adam Sizeland and artist Sophie Gresswell

Artists who participated in the project: Craig Peters, Sophia Joshua, Sophie Gresswell, Andreana Cunningham and Anna Henry

Attendees at the launch viewing the exhibition

Some of the artwork on display

#StHelena #MuseumofStHelena #LiberatedAfricans

www.facebook.com/StHelenaGovt/

www.x.com/StHelenaGovt

A paediatric first aid course was recently held at the Sea Rescue Base in Rupert’s, run by Rae Dickie-Clark and Armand Brits, both Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) within the Ambulance Service.

The term ‘Paediatric First Aid’ is used to refer to the skills and knowledge required to provide effective first aid to children, which is anyone under the age of 16. The course was free of charge and was open to parents, grandparents and carers so they could better respond to a child in distress if needed. The course covered recognition of life-threatening conditions, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for infant and child, choking, how to recognise the signs of concussion, burns and the use of an AED.

Michael Gaga-Hale, Emergency Operations Manager, said:

“I’m really pleased that our team volunteered to deliver the Paediatric First Aid Course. Education is just as vital as emergency response as it equips people with the knowledge to recognise when help is needed and gives them the confidence to provide basic care before an ambulance arrives. That early action can make a real difference in outcomes, especially in paediatric emergencies where time is critical and people often feel very distressed.

This course gives members of the public the chance to learn practical skills, ask questions, and build their understanding of what to do in an emergency. It also gives us, as an ambulance service, the chance to connect with the community in a different way. We’re able to answer their concerns, build trust, and break down barriers between the public and emergency services.

Taking up opportunities like this is important. It supports prevention, strengthens our relationship with the community, and helps people feel more prepared and confident to act when it matters most. Thank you to those who attended, and to the EMTs who gave up their free time to deliver the course.”

Anel O’Bey, Deputy Emergency Planning Manager, thanked everyone who took part in the day. Emergency Planning is looking forward to continue organising similar courses in the near future, which will further increase the island’s response capacity.

Photos

Participants and trainers at the course

EMT, Rae Dickie-Clark demonstrating care on a dummy baby

Rae, demonstrating how to respond to a person in distress due to choking

Rae and fellow EMT, Armand Brits, demonstrating how to use an AED

Armand, instructing trainees how to deliver CPR on an infant using a dummy

www.facebook.com/StHelenaGovt/

www.x.com/StHelenaGovt

The Governor’s Office is pleased to announce that Mansiel Falqueza has been awarded a Chevening Scholarship.  Mansiel has been accepted at the Coventry University to study for a Master’s degree in Nursing for a period of one year.

Mansiel has worked as a Staff Nurse at the General Hospital since 2019 and has recently covered Oncology.

Mansiel stated

“As I prepare to embark on my MSc in Nursing at Coventry University, I am eager to immerse myself in a programme that focuses on contemporary perspectives of care, nursing issues, research and leadership. More than anything, I look forward to connecting with fellow scholars in the healthcare sector, exchanging insights, and sharing aspirations. Chevening’s extraordinary global network offers a unique platform to build lasting relationships, foster collaboration, and inspire collective change—an opportunity I am deeply honoured to be part of.”

Chevening Scholarships are fully funded by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office and partner organisations and offers first class a study in the UK.

The Chevening programme is aimed at developing leaders and influencers, and those who want to make positive change in their community/country.  Chevening allows individuals to grow personally and professionally, through a programme of bespoke events and activities, whilst gaining a prestigious and internationally recognised qualification. Over 1000 scholarships have been awarded this year worldwide.

Applications are now open for the next round of scholarships and will close on 7 October 2025.  

For more information on applying visit www.chevening.org or alternatively contact Kerry Lane, Chevening Officer in the Governor’s Office at Kerry.Lane@fcdo.gov.uk

Photo :

Successful Candidate – Mansiel Falqueza

Governor’s Office, St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

5 August 2025

The St Helena Government (SHG) is responding to recent media queries regarding the activities of the fishing vessel, St Albatros, which has been operating within St Helena’s fisheries. This statement is issued to provide clarity on the vessel’s licensing and to update the public on the status of its operations and recent reports.

The St Albatros is licensed to undertake both commercial and exploratory fishing in St Helena’s waters. The vessel was fishing under the terms of a licence issued by the Chief Fisheries Officer. Under the provisions of the Fisheries Ordinance 2021, it is possible for a foreign vessel to obtain a licence.

As part of SHG’s oversight procedures, an SHG Fisheries Observer was on board the St Albatros, throughout its recent fishing trip, maintaining daily communication with our Marine Enforcement Section.

One of the conditions of the fishing licence requires the vessel to have a fully functioning Automatic Identification System (AIS) in place to aid the tracking and identification of the vessel whilst at sea. The St Albatros is equipped with an AIS, however on the return of the vessel from fishing, the vessel owner advised SHG the vessel had being experiencing problems with its AIS during its fishing trip which impacted its ability to be tracked during the entire trip. As a result, he would be seeking guidance on its repair before undertaking any further fishing

Following the completion of the fishing trip, the vessel owner and Vessel Registry Authority in SA advised SHG that the St Albatros had been de-registered in SA at the request of the vessel owner. As part of this de-registration process, the vessel’s owner is required to remove all previous registry status from the vessel’s GPS, AIS, and other transmitting systems, as well as the physical registry markings on the vessel itself. This is a critical step to ensure the vessel is not interpreted as claiming to be flagged to a country where it is no longer registered.

We have received reports concerning potential breaches of international maritime law by the St Albatros and are looking into the matter. To ensure a comprehensive and impartial review, we are seeking expert advice from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) in the UK.

We are committed to protecting our marine environment and upholding international standards, and we will keep the public informed of the findings of the investigation when they become available.

#StHelena #Maritime #Fisheries

www.facebook.com/StHelenaGovt/

www.x.com/StHelenaGovt

St Helena Secondary School today announced an upcoming refresh and relaunch of its house system, set to officially launch in September 2026. This development was shared with students this morning during a special assembly led by Physical Education (PE) Teacher, Mrs Christine Caswell.

The current house system, comprising Cavendish, Dutton, Jenkins, and Mundens, has been a long-standing tradition fostering team spirit and community within the school. However, with the current student body numbering fewer than 200, challenges have arisen in forming competitive teams for sports and other house-based activities.

To address these challenges and ensure a more balanced and engaging experience for all students, the Senior Leadership Team, with support from the PE teachers, proposed a reduction in the number of houses from four to three. This proposal has been approved by the Portfolio Advisory Board. Rather than simply eliminating one of the existing houses, the school will introduce three entirely new houses.

The transition will involve a comprehensive student-led process to select new house names and mascots. Students will actively participate in this decision-making over the coming weeks, with their ideas shaping the identity of the new houses.

The Portfolio Advisory Board has committed to supporting this transition, generously agreeing to provide every student with a new house t-shirt free of charge, along with other branded items like banners, to help cultivate pride and identity within the new house structure.

The upcoming academic year (2025–2026) will be the final year for the current house system, with students continuing to participate in events under Cavendish, Dutton, Jenkins, and Mundens. Ahead of the September 2026 launch, all students will be allocated to one of the new houses, with careful consideration given to sporting ability to ensure balanced and fair teams.

The school believes this refresh will be a positive step forward, enhancing student engagement and fostering a strong sense of community within the new house system.

#StHelena #AltogetherBetterForChildren&YoungPeople

www.facebook.com/StHelenaGovt/

www.x.com/StHelenaGovt