Category: News

St Helena joins the global aviation community in celebrating International Civil Aviation Day. This day highlights the critical role of international civil aviation connecting the world and driving social and economic development, especially in a geographically challenged territory such as St Helena.

To mark this special occasion on St Helena, travellers are reminded of the promotional return fares currently running until March 2025.

St Helena Government’s (SHG) Civil Aviation and Tourism Office continue to work closely with St Helena’s Air Service Provider, Airlink, and international communications and marketing firms on promoting the route and the island as a destination.  A flight fare promotion is currently running through to end March 2025, for return flights starting at £640 / ZAR14, 820.00.  This flight promotion is intended to stimulate more demand on flights also benefitting the island economy.

Today, 07 December, we honour the incredible achievements and advancements in aviation that have connected our world like never before.  From the pioneering flights of the early 20th century to today’s cutting-edge technology, aviation has transformed how we travel, trade, and communicate.  This day is a tribute to the visionaries, engineers, pilots, and all the dedicated professionals who ensure the safety and efficiency of air travel globally and to St Helena.

Let’s celebrate the spirit of innovation and the boundless possibilities that aviation brings to our global community.

#StHelena #InternationalCivilAviationDay  

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A public meeting will be held on Wednesday, 11 December 2024, at Half Tree Hollow Community Centre at 19:00 to discuss the ongoing review of St Helena’s governance and ministerial system introduced in 2021.

This review, commissioned by the Legislative Council, supported by the Governor and the UK Government, aims to assess whether the effectiveness of constitutional changes made in 2021 are delivering good governance—ensuring efficiency, transparency and accountability for St Helena under a ministerial form of government.

The Review Panel consists of Dr Ronan Cormacain, Mr Steven Tweedie and Lord Robert Lisvane. Dr Cormacain and Mr Tweedie are currently visiting the island for two weeks and will be hosting the public meeting.

This public meeting will provide an opportunity for the panel to briefly state what their mission is on island and, more importantly, to hear directly from residents of St Helena. The panel wants to understand what is working well and what isn’t under the current ministerial system.

In addition to this public meeting, the panel is carrying out a range of interviews with various stakeholders during their time on St Helena. These conversations, along with input from the public, will inform a draft report to be produced in January 2025. The panel will return to St Helena to receive feedback on the draft and facilitate the preparation of the final report of findings, which will be presented to the Legislative Council. The panel is determined to consult widely and an important part of this is the opportunity for the community to speak directly to the panel.

Dr Cormacain commented that the panel did not want to hear from only those within the government structures but was keen to hear from the public generally. Mr Tweedie noted that it is also important to understand that the panel’s deliberations are focused on:

• the structures of government,
• the ministerial system, and
• the division of responsibilities between the different branches of government, such as the Governor, Executive Council, Legislative Council, and public service.

The panel will not be able to deal with matters that fall outside of this scope (for example, the merits of individual decisions taken by the government).

There is no need to confirm attendance—just come along and share your views. Should you be unable to attend or prefer to share views privately, the team can be reached by email: StHelenaGovernanceReview@gmail.com This email is only accessible to the review team themselves and comments can be made in confidence.

#StHelena #MinisterialSystem #ConstitutionalChanges

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The Health and Social Care Portfolio (HSC) is excited to announce the launch of a new, advanced optometry service, marking a significant milestone in eye care for our community.

Up until now St Helena relied on annual visits from optometrists, with spectacles taking up to four months to arrive. Now, under the guidance of optometrist Stephanie van Dyk and supported by South Africa’s renowned Spectacle Warehouse, we are transitioning to a digital-driven approach that will revolutionise how eye care is delivered on the island.

An initial visit, running from 30 November to 09 December 2024, will focus on setting up the infrastructure and technical aspects of the service. During this visit, 100 consultation slots have been allocated, and future visits are planned to accommodate up to 200 patients. With three to four visits a year planned, patients can expect quicker, more frequent access to professional optometry services. The next visit is expected to take place in March 2025.

Key highlights of the service include:

• Digital eye testing equipment: The clinic is now equipped with an auto-refractor, a phoropter (an instrument that measures the eye’s refractive error to help determine an eye prescription), digital screens for vision testing, and tools for measuring eye pressures.
• Fast, accurate spectacle manufacturing: Using a digital ordering platform, spectacles, and hopefully contact lenses, can now be manufactured and delivered in just two to four weeks, and details regarding payment methods and initial setup elements will be addressed during this initial visit to ensure service efficiency going forward.
• Expanded Frame Selection: A diverse range of spectacle styles and sunglasses is available, with plans to refine and expand the selection based on patient preferences.

This new service aims to provide high-quality, reliable eye care tailored to the needs of St Helena’s community. The partnership with Spectacle Warehouse ensures access to expertise and technology that will support the island’s long-term eye health and well-being.

The HSC and Spectacle Warehouse are committed to delivering excellent optometry services, ensuring a brighter, clearer future for all St Helena residents.

Please note that no changes have been made to the cost of individual appointments. The standard charge for an appointment is £7.70.

#StHelena #OptometryService #AltogetherHealthier

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The primary schools will be hosting their annual Swimming Gala on Friday, 06 December 2024 commencing from approximately 09:45 to 14:00 at the Jamestown Swimming Pool. All parents, carers, and members of the public are invited to attend. However, as space within the pool is limited, priority will be given to parents/carers. There is also limited seating and shade available. The proprietor of the pool has kindly asked that no take-away food is brought on to the premises.

As this is a school event, the primary schools would appreciate if all spectators could kindly adhere to the following conditions in the interests of the safety of the children:

• Pets will not be allowed.
• Only the appointed marshals, helpers, and School Team Leaders will have access around the immediate area of the pool.
• Only school appointed photographers will be allowed to photograph the event –filming on mobile phones will not be allowed.
• Smoking and alcohol is restricted at the pool for this event. Persons wishing to smoke must do so outside of the pool area, and away from all students.
• All litter is to be placed into the bins provided.

Please note, if parents/guardians wish to transport their children home after the event, they are asked to ensure that they make the respective Head Teacher of the school or the child’s class teacher aware of this on the day so that all children can be accounted for.

We look forward to your support in making this a successful day for our children.

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SHG is pleased to announce that the technical difficulties experienced with the email domain ‘sainthelena.gov.sh’ this week have been resolved. Emails sent to or from this domain are now being delivered and received.

SHG thanks the public for their patience and understanding whilst the SHG IT Section worked to resolve the issue and restore full email functionality.

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SHG is currently experiencing technical difficulties with the email domain ‘sainthelena.gov.sh’. This means emails sent to or from this domain address are currently not being delivered or received.

Our IT Section are working to resolve the issue and restore full functionality. In the meantime, we encourage the public to use alternative methods for contacting Portfolios within SHG such as published telephone numbers or where there are alternative ‘helanta.co.sh’ email addresses.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank the public for their patience during this time. Updates will be provided as and when they become available.

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The public are advised that due to the additional Airlink flights starting from Tuesday 3 December 2024, there will be a reduced service provided from the Customs and Immigration Offices in Jamestown.

During Tuesday flight days only, Immigration enquiries by telephone are recommended and Customs will be open for the clearance of merchant cargo only. 

Contact telephone numbers are: 22287 / 25987 / 25988 / 22236.

The public are thanked in advance for their understanding and cooperation.

#StHelena #Airlinkflights

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In October and November 2024, St Helena took a stand against gender-based violence with a series of impactful events, including radio interviews, a school assembly at Prince Andrew School (PAS), a community bike cruise and White Walk Parade through Jamestown. The campaign culminated in a symbolic white rose bush planting ceremony on Monday 25 November to commemorate White Ribbon Day and mark the start of the 16 Days of Activism.

Attending the closing ceremony in The Castle Gardens were His Excellency Governor Nigel Phillips, Deputy Chief Minister Jeffrey Ellick, Ministers Mark Brooks and Martin Henry, Councillors Gillian Brooks and Robert Midwinter, Chief Secretary Susan O’Bey, representatives of St Helena Youth Parliament Zac Bargo and Shanice Phillips, Equality and Human Rights Commission CEO/Commissioner Catherine Turner and members of the public.

A flag was raised at the Royal St Helena Police (RSHP) headquarters during the White Walk. The flag will remain hoisted until International Human Rights Day on 10 December.

Generous donations amounting to £101.62 were made by the public. These donations will be deposited into the Women Issues St Helena (WISH) charity account and banked for use in future campaigns. Solomon and Company also generously donated the printing of the banners used in this year’s campaign.

The White Ribbon Working Group extend their thanks and appreciation to their co-ordinator Deborah Knipe and everyone who supported the White Ribbon Campaign 2024.

Photos

Participants of the Bike Cruise.

Detective Constable Joshua Deville led the Bike Cruise from the seafront to Francis Plain and back.

White Rose Bush planted at the Castle Gardens.

Elected Members showing their support.

White Ribbon Parade through Jamestown.

#StHelena #SpeakUpandSpeakOutAgainstDomesticAbuse #ItStartsWithMEn

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As previously communicated, work is now progressing to develop a contingency plan in the event of any migrants arriving in the British Indian Overseas Territories (BIOT) who are then brought to St Helena. 

A team of officials from the FCDO and the Home Office spent a productive and successful week on island from Saturday 9 November 2024.  The focus of their visit was to work with key personnel and agencies on island to develop a Contingency Plan, establish Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for key areas within the plan, and identify any training needs and local resource requirements. 

As a part of this planning, SHG is seeking to establish a register of rental properties to accommodate any migrants who may eventually come to St Helena, and will shortly be inviting registrations from the private sector.   

The public will kept informed periodically of any updates on this mutual arrangement between SHG and UKG, and on how the £6.65m provided as part of this agreement is being spent for the benefit of St Helena. As agreed in the MOU, in addition to this one off £6.65m, UKG will fund additional costs incurred under this arrangement for preparation activities and in the event of any arrivals.