In accordance with Fisheries Control Notice, Extraordinary Gazette No. 221 of September 2022 issued under section 19(1) (a) and (b) of the Fisheries Ordinance, 2021, the Marine Enforcement Section would like to remind all fishers of the upcoming closed season for Lobster Fishing.
The landing or retention of the following species within the fisheries limits is prohibited during the period commencing Tuesday 01 October 2024 and ending Friday 31 December 2024:
Brown Spiny Lobster (Panulirus Echinatus)
Stump Lobster (Scyllarides Obtusus)
Any Brown Spiny Lobster (Panulirus Echinatus) or Stump Lobster (Scyllarides Obtusus) caught as bycatch during this period must be returned immediately to the sea and any bycatch so returned will not be considered to have been caught in breach of this notice.
A person who contravenes a fishing control notice commits an offence under section 72(2) of the Fisheries Ordinance, 2021 and is liable on summary conviction to a maximum fine of £25,000.
For further information please contact Kelly Jonas, Marine Enforcement Officer, by telephone on 25947, or via email through kelly.jonas@sainthelena.go.sh.
Stoptober, the annual campaign to help people quit smoking, is back. This year, the campaign is urging smokers in St Helena to join millions of others worldwide who have successfully quit smoking. Because smoking is a major public health concern, causing 7 million deaths annually, quitting smoking is one of the most effective ways to improve your health and reduce the risk of serious illnesses.
Stoptober encourages smokers to commit to quitting for the month of October. By quitting for 28 days, participants are five times more likely to quit for good. The benefits of quitting smoking are numerous, including improved physical health, better breathing, and increased financial savings.
Stoptober offers a variety of free resources to support smokers on their quitting journey, including:
Behaviour change support
Information about the quitting process
To access these free resources contact SmokeFree St Helena by telephone on 25863 or via email through smokefree@sainthelena.gov.sh.
Minister Martin Henry commented:
“Let’s be honest; stopping smoking is tough, especially if it’s now a part of your daily routine, your way of stress relief, and forms part of your social circles – I know this personally. We understand this and that’s why we have a service and team dedicated to supporting you. The first step on your journey is to make that call.”
Isaac Greentree has graduated with a First-Class Honours degree in Computer Systems and Networks Engineering from Southampton Solent University.
During his studies, Isaac excelled in both theoretical and practical aspects of his coursework. He particularly enjoyed the industrial consulting project, where he worked with real companies to provide solutions to real-world problems. His project involved designing and implementing a comprehensive telematic monitoring system for the Timsbury Ship Handling Centre, which helped instructors analyse client manoeuvres and predict battery health.
For his dissertation, Isaac focused on the use of IoT (Internet of Things) for early detection of wildfires and environmental monitoring. IoT is like a network of smart devices that can talk to each other over the internet. These devices have sensors that collect information from the real world, and they can do things automatically or be controlled from far away. IoT is used in many different ways and is a growing technology that has the potential to make our lives easier and more efficient.
Isaac’s research led to the development of a successful prototype that is currently deployed on St Helena for data collection. His work on this project earned him recognition from his dissertation supervisor and a recommendation for a postgraduate start-up business grant.
Isaac also represented St Helena at the 11th Commonwealth Youth Parliament (CYP11) conference in Trinidad and Tobago and was selected to participate in the European Innovation Academy in Portugal. At the latter event, he worked with students from top universities around the world to develop bespoke GPS tracking solutions for skiers.
Upon graduating, Isaac expressed his gratitude to his parents and sponsors for their support throughout his studies. He is now working on finalising a business plan for his next venture, which will build upon his dissertation research and provide a comprehensive low-power wide-range environmental monitoring system.
Interim Director of the Employment, Skills and Employment Portfolio, Marie Horton commented:
“Isaac’s achievements are a testament to his hard work, dedication, and talent. His contributions to the field of technology and his commitment to St Helena Island are inspiring. Well done, Isaac!”
In September, St Helena Government invited the public to participate in the Draft Data Protection Policy consultation process. Opportunities for feedback were provided through public meetings, stakeholder engagement sessions, and by written submission.
The public are reminded that the closing date for written feedback is Friday 04 October 2024. Your input is essential in developing a comprehensive and effective policy.
Minister for Health and Social Care, Martin Henry, will be off island for an overseas visit from Saturday, 28 September to Saturday, 19 October 2024. A key highlight of this trip will be his attendance at the Blue Planet Alliance (BPA) conference in Honolulu, Hawaii, from Sunday, 6 to Friday, 11 October.
The invitation to the BPA conference stems from a professional relationship Minister Henry formed with Senior Director at BPA, Amanda Ellis, during a previous Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) visit to Ghana. Amanda, shared a common vision with Minister Henry regarding health, the environment, and the transition to renewable energy.
The week-long BPA conference will offer island leaders from around the world the opportunity to learn from experts and share experiences in the pursuit of a 100% renewable energy future. The conference and all associated travel expenses will be fully covered for participating delegates by the BPA.
St Helena will be represented by a delegation comprising Minister Henry, Janet Lawrence (CEO of Connect), David de Casseres (from the St Helena Utilities Regulatory Authority), and Helena Bennett (from the National Trust).
Minister Henry’s participation in the conference is in line with SHG’s priorities of developing renewable energy and water security plans. These plans aim to protect the environment while ensuring affordable access to essential resources.
Minister Henry’s visit to the Blue Planet Alliance conference is a significant step towards St Helena’s commitment to a sustainable and environmentally friendly future.
While off island, Minister Henry will also be utilising his time in London after the conference to conduct government business with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
Minister Jeffrey Ellick will be responsible for the Health and Social Care Portfolio in Minister Henry’s absence and can be contacted by email via jeffrey.ellick@sainthelena.gov.sh.
The Royal St Helena Police (RSHP) Service and the Customer Service Centre (CSC) are working together to ensure public safety and compliance with licensing regulations. Together, the RSHP and CSC wish to remind the community of their responsibility to ensure that all licences are renewed promptly.
Effective immediately, the CSC will no longer provide reminders of renewal dates for the following licences:
Driver’s Licence
Vehicle Licence
Dog Licence
Firearms Licence
It is the sole responsibility of the licence holder to keep track of expiration dates and renew their licences accordingly. Failure to renew licences and subsequent offenses will be investigated and addressed accordingly and may result in penalties and legal consequences.
The RSHP Service urges the community to ensure the following:
All drivers must possess a valid driver’s licence that corresponds to the type of vehicle they are operating.
Vehicles must be registered and have a valid vehicle licence. Additionally, vehicles should be maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition and comply with all relevant regulations.
All vehicle owners must have valid insurance coverage. This ensures that both the vehicle and any drivers using the vehicle are protected in case of accidents or incidents.
Firearms must be licenced and used only within the specified conditions.
Dogs must be licenced as required by local regulations.
For more information or to renew your licences, please contact the Customer Service Centre by telephone on 22008 or visit the Customer Services Centre, Post Office Building, Main Street, Jamestown.
The MV Karoline is scheduled to arrive at James Bay at 06:00 on Monday 30 September 2024. Weather permitting, the vessel will dock alongside Rupert’s Jetty and cargo operations will commence as soon as practicable.
The public are therefore advised that Jamestown Port and the whole of lower Rupert’s including the beach area will be closed from 06:00 on Monday 30 September 2024 until all cargo operations are completed.
Access to these areas will be strictly prohibited and will be limited to those who have made prior arrangements with St Helena Port Control.
Boat owners and operators are advised that mooring on the ‘span’ mooring rope near the landing steps at Jamestown Wharf is prohibited for the duration of cargo operations.
The public are thanked in advance for their patience and co-operation.
Minister for Treasury and Economic Development Mark Brooks, Financial Secretary Dax Richards, and Director of Economic Development Damian Burns will depart St Helena on Saturday 28 September 2024.
Minister Brooks, Dax and Damian will be travelling to Gibraltar from 01 to 04 October 2024, to meet with officials from the Government of Gibraltar, Gibraltar Finance, Gibraltar International Bank, and the Gibraltar Financial Intelligence Unit. The purpose of the visit is to continue to explore joint working between St Helena and Gibraltar on a number of topics – including banking, financial services regulation and enforcement, and other areas of shared interest.
Joining the delegation will be Chair of the St Helena Financial Services Regulatory Authority, Chris Mead, and Chair of the Bank of St Helena, Michael Bird.
From 06 to 10 October, Minister Brooks and the Financial Secretary will be in Brussels attending the Green Overseas (GO) conference on Climate Finance. The GO conference will provide an opportunity for unlocking climate finance for Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT’s) with the aim to contribute to the sustainable, resilient and inclusive development of the OCT’s. For St Helena, particular focus will be on finding potential funding partners for the renewable energy project which is entering the final stages of the design and modelling work.
Damian will also represent St Helena at the Africa Financial Services Investment Conference (AFSIC) Investing in Africa Conference and Expo 2024, which will be taking place in London between 07 and 09 October 2024, accompanied by Head of Tourism, Matthew Joshua.
AFSIC provides a summit for countries to present their upcoming projects and investment opportunities to leading institutional investors, grow their network, and promote their product. This event will provide St Helena with a platform to connect with parties with significant interest in investment, business, and trade opportunities in the Africa region. Areas of focus for the team will be hospitality, digital infrastructure, high-value agriculture, and financial services.
Damian will further use his time in London to meet with key stakeholders, including colleagues at the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office.
Minister Brooks and the Financial Secretary will return to St Helena on Saturday 12 October 2024. Damian will return on 02 November, following a period of annual leave.
In the Minister’s absence, the responsibility for the Treasury and Economic Development Portfolios will be handed to Chief Minister Julie Thomas for any urgent issues. Minister Brooks can still be contactable by email on mark.brooks@sainthelena.gov.sh.
The trip is being funded through a combination of the EDF11 Programme, Financial Services and Company Registry Development Programme, and the Economic Development recurrent budget.
St Helena Government (SHG) is pleased to announce the appointment of Councillor Gillian Brooks as the new Children’s Champion. Councillor Brooks will take over the role previously held by Rosemary Bargo.
As Children’s Champion, Councillor Brooks will be dedicated to advocating for the rights and well-being of children and young people in our community, aligning with the SHG National Outcome ‘Altogether Better for Children and Young People’. She will work closely with local organisations, schools, and families to ensure that children have access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.
Councillor Brooks will be responsible for a variety of initiatives, including:
Promoting children’s rights and well-being
Ensuring that children have access to quality education and healthcare
Supporting families and caregivers
Working to prevent child abuse and neglect
Advocating for policies and legislation that benefit children
Commenting on her new appointment, Councillor Brooks said:
“I am honoured to take on this important role and the great responsibility that comes with it, in particular when decisions are made that affect our children. I look forward to playing my part in improving the lives of children, no matter their circumstances”.
For further information please contact the Legislative Council Office at 22590 or email Councillor Brooks directly through Councillor.Gbrooks@helanta.co.sh.
St Helena Government (SHG) and Airlink are pleased to announce a special promotion on flights between South Africa and St Helena.
Return flights starting at *£640 / ZAR14 820.00 will be available for sale from today, Tuesday 24 September 2024, through to Saturday 30 March 2025, for travel over the same time period. A limited number of seats at these prices will be available per flight, with availability dependent on demand.
Flights operate between South Africa and St Helena on a weekly basis by Airlink. Mid-week flights will operate between Johannesburg and St Helena between December 2024 and February 2025. Saturday flights will operate between Cape Town and St Helena from December 2024 to March 2025.
Tickets for travel between South Africa and St Helena are available online via Airlink’s website at www.flyairlink.com and through all IATA travel agents.
For residents of St Helena, tickets can be purchased via Solomon & Company (St Helena) Plc’s Shipping & Travel Agency at the Malabar in Jamestown. Passengers can visit the Shipping & Travel Agency in person or contact them via email through travelagent@solomons.co.sh or by telephone on 22523.
Minister for Treasury and Economic Development, Mark Brooks commented:
“Tourism is the largest contributor to St Helena’s economy after financial assistance from the UK, and this government is committed to taking action to support the recovery of the industry post-Covid.”
“The Economic Development Team will continue to work with Airlink to ensure we manage the air service in a way that benefits the island and supports our needs, now and into the future.”
“Through regular engagement with stakeholders, both local and international, we are constantly testing, reviewing, and innovating the way we promote St Helena, ensuring that the island is accessible as possible, in order to maximise visitor numbers and the benefits that tourists bring to our island.”
