Category: News

The St Helena and Ascension Island Governments are pleased to announce that air freight charges for St Helena fresh produce will be waivered for business-to-business sales for a six-month trial period beginning in February 2020.

This initiative is being undertaken to strengthen trade between the two Islands, provide a more frequent supply of fresh produce to Ascension alongside local production and imports by sea, and contribute to St Helena’s Sustainable Economic Development Plan goal to increase exports.

Waivered air freight charges will apply to all fruit, vegetables and eggs originating from St Helena destined for Ascension but will not apply to produce originating from elsewhere.

All organisations on Ascension Island that currently sponsor the monthly inter-island charter Airlink flight have generously agreed to this waiver.  Following the trial period the waiver will be reviewed to ascertain its success and whether the offering should be continued.

Air freight from St Helena to Ascension may be arranged by contacting the Travel/Shipping Office on St Helena on (00 290) 22523, or by email: freightagent@solomons.co.sh, by no later than midday on the Thursday before the flight is scheduled to depart.

Should businesses on St Helena wish to supply retailers on Ascension they must contact retailers directly. For more information, please contact SHG’s Agronomist, Edward Whitton, on (00 290) 24724, or via email: edward.whitton@sainthelena.gov.sh.

#StHelena #AscensionIsland #AirFreightChargesWaivered #IncreaseExports #SEDP

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SHG/AIG

6 January 2020

The following is a Public Announcement from the Infrastructure & Transport Directorate:

The Highways Authority has given approval for the road from Rosemary Plain to Bluemans Field to be closed from 9am to 3pm on Tuesday, 14, Wednesday, 15, Tuesday, 21, and Wednesday, 22 January 2020.

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This closure is to allow the Roads Section to carry out slurry works in this area.

During this closure, only emergency services will be granted access.

The public is thanked in advance for their continued support and understanding.

SHG
6 January 2020

The draft Satellite Ground Station Policy is out for public consultation until 4pm on Monday, 13 January 2020.

The document is available online here: www.sainthelena.gov.sh/government/public-consultation/ and hardcopies can also be requested from the Chief Economist, Nicole Shamier, on tel: 22470.

A presentation on the draft Policy will take place on Wednesday, 8 January 2020, from 3-4pm in the Council Chamber at the Castle.

Comments on the draft Policy should be sent to the Chief Economist via email: nicole.shamier@sainthelena.gov.sh by the above deadline. Those wishing to respond to this consultation, can also do so through an online survey at: surveymonkey.com/r/St-Helena-Earth-Stations-Consultation

SHG is developing the Satellite Ground Station Policy for the licencing of Permanent Earth Stations (PES) and Receive Only Earth Stations (ROES) on-Island.

The Licencing Requirements outlined within the draft Policy are not planned to apply to small satellite receivers for domestic use, VSATs, nor antennas on moving platforms of any type. There are also other proposed exemptions.

The Licencing Requirements outlined within the draft Policy are planned to apply to commercial and non-commercial ground station activities and amateur VHF radio users, amongst other applications. If you are an existing licence holder or potential licence holder, we are particularly keen to hear your views on the draft Policy.

#StHelena #GroundStation #EarthStation #Satelliteconnectivity #SEDP

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SHG
6 January 2020

In the midst of the holiday festivities, on Saturday, 21 December 2019, a presentation and reception was held at Plantation House to award and honour five newly recruited Police Constables who successfully passed their Initial Police Training.

The five officers receiving certificates were Police Constables Brittney Coleman, Patsy Green, Charlene John, Genaro Mendoza, and Gererda Gosina Pitlo.

The presentations were made by His Excellency, Governor Dr Philip Rushbrook, and Acting Chief of Police, David Price, with the Officers’ family and friends in attendance.

The eight-week Initial Police Training course covered elements of Law, Personal Safety Training, First Aid, Safeguarding, Taser, Vulnerable Persons Awareness, Interviewing, File Preparation, Probation and the Overseas Territories Regional Criminal Intelligence System (OTRCIS – the crime recording, intelligence and incident management computer system). 

The Police Constables have since commenced their operational duties.

A further presentation was also made to particular staff within the Police Directorate who received commendations as follows:

• Police Sergeant, Mark Morrison (not present), Police Constable, Ruby-Jade Stevens, Detective Constable, Jody Balme, and Police Controller, Joyce Greentree, for the way in which they responded to and dealt with an incident involving a violent male who attacked officers with a large knife and attempted to escape custody
• Police Sergeant, Mark Coombe, for his outstanding achievement in the delivery of training and development to officers and staff of the Police Directorate
• Community Psychiatric Nurse, Ian Rummery (not present), for his outstanding contribution in supporting individuals with Mental Health issues (joint award by the Police and Health Directorates).

#StHelena #StHelenaPolice #PassingOutCeremony #Commendations #AltogetherSafer

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SHG
3 January 2020

Despite a few recent spells of rainfall, the water situation on St Helena remains serious, and consumption must remain as low as possible to help preserve and replenish Island water stocks.

With the increase in visitors and returning residents over this busy period on St Helena, it is important to ensure everyone is aware of our water shortage. The public is encouraged to spread the word to visiting family and friends and ensure they keep water use to essential needs only.

Connect Saint Helena will continue to pump water from Chubb’s Spring and Hutt’s Gate as well as from Fisher’s Valley and Warren’s Gut in the interim.

The public is thanked for their efforts in reducing consumption thus far and are wished a very Happy New Year.

Every drop counts, every action counts – save water now to be safe later

#StHelena #WaterShortage #EveryDropCounts

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St Helena Resilience Forum
31 December 2019

His Excellency Governor Dr Philip Rushbrook is pleased to announce the following New Year Honours 2020:

British Empire Medal (BEM)

Cecil (Lars)  Repetto and Edward (Eddie) Rogers were both nominated for Services to the Community in Tristan da Cunha and have been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM):

Lars Repetto

Lars Repetto was born on 7 December 1937. In 1963 he became part of the Tristan resettlement survey party that was established following the volcanic eruption on Tristan when the community was evacuated to the UK in 1961. The successful survey paved the way for the islanders to return home in November of the same year.

Lars worked at the fish factory as the accountant for the majority of his working life and also took on the unpaid role of island councillor from 1973-1976 and 1979-1982.

Lars has also served the community of Tristan da Cunha for 47 years as a voluntary lay minister in St Marys Anglican Church.

Lars is highly regarded within the community and revels in talking about the Island’s history.  He is known as a friendly, thoughtful and knowledgeable man who is proud to be an islander. 

Edward Rogers

Edward Patrick Rogers was born on 6 September 1945.  Following the eruption of the volcano in 1961 when the community was evacuated to the UK, Eddie worked on ships of the Union-Castle line between Southampton and South Africa.

After his return to Tristan in 1963 Eddie worked in the fish factory as a welder to support the fishermen and the island’s lobster market. He was also a fisherman himself and he remained a loyal employee of the factory until his retirement in 2011. 

Eddie also served the community in the unpaid role of island councillor from 1989 to 1991.

Eddie served the community of Tristan da Cunha in his 47 years of voluntary work as a lay minister in St Marys Anglican Church.

Eddie is well respected by the Island community for his long-standing service to the Island and its people.

Administrator of Tristan da Cunha, Sean Burns, said:

“Both men have served the Tristan community, through their lay ministry duties (and much more besides) for many years. Both the Anglican and Catholic churches on Tristan are embedded into Island life. The recruitment of full-time vicars and priests has been historically very difficult so the duties have invariably fallen to the lay ministers. The church plays an important part of island life providing much needed support to families in times of need. 

Nominate someone for an honour

Honours are awarded to recognise outstanding achievements and service to the community. For example, long-term voluntary service, innovation and entrepreneurship, and improving life for people less able to help themselves.

Anyone can nominate someone for an honour. To find out how you can nominate please visit: https://www.gov.uk/honours or contact the Secretary to the Honours Committee, Linda Benjamin, via: linda.benjamin@sainthelena.gov.sh

#StHelena #TristanDaCunha #NewYearHonours2020 #Congratulations

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SHG

30 December 2019

In Her Majesty’s Christmas message she spoke of 2019 as a ‘bumpy’ year. It is true the UK has had its ups and downs over various public and social issues. Here in the South Atlantic the past year has been bumpy too, though for different reasons. On St Helena the year has had its share of uncertainty with its economy and personal prosperity. The weather has not blessed the Island with sufficient rain and the need to move away from the unsustainable losses in the fishing business is unsettling to all affected.

On Ascension, the community has had to live with a continuing delay in progressing the repairs at Wideawake. This has made planning for the future difficult. One high point, which deservedly received international acclaim, was the designation of a 100% Marine Protected Area around the Island. The bumps in the road for Tristan da Cunha were equally large. Two storms led to destruction of buildings on a scale not seen for decades.

Her Majesty also mentioned that changes and improvements, no matter how small or seemingly unconnected, can build better prospects for the future. We should take this advice to heart in the year ahead. On our Islands there are many changes and improvements starting to emerge that one hopes should see new opportunities for people in 2020 and beyond.

This year not one flight into St Helena Airport has been cancelled or unduly delayed. We can enter 2020 looking to maintain this level of reliability. Tourist numbers are rising. A trend upwards no matter how modest provides encouragement that St Helena is appealing to more travellers looking for adventure. This week a contract was signed with Equiano cementing the arrangements for the arrival of the fibre optic cable and another for a major rockfall protection project at Rupert’s Valley and around the hospital will start in January. More land is earmarked for new housing. Various building developments are in preparation and separately, an overseas investment has been announced. The much awaited PASH renewable energy scheme is reportedly, barring last minute hitches, only a short time away from being agreed too. All of these bring prospects of job and business opportunities during the coming year. Politically, the governance review will be completed early in 2020 and then islanders will be asked if they want to change the method of government and public accountability or retain the current one.

Ascension awaits better news next year. The signs are looking much brighter for a resurfacing contract to be agreed. Whilst the work will be lengthy and complex it should give clarity on when the Falkland flights could resume and correspondingly prosperity in the local economy restored. A recent capital programme to tackle some of the infrastructure backlog was also a welcome commitment to maintaining the quality of life on the territory. Progress in updating the outdated employment laws will be a priority for the Island Government.

The community on Tristan da Cunha has pulled together wonderfully, with outside help and funds from the UK, to get back on its feet. Next year should see repairs completed to its school and a project at the harbour started. A final decision on designating protected areas in the seas around the Island will complement the arrangements in place for St Helena and Ascension. On Gough Island too, intensive work to eradicate mice will dominate the entire year and offers the only prospect of saving endangered birds.

I encourage us all to put the bumps of 2019 behind us. Wherever you are treasure the time you have this Christmas with family and friends. Spare a thought for those who may be working or alone. Extend your goodwill whenever you can. And above all, we should resolve to enter 2020 with a refreshed view on the changes and opportunities on the horizon. By working together, building skills and being positive about our abilities we can find better, smoother futures for our Islands.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Dr Philip Rushbrook

Governor of St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

25 December 2019

St Helena Government (SHG) is pleased to announce the signing of a contract with Google, to connect St Helena to Phase 1 of the Equiano Subsea Cable Project. This is one step closer to providing the first fibre optic connectivity from St Helena to the outside world through both Europe and South Africa. Today’s announcement follows the signing of the Letter of Intent in July this year to secure a Branch in Phase 1 of the Equiano Project. 

Connecting to Equiano meets SHG’s timing and budgetary requirements for the European Development Fund and supports the Digital ICT Strategy for St Helena.

Chairman of the Economic Development Committee, Councillor Lawson Henry, said:

“This is a huge positive step for St Helena, and one of a number of progressive steps that shall be announced over the next two years relating to development of digital opportunities on St Helena. I’d like to thank the team within St Helena Government Corporate Services, Pelagian and Keystone Law, and of course Google, for meeting this milestone.”

SHG’s Financial Secretary, Dax Richards, added:

“This is great news for the Island. Significant additional economic development on St Helena is conditional on improved connectivity and accessibility, and therefore the delivery of the Fibre Project is crucial to economic growth.  We are pleased to reach an agreement with Google and look forward to working with them on this Project.

“The delivery of the Fibre Project is a key action in the Sustainable Economic Development Plan – in order to develop the satellite ground stations, financial services, work from home, academia research and conferences, film location and tourism sectors.”

Global Network Infrastructure Strategy, Submarine, Google, Jayne Stowell, concluded:

“We are excited to collaborate with SHG to announce the Equiano branch into St Helena. We are deeply committed to boosting the world’s connectivity as well as ensuring countries and communities benefit from the Equiano cable.”

The branch between the main trunk of the Equiano cable and the Island will be 1140km long. The target is to deliver the cable and associated high speed internet to St Helena by early 2022; providing the cable laying, landing station and associated planning permissions and works to start the service proceed on time.

This cable will be capable of providing the Island with scalable connectivity, ranging from a few hundred gigabits up to multiple terabits, as demand varies. On that basis it allows for the most cost effective growth of bandwidth needs for the Island.

#DigitalStrategy #FibreOpticCable #SEDP

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SHG

24 December 2019

Over the past week, St Helena’s water consumption rates have increased – exceeding 1000 cubic metres of water per day and, as a result, stored water volumes have decreased to levels of 37.4%.

The St Helena Resilience Forum recognises that this reduction in stored water volumes and significant increase in consumption is likely due to St Helena’s peak holiday season. It is therefore important to ensure that everyone (residents and visitors) are aware of St Helena’s serious water shortage. The public is encouraged to spread the word and ensure they keep water use to essential needs only.

Connect Saint Helena is continuing to pump water from Chubb’s Spring and Hutt’s Gate as well as from Fisher’s Valley and Warren’s Gut.

The public is thanked for their efforts in reducing consumption thus far and are wished a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Every drop counts, every action counts – save water now to be safe later

#StHelena #WaterShortage #EveryDropCounts

St Helena Resilience Forum
23 December 2019