Category: News

A formal meeting of Legislative Council will take place on Friday, 6 December 2019, at 10am in the Council Chamber. This is the first sitting of the twelfth meeting of Legislative Council and will be broadcast live via SAMS Radio 1.

The Order Paper includes the election for a member of the Public Accounts Committee, 17 Sessional Papers and three Questions for oral response. Eight Motions will also be put forward to the House.

The meeting will conclude with the customary Adjournment Debate, giving each Elected Member the opportunity to raise various Island issues.

A copy of the Order Paper is available on the SHG website: https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/government/legislative-council/order-papers/

#StHelena #FormalLegCo #OrderPaper #LegislativeCouncil

https://www.facebook.com/StHelenaGovt/

SHG
4 December 2019

Waste Management Services (WMS) would like to advise the public that, following successful application to the Governor’s Enabling Fund, two designated leisure spaces (see photos attached) have been designed and constructed along the Access Road. These areas include concrete picnic furniture (for people to use while taking in the views) and Olympic bins (for the disposal of litter, cigarette butts and recyclable wastes; aluminium drink cans, glass bottles and plastics).

Environmental Risk Manager and Project Leader, Mike Durnford, commented:

“These areas were selected as the best locations for admiring the spectacular Island scenery, whilst providing safe off-road parking, preventing congestion/obstruction of the highway during high volumes of traffic (especially on cruise ship days) and providing adequate waste management facilities, which should reduce the need for litter picks along the Access Road.”

Landfill Manager, Patrick Crowie, who managed the construction of these areas, added:

“When using these new public areas, do not litter. To protect the environment, please ensure that all litter is properly disposed of in the Olympic bins provided (recycling as many aluminium drink cans, glass bottles and plastics as possible).”

A third site identified is also undergoing previously planned amenity works under the Landscape & Ecology Mitigation Programme (LEMP) and will be completed in the near future.

LEMP Team Leader, Shayla Ellick, commented:

“We are thrilled at the opportunity to work collaboratively with WMS on this initiative which complements the planned LEMP works to create an amazing space for the whole Island to use.”

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

#StHelena #WMS #AccessRoad #LEMP #AltogetherGreener

SHG

4 December 2019

Over the past week there has been no significant increase in stored water volumes, which remain at 39%. The recent rainfall experienced has not been enough to increase reservoir levels. The ground is still dry which means that the majority of rain water is being absorbed, leaving little surface water to enter the reservoirs. At least two weeks of continuous rainfall is needed to reach safe stored water levels.

Yesterday the mid-week flights commenced, and with visitor numbers expected to increase leading up to the festive season, it is essential that everyone keeps their consumption to essential use only.

Connect Saint Helena is continually pumping from Chubb’s Spring and Hutt’s Gate as well as from Fisher’s Valley and Warren’s Gut.

The public is reminded that we are currently under an Island-wide hosepipe ban. If you see anyone using water irresponsibly or notice a burst pipe or leak, then please inform Connect immediately.

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

#StHelena #WaterShortage #EveryDropCounts

St Helena Resilience Forum

4 December 2019

Waste Management Services (WMS) have implemented an Aluminium Drink Cans Recycling operation at Horse Point Landfill Site (HPLS). In recent weeks the WMS Team has skilfully re-purposed their existing drum crusher so that it can crush and bale Aluminium Drink Cans (ADC) ready for shipment. To date, three bales have been produced: 84x74x66cm (38kg), 84x74cmx69cm (43kg) and 84x74x71cm (45kg). Shipping ADC for recycling offers a sustainable income for St Helena.

• 

• 

Environmental Risk Manager, Mike Durnford, commented:

“To achieve maximum gain from the ADC recycling initiative, we encourage residents and visitors to dispose of their aluminium drink cans for recycling in the Olympic Bins provided or blue wheelie bins located at Bars. To facilitate this initiative, more of these bins have been located around the Island, including in residential areas, at bus stops, tourist locations, the Airport and even along the Access Road. Olympic Bins allow users to make an ethical choice when depositing their waste, enabling the recycling of aluminium drink cans, glass bottles and plastics, all of which can now be recycled on-Island, as well as providing litter and cigarette butt disposal. Furthermore, a bay in the Public Recycling Facility at the Landfill site has been re-purposed for ADC.”

The increase in Olympic Bins have been generously funded by Enterprise St Helena following Waste Management Services successful funding application to develop recycling on the Island.

Landfill Manager, Patrick Crowie, added:

“We will continue to process ADC at HPLS (utilising the existing manpower and resources) until there are sufficient bales to fill a 20 ft shipping container, at which point it will be shipped, via the MV Helena, to Collect-a-Can in Cape Town for sale and recycling.”

Following the first successful shipment of a container of ADC, WMS hope to refine/improve the ADC collection and processing system. This could include the purchase of a magnetic sorting machine and/or bespoke baling machine.

Notes to Editor:

The St Helena Government 10-year Plan includes the National Goal ‘Altogether Greener’, with targets including implementing a Waste Management Strategy which includes recycling.

Recycling ADC also aligns strongly with the Draft SHG Waste Management Policy which states that the following strategic actions (alongside others) will be implemented:

• Embed the principles of reduce, reuse and recycle in all aspects of decision making throughout the Island
• Promote existing reduce, reuse and recycle activities and encourage and support the development of new initiatives
• Design and deliver environmentally benefitting waste management projects.

#StHelena #WMS #CanRecycling #HPLS #Recycle

SHG

2 December 2019 

Since the start of the Darwin Plus 077 Lobster Project 14 months ago, the Environment, Natural Resources & Planning Directorate’s Marine Conservation team has been working hard to gather as much information as possible on the local lobsters.

To date, around 1200 lobsters have been tagged with plastic tags to get more information on how fast they grow. Around 50 different sites with depths down to 20m have been explored around the Island looking at the abundance and density of the lobsters. This will give the Marine Conservation team information on how many lobsters there are in each area to help estimate how many lobsters there are in St Helena’s waters. 

Since August 2019, an acoustic grid has been installed to track the movements of 25 lobsters over the period of one year and, in October 2019, the team has started to deploy lobster pots on a regular basis around the Island. The lobster pots will help the team to get information on lobsters in areas where it is difficult to dive and increase the number of caught slipper (stump) lobsters from deeper waters.

The pots will be used for the next eight months so if you see them please leave them undisturbed as they are very important for this project. The team has noticed that some of the pots have been tampered with and some have been lost. If you see or find any of them please contact the team via tel: 22270 or email: Remi.bruneton@sainthelena.gov.sh.

#StHelena #DarwinPlus #LobsterProject #Lobsters #MarineConservation

SHG

2 December 2019

St Helena Government, with support from AB5 Consulting, are developing a Satellite Ground Station Policy for the licencing of Permanent Earth Stations (PES) and Receive Only Earth Stations (ROES) on St Helena. The draft Policy is available at: www.sainthelena.gov.sh/government/public-consultation/.

The work is to support the development of the Satellite Ground Station sector, which is an export sector with growth potential identified in St Helena’s Sustainable Economic Development Plan 2018-2028.

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 (e.g. those used by ships, aeroplanes, vehicles and satellite phones). There are also proposed exemptions where uses are for broadcasting, aeronautical services, purposes associated with the navigation of ships or the safety of shipping, scientific or experimental purposes, or uses on behalf of the Crown, as is presided upon by St Helena’s Telecommunications Ordinance.

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. 

The consultation on the draft Policy will run for a period of four weeks ending on 27 December 2019.

If you would like to respond to this consultation, please do so through our online survey at: surveymonkey.com/r/St-Helena-Earth-Stations-Consultation or respond to Chief Economist, Nicole Shamier, via email: nicole.shamier@sainthelena.gov.sh by the above deadline.

Furthermore, if you would be interested in attending a workshop relating to this consultation, or would like a hard copy of the document, please contact Nicole by email or by calling the Castle on tel: 22470.

#StHelena #Groundstation #Earthstation #Satelliteconnectivity #SEDP

https://www.facebook.com/StHelenaGovt/
https://twitter.com/StHelenaGovt

SHG
29 November 2019

International Day for Persons with Disabilities (IDPWD) is recognised each year on 3 December, and is a day used to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilise support for the dignity, rights and wellbeing of persons with disabilities.

This year’s theme is ‘The Future is Accessible’ – meaning we must all, together, look toward a future where the barriers that stand in people’s way no longer exist.

In recognition of IDPWD, St Helena’s Active Participation in Enterprise (SHAPE) has organised a parade through Jamestown to celebrate and raise awareness of disability.

The parade will start from Barracks Square on Tuesday, 3 December, at around 11am and will end at the Mule Yard. Participants will be dressed in orange and blue.

SHAPE Finance & Administration Manager, Danielle Anthony, explained:

“For this parade, participants will be dressed in orange and blue. These colours represent certain meanings. The colour blue symbolises support for the dignity, rights and wellbeing of people with disability, and orange symbolises the inclusion of people with disability in all aspects of political, social, economic and cultural life.

“SHAPE is also inviting departments across the Island to wear blue and orange on the day and make a donation to show your support.”

The Children & Adults Social Care Directorate are supporting SHAPE and their awareness raising of IDPWD. Community & Residential Disabilities Manager, Nicolene Adams, added:

“Internationally recognised days are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern and to mobilise political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity and more importantly the service users and services of our Island. The theme this year focuses on the empowerment of persons with disabilities for inclusive, equitable and sustainable development. As a Directorate we will continue to aim to improve service provision to the disabled persons on our Island.

“The Children & Adults Social Care Directorate wish to sincerely thank the management and staff of SHAPE and fully support working together to provide an invaluable service to promote the wellbeing of all disabled persons in the community of St Helena.”  

#StHelena #IDPWD #SHAPE

29 November 2019 

1 DECEMBER 2019

In August, Executive Council approved to amend the structure of the Customs Tariff on vehicles so that the basis of duty payable is based on fixed incremental rates of duty rather than a percentage applied to the value of a vehicle.

From 1 December 2019, the following rates will apply when clearing a vehicle at HM Customs on St Helena:

Emission Bands	Tax rate per vehicle (£)
0g per km	£200
1-100g per km	£450
101-120g per km	£900
121-165g per km	£1,260
166-185g per km	£1,530
185-200g per km	£2,660
> 200g per km	£3,500

Motorcycles will also move to a fixed rate of £700 instead of 35%. Customs duty on heavy vehicles such as lorries and plant machinery will remain unchanged and will continue to be charged on value.

For further details please contact HM Customs & Excise on telephone no: 22287.

#StHelena #HMCustoms&Excise #CustomsDuty

https://www.facebook.com/StHelenaGovt/
https://twitter.com/StHelenaGovt

SHG
29 November 2019