The following is a Public
Announcement from the Roads Section:
The Highways Authority has given approval for Field
(Rupert’s) Road to be closed from 9am to 3pm on Wednesday, 27, and Thursday, 28
November 2019.
This closure is to allow the Roads Section to
continue with slurry works on Field Road.
During each closure the diversion route will be via
the Airport
Access Road and, as normal, only Emergency Services’ vehicles
will be granted access.
The
Roads Section would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank the
public in advance for their continued understanding and cooperation.
The Education & Employment Directorate
officially launched the St Helena Research Institute (SHRI) at dual events
hosted on St Helena and in London on Tuesday, 12 November 2019.
Ann’s Place, one of the Island’s cultural gems
which has already been the platform for the Island’s first two International
Environmental Conferences, provided a fitting venue for the St Helena based
launch. In the UK invited guests were welcomed by SHG UK Representative Kedell
Worboys, MBE, at Alliance House in London.
Despite being thousands of miles apart the two
events were co-ordinated to deliver a similar programme of speeches, to reach
out and spread the message that we are here and open for business and looking
forward to working with all parties to support, develop, fund and expand the
research activities and opportunities on St Helena.
On St Helena, His Excellency Governor Dr Philip Rushbrook gave the opening address to around 80 guests. Governor Rushbrook said:
Governor Dr Philip Rushbrook
“This new Research Institute is a starting
point for researchers on the Island, and those who come to our shores, to base
their operations and be able to begin their important work as quickly and
smoothly as possible. I have high expectations for the Institute to become a
catalyst that encourages Saints to embark upon research of their own, to encourage
researchers from around the world to see St Helena as a place of choice to
conduct their work, and to be a gathering point for the many scientific studies
undertaken here in past times. I hope too, that St Helena is now able to work
in collaboration and share information with researchers around the globe.”
In the UK, the SHRI was represented by Deputy
Director of SAERI and a member of the SHRI Steering Group, Tara Pelembe,
Chief Executive for Economic Development and a member of the Research
Council, Dr Dawn Cranswick, and former Steering Group Member, Kirsty Joshua,
now residing in the UK and working with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) InnovateUK.
45 guests attended the UK Launch and the Rt
Honourable Andrew Mitchell gave the opening speech. He said:
“St Helena is one of the most extraordinary, fascinating and rewarding places to visit in the world. With the Island’s abundance of untouched resources and unique features it provides extraordinary opportunities for all visitors whatever their interests. The time is right for St Helena to reach its full potential as a prized destination.”
UK Launch
Summing up the event,
Kedell added:
“A good cross section of people attended the
launch in the UK, there was a positive vibe with people feeling excited about
the possibility of working with the SHRI. The general comment was that the SHRI
was a great initiative.”
Speeches by Tara
Pelembe in the UK and Dr Rebecca Cairns-Wicks on-Island were co-ordinated to
share the same presentation to celebrate the long history of science and Saint
science on St Helena and academic achievement, past and present. And also, St
Helena’s long history of international research collaborations, the growth of
contemporary research and the growth of new collaborations.
Dr Rebecca Cairns-Wicks
concluded:
“A big thank you to all
the individuals and organisations who supported and worked tirelessly to
establish the SHRI. We look forward to your continued support for SHRI and the
UKOT research network as we move forward.”
The launch of the new
Research Institute has given us an opportunity to celebrate achievements past
and present and to encourage future enquiry. St Helena offers a wealth of
potential research opportunities many needed to help us respond to island
challenges: from natural capital and climate change, to health, history and
culture, to tourism, the fibre optic cable, destination marketing, exports,
import substitution and investment.
Copies of both Governor Dr Philip Rushbrook’s, and Education Director, Wendy Benjamin’s, speeches are attached to this release.
The
following is a public announcement from the Infrastructure & Transport
Directorate:
The Highways Authority has given approval for the
Roads Section to carry out line painting works on the parking areas in front of
the Court House, Castle Gardens and the Mantis hotel, Jamestown, on Sunday, 24
November, starting at 7am.
All vehicle users are asked to vacate this area by
6.30am on Sunday, 24 November, to allow these works to take place.
The Roads Section would like to thank the public in
advance for their cooperation.
Members of the public who would like to view
hard copies of the ExCo Memos should contact Clerk of Councils, Connie Johnson,
at the Castle on tel: 22470 or via email: connie.johnson@sainthelena.gov.sh.
Elected Members serving on Executive Council
are Councillors Anthony Green, Lawson Henry, Clint Beard, Derek Thomas and
Russell Yon.
Non-voting members of ExCo are Chief Secretary,
Susan O’Bey, Financial Secretary, Dax Richards, and Acting Attorney General,
Allen Cansick.
Councillor Clint Beard departs the Island on
Saturday, 23 November 2019, to attend the 68th Westminster Seminar
on Effective Parliaments, hosted by the UK Branch of the Commonwealth
Parliamentary Association (CPA UK) in London between 25 and 29 November 2019.
The Seminar is a five-day programme of
theoretical and practical sessions which will allow delegates to learn about
effective parliaments, using the Westminster example as a starting point, as
well as being able to share views and experiences of their own
legislatures.
Sessions will include Effective Parliaments;
Our Roles and Responsibilities, Diversity within Parliament, The Political
Scene Around International Trade, Public Engagement, Social Media and
Democracy; A Balanced Approach, Communication, Privilege:
Standards, Behaviour & Etiquette, Impact of
Committees, Local Democracy and Effective models of scrutiny – The
example of the London Assembly. Delegates will also have the opportunity
to tour the Parliamentary Estate, visit the Parliamentary Archives or
participate in a Focus Group to share their learning from the Seminar.
Councillor Clint Beard said:
“I am looking forward to representing St Helena
at the 68th Westminster Seminar which will be attended by over 70
parliamentarians and clerks from all over the Commonwealth. I intend to pick up
as much information as I can and gain valuable knowledge and relate to common
issues that others experience and look at how others deal with these.
“I am looking forward to the opportunity and
ability to network and also discuss politics happening all over the world and
just see how unique our issues are. I believe the Westminster Seminar will be
able to grow my political mind and benefit me in my future. I hope to achieve
skills in parliamentary governance and procedures and effective leadership. I
believe attending will also be a good way of promoting St Helena Island and
engaging with people to show how wonderful our Island is and get them to spread
the word to visit.”
The CPA UK’s Westminster Seminar provides a
unique platform for participants to meet their counterparts from across the
Commonwealth, build lasting relationships and explore the role and functions of
parliamentarians/clerks in depth. The expected outcome from the Seminar is for
delegates to have an enhanced understanding of how to effectively scrutinise,
represent and deliver oversight in their respective parliaments.
Notes for
Editors
The annual
Westminster Seminar is CPA UK’s flagship capacity-building programme for
parliamentarians and appointed procedural/committee clerks from across the
Commonwealth.
Each year the five-day programme provides a
unique platform for participants from across the Commonwealth to network and
engage with counterparts, exploring approaches to parliamentary democracy,
practice and procedure in the context of the Westminster System and drawing
comparisons between Commonwealth legislatures.
‘Charlie Boar Seamount’ has been officially
accepted by the sub-committee on Undersea Feature Names (SCUFN) as the name for
the newly mapped seamount 30 nautical miles South East of St Helena.
The name ‘Charlie Boar’ was put forward by Mia
Henry of Jamestown, the winning entrant in a competition run earlier on the
Island this year by SHG and St Helena Tourism. ‘Charlie Boar’ was the nickname
of Mia’s Grandpa, a well-known seafarer on St Helena.
The proposed name was submitted to the SCUFN on
behalf of the Governor of St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha on 4 March
2019 by Dr Martin Collins from the British Antarctic Survey, reviewed at the SCUFN32 meeting, Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia, in August and officially accepted on Monday, 11November
2019. The seamount was mapped during a joint Blue Belt Programme/British
Antarctic Survey of St Helena and Tristan da Cunha waters back in 2018. During
the marine survey scientists also studied the biodiversity on the seabed floor
using a camera system and collected biological specimens from the waters using
scientific nets.
Mia said:
“There
were a few people who had suggested that the seamount be given this name and in
thinking about ‘Papa’s’ life, it felt right and writing my competition entry
came easily. It helped to know that others were in support of this.
“The name itself could only be ‘Charlie Boar’
as this was how he was known, particularly within the fishing and boating
community. Whenever somebody had a question about the sea; be it the
conditions, fishing, land marks or history, they were referred to ‘Charlie
Boar’, as everybody associated him with the sea.
“I
spent a lot of my childhood ‘out in the boat’ with ‘Papa’ and one of my fondest
memories is being a part of the flotilla that welcomed the RMS for the first
time.I guess it was then natural for me to become a seafarer also.
“My family and I are very happy that the naming
is now official and can’t wait to see it in black and white on the chart – a
symbol of Charlie Boar’s love of the sea.
“We hope that the rest of the Island, and the
team responsible for the discovery of, will share in our celebration of the
Charlie Boar seamount.”
Governor Dr Philip Rushbrook added:
“The discovery of this seamount was a very
special achievement and what better way could there be but to name it after a
well-known seafarer from St Helena. His family and all on this Island are
delighted by this international recognition.”
Polling
Day has been set for Wednesday, 27 November 2019, when St Helena will go to the
Polls to elect a new Member to fill the vacant seat on Legislative Council.
Candidates
for the 2019 Bye-Election are:
Gillian Ann Brooks of Upper Cow Path, Half Tree Hollow
Jeffrey
Robert Ellick of Police
Quarters, Alarm Forest
Jeremy
James Johns of Nr. Harlyn,
Half Tree Hollow
Elizabeth
Knipe of Perkins Gutt, Sandy
Bay
Lionel
George Williams of ‘Brenville’,
Nr. Half Tree Hollow, St Paul’s
Only
those named on the Register of Electors dated 18 October 2019 will be able to
vote in the Bye-Election. Votes must be cast in the Electoral District in which
the voter is registered.
On
Polling Day, Polling Stations will be found at:
Blue Hill Community Centre
Half Tree Hollow Community Centre
Harford Community Centre
Kingshurst Community Centre
Levelwood Clinic
Jamestown Community Centre
Sandy Bay Community Centre
St Mary’s Church, the Briars
The
electorate is reminded that if they are ill, physically incapacitated or
off-Island, and cannot make it to the Polling Station on Polling Day, there is
provision to vote by proxy.
To do
so, permission must be obtained in advance from the Returning Officer, Carol
George, at the Castle. To get permission, an application form must be completed
and returned to the Returning Officer by no later than 10am on Monday, 25
November 2019. Any applications received after this time cannot be
accepted.
If a
person wishes to vote by proxy, their proxy must be on the Register of Electors
dated 18 October 2019 and in the same electoral district in which the voter is
registered. An elector cannot be proxy for more than one person.
To
inspect the Register of Electors you may contact the Returning Officer,
Assistant Returning Officers or Assistant Registration Officers. Copies of the Register are also available at the
Customer Services Centre, Public Library, rural sub-post offices and on the SHG
website.
For more information, see insert in this week’s local
newspapers.
The case of the Attorney General of St Helena (Appellant)
v AB, AC, NK (by her litigation friend Ms ER) (Respondents) will be heard
before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council on Monday, 18 November 2019.
This is an appeal from a decision of the St Helena Court
of Appeal.
Judicial Services would like to advise the public that
the proceedings in the Privy Council will be streamed live from the Court House
in Jamestown. The hearing is due to commence at 11am and will be open to the
public.
The St Helena Chief of Police has reviewed the
carriage, use, deployment and storage of Conducting Energy Devices (commonly
known as Tasers) by the St Helena Police Directorate. This review is completed
every six months.
Since the authorisation:
Eight public meetings have taken place in Island districts and there has been a radio show discussing the CED
There are still small numbers of Police Officers to attend incidents of violence
One officer has been assaulted when an offender resisted arrest
There have been occasions when there has only been one officer on duty, due to illnesses and necessary training, resulting in no immediate ‘back up’
An assessment of the download data shows that there has been full compliance with the use of the issued CED
No public complaints have been received regarding the use of force since the issuing of the authority to carry the CED
Officers have drawn the CED on two occasions:
The first to assist in controlling an intoxicated, aggressive, verbally abusive, injured man and to protect the officer and another emergency service worker
The second occurred when an officer attended the home of a male who had assaulted another person that day. This decision was based on a risk assessment by the Officer at that time.
In light of this
review, and the legal duty placed on the Chief of Police, he has determined
that there is a need to re-authorise the issue of CEDs to Police Officers in
order to:
Be able to continue to protect the life and well-being of the public
Be able to continue to protect the life and well-being of police officers
Be able to continue to use the least amount of force to achieve control and compliance of those persons who demonstrate they intend to use force to commit offences.
However as a result of the review the tactical
plan for the deployment of the CEDs has been changed. The plan is now:
To
issue the officers with the authority for the permanent carriage of CEDs to
enable them to dynamically assess and manage threat and risk. This is to
protect the public and themselves
Where
the assessment of risk is very low then CEDs will not be carried, for example
during crowd management at commemorative events or similar situations
Where
joint patrolling is undertaken, and the threat and risk is low, then CEDs will
not be carried overtly. In this case they will be carried in a vehicle CED
‘safe’
For
officers to operate body cameras when the CED is drawn. This will start in
December 2019 when the cameras are available on-Island.
This plan for the deployment of CEDs follows
engagement with the public and aims to be proportionate, respectful of public
views and allow the Police Service to deploy the CED in a manner that maintains
public cooperation and respect.
The
Chief of Police will review the authority every six months. The next review
will take place before 29 April 2020.
The public is advised that the monthly meetings
of the Environment & Natural Resources Committee & Highways Authority
will be held on Tuesday, 19November, at 9am in the Council Chamber
and not on Thursday, 21November 2019, as scheduled.
