Category: News

The monthly meeting of the Economic Development Committee (EDC) took place on Thursday, 24 October 2019, and the following is a summary of the main items discussed:

Enterprise St Helena (ESH) presented their Progress and Performance Report for August 2019, inclusive of brief updates.  Particular mention was made of the two recent cruise ship visits by the MV Albatross and MV Boudicca, whereby it was noted that these were the last for this year with the next visit scheduled for January 2020. ESH highlighted the launch of the Investor Prospectus, held at Anne’s Place on Saturday, 19 October, noting that this had already led to eight new initial enquiries. On the local promotional front, ESH had promoted World Egg Day via Facebook, and marked the anniversary of Napoleon stepping foot on the Island on 17 October by revealing the new Napoleon impersonator, Kenickie Andrews. ESH also noted that two awards had been made as a result of the recent Grand Ideas promotion (undertaken in partnership with the Governor’s Office and Foreign and Commonwealth Office International Programme Fund), one relating to Aquaponics and the other relating to a Soft Play Activity Pack at Kingshurst Community Centre. Looking forward, it was noted that ESH are working with the Governor’s Office and other local stakeholders in relation to activities for Global Entrepreneurship Week, including ‘Pitch to Plantation’, and ESH was also in the process of finalising a contract with a French PR Agency. It was also noted that the Chief Executive for Economic Development and the Director of Investment were about to undertake a programme of overseas activity relating to Tourism and Investment, including attendance at the International Tourism Investment Conference, World Travel Market and Luxury Property Show in London. Whilst in London they would also be hosting a networking event for the Saint Helenian Diaspora, and participating in the official launch of the St Helena Research Institute.  

The Committee received a summary of feedback from the draft Labour Market Strategy (LMS) public consultation that concluded on 11 October. The LMS will be revised based on those inputs and submitted to EDC for review in November.

The Committee endorsed a proposed administrative amendment to the Customs (Tariffs and Exemptions) Regulations 2011 to correct an anomaly identified in the implementation of the new customs tariffs on vehicles planned for 1 December 2019.  Under paragraph 4(2)(b)(iii) of the Second Schedule of the current Regulations, a vehicle that has been exempted from customs duty on importation and is later sold, must pay customs duty based on the value at the time of sale.  The new tariff is based on fixed amounts of duty rather than a percentage of the value of the vehicle and therefore an amendment is required to ensure that the method of calculating duty aligns to the new tariff.  An amendment will be drafted and presented to Executive Council for approval. 

The Committee was provided with a summary of feedback on the sports fishing section of the draft Fishing Licencing Policy that was undertaken in September 2019.  A wide range of feedback was received covering numbers of spearfishing licences to be capped, the length of time for operation of spearfishing of pelagic species activities, numbers of fish able to be caught and landed, protecting the diversity of fish species at dive sites from increased pelagic spearfishing and conditions related to operation of sports fishing licences. The Fishing Licencing Policy will be updated based on a range of inputs received and brought back to EDC in November for review and endorsement.

A paper providing for an alternative business model for processing and selling fish on St Helena, with a view to curtailing the crippling losses incurred by SHG’s state owned entity St Helena Fisheries Corporation (SHFC) and reducing the subsidy provided to it by Government was discussed and endorsed for discussion at the next Executive Council Meeting.

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SHG

1 November 2019                                         

On Tuesday, 29 October 2019, Executive Council discussed the option of an alternative business model for processing and selling fish on St Helena, with a view to curtailing the crippling losses incurred by SHG’s state owned entity St Helena Fisheries Corporation (SHFC) and reducing the subsidy provided to it by Government.

The alternative business model proposed by the newly established Fisheries Task Group suggests an interim solution lasting between six – eighteen months, which focuses on the local market, fresh and affordable protein, and fresh fish exports by air, particularly:

• Providing the local market with fish, with premium fish being air freighted to the market in South Africa
• Ceasing direct fuel sales to Fishermen whilst retaining an element of fuel subsidy
• Enabling Fishermen to purchase ice
• Orderly winding up of SHFC, and the opening of a new business through a private limited company initially, under a transitional arrangement that allows processing and sales operations for both the local market and air freight to continue without interruption.

Having explored the alternative interim business model, Executive Council directed to the Fisheries Task Group to engage in meaningful consultation with stakeholders, so as to strengthen the proposal before bringing it back to Council for endorsement in December.

Executive Council stressed the need to ensure that other parties including the SHFC (staff and members of Board) and the St Helena Commercial Fishermen’s Association were given ample opportunity to contribute.

Executive Council was also keen that SHG, as owner of SHFC, commence planning for an orderly winding up of SHFC, in collaboration with its Board. The Board of SHFC will take responsibility for consultation with staff.

The overall ambition of Executive Council is for a viable fishing industry on St Helena, one that enables the Island to fish for its future. SHG will continue to explore options for funding a purpose built fish factory in the meantime.

Notes to Editors

A Fisheries Task Group was set up to undertake a review of fish processing and sales on St Helena, and to  make recommendations for an alternative  business model, with a view to curtailing the losses incurred  by SHG’s state owned entity, St Helena Fishing Corporation (SHFC) and reducing the subsidy provided to it by Government. The model will, for the interim, focus on the local market with a view to establishing financial stability and thereby create a platform on which to grow St Helena’s fishing industry for the future.

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SHG

31 October 2019

 

15 personnel from the St Helena Emergency Control Room, Sea Rescue, Fire & Rescue and Police Services last week participated in training delivered by the UK Maritime Coastguard Agency and UK College of Policing.

The Emergency Control Room, Sea Rescue, and Police Service underwent the following training with Philipp Bostock and Rob Priestley of the UK Maritime Coastguard Agency:

Emergency Control Room – receiving and relaying distress calls, gathering information, deploying resources and communicating with the Global Maritime Coordination Centres

Sea Rescue Service – conducting search mission planning in line with international search standards and how to best utilise Global Maritime Coordination Centres as a search planning resource

The Police Service – Police Commanders were given an insight into both maritime and land search, including what to expect from the teams on the ground, what challenges the teams would face and how to reach overseas for advice /support if needed

The Fire & Rescue Service underwent a three day Search and Rescue training course with Area Commander Paul Duffy of the UK College of Policing. This training allowed the Fire Fighters as Search Technicians to gain the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed by a team member during a search, and equipped participants with the skills and knowledge required for lost/missing person incidents and be able to apply them confidently.

Daniel Yon, Damien Stevens, Matthew Benjamin, Jason Lawrence and Kyle Yon were also selected to undertake the Search Technician Team Leader training, where they received training in preparing and planning the deployment of a team, supervising and monitoring the conduct of the search team, understanding how to deal with incidents encountered during a search, understanding how to manage crime scenes and evidence and managing Information and resources post search

Acting Brigade Manager, Daniel Yon, said:

“The training went very well and we would like to extend our thanks to Area Commander Paul Duffy and the UK College of Policing.

“The Search Technician and Search Technician Team Leader qualifications are essential for the St Helena Fire and Rescue Service. As Search Technicians we are responsible for turning up to a search with the appropriate clothing and equipment and being fit and well enough to go out and search for the missing person/s.

“We are required to be competent in the key aspects of search including navigation, radio operation, first aid, scenes of crime preservation and rescue techniques. The training last week has enabled this.”

At the end of the week all four Services came together to participate in a joint exercise.

Emergency Planning & Sea Rescue Manager, Simon Wade, concluded:

“The training was well received. The beginning of the week involved a lot of studying of the different ways to gather information, how to use that information to develop the search plan and then how to deliver the plan. At the end of the week there was an exercise which involved all four elements (Police Commander, Emergency Control Room, Sea Rescue and Fire and Rescue Services).The exercise went well and there was some great learning achieved from it. Overall, it was a greatly informative week and I believe it was enjoyed by all.”  

This training was funded by the Overseas Territories Search and Rescue Capability Review Project, part of the CSSF OT Maritime Governance and Environment programme.

#StHelena #AltogetherSafer #MCA#Training #Search&Rescue #SeaRescue #SHFRS #Police #ECR #Fire&Rescue #SHFRS #UKCollegePolicing

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SHG

30 October 2019

The stored water volume across all Island reservoirs has further decreased and is currently at 39.2%. This decrease is primarily due to little surface flows and increased consumption rates.

If daily consumption rates of above 1000 cubic metres continue and the stored water volume subsequently continues to decrease, further Island-wide water restrictions will be imposed.

The recent rainfall experienced has not been enough to drastically 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. With warm weather patterns and no significant rainfall forecast, it is therefore very important that we keep our water consumption to essential use only.

The St Helena Resilience Forum is also appealing to businesses on the Island to ensure that their water usage is kept to essential use only.

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

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St Helena Resilience Forum

30 October 2019

 

The monthly meeting of the Education Committee took place on Wednesday, 23 October 2019.

Teacher Training Advisor, Fraser Stone, made a presentation to the Committee on progress made within teacher training since he had taken on the role. Whilst there has been marked progress in the development of teachers, Fraser made the Committee aware that the current staffing numbers mean there is little scope for allowing staff additional time for their studies.  This also impacts on the time available for other staff to act as Mentors, highlighting the need to undertake a staffing review to address these issues.

St Helena Research Institute Coordinator, Dr Rebecca Cairns-Wicks, advised the Committee that the Research Institute will officially launch on 12 November 2019 on St Helena and in the United Kingdom. Documentation to support the Research Policy was shared with the Committee and approved.

#StHelena #Education #MeetingSummary

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SHG

30 October 2019

 

The St Helena Utilities Regulatory Authority has issued the sixth annual report on the quality of services provided by Connect Saint Helena Ltd 2018-19.

This report can be found on the Publications page of the SHG website via: https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/publications/.

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Issued on behalf of the St Helena Utilities Regulatory Authority

29 October 2019

St Helena’s draft Waste Management Policy is currently out for public consultation until 4pm on Friday, 8 November 2019.

 The draft Policy plans for short, medium and long term environmental changes that are likely to impact on the quality of Island life if waste is left unmanaged including taking up valuable and limited landfill space and causing pollution.

To achieve the aim and objectives of the draft Policy, several strategic waste management actions will be delivered through an implementation plan including, but not limited to:

• Embedding the principles of ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’ in all aspects of decision making throughout the Island
• Promoting existing ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’ activities and encouraging and supporting the development of new initiatives
• Converting organic waste into compost and
• Ensuring that unavoidable landfilling is managed in a manner which does not significantly impact on public health or the natural environment.

A copy of the draft Waste Management Policy is available under the Public Consultations section of the Publications page on the SHG website (www.sainthelena.gov.sh/publications).

 Comments should be sent to Environmental Risk Manager, Mike Durnford, via email: mike.durnford@sainthelena.gov.sh or tel: 24724.

#StHelena #AltogetherGreener #ReduceReuseRecycle #GoodWasteManagement

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SHG

29 October 2019