The monthly
meeting of the Economic Development Committee (EDC) was held on Thursday, 25
July 2019 and the following is a summary of the main items discussed:
Enterprise St Helena (ESH) gave a brief update
on the report presented for June 2019, during which it was noted that the
organisation had achieved an overall “A” rating or “Outputs met expectation”
during their recent DFID Annual Review.
Following refurbishment of the Canister, work
on the pavements at the rear of the building (including disabled access) had
commenced. ESH were pursuing designs for other areas of Main Street, in order
to attain Highways Authority and Planning approvals, which would include siting
of the replica water fountain.
It was noted that the review of ESH’s Grants
Policy was nearing completion, with the proposed scheme to be presented to the
ESH Board at the end of this July.
It was also noted that the ‘Flash Sale’ on
flights, alongside local accommodation discounts, continued to be generating a
positive response with 90 of the sale priced tickets having been purchased
since the offer began.
Import of a Further Batch of Day Old Chicks to
St Helena
Roddie’s Chicken Farm owners were invited to
the meeting to provide members with an overview of the impact they felt a
further import of day old chicks in August 2019 could have on their egg
production business. The owners answered questions that arose from
Committee members.
Agriculture & Natural Resources Division (ANRD) staff
in attendance provided background information to Committee members regarding
the next batch of day old chick imports to arrive in August. This import
will satisfy the outstanding orders, not to fulfil new ones. Before
procuring this batch of chicks, ANRD had checked to see if the outstanding order
was required with those producers and small-holders requiring them, and they
had confirmed they did.
By the time these new chicks arriving this month are
released from quarantine, the first 1,000 chicks imported to the Island will
already be one year old. The new batch of chicks will come into-lay after 20-22
weeks and their impact on supply of eggs therefore will only be expected in
January 2020. By this time the first 1,000 chicks imported will then be
18 months old, and already most of the way through their most productive laying
period. No further chicks are proposed to be imported by ANRD until
producers require replacement chicks potentially in late 2020, allowing all of
the imported chicks to come into full lay and for the market for eggs to find
an even keel.
Policy papers were discussed for fisheries matters
involving options for fishing methods to be used in St Helena’s fisheries for
the future and options for future access for foreign fishing vessels to fish in
St Helena’s fisheries.
Committee approved a recommendation for St Helena’s
fisheries to be managed as a one by one (pole and line) fisheries in the future
in order to ensure St Helena’s fisheries were fished using a highly selective
and traditional method of fishing, and managed sustainably for both current and
future generations of fishermen.
Committee supported the recommendation for fishing in St
Helena’s fisheries in the future by foreign fishing vessels to be enabled under
the objective of increasing fish catching capacity for St Helena’s fishing
industry through collaboration with local fishing business in support of
achievement of a viable fishing industry.
Such access would be further managed under the condition
that a foreign vessel would only be licensed for one by one fishing. As a
result, a draft fishing licensing policy will now be established by SHG in
discussion with fisheries stakeholders, to ensure SHG has a policy which
incorporates permissible fishing methods and how it manages access for foreign
fishing vessels to fish. EDC will consider the draft licensing policy
before providing opportunity for a consultation exercise.
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SHG
8 August 2019
Public Guardian for St Helena and Ascension Island, Gavin (Jack) Thomas, undertook an official visit to the Office of the Public Guardian for England and Wales (OPG) in the UK on 9 and 10 July 2019.
Gavin said:
Anyone interested in finding out more about the role of the Public Guardian, the benefits of registering Lasting Power of Attorney, or the appointment of Deputies should contact Gavin on telephone number: (00 290) 22713 or via email: gavin.thomas@sainthelena.gov.sh.
Greg Gibson took up his new role as Head of the Governor’s Office (HOGO) on Monday, 5 August 2019.