In accordance with Section 15(3) of the Immigration Ordinance, 2011, the following person has been granted St Helenian Status with effect from:
24 April 2019
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SHG
3 May 2019
The monthly meeting of the Economic Development Committee took place on Thursday, 25 April 2019, and the following is a summary of the main items discussed:
Health Promotion & Social Marketing Lead, Dr Angela Jackson-Morris, presented information about the work with merchants to enhance supply of alternatives to sugar-sweetened drinks and to inform and encourage community members about the healthier options. The initiative in 2018 with several of the larger drinks importing merchants showed a substantial growth in sugar-free drinks options and reduction in sugar-sweetened ones. The merchants have seen strong sales and now the issue is to manage consistent supply of the range of options the community wants to buy.
Chief Government Economist, Nicole Shamier, described how this initiative of the Health Promotion Strategic Framework worked alongside the Duty increase on sugar-sweetened drinks from April 2018 and that the data suggests the combined effect was successful in encouraging a shift to healthier ‘no-sugar’ drinks options.
Nicole added that the Duty on fruit juice was also applied from April 2018 and the health initiative data on sales of drinks suggest that the Duty measure was effective in reducing sales and consumption of fruit juice, which is high in natural fruit sugar (fructose) and has similar poor effects for health.
It was recognised that further information for the community to help them make healthy drinks choices was important, and an even greater priority is enhancing the supply of alternative drinks. Committee members discussed the commercial opportunities for caterers and merchants to expand the range of healthier drinks, ideally locally made, to cater for demand.
The Committee agreed to take forward legislation to protect St Helena’s coffee. This follows a request from coffee producers who have been producing this Green-tipped Bourbon Yemeni Arabica strain of coffee for the last 25 years and who have asked SHG to consider a new policy to protect its valuable pedigree for local consumption, but particularly for export through prohibiting import of all coffee plant material and to have this ban supported in law. It was agreed that this policy request was justifiable, in support of local coffee production and this is a risk adverse measure to avoid potential future issues, as opposed to existing issues. It was agreed that the Customs (export and Import Control) Regulations 1988 should be amended to support the prohibition. Additionally, it was agreed that subject to funding being available, research into the DNA of the St Helena Coffee plant should be undertaken to understand whether the plant itself contributes to the uniqueness of the coffee, alongside growing conditions. On provision of the evidence, this policy should then be reviewed as necessary.
Enterprise St Helena (ESH) delivered a report for the month of February. Five grant applications were received and approved during the month. The on-Island Shot-firing Training took place in February in partnership with the Environment & Natural Resources Directorate and the St Helena Community College where five Shot Firers and one Supervisor were licensed or relicensed depending on their previous certification.
February saw no new international tour operators selling St Helena. During February, the Tourism Team with a private sector member attended the consumer show ‘Destinations’ in London. The Director of Tourism and Governor Lisa also attended the Napoleonic Wine Exhibition in Cape Town.
ESH delivered a report for the month of March. Two grant applications were approved during the month. This brings the total number of grants supported for the year to 38 plus five producers on Crown Land and three Syndicates benefiting under the Agriculture Small Producer funding for the year.
During March, ESH hosted two delegates from the City of Johannesburg Economic Development Group and Johannesburg Tourism on a familiarisation visit. St Helena also hosted its second annual Environment Conference but the first South Atlantic conference involving St Helena, Ascension, Tristan da Cunha and the Falklands.
March also saw a further two international tour operators selling St Helena and this brings the number to 57 of which 22 have already sent or will be sending clients shortly to the Island. During the month, the Tourism Team also attended the ITB exhibition in Berlin. March also saw a further two businesses registered with the Tourist Office.
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SHG
3 May 2019
The Highways Authority would like to advise the public that approval has been given for six parking bays in front of the Court House in Jamestown to be closed from Monday, 6 May, to Wednesday, 15 May 2019.
This closure is to allow the Infrastructure & Transport Directorate’s Works Team to erect and then dismantle a stage to be used for the Inauguration Ceremony of Governor Designate, Dr Philip Rushbrook, on Saturday, 11 May 2019.
The Highways Authority has also approved a road closure from Church Lane to the former Police Headquarters in lower Jamestown on Saturday, 11 May 2019, from 3-5pm.
This closure is to allow contingents to march on parade and take their place in front of the stage on the Grand Parade for the Inauguration Ceremony, due to start at 4pm.
The public is thanked for their support and cooperation.
SHG
2 May 2019
The Airport Directorate would like to advise the public that excavation works, in relation to St Helena Airport’s water supply, are currently being undertaken on the Airport Access Road between Reggie’s Takeaway and St Helena Airport.
The public is advised to take due care and attention when travelling on this road as there may be excavated material on the roadway resulting in some sections of the road being narrowed to single lane traffic.
The public is thanked for their continued support and cooperation.
SHG
2 May 2019
Community members are encouraged to participate in a short survey from the SHG Health Directorate to help them understand issues that may affect health on St Helena. The directorate can then plan how to address and possibly prevent these issues for the future.
The survey closes on Monday, 20 May 2019. You can complete the survey using any of the below options:
The Health Directorate anticipates the results from the survey will be available by July/August 2019.
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SHG
2 May 2019
The St Helena Statistics Office has today released updated estimates of the value of the Human Development Index for St Helena. It shows an increase of ten places in the last nine years, when ranked against countries around the world, moving from 93rd place in 2009 to 83rd place in 2017. In comparison, the United Kingdom was at 14th place in 2017, and South Africa was at 114th place. St Helena’s index value for 2017 is 0.756, which the United Nations classify as a ‘high’ level of human development.
The Human Development Index was conceived by the United Nations and is published each year as a method of measuring human development beyond the purely economic. It combines three dimensions of life – health (using life expectancy at birth), education (using average years of enrolment in full-time education), and income (using Gross National Income per capita).
The latest Statistical Bulletin shows that St Helena ranks around 50th in the world for life expectancy, around 84th for years of schooling, and 104th for average national income per capita. St Helena’s progress has been fastest for income, rising 23 places in the last nine years, largely due to the stimulus provided by the airport construction activity. But on the education dimension, St Helena’s rank has fallen 21 places, from 63rd in the world in 2009, to 84th in the world in 2017. Even though the value of the education index has risen slightly, from 0.699 to 0.704, this means that other countries have increased their years of schooling faster than St Helena.
The full Statistical Bulletin can be found on the St Helena Government website here: https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/statistical-bulletin-no-6-2019-human-development-index/, detailed data can be accessed in Excel format from the ‘HDI’ file at: www.sainthelena.gov.sh/statistics-data.
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SHG
2 May 2019
The first round of participants to complete the Train The Trainer (TTT) Course – Andrea Timm, Frederick Green, James Fantom, Larry Stevens, Martina Leo, Myra Young, Rickie Thomas, Rosalie Peters, Dalton George, Sasha Bargo and Sasha Benjamin – received their certificates from Acting Director of the Environment, Natural Resources and Planning Directorate, Darren Duncan, and TTT Course Tutor, Leigh Morris, during a short ceremony at Scotland on Wednesday, 1 May 2019.
Special awards were also presented to Rosalie Peters and Larry Stevens for the ‘Most Improved Students’ and to Myra Young for delivering the ‘Best Microteach Session’ on the course.
The next TTT course is being planned for later this year, which will be delivered by two former particpants, supported by the tutor.
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SHG
2 May 2019
Three years has come round really quickly for me as the Governor of St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. A lot has happened in those three years. The ones that first come to my mind are the big changes, such as the air service starting to St Helena and Ascension, the RMS sailing for her last time, managing to get the funding for a fibre optic cable to St Helena, opening the SHG-funded hotel, deciding that St Helena will run its electricity entirely from wind and sun within the next few years, and agreeing a Marine Protected Area for St Helena and Ascension. On Tristan da Cunha a new health facility was also finished.
But there have been changes to the fabric of society which has meant more equality for everyone. Now, throughout the territory, if you want to marry the person you love, you can, no matter what sex you are. On St Helena, if you are a victim of emotional or violent domestic abuse, the law can protect you and there is a refuge where you can be safe. Women have spoken out and harassment is increasingly not tolerated. Juries have convicted. And the poorest in St Helenian society are protected from the impact of the rising prices of the basic necessities of life.
People say nothing changes on St Helena. I say take a look around. People also ask me what I’ve done for the Island. There’s a misconception that the Governor is all powerful. Not so. Apart from a few exceptions, it’s your Elected Members who take the decisions. The future of St Helena is in your hands, not mine.
But where I am proud to have made my mark is that I have pursued a theme of ‘openness’. I have opened up the workings of government and now a lot more papers are published, meetings are open and views from the public are sought. The reason I’ve done that is I believe that if government is more open, the public can have more trust in them and they can hold them accountable for their promises. I realise the man or woman on the street doesn’t want to wade through loads of paperwork from SHG where proposals are made and decisions taken. But this is where the media could broker the information much more for you. Going forward, I encourage them to do that.
Continuing the theme of openness, I’ve opened up Plantation House and made it a House that works for you. It has been used for business, to recognise achievements, as a tourist attraction, as a charity fundraiser, and more recently, as a wedding venue. It is a beautiful asset for the Island and it is yours. I’ve opened up the Governor’s role through my Social Media account dispelling at least one little girl called Erin’s belief that I ‘sit in the House and count my money all day’. I have tried to be a Governor for the 21st Century. Yes, the first woman Governor for the territory, but someone who also wants to hear from as many St Helenians as possible. I have tried to bring the Governor and the government closer to the people it serves. Whether I’ve succeeded or not, only history (or John Turner’s website) will tell.
What is absolutely certain, I have always had the territory’s best interests at heart. In particular, I have believed, and will continue to believe, in St Helena and her future. But St Helena and St Helenians need to also believe in their future. After all, if you don’t, nobody will. Good bye and thank you!
Governor Lisa Honan
2 May 2019
The following is a public announcement from the Police Directorate:
All trained and accredited St Helena Police Officers are now carrying a Conducted Energy Device (CED) commonly known as a Taser.
To raise awareness and educate the public on the carrying and use of CEDs, St Helena Police will be carrying out a Roadshow in May and June to provide further information. Members of the public are encouraged to attend the presentation in their district for which dates and times are as follows:
|
Venue |
Date |
Time |
| Half Tree Hollow Community Centre | Monday, 6 May | 6pm |
| Guinea Grass Community Centre | Weds, 8 May | 6pm |
| Sandy Bay Community Centre | Weds, 15 May | 6pm |
| Blue Hill Community Centre | Mon, 27 May | 6pm |
| Kingshurst Community Centre | Tues, 28 May | 5pm |
| Harford Community Centre | Weds, 29 May | 6pm |
| Levelwood Community Centre | Thurs, 30 May | 6pm |
| Jamestown Community Centre | Fri, 7 June | 6pm |
Notes to Editors
St Helena Police have had CEDs since 2016 with the devices previously being held at the Police Station. However, with a rise in confrontational situations which have put the public, subjects and Police Officers at increased risk, the Chief of Police has introduced a Standing Authority for Officers to carry CEDs full time. This decision will be reviewed in six months.
SHG
30 April 2019
St Helena Government (SHG) and the UK Government have agreed a multi-year programme that aims to grow the Island’s future economic prosperity and represents an important element of a new partnership between the UK Government and SHG.
Both governments will work together to maximise the impact of this programme. This will include jointly agreeing key on-Island reforms which will promote investment opportunities, build a stronger investment climate and a more resilient infrastructure base whilst preserving and promoting what makes St Helena unique.
The UK Government has clearly signalled its commitment to St Helena by providing up to £30m to improve the Island’s infrastructure over the next six years (2019/20-2024/25), £15m of which is committed over the next three years (2019/20-2021/22), and £15m which is indicatively planned for the subsequent three years (2022/23- 2024/25) subject to a review to be undertaken at the halfway stage of the implementation, to consider progress and assess value for money.
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SHG
29 April 2019