Category: News

Following an eventful week of discussions and engagement at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) British Islands Mediterranean Region (BIMR) Conference all delegates departed St Helena on Saturday 25 May 2024 concluding a six-day visit to the island.

This historic visit marked the first time the CPA St Helena Branch hosted a CPA conference.

Whilst here, delegates engaged in a number of discussions and activities focusing on the theme of the conference ‘Addressing Challenges to Sustainable Development in Times of Global Uncertainty’. Guest speakers from St Helena were invited to deliver presentations and sit on panels with members of the delegation. These discussions provided the delegation an opportunity to participate in exchanging knowledge on approaches and best practices.

The conference concluded with a presentation of gifts to the delegation by Chief Minister Julie Thomas and closing remarks by Hon Catherine Cranfield, Deputy President of the CPA St Helena Branch.

On Tuesday 21 May (St Helena’s Day), the delegates went on various tours of the island. This involved visits to a range of significant St Helenian landmarks and points of interest, including historical sites like High Knoll Fort, and infrastructure crucial to the island’s future, such as Rupert’s Bay Cargo Facility.

The conference also gave the delegates a platform to strengthen further the bonds between our UK Parliament and the British Islands and Mediterranean Region legislatures.

On the conference, President of the CPA St Helena Branch, Cyril Gunnell commented:

“It has been an absolute honour to host the CPA BIMR conference in St Helena this year. I consider the conference a huge success as the aim for parliamentarians and staff to join together to network, to learn and to share similar issues was achieved. I trust our colleagues within the BIM Region have felt the warm and welcoming spirit of St Helena and experienced the ‘Breath of Fresh Air’ that our island proudly offers.”

“As the conference has come to an end, my hope is that valuable links have been built, bonds within our region have been strengthened, and we all look forward to building on those relationships in the years to come.”

On 12 October 2023, following an ENRP veterinary risk assessment in respect of the ‘highly pathogenic avian influenza’ (HPAI) or ‘bird flu’ outbreaks in South Africa (SA), St Helena Government (SHG) put in place a prohibition to prevent the landing or importation of all poultry and poultry product imports originating from SA. This prohibition was established to prevent the introduction of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) disease into St Helena.

Since September 2023, SA has put in place biosecurity measures to limit the spread of the existing outbreaks and new outbreaks of the virus, and is monitoring this on a monthly basis by sampling poultry flocks for HPAI. This allows the country to establish what it calls NAI (Notifiable Avian Influenza) Free Compartments from which it will export live birds, poultry meat, and eggs.

Based on the World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS) reporting no new or ongoing HPAI cases in St Helena’s poultry since early January 2024, and considering the expected low HPAI activity for the next four to five months, ENRP’s risk assessment concludes that the risk of introducing HPAI through poultry and poultry product imports is currently extremely low.

Executive Council recently discussed a recent veterinary risk assessment provided for St Helena and agreed that the current prohibition on the import of poultry and poultry products originating from SA should be lifted. This removal of the prohibition took effect from Thursday 23 May 2024.

The situation will be monitored by ENRP as HPAI cases may begin to rise again in the future and St Helena may again need to prohibit such imports. Avian Influenza continues to be a challenge and is spread across the world, with new outbreaks having been reported in Antarctica recently for the first time.

The public and the island’s merchants are thanked for their cooperation in helping to protect our island during the period of the prohibition.

If you require further information please contact:

Portfolio Director, Darren Duncan, via email: darren.duncan@sainthelena.gov.sh or

Agricultural Development Officer, Andrea Timm, via email: andy.timm@sainthelena.gov.sh 

Alternatively, both officers can be contacted on telephone 24724.

#StHelena #PoultryProhibition #AvianFlu

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Delegates from 10 countries across the British Islands and Mediterranean Region (BIMR) arrived at St Helena this afternoon for their annual Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) BIMR conference. This is the first time CPA St Helena hosts a CPA conference.

Upon arrival at the airport, delegates were welcomed by President of the CPA St Helena Branch Hon. Cyril Gunnell, Secretary Anita Legg and elected members. They were then taken to their respective accommodation.

Delegates will participate in a full programme of engagements and activities focusing on the theme of the conference ‘Addressing Challenges to Sustainable Development in Times of Global Uncertainty’. A range of topics to be discussed will include digital reforms and artificial intelligence, decentralized finance and climate emergency.

While the unfortunate weather delayed their arrival, we trust the delegates will still be able to enjoy St Helena Day celebrations and island tours at their leisure.

The opening ceremony will take place on Monday 20 May, and the programme will commence with the CPA Annual General Meeting.

#StHelena #CPA #BIMR

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The Immigration Policy 2024 was approved by Executive Council on Tuesday 7 May 2024. The policy, which supports increasing the working aged population, is critical to growing the economy and sustainable prosperity for the island.

To fuel economic growth, this policy aims to attract a skilled workforce with streamlined, user-friendly processes for visitors, professionals, and investors. Importantly, there are no changes to St Helenian Status or existing partner exemptions.

To ensure smooth execution, the policy comes with a detailed implementation plan. This plan outlines the necessary steps, including revisions to immigration laws and timeframes for enacting complementary policies. These complementary policies address various aspects like health fees, minimum wage adjustments, public transportation access, land ownership rights for immigrants, property transactions (disposal and purchase), and stamp duty regulations.

To strengthen border security, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will be signed with the UK Home Office, granting access to their watch lists. Additionally, training for immigration staff will be facilitated.

A dedicated Head of Customs and Immigration will be appointed in July of this year to further support staff training and ensure the policy’s smooth implementation. Securing funding for modern immigration equipment remains a crucial step.

It is envisaged that the legislation will be enacted in September 2024.

#StHelena #ImmigrationPolicy

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The Provisional Register of Electors was published on Friday 10 May 2024.

Eligible persons have up until 16:00 on Friday 24 May 2024, to submit applications to amend the Provisional Register.

Persons who are eligible to have their names entered in the register may apply to amend the Provisional Register. Amendments can be made to include or remove their name, or to remove the name of someone who has died or left the island or who might be no longer eligible for inclusion in the register.

The Registration Officer aims to publish a register which is as up-to-date and accurate as possible. In order to do so, eligible persons can apply to amend any of their personal details which may be out of date. For example, they may have changed their name since they last applied to be included on the register or may now live in a different electoral district and would like to change their address.  

It is also possible to amend the register to enable voting in a different district from that in which you reside. For example, an eligible person may live in Longwood and work in Jamestown, so when there is an election, it may be more convenient for them to vote in Jamestown during the working day. It is possible for the register to accommodate this, provided the eligible person makes an application to do so.

Persons eligible to be registered must:

• Have St Helenian Status as defined in the Immigration Ordinance, 2011
• Be 17 years of age or older with St Helena as their ordinary place of residence

The register has been published on the SHG website at www.sainthelena.gov.sh/news/government-gazettes/.

Hard copies have also been placed at the following locations:

• The office of the Registration Officer, the Castle
• Customer Service Centre, Jamestown
• Public Library, Jamestown
• ENRP Offices, Scotland

Assistant Registration will also have access to a copy of the Provisional Register and can be contacted by persons who require any assistance.  The Assistant Registration Officers are:

Anita Legg

Connie Johnson

Michelle Yon

Pamela Joshua

Brenda Thomas

Georgina Young

Vincent March

Douglas Bennett

Alfreda Yon

Karen Yon

Christina Henry

Jane Augustus

Phyllis Coleman

Alicia Thomas

Jackie Moyce

Applications to amend the Register using the prescribed ‘Form A’ will need to be submitted to the Registration Officer, at the Castle, by no later than 16:00 on Friday 24 May 2024. Form A can be accessed at the Castle Reception, Public Library and Customer Services Centre.

Individuals who may be eligible to apply to have their names included in the register and who are currently overseas need to use the prescribed ‘Form B’. Both Form A and Form B can be accessed on the SHG website at www.sainthelena.gov.sh/government/public-information/elections/.

Further information about registering and making amendments may be obtained from the Registration Officer, Carol Henry, at the Castle, by telephone on 22470 or via email through carol.henry@sainthelena.gov.sh.

The final Register of Electors for the 12 month period commencing 1 July 2024 will be published towards the end of June.

If your name is not on the Register of Electors you will not be able to stand or vote in any bye-election or general election. It is therefore your responsibility to check the Provisional Register and to make application to have your name included if it is not already listed.

#StHelena #ProvisionalRegisterOfElectors #RegisterToVote

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