The MVKaroline is scheduled to arrive in St Helena at 05:30 on Wednesday 17 April 2024 and will dock alongside Rupert’s Jetty. Cargo operations are expected to commence on Wednesday and should be completed by Friday 19 April 2024.
The MV Hondius will also arrive at 17:00 on Wednesday 17 April 2024 and will anchor in James Bay until 18 or 19 April 2024.
The public are therefore advised that Jamestown Wharf and the whole of lower Rupert’s, including the beach area, will be closed to the public from Wednesday 17 April 2024 until Friday 19 April 2024. These areas will be strictly prohibited and is limited only to those who have made prior arrangements with Port Control.
Boat owners and operators are advised that mooring on the ‘span’ mooring rope near the landing steps at the Jamestown Wharf is prohibited for the duration of cargo operations.
The public are also advised that while the MV Hondius is in port, a 200M exclusion zone must be adhered to by all marine traffic.
The public are thanked in advance for their patience and cooperation.
After a review of customs and excise duty tariffs as part of the 2024/25 Budget, new regulations were approved by Executive Council on Wednesday 27 March 2024.
The new regulations made a number of changes to the levels of duty applied to certain goods.
As in prior years, the government has increased the rate of import duty on alcohol and tobacco duty. The following increases to duty on tobacco and alcohol have been applied, effective from 1 April 2024:
Tobacco taxes have risen by a total of 2.1%.
Alcohol taxes have risen by a total of 1.1%.
These increases are designed to discourage people from smoking and drinking, which can be harmful to their health. This aligns with the government’s overall policy objective and plan to improve public health.
A specific import duty has also been introduced on beers and ciders that contain no more than 0.5% alcohol. This is to avoid taxing drinks that are branded as “alcohol-free”, but which may contain a tiny amount of alcohol, as though they were regular strength alcoholic drinks. These “alcohol-free” drinks will still be subject to import duty at 20% of their value.
On 29 September 2023, in an effort to address problem drinking and promote tax neutrality, the Executive Council increased duty rates on locally produced alcohol. This resulted in higher taxes on local spirits containing more than 22% alcohol (up to £10.30 per litre) and duty being imposed on all other locally manufactured alcoholic beverages for the first time (at a rate of £3.66 per litre). The government remains committed to better aligning the tax status of locally produced alcohol with that of imported alcohol, and is committed to applying duty to local liquor at half the rate that applies to imported alcohol by the end of 2026.
In response to feedback from local businesses, however, these increases will now be implemented gradually. From 1 April 2024, the old duty rate for locally produced spirits with an alcohol content above 22% was reinstated and duty on all locally produced alcohol was removed. Duty to locally produced alcohol will now be progressively applied, with the first increase anticipated for 1 October 2024. The rates will then increase each year in October until a rate equivalent of half the duty applying to imported alcohol products has been reached.
The rate of import duty on buses with 10 or more seats, and certain heavy vehicles and equipment, has been reduced to 5%. Under the Customs and Excise Ordinance 1999, the headline rate of import duty is 20%, which is a basic rate of inflation before influencing factors have been removed.
Prior to this change, heavy vehicles and equipment such as buses, lorries, fire trucks, cranes and concrete mixers were subject to import duty at a rate of 35%, with a 45% rate applied to certain other vehicles.
We recognised that the high cost of importing capital equipment was hampering economic development. This resulted in the decision to reduce the duty rate to 5% on all vehicles and heavy machinery that are not currently otherwise covered by the carbon emissions based vehicle import charge scheme.
This change aims to make it easier for businesses to get the equipment they need to help them grow and succeed.
The first meeting of the Police and Crime Panel will take place on Wednesday 24 April 2024 from 14:00 to 16:00. This meeting will be held at the Education Learning Centre, Jamestown.
Last year, reforms were announced for the Royal St Helena Police (RSHP) to enhance transparency, performance, and community confidence.
A new Police and Crime Panel was established to review police performance and complaints, and an independent peer review process for serious complaints was set up with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary.
Collaboration between Ascension Island Government (AIG) and RSHP improved support for police officers on Ascension and ensured that the level of service provided by RSHP is consistent across both islands.
Monitoring our community’s trust in the police force is an important part of the police reform process. Annual community surveys will assess community confidence in the police. The purpose of the panel will be to monitor police performance, foster better community engagement, and provide advice and guidance to ensure we align policing policies and priorities with public needs on both St Helena and Ascension.
The participation of residents in this new approach would be welcomed. The panel consists of the following members:
Governor Nigel Phillips CBE (Chairperson)
Administrator of Ascension Island, Simon Minshull
Minister for Safety, Security and Home Affairs (SSHA), Jeffrey Ellick
Elected Member of the St Helena Legislative Council, Gillian Brooks
Portfolio Director for SSHA, Alex Mitham
Crown Prosecutor, Simon Dykes
Chief Executive Officer for the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Catherine Turner
We welcome input from all community members and stakeholders as these reforms progress.
In November 2022, it was announced that St Helena would receive funding from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s (FCDO) bespoke 2022/2023 Improving Essential Equipment in Overseas Territories’ Programme.
St Helena was allocated up to £1,800,000 for the purchase of equipment of critical importance to the island. This was in areas including healthcare, emergency services, port operations, road maintenance and the airport.
Focus on the Health and Social Care Portfolio
A total of £797,159.48 was allocated to the Health and Social Care Portfolio. This was used to purchase:
Cardiac equipment
Biochemistry analyser
Haematology analyser
Haemoglobin A1c analyser
FibroScan 530 Compact and M probe
Immunoassay analyser
Blood culture analyser
CT Scanner (and servicing contract)
Portable ultrasound
These new tools have now been installed and commissioned. They will allow medical staff to better manage illnesses on-island and reduce the need for off-island referrals. Doing so will improve the turnaround time for assessments and results, delivering better and more timely care to patients, without them needing to travel abroad.
Cardiac stress test, ECG machines, and Heartstart Intrepid Defibrillators
£138,600.74 was used to purchase a cardiac stress test, electrocardiogram (ECG) machines, and Heartstart Intrepid Defibrillators. This cardiac equipment will be used to improve early detection of heart disease and provide lifesaving care in an emergency.
Biochemistry and haematology analyser
£53,512.13 was used to purchase a biochemistry analyser and a haematology analyser. These analysers are upgrades have replaced ones previously in use which were coming to the end of their useful life.
Hemoglobin A1C analyser
£27,429.40 was used to purchase a Hemoglobin A1C analyser. This is used to diagnose and monitor persons with diabetes. Due to the increased demand for these tests, it was necessary to replace the smaller analyser with one which could cope with the rising demand.
FibroScan 530 Compact and M probe
£82,089.96 was used to purchase a FibroScan 530 Compact and M probe. This machine allows health staff to objectively monitor for liver disease, something which may not be picked up on routine biochemistry testing. This forms part of the Health Directorate’s primary prevention and treatment strategy for obesity, diabetes and alcohol dependency.
Immunoassay analyser
£46,751.30 was used to purchase an immunoassay analyser. This instrument will increase the range of tests that can be done on the island and reduce the number of tests that are sent overseas. This in turn will improve the turnaround times for patients receiving results, whilst also reducing costs.
Blood culture analyser
£24,909.88 was used to purchase a blood culture analyser. This is an automated piece of equipment which can detect sepsis in a patient at a very early stage. Positive results can be detected as early as 10 to 12 hours from onset, as opposed to the old manual method which could take 72 hours or more.
CT scanner and portable ultrasound machine
£423,866.07 was used to purchase a CT scanner and portable ultrasound machine.
The new CT scanner allows health staff to do scans of the heart (looking at the function and coronary arteries). Health staff are also able to do bone mineral density scans which look at how brittle the bone is. One of the software features also allows health staff to reduce artefacts caused by metal from prostheses or other metal structures in the body which may obscure surrounding anatomy and pathology. The scanner has significant improved functionality when compared to the previous scanner. This is due to the 64 interleaved detectors which create a 128 slice mechanism, allowing for significant radiation dose reduction, improved image quality and faster scanning time. The cost of the CT scanner also includes a servicing contract.
The portable ultrasound is a way to provide improved quality health scans for patients. The machine is smaller, more cost-effective than other traditional console ultrasound systems, and able to support patient assessments right at the point of care. Some of the benefits include being able to do the scan in any location, accelerated treatment decisions, less waiting time and the ability to deploy it in emergency situations.
St Helena will be represented at the World Travel Market (WTM) Africa at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 10 April to 12 April 2024.
This globally important travel show attracts representatives from over a hundred destinations, along with thousands of attendees from the travel industry. It provides opportunities to generate sales leads, launch new products, enter new markets, raise brand awareness, conduct market research, garner media coverage and assess other travel destinations that St Helena competes with for travellers.
Head of Tourism, Matt Joshua, and Tourism Manager, Dianne Venning, will attend. Joining them will be representatives from two local destination management companies; Julie George from Aaron’s Adventure Tours, and Derek Richards from Island Images.
WTM Africa is part of Africa Travel Week, which is running from 08 Aprilto 12 April 2024. This includes a number of travel shows and tourism-related investment events.
Director of Economic Development, Damian Burns, will attend the Tourism Investment Forum Africa (TIFA) from 10 April to 12 April 2024. He will be presenting a segment to a range of potential investors from across the world during this time. This will pitch investment opportunities in existing and new markets, as in line with the island’s Sustainable Economic Development Strategy. St Helena Tourism will also attend the smaller International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) trade show earlier in the week.
When the Economic Development Portfolio team members return to St Helena on 13 April 2024, they will be accompanied by a group of 26 tour operators, travel agents and potential investors to the island. This delegation will take part in St Helena Tourism’s ‘St Helena Showcase’ event, from 13 April to 20 April 2024. This will provide them an opportunity to understand first-hand the tourism and investment potential St Helena has to offer. A full range of events and activities has been organised for their time on the island, ensuring representatives from each sector are exposed to the key markets and opportunities relating to their fields.
Head of Tourism, Matt Joshua, said:
“I’m very excited about the opportunities that the WTM, ILTM and the TIFA will present to St Helena. They will put us in front of the people that can make a real economic impact on not just our tourism sector, but other key economic sectors on the island too.”
“One of the biggest challenges we face once we’ve engaged tour operators, and potential investors, is getting them to the island to experience the destination first hand. Sometimes years of engagement with tour operators falls flat because we can’t get interests to solidify. The showcase event later this month will provide an opportunity for attendees to immerse themselves in our beautiful island and see for themselves the range of opportunities available.”
The St Helena Showcase event has been created to directly connect a number of firms in UK and South African travel trade with suppliers and stakeholders in St Helena, whilst showcasing the very best of the destination through fantastic experiences. It will also provide the chance to explore investment opportunities, collaborate with local service providers and develop tourism-related business partnerships.
Girlguiding St Helena Dependencies Branch are pleased to confirm that St Helena, Ascension and the other Overseas Territories will remain part of Girlguiding UK. We will now be integrated into the structure of Girlguiding North West England region. This comes after a challenging time, following the announcement last year that British Guiding Overseas would be discontinued.
Girlguiding exists to help girls and young women find their voice and build skills and confidence – inspiring them to discover the best in themselves and empower them to make a positive difference in their community.
This is positive news for our guiding family which includes Rainbows, Brownies and Guides, Rangers, Trefoil Guild, leaders and volunteers both on St Helena and Ascension.
Division Commissioner for Girlguiding St Helena and Dependencies, Pamela Ward Pearce, commented:
“We would like to thank our many supporters who have helped to sustain us throughout this very difficult period of uncertainty, especially the Overseas Territory representatives and Sir Lindsay Hoyle.”
“Three years ago, St Helena celebrated 100 years of continuous guiding on the island and now with this news the future of guiding looks sufficiently secure so we may indeed plan to be celebrating another 100 years in the future.”
In our last update, we advised that a new draft Immigration Policy was being prepared.
The draft Immigration Policy has been finalised and is now open to final public comment. It can be viewed online at www.sainthelena.gov.sh/government/public-information/ from 12:00 on Thursday 04 April. Hard copies will also be available in the Public Library and Post and Customer Services Centre in Jamestown.
The Minister for Safety, Security and Home Affairs, Jeffrey Ellick, felt that work done previously on developing a new immigration policy was overly focused on border protection and operational issues. It did not go far enough to support growing the population, particularly the working age population, and they wanted to consider all options for opening up the island to encourage inward migration.
In late 2023, Minister Ellick instructed officials to take a strategic approach and develop options for addressing the immigration situation.
St Helena has an aging population with a declining working age population, resulting in economic decline. Labour shortages exist for a wide range of positions. There is a strong belief that immigration policy and legislation reforms are necessary to help to address the issue.
Increasing the population, in particular the working age population, is critical to growing the economy and sustainable prosperity for the island.
Minister Ellick commented:
“Changes to immigration legislation and practice alone will not be the magic bullet that makes the necessary difference to the population challenges that we face. These changes can however facilitate entry and welcome immigrants, whilst also maintaining border security. This government is committed to making the changes needed to attract people to come to St Helena to work, invest and positively contribute to life on our island. Other policies across SHG will also be amended in line with the immigration policy to help deliver this.”
A number of public meetings to discuss the final draft Immigration Policy will be held in the coming weeks.
These will take place from 19:30 to 21:00 on the following dates, and at the venues listed:
Date and time
Location
Monday 08 April 2024
Jamestown Community Centre
Wednesday 10 April 2024
Kingshurst Community Centre
Thursday 11 April 2024
Harford Community Centre
Tuesday 16 April 2024
Half Tree Hollow Community Centre
Wednesday 17 April 2024
Blue Hill Community Centre
Thursday 18 April 2024
Sandy Bay Community Centre
If you have any questions or views on the draft policy in the meantime, please submit these to Head of Infrastructure and Strategies, Derek Henry, by email through Derek.Henry@sainthelena.gov.sh.
The Marine and Fisheries Conservation Section invite all fishers to an educational workshop focusing on lobster, crayfish and stump. The workshop will be held at the Canister in Jamestown at 18:00 on Thursday 18 April 2024. It is expected to last an hour.
The aim of this workshop will be to inform fishers on methods for biological sampling, how landings are calculated and how fishers can help with the scientific process of data collection.
The workshop will include a presentation on the science that informs lobster quotas, a demonstration of practical skills, including free calipers for attendees to use when measuring lobsters, and information on how fishers can support science efforts.
For further information please contact Marine and Fisheries Conservation Officer Kirsty Jones by email through Kirsty.jones@sainthelena.gov.sh, or by telephone on 25966.
We are pleased to advise that renovation works at the Post Office building in Jamestown are now complete.
The public notice outside the Post Office is once again in use. Public notices, such as marriage certificates, were temporarily displayed at the Essex House notice board while renovation works were carried out.
Additionally, access to the Social Security, Income Tax, Statistics, and Procurement Offices has reverted back to the main Post Office entrance.
The public are thanked for their cooperation and understanding whilst the renovation works were taking place.
