Category: News

‘Walk to Work’ day is celebrated every year on 5 April 2024.  

It is a chance to change your routine, add a little more time to it, and see how a slower start to the day that incorporates a brisk walk can lead to a more efficient life overall. We know that being sedentary has negative effects on a person’s health, and walking to work can make a huge difference to your life and your lifespan.

Not only will walking to work reduce your carbon footprint, it can also help improve your memory and mood, get your muscles moving and can help instil healthier habits into your lifestyle. People who walk to work regularly are also generally healthier and more productive at work. 

We are encouraging everyone in St Helena to participate in the ‘Walk to Work’ challenge this year. To help support this initiative, SHG has granted an additional 30 minutes physical activity time on 5 April 2024 to SHG employees who would like to participate.

Tips to take advantage of ‘Walk to Work’ day:

• If you can’t walk all the way, get off the bus at an earlier stop and walk the rest of the way
• If you need to drive, consider parking at least a kilometre away from your destination
• If you can’t fit your walk in during the morning, try a short walk at lunch time

So get ready for ‘Walk to Work’ day to enjoy personal benefits as well as helping out the planet.

#StHelena #WalktoWork 

SHG

2 April 2024

On Saturday 23 March 2024, HE Governor Nigel Phillips, Chief Minister Julie Thomas and Chief Secretary Susan O’Bey returned to St Helena following an official visit to fellow Overseas Territory, Montserrat.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office facilitated the trip to promote ties between the two Overseas Territories. During their visit, the delegation met with HE Governor Sarah Tucker, Premier Easton Taylor-Farrell, members of Parliament and a wide range of officials and community representatives. These meetings enabled the two Overseas Territories to learn about the challenges and opportunities each island is facing, share approaches on how to address them and to better understand where collaboration between St Helena and Montserrat would be best implemented.

The delegation also attended a variety of events aimed at strengthening the social and cultural links between the two territories. These festivities included the annual flower show and tea party hosted by the Montserrat National Trust, and a tour of the Montserrat Volcano Observatory. A visit to the Plymouth Exclusion Zone was cancelled due to bad weather. On Sunday 17 March, the delegation attended the annual St Patrick’s Day Parade, the culminating event of a 15-day festival, Montserrat’s biggest national festival.

The delegation also took the opportunity to meet with the High Commissioner to Antigua Karen-Mae Hill OBE, en route back to St Helena.

Reflecting on their trip to Montserrat, Chief Minister Julie Thomas commented:

“Concluding a highly successful week in Montserrat, I am pleased to have been able to engage in so many detailed and enlightening discussions and make so many valuable connections with the Montserratian Parliamentary leaders along with their civil service counterparts. These will be critical in further strengthening our ties with the people and government of Montserrat.”

“Discussions on topics of governance, policy and corporate leadership, fiscal policy, outcome framework and programme management of the Montserrat Capital Investment Programme for Resilient Economic Growth (similar to St Helena’s EDIP) will help our Executive Council with future decision-making approaches and best practices. Equally, I know that our counterparts in Montserrat found great value in hearing about the enormous strides that St Helena has made in our blue and green agendas, development in terms of access and the steps we are taking to strengthen our essential infrastructure; areas of which are similar in priority for both islands.”

Photos

#StHelena #Montserrat #OverseasTerritories

www.facebook.com/StHelenaGovt/

www.twitter.com/StHelenaGovt

The public are advised that tree felling in the Rupert’s Port and Cargo Facility area will take place on Wednesday 03 April 2024 from 07:00.  This exercise will take place between the main yard and the contractor’s site office and laydown area below Hay Town House.

This work is a joint undertaking delivered by the Programme Management Office (PMO) and the Environment, Natural Resources and Planning (ENRP) Portfolio.

The tree to be felled currently hosts a swarm of bees, which will be removed with support from an experienced bee keeper. The public and all users of the areas are advised to take all necessary precautions to protect themselves, others and pets, should there be increased bee activity in the area during the operation.

The main road will not be closed but those accessing lower Rupert’s may experience some delays.

For further information, please contact Site Supervisor Mr Glenn Owen by mobile telephone on 51203.

The public are thanked in advance for their patience and understanding.

#StHelena #Treefelling #Rupert’s

www.facebook.com/StHelenaGovt/

www.twitter.com/StHelenaGovt

Following the visit by the FCDO Financial Aid Mission delegation in December 2023, discussions have been ongoing between the St Helena Government and the UK Government regarding the level of funding to be provided to St Helena for the 2024-2025 financial year. Ministers, officials and FCDO colleagues have worked hard to develop the planning for next year, and to present the evidence for a settlement in the context of a challenging economic situation in the UK.

We had anticipated that a settlement would be confirmed by end of February 2024, providing adequate time to prepare and present the Budget for 2024/25 within Legislative Council rules, and ahead of the beginning of the 2024-2025 financial year in April.

However, we are yet to receive confirmation of the 2024/25 financial aid settlement. This means that we cannot finalise the Budget for 2024/25 in order to present it to Legislative Council as planned on 25 March 2024.

Instead, a rollover budget will now be sought. Minister for Treasury and Economic Development, Mark Brooks, will table a motion at Legislative Council which seeks to empower the Financial Secretary to withdraw funds from the Consolidated Fund. This will allow public services to continue until such time that the Appropriation Bill is approved by Legislative Council.

The draft Budget 2024/25 will be published once the financial aid settlement from the UK Government has been confirmed.

#StHelena #Budget24

SHG

19 March 2024