The Immigration Section of the Safety, Security and Home Affairs Portfolio will be closed for business on Tuesday 5 March 2024. Normal business will resume on Wednesday 6 March 2024.
We apologise for the inconvenience caused and the public are thanked for their understanding and cooperation.
SHG
1 March 2024
Last year three public warning systems were installed on St Helena, located in Rupert’s and Jamestown.
During initial testing of the system in July 2023, a fault was identified with the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) boards which affected the system at both locations. The boards were sent to the manufacturer for repair and arrived back to St Helena in January 2024.
The service provider then conducted successful bench testing on the boards before reinstalling them. Whilst bench testing was successful, the system now needs to undergo live testing to ensure that the issue has been addressed.
Testing will therefore take place on Tuesday 05 March between 12:00 and 12:30. This will be at all three system sites in Rupert’s Valley and Jamestown.
As previously, the testing tone for the system is the RMS St Helena dinner bell.
As this is a test, you do not need to react to the warning system.
If the test is successful and indicates that the system is now operating as it should, the system will be put back into use. This will mean that regular monthly testing occurs on the first Tuesday of each month between 12:00 and 12:30, as before. A public awareness campaign will also take place, explaining in more detail how the system works, what tones you are likely to hear and what you should do in each scenario when you do hear those tones.
SHG
1 March 2024
Due to the cargo operations scheduled for next week, the demonstration works using the Minimac paver have been brought forward to tomorrow Friday 1 March 2024 at 10:00.
This will take place on the seafront, from the road through the arch to the start of the concrete pavement near the HM Customs building. The public are welcome to attend to see how the paver works and what the new road surface looks like.
The road will remain open and traffic will be managed accordingly. All car parks in this vicinity will need to be vacated between 08:30 and 15:30. We thank the public in advance for their understanding.
On Wednesday 14 February 2024 it was announced that existing contracts for the delivery of public bus services with Joshua’s Taxis and Colin’s Garage would conclude at the end of this month, and that work remained ongoing to ensure services continued after this date.
Last year expressions of interest were invited to provide public bus services beyond February 2024, but no interest was received. For this reason, direct approaches and negotiations have been ongoing with potential service providers to ensure an affordable public transport service continues to be available to those who need it.
The result of these discussions is that the majority of the existing routes will still be provided. However, whilst we have been able to secure services for the majority of routes and schedules, some will be affected and some services will no longer operate. You are therefore encouraged to familiarise yourself with these changes.
With effect from Friday 01 March 2024, the following services will be in effect.
Colin’s Garage will continue to operate routes E and F serving the Sandy Bay and Blue Hill areas. They will also operate a new route D, providing a bus service to the St Pauls, Half Tree Hollow (HTH), Sandy Bay and Blue Hill areas.
Isaac’s Contractors will operate new routes G and H, providing ‘hop on, hop off’’ bus services for the Longwood and Levelwood areas.
Route B, which serviced the HTH and St Paul’s areas, will temporarily no longer operate as per the current timetables. Please see the table below for further details.
| District | Route | Bus Route |
| Longwood and Levelwood | A and C | Joshua’s Taxis will continue to operate routes A and C from the Longwood and Levelwood areas three times a day to primarily meet the needs of shift workers and others who use these routes. With the exception of the following, here will be no change to the departure and arrival times for these routes operated by Joshua’s Taxis: There will no longer be any late night travel to or from Levelwood and Longwood on Friday and Saturday nights.The Monday to Friday 16:00 journey from Jamestown to Levelwood and Longwood will no longer operate.There will be no public bus service to the airport. |
| Longwood | G | A new route G, operated by Isaac’s Contractors, will depart Bottom Woods Mondays to Saturdays at 09:15 into Jamestown, with the return journey departing Jamestown at 13:05. |
| Levelwood | H | A new route H, operated by Isaac’s Contractors, will depart Bellstone, Levelwood at 09:15 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays into Jamestown, with the return journey departing Jamestown at 13:05. |
| St Pauls and HTH | D | A new route D, operated by Colin’s Garage, on Mondays, Tuesday, Thursdays and Fridays will depart Jamestown at 08:30 to White Gate, and depart White Gate at 09:05 travelling into Jamestown via Scotland, Rosemary Plain, New Ground, While Wall, Cow Path and Ladder Hill. This route will also call at Thompson’s Hill on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The return journey from the Grand Parade in Jamestown will be at 13:00 to White Gate and then return to Jamestown arriving at 13:54. The additional route D journey on Tuesdays from Jamestown to Plantation House will continue, departing Jamestown at 10:10 and returning via White Gate at 12:35. This can be used by any members of the public wishing to travel from Jamestown through to HTH and White Gate. Customers who live in the White Gate and HTH areas can utilise route E should they wish to travel to Jamestown on Saturday mornings. |
| Sandy Bay and Blue Hill | E and F | Route E will operate on Fridays and Saturdays starting its journey from Sandy Bay arriving at White Gate at approximately 09:57 and departing Jamestown at 13:30. The Monday journey to Half Tree Hollow Clinic will continue also. Route F will operate on the last Thursday of each month, departing Blue Hill Community Centre at 09:00 and the return journey leaving Jamestown at 13:00. |
| St Pauls and HTH | B | It has not been possible to secure the services of any transport provider to operate the existing route B as per the previous timetable. Route B, which serviced the HTH and St Paul’s areas, will temporarily no longer operate as per the current timetables. However a new route D, operated by Colin’s Garage, will cover some of the existing timetabled journeys (See above). In addition: The route B journey currently operated by Joshua’s Taxis departing Jamestown at 07:55 travelling to White Wall, then departing at 08:05 into Jamestown and returning at 16:10 Mondays to Fridays will no longer be available.There will no longer be any late night bus service on Friday and Saturday nights |
An initial agreement has been set for a period of six months, with a review at the three-month point.
Fares will remain the same as currently published for this trial period of operations. Customers are asked to ensure that they are issued with a ticket when paying their fares.
Copies of the new timetables for all routes will be available on the SHG website via https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/publicservices/publictransportservice/?highlight=bus%20timetable from 01 March 2024.
We recognise that there may be some disruption for some routes and passengers due to these changes. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. We endeavour to work on a longer term solution for services from September 2024 onwards, and will provide an update on progress made in due course.
www.facebook.com/StHelenaGovt/
#StHelena #PublicBusServices
The public are advised that from Monday 04 March to Friday 08 March 2024, activities will be underway at Horse Point Landfill Site (HPLS) to monitor, and where appropriate, cull feral pigeons. Where needed this will only take place in the mornings, and will usually end by 09:30.
Feral pigeon numbers are monitored twice a year at HPLS and reported on by the Environmental Management Division. This takes place in support of the St Helena Airport Limited (SHAL) Wildlife Hazard Management Plan, which includes mitigating against bird-strike risk to aircraft.
Feral pigeons congregate to feed on the organic content of waste within the netted domestic waste cell. If culling is necessary to reduce their numbers, this is undertaken around the netted cell by experienced persons using an air rifle, and who are appropriately licensed by the Environment, Natural Resources and Planning Portfolio.
During this time signage will be in place as per the below image:
The public are reminded that the domestic waste cells area is restricted to authorised persons only, as permanently signposted within the site.
Tuesday 27 February and Wednesday 28 February 2024 – Cruise Ship Visits
The public are advised that a temporary one way system will be in place Tuesday 27 February and Wednesday 28 February 2024 from 09:00 to 16:00 on both days.
The one way system will be in place in the direction of Gordons Post to Hutts Gate along Tomb Road. Traffic wishing to travel in the opposite direction will be diverted from Hutts Gate to Gordons Post via The Dungeon, as per the map below:
The one way system will be clearly signed and will be removed as soon as no longer required.
The one way system has been put in place in order to more safely manage traffic and ease congestion, given the anticipated increase in vehicle volumes due to the visit of the cruise ships MSC Poesia and MV Azamara Pursuit. This is the same process as has been put in place in previous years, and for the last cruise ship visit, and is likely to also be a feature during future cruise ship visits.
We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank the public for their understanding in this matter.
The public are advised that the Roads Section will be carrying out slurry works at the car park, located behind the Museum in Jamestown, between 09:00 and 15:00 on Thursday 29 February 2024.
Parking in this area will be unavailable whilst the slurry works are being carried out. Therefore drivers are asked to vacate any vehicles located in this area by 08:00 on Thursday 29 February 2024. Due to the road surface being covered in slurry, the car park will remain closed until 08:00 on Friday 1 March 2024.
The public are thanked in advance for their cooperation and understanding.
SHG
26 February 2024
The Jamestown Wharf will be closed to all members of the public on Tuesday 27 February and Wednesday 28 February 2024. This is due to the arrival of two cruise ships, the MSC Poesia and MV Azamara Pusuit.
Access will be strictly prohibited and is limited only to those who have made prior arrangements with Port Control.
Port Control thanks the public in advance for their understanding and cooperation.
SHG
26February 2024
The Environment, Natural Resources and Planning Portfolio (ENRP) has been made aware of people entering the Peaks National Park without authorisation.
The public are reminded that parts of the Peaks National Park are closed to prevent the spread of the tree diseases affecting our endemic plants. These areas will remain closed as long as is deemed necessary whilst work continues to assess the threat of the pathogens and manage their spread. Environmental Protection Notices (EPNs) are in place to enforce these closures.
The EPNs are legally binding. Anyone who ignores these notices and crosses the barriers is committing an offence, for which the maximum penalty is a fine of up to £25,000 or imprisonment for six months, or both.
These notices are placed at various access points within the Peaks National Park alongside physical barriers. This includes locked gates, as at the Cabbage Tree Road entrance and Black Gate Nursery entrance, chains across pathways as at the High Peak entrance or biosecurity tape as at the George Benjamin Arboretum and Cason’s areas.
In December 2023, it was announced that as work remains underway to assess the threat and impact of the pathogens, the closures would remain in effect until at least March 2024. However following a boundary review, the area closed from the Halley’s Mount entrance has been revised and access to the Halley’s Observatory is now permitted. This follows an assessment of spread of the pathogens and how best to manage access to the Peaks National Park in practice. The EPN has been relocated to the boundary of the Peaks National Park which is further up on the pathway. Access into the park from the Halley’s Mount entrance is still prohibited.
If anyone is unsure where the closed areas are and would like further clarification please contact the Chief Environmental Officer, Isabel Peters or Forestry Officer, Myra Young by telephone on 24724 at the ENRP Offices at Scotland during normal working hours.
ENRP acknowledges that reports suggest it is just a small number of persons who are ignoring the EPNs, despite the risk to our precious endemics and at risk of their own prosecution. We would like to extend our thanks to the majority of people who are observing the EPNs and respecting the closures.
Your support is very much appreciated.
Photos
#StHelena #PeaksNationalPark
https://www.facebook.com/StHelenaGovt/
Nominations are now being invited for the following awards.
UK STATE AWARDS – 2025 NEW YEARS HONOURS
Honours are awarded on merit for exceptional achievement or for any service carried out over and above what normally is expected. This can include making a difference to the community or in a specific field of work, innovation and entrepreneurship, improving life for people less able to help themselves and displaying moral courage. Where possible, nominations should place emphasis on voluntary services and the service must be recent. Nominees must not be made aware they are being put forward for an award.
To find out more about the different types of Honours Awards please visit www.gov.uk/honours.
CERTIFICATE AND BADGE OF HONOUR 2025
This award is presented to public servants on behalf of St Helena Government for loyal and valuable service worthy of recognition or, in the case of other persons, for their loyal and meritorious conduct that has provided exceptional benefit to the people of St Helena. Nominees should be residents of St Helena, either being born on the island or have been residing on St Helena for not less than 10 years prior to the date of the award.
ACT OF BRAVERY AWARD 2025
This award is presented to individuals who have shown a clear display of moral courage and bravery in adverse situations.
THE BADGE OF ST HELENA
This award is available to both St Helenians and non-St Helenians. It is off a higher status than the Certificate and Badge of Honour. The Badge of St Helena recognises exceptional service provided by individuals or organisations who make significant contribution to St Helena’s development or by supporting and/or enhancing social, cultural, economic, environmental improvement or the understanding of St Helena internationally.
FREEDOM OF THE CITY OF JAMESTOWN
This award is symbolic in nature and is the highest-level of local government award that can be conferred. It is awarded to both St Helenians and non-St Helenians whose achievements are significantly admirable and highly worthy of distinctive recognition. Those who receive this award will have made an outstanding contribution that is of huge national impact to St Helena and its citizens and will have served the best interests of the island.
Nomination forms for all of the above awards, are available from Central Support Service at the Castle, Jamestown, or can be requested via email through linda.benjamin@sainthelena.gov.sh.
Completed forms should be returned to the Castle in a sealed envelope marked ‘Confidential’ addressed to ‘The Secretary, Honours and Awards Committee’, by Friday 19 April 2024.
SHG
26 February 2024