In September 2024, 28 SHG and project / contract personnel embarked on an online Remote Pilot theory course with The UAV Academy.
The next phase in the course, delivered by The UAV Academy, involves practical training conducted on island which will complement their theoretical knowledge and aims to enhance the following skills involved in the use of drones: search and rescue, surveillance, surveying, mapping, inspection, monitoring, aerial photography and videography.
The public are advised that practical drone flight training will take place from Monday 11 November to Friday 22 November 2024. The exact location will depend on weather conditions, and the public are urged to exercise caution when flights are in progress.
Sectors represented include St Helena Fire and Rescue Services, Royal St Helena Police Service, Sea Rescue, Terrestrial Conservation, Technical Services, GIS, Marine Compliance and Enforcement, Tourism and Marketing, St Helena Research Institute, St Helena Airport, Trust Marine and the Cloud Forest Project.
By equipping staff with drone piloting skills, SHG aims to improve efficiency, safety, and decision-making in these critical areas.
St Helena Government’s Waste Management Services (WMS) has provided an update on the ongoing situation at the Green Waste Cell at Horse Point Landfill Site.
A fire broke out in the Green Waste Cell on Tuesday 5 November 2024. Since then, teams have been working diligently to contain the fire and minimise its impact. In co-ordination with the Fire Service, a strategy has been implemented to extinguish the remaining smouldering areas. This involves moving large quantities of earth within the cell to smother the fire.
The Landfill Manager Patrick Crowie, in close collaboration with the Fire Service, will continue to monitor the Green Waste Cell for any potential escalation. Should the situation change, necessary adjustments will be made in consultation with the Fire Service.
Environmental Risk Management has informed neighbouring businesses about the situation and assured them that the fire is being managed effectively.
WMS would like to express their sincere gratitude to the Fire Service for their swift response and continued support in implementing the firefighting strategy. A word of thanks are also extended to the Roads Section for their assistance in addressing this issue.
Due to the situation being active, updates will be provided as the situation progresses.
Photos
A view of part of the area affected
View from the Met Weather Station
Smouldering being monitored at the Green Waste Cell
St Helena Government (SHG) is pleased to announce the arrival of two experienced education consultants from Hampshire Local Authority. These consultants will be on the island from Saturday 9 November to Saturday 23 November 2024, to provide invaluable support to the ongoing Education Review.
The primary focus of their visit will be to conduct a comprehensive Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Review. This review will assess the current provision for SEND learners and identify areas for improvement. Additionally, the consultants will deliver a series of continuing professional development sessions on phonics, inclusion, quality first teaching, and SEND.
This collaborative effort with Hampshire Local Authority builds upon the recent work undertaken by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). With the expertise of these education professionals, SHG aims to further enhance the quality of education on the island and move closer to achieving Council of British International Schools (COBIS) standards.
This initiative underscores SHG’s unwavering commitment to raising educational standards and providing the best possible learning opportunities for all students.
Further to recent press statements regarding contingency arrangements on St Helena to support the welfare of any migrant who may arrive in the future in the British Indian Overseas Territories (BIOT), a team of officials from the FCDO and the Home Office will be arriving this Saturday 9 November 2024. The team will be on island for a week and their primary focus will be to work with our Immigration and Customs team to identify training needs and to develop relevant operating procedures, as was agreed in our MOU.
Minister for Safety, Security and Home Affairs, Jeffrey Ellick, commented:
“This visit is very much welcomed and I look forward to the team’s arrival this weekend. I take this opportunity to thank Lord David Hanson, the UK Minister of State for Home Affairs, and his team at the Home Office for their continuing assistance and support in respect of this particular element of the MOU.”
The St Helena Research Institute (SHRI) and the University of Manchester are pleased to announce that a landmark free online conference, “St Helena: A Unique Environment, A Rich Tapestry,” will be taking place on Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 November 2024.
This exciting two-day event brings together researchers and scientists from St Helena itself, those who have conducted research on or around the island remotely, and the wider diaspora of people interested in the island’s fascinating history and environment. This free event offers an exceptional opportunity to network, explore research impact, and discuss its application for St Helena’s sustainable development.
The conference will delve into four key themes with a series of short 15-minute presentations:
Natural Sciences: Explore St Helena’s biodiversity
Humanities and Social Sciences: Uncover the island’s colonial history, its role in the slave trade, and more recent society and culture
Medical Science: Discuss the health of St Helena’s aging population, and other issues
Cross-disciplinary Approaches for St Helena’s future
Marcella Mittens, a recent graduate of Canterbury Christ Church University, has achieved First-Class Honours in her BSc Business Management and Tourism Studies degree. She was also recognised as the student with the highest overall mark in her class, and her outstanding academic performance on the Tourism, Events and Hospitality Course further solidified her position as a top student.
Marcella’s combined honours degree provided a deep understanding of both business and tourism, with a particular focus on island tourism. The programme was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing Marcella to explore industry recovery and resilience strategies, especially in the context of St Helena.
A highlight of the programme was a study trip to Malta, where Marcella gained valuable insights into island heritage, culture, and sustainable tourism practices.
The business modules of her degree aligned closely with the Chartered Institute of Management, covering essential topics such as management, leadership, project management, and economics. During her studies, Marcella was selected to represent Canterbury Christ Church University in Germany, where she studied at SHR Heidelberg University. This experience allowed her to develop innovative business designs and gain a global perspective in the business field.
For her dissertation, titled “Navigating Change: Local Insights on St Helena Tourism Development, Economic Transformations, and Governance Dynamics, with a Focus on the New Airport Development”, Marcella explored the impacts of the new airport on St Helena’s tourism and economy. Through interviews with residents and local businesses, Marcella gained valuable insights into the expectations, concerns, and governance processes surrounding tourism development on the island.
Marcella commented on her experience:
“Overall, I have thoroughly enjoyed my university experience. The diverse range of subjects I studied, from tourism to business management, provided me with a solid academic foundation and broadened my understanding of global issues, particularly within the context of island tourism and economic development.”
“Additionally, the experience of living and studying in a different country helped me develop valuable life skills, including independence, adaptability, and cross-cultural communication. These experiences not only enriched my academic journey but also prepared me for the complexities of a globalised world.”
Portfolio Director for Education, Skills and Employment, Marie Horton, commented:
“Congratulations to Marcella Mittens on achieving First-Class Honours in her BSc Business Management and Tourism Studies degree! Her dedication and perseverance, especially amidst the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, are truly commendable. Marcella’s passion for island tourism and her insightful dissertation on St Helena’s tourism development demonstrate her potential to make a significant contribution to the field.”
The Customs and Immigration Sections have recently undertaken a review of their processes with the initial focus placed on the passenger experience at the airport. As a result of this review, changes to the processes will be implemented gradually with the first two happening from Saturday 2 November 2024, concerning landing cards and passenger declarations.
With immediate effect, passengers will not be required to complete a landing card on entry to St Helena and a red (goods to declare) and green (nothing to declare) channel have been implemented within the Customs arrivals area. It is hoped that this decision improves the customer experience whilst maintaining the high levels of security for St Helena. Officers will continue to obtain the requisite security information via desk interviews where necessary. The arrivals area has been redesigned with a focus on instructional posters. This redesign creates a more streamlined and sanitised look. The tourism advertising will still be on display once passengers have passed through the secure area.
These new processes will be reviewed after an initial three-month period and members of the public will be updated with regard to any further developments.
By April 2025, anyone wishing to travel to, or transit through, the UK will require permission in advance. Permission can be granted by way of an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) or Visa. This will exclude British citizens (which includes British Overseas Territories citizens) and Irish citizens.
New ETA implementation dates have been announced by the UK Government:
Travellers
Can start applying for entry via ETA from:
Can start travelling with an ETA from:
Non-Europeans
27 November 2024
8 January 2025
Europeans
5 March 2025
2 April 2025
Over the next six months, ETAs will be rolled out to an additional 83 non-visa nationalities.
ETAs cost £10 and are linked digitally to a traveller’s passport. All ETAs are valid for two years (or until the expiry of the traveller’s passport) and permit multiple entries into the UK for up to 6 months at a time. The new approach will allow more robust checks to be carried out on all people travelling to the UK.
HE the Governor has recently approved revised Procurement Regulations which replace the 2018 Procurement Regulations. The new Procurement Regulations aim to streamline processes and reduce administrative burdens, while ensuring compliance.
The new regulations will come into full effect on Friday 1 November 2024. These changes are designed to reduce administrative burdens for SHG colleagues, and any immediate significant challenges are not anticipated.
Whilst wording has been subtly amended throughout and definitions enhanced, the key changes which bring process benefits are:
The threshold before the full regulations apply has increased to £30,000. Several other thresholds have also been increased to account for rising global prices since the previous regulations were issued.
Any procurements above £30,000 must be placed on the Rolling Procurement Plan before any procurement activity can take place.
There are still regulatory controls for items and services below £30,000, but there is greater flexibility for portfolios to gather quotations independently. Process Maps to demonstrate this are available on the SHG website at https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Process-Maps-2024.pdf.
The regulations will focus scarce skills and expertise where they are required and also ensure that Executive Council and other key stakeholders are aware and involved as early as possible in the process when appropriate.
To discuss the revised regulations in further detail please contact officers within Treasury and Procurement Services via the Castle Reception on 22470.
There is evidence to suggest that over the weekend dated 18 to 20 October 2024, a vehicle had been driven up Side Path Road from the Brow, and driven down Field Road. This incident has been reported to the Police.
The public are reminded that Side Path and Field roads are currently closed for ALL public access i.e. pedestrians and vehicular. This is fundamentally to promote the health and safety for members of the public and the contractor’s staff, as live construction sites are inherently dangerous places.
Additionally, the actions of this irresponsible driver/s could have caused damage to the fresh concrete laid as part of the road pavement which would have cost tens of thousands of pounds to remove and replace and, as a result, delayed the re-opening of both Side Path and Field Road.
