Chief Minister Julie Thomas has extended a warm welcome to the newly appointed Minister of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office with responsibility for the Overseas Territories, Stephen Doughty MP.
In a letter sent today, the Chief Minister expressed enthusiasm for Minister Doughty’s appointment, given his prior experience and interest in the region.
The letter emphasised the importance of a strong partnership between St Helena and the UK government, built on shared values of self-governance and mutual respect. Chief Minister Thomas extended an invitation for the Minister to visit St Helena and prioritised support for Overseas Territories reliant on financial assistance.
The St Helena Government (SHG) initiated a ‘live’ service delivery survey in 2021 to determine how satisfied customers were with the services SHG provided. Customers can score their happiness with 24 services offered by SHG using this easy-to-use survey and are invited to submit comments on how they believe a particular service might be improved. These services include waste management, communication and road maintenance among others.
The respective portfolios offering the services receive a summary of the survey findings and provide feedback. The portfolios will take into account any possible steps that can be made to enhance the services provided.
Infographics detailing the comments and feedback received regarding the services offered by the Environment, Natural Resources and Planning Portfolio and Health and Social Care Portfolio were the latest to be released since the start of the survey. To relaunch and remind the public of this ongoing survey, we have attached an infographic detailing some of the most recent comments on each of the portfolios in SHG as well as the measures that were implemented.
The Service Delivery Survey can be found on the SHG Website, in the Public Library, and also in the Post and Customer Services Centre in Jamestown. Alternatively, the survey can be completed online via the following link: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/SHG-Services.
Hard copies of completed surveys can be sent to Information and Research Support Officer, Linda Benjamin, at the Castle, Jamestown, or via emailthrough linda.benjamin@sainthelena.gov.sh.
Applications for Chevening Scholarships to study in the UK next year, are open from 6 August to 5 November 2024. Prospective candidates can submit their applications via chevening.org/apply.
Chevening Scholarships are awarded to individuals from diverse backgrounds who can demonstrate the commitment and skills needed to become future leaders. Applicants must have a realistic and achievable idea to create positive change in their home country and be able to demonstrate how a UK master’s degree will fit with their career prospects.
The scholarship allows candidates to pursue any eligible master’s degree at over 150 UK universities and have access to a wide range of exclusive academic, professional and cultural experiences. It offers full financial support which covers return travel to the UK, tuition and UK living expenses for one year.
Since the programme started in 1983, over 57,000 professionals have advanced their careers through Chevening. For the next intake, there are approximately 1500 awards are available globally, demonstrating the UK’s commitment to developing the leaders of tomorrow.
If you are passionate about driving change locally and if you want to be the best at what you do and you have the imagination to inspire others, then a Chevening Scholarship could be the perfect opportunity for you.
More information
For detailed information on eligibility criteria and scholarship specifics, visit chevening.org. or contact Chevening Officer, Kerry Lane at the Governor’s Office on 22308, email Kerry.Lane@fcdo.gov.uk
St Helena Government (SHG) has today published its draft Property Disposal and Purchase Policy 2024.
The Property Disposal and Purchase Policy 2024 sets the principles and processes by which SHG disposes and acquires property on behalf of the Crown, and when complete will replace the Land and Buildings Disposal Policy 2016. The draft policy is driven by the objectives of the Strategic Economic Development Strategy 2023-2033, as well as SHG’s Vision and Strategy.
“The Property Disposal and Purchase Policy 2024 details the ways in which SHG will make land and buildings available for residential and commercial purchase or lease. Aiming to maximize opportunities for economic growth while supporting other policy objectives, it simplifies transactions, enhancing fairness, transparency, and efficiency. I encourage members of the public and stakeholders to actively engage in this consultation process. Opportunities for feedback will be provided through public meetings, stakeholder engagement sessions, and by written submission. Input from a wide range of interests is essential in crafting a comprehensive and effective policy.”
Public meetings to discuss the draft Property Disposal and Purchase Policy 2024 will be held the week commencing 12 August from 19:00 to 21:00 at the following venues:
Location
Date and time
Half Tree Hollow Community Centre
Tuesday 13 August 2024
Harford Community Centre
Thursday 15 August 2024
Jamestown Community Centre
Tuesday 20August 2024
Kingshurst Community Centre
Thursday 22 August 2024
The Consultation will run for a period of four weeks ending on Monday 02 September 2024.
Any questions or views on the draft policy may be submitted to Portfolio Assistant Alexandria Thomas, by email to Alexandria.Thomas@sainthelena.gov.sh.
This afternoon Elizabeth Knipe took the Oaths of Office for her new role as an elected member of the Legislative Council in the presence of His Excellency Governor Nigel Phillips CBE and Chief Minister Julie Thomas at the Castle.
Councillor Knipe now serves as a member of the Legislative Council following her unopposed nomination for election yesterday.
In accordance with the IATA-UPU Mail Safety Guidelines, the Post and Customer Services Centre (PCSC) has made the conscious decision not to accept any dangerous goods for exportation through the postal service. Dangerous goods includes lithium batteries sent in devices such as mobile phones, hair dyes and aerosols. An extensive list of dangerous goods can be viewed on the SHG website at https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/THE-9-CLASSES-OF-DANGEROUS-GOODS.pdf.
When posting packages or parcels, the following guidelines should be adhered to:
Customers are required to complete a declaration form.
The declaration should state precisely what the package or parcel contains, and should not include generic descriptions (e.g. gift) that don’t allow the identification of the content.
The contents of the package or parcel will be assessed by PCSC counter staff. If dangerous goods are identified, the item will be refused entry into the mail service. The customer has the option of removing the dangerous goods from the mail item for posting, or utilizing a freight company such as Solomon and Co.
Dangerous goods posters have been placed in all sub-post offices, and are also on display in the main Post Office. If customers would like to post an item, and are still unsure of whether or not the item is a dangerous good, please contact the PCSC by telephone on 22008 for more information.
A lack of a co-ordinated approach to the introduction of renewable energy
An unacceptably high level of loss from the water network
The URA notes that a tariff structure in effect from June 2025 will bring clarity for customers in relation to the structure of tariffs. This allows for transparency on how tariffs relate to costs, and will help everyone to see whether Connect St Helena are improving their business efficiency and where the Government subsidy is being spent.
The deadline for submission of valid nomination forms for candidates in the bye-election was 12:00 today, 31 July 2024.
At 12:05 the Returning Officer, Carol Henry, announced that only one nomination form had been received, the candidate being Mrs Elizabeth Knipe of Bamboo Hedge, Sandy Bay.
As there is only one vacant seat on the Legislative Council and only one nomination received, the candidate was unopposed and a poll will not be required. Therefore, Mrs Elizabeth Knipe has been duly elected to serve as a Member of the Legislative Council for St Helena.
The fishing company, Argos Froyanes, issued the following press release on the tragic incident involving their Fishing Vessel Argos Georgia, that occurred last week near the Falkland Islands.
Recently Chief Minister Julie Thomas received a letter from the newly appointed Minister of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office with responsibility for the Overseas Territories, Minister Stephen Doughty.
In the letter Minister Doughty expressed his honour in overseeing the relationship with St Helena and emphasised the importance of mutual respect and inclusion in strengthening ties with the Overseas Territories.
He also extended condolences for the recent loss of a St Helena flagged fishing vessel near the Falkland Islands and pledges support for any investigation.
A response from Chief Minister Julie Thomas will follow shortly.
