Category: Press Releases

Waste Management Services is pleased to introduce a new, free bulky waste collection and disposal service to domestic customers.

 Operation

 Domestic customers can book free bulky waste collection and disposal by contacting Environmental Risk Manager, Mike Durnford, on tel: 24724 or e-mail:

mike-durnford@enrd.gov.sh

The type and volume of bulky waste will be recorded at the time of booking and a collection date allocated to the customer. The customer may be requested to be present on the date of collection to assist with the loading of their bulky waste into the trailer (dependent on waste volume and weight).

 The bulky waste collection and disposal service will initially operate on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning from 7am.

Collections will be available as follows:

 

• Tuesday – Jamestown and Rupert’s, Alarm Forest and Deadwood
• Wednesday – Sandy Bay and Longwood
• Thursday – HTH and St Paul’s

The service will be extended to Levelwood on a Wednesday once trenching works between Levelwood and Sandy Bay have been completed and the road reopened.

No fees or charges will apply to this service.

Acceptable Bulky Waste

 Bulky waste must be able to be safely hand-loaded onto the trailer. Acceptable bulky waste includes:

 

• Scrap metal
• Wood
• White Goods and small electrical appliances
• Furniture (including mattresses)
• Vehicle tyres

Non-acceptable Bulky Waste

 Non-acceptable bulky waste includes (but is not limited to):

 

• Hazardous waste, including vehicle batteries
• Whole or part of vehicles
• Garden or green waste
• Glass
• Food waste
• Other waste – as informed at the time of booking

This service is not available to commercial customers.

 For further information, please contact the Environmental Risk Manager, Mike Durnford, on tel: 24724 or e-mail: mike-durnford@enrd.gov.sh

SHG

20 October 2015

REMINDER

This year’s Careers Fair, led by the Education & Employment Directorate, will take place on Wednesday 28 October 2015 at Prince Andrew School starting at 10am to 3.30pm and re-opening in the evening from 6.30 to 8.30pm.

The annual Careers Fair provides members of the public, students and job seekers with a chance to meet employers face-to-face and gain a real insight into the requirements for different careers on the Island. The Fair also highlights opportunities available and allows people to market themselves to prospective employers.

The Careers Fair is essentially for anyone who is interested in career development.

This year there will be demonstrations by drugs dog Millie and police dog Tommy, and from the Police, Fire and Ambulance response teams. Also Mike Harper and Bevan Youde from 2onMain will be showing off their catering skills. There will also be short presentations by staff members from Solomon & Company, the Public Solicitor’s Office, Enterprise St Helena, Public Health, the Education Directorate and Internal Audit.

The Prince Andrew School Hall will be arranged for visitors to browse the various stalls and see what each organisation has to offer, view displays and ask any questions. Stall holders will include Solomon & Company, Connect St Helena, Bank of St Helena Limited, South Atlantic Media Service (SAMS), Enterprise St Helena, Delco, ProArc, Essence, Stretches Extreme Cuts, Health Directorate, Corporate Services, Police and Prison Services, Fire and Rescue Services, SHAPE and the Education & Employment Directorate.

Careers Fair Coordinator Cynthia Bennett said:

“I am extremely grateful to all participants who are dedicating their time and effort to be present at this Fair. Members of the public are urged to not miss out on this exciting exhibition and the opportunity to broaden your knowledge on careers.”

SHG
20 October 2015

At its meeting on 15 October 2015, the Environment & Natural Resources Committee agreed that with effect from Monday 26 October 2015, until further notice, the Horse Point Landfill Site (HPLS) will operate under new opening and closing times as follows:

 

• Open – Monday to Saturday, 9am to 3pm
• Closed – Sundays and Public Holidays

On Mondays to Fridays HPLS will be accessible via both the public and commercial entrances, as signposted.

On Saturdays, HPLS will only be accessible via the public entrance. Access to the main site may be provided by the Landfill Operator, depending on the type of waste to be disposed, via the barrier at the Public Recycling Facility.

Site users are requested to kindly follow instructions given by the Landfill Operator.

Waste Management Services is committed to providing a safe and user friendly recycling and disposal facility for the benefit of all residents.

For further information, please contact the Environmental Risk Manager, Mike Durnford, on tel: 24724 or email mike-durnford@enrd.gov.sh.

SHG

20 October 2015

POWERS OF ENTRY AND FOOD SAFETY INSPECTIONS

FAQS

What businesses will be inspected?

Any business that prepares or produces food for the public will be inspected. This can range from ships to hotels and B&Bs, to supermarkets, to small retail shops, slaughterhouses to butcheries, to food stalls and vendors, to bakeries, to domestic premises where cakes are baked.

Who will inspect my business and why?

Officers from the Health Directorate’s Environmental Health Section are the Authorised Officers (inspectors) who will check on food hygiene and standards. Businesses will be inspected to make sure that food is safe to eat and that the description of food doesn’t mislead the consumer.

When will my business be inspected?

Inspectors might come on a routine inspection for which they will give ample notice, or if visiting because of a complaint they will visit without an appointment. The officers will have a right to enter and inspect food premises at any reasonable hour.

What will the inspectors do when they visit?

The Inspectors will look how you operate your business to identify potential hazards and to make sure that your business is following the food safety law.  The inspectors will follow the Inspectorate Code of Practice and will show identification if necessary and be polite throughout the visit. They will give you feedback on the inspection, tell you about any hazards they have identified and give necessary advice. When giving advice, the Inspectors will tell you whether you need to do something to comply with the law (a requirement) or whether it would simply be good practice to do something (a recommendation).

The Inspectors will give a reasonable amount of time for changes to be made, except where there is immediate risk to public health. They will also tell you how you can appeal their decisions.

How often will the Inspectors visit?

The frequency of inspections of food premises is based upon risk assessment. Some food premises and businesses will present a higher risk to the consumer than others. This is dependent upon a number of factors, such as the type of food business, the nature of the food, the degree of handling and the size of the business. Those premises posing a higher risk to the consumer are likely to be inspected more frequently than those premises with a lower risk. Food premises will be inspected within the range of at least every 12 months (eg. food manufacturers) to at least every 24 months (eg. vegetable shops).

These are only minimum inspection frequencies and the Inspectors may carry out more frequent inspections where they consider this appropriate.

What further action can the Inspectors take?

When they think it is necessary in order to protect the public, Inspectors can:

• Take samples and photographs of food and inspect your records
• Write to you, asking you to put right any problems
• Detain or seize suspect foods, and
• Serve Notices

If at any time you disagree with the action taken by an Inspector you can contact the Health Protection Board or appeal to the Magistrates’ Court.

SHG

29 September 2015

Stacey Thomas left St Helena in August 2011 to embark on her Foundation Degree in Learning Support.  On completing this course with Distinction, Stacey then enrolled on her final year of the BEd (Primary) programme, in which she achieved a First Class Honours Degree.

At foundation level, Stacey focused on behaviour management, ICT for supporting teaching and learning, inclusion frameworks and issues, working with children with specific learning difficulties, speech and language difficulties, autism and a practice-based enquiry.

Stacey spoke of her focus on studying Learning Support:

“The knowledge I gained from the Foundation Degree in Learning Support has proven to be very beneficial to my career, as a teacher, and I believe it will continue to do so.  Having the awareness of different learning difficulties can support early identification and the strategies learnt to support these difficulties can help to reduce barriers to learning.” 

Stacey also undertook work placements as a teaching assistant and taught as an unqualified teacher, at a special educational needs school, for pupils with moderate learning difficulties, gaining valuable experience for her final BEd year.

Whilst studying for her Bachelor’s Degree in Education, Stacey also covered: How to Become an Outstanding Maths Teacher, English across the Curriculum, Developing a Creative Curriculum, Developing Professional Practice Projects and completed her final teaching practice with a year 4 class.

Stacey said:

“My work placements were of paramount importance to my degree as it provided the opportunity to apply my learning from lectures to my classroom practice.”

After completing her BEd, Stacey decided to stay in the UK, to complete her induction year as a Newly Qualified Teacher.  She gained employment in a UK school, as a KS1 teacher. A particular challenge during this year was the introduction of the new national curriculum.

Stacey remarked:

“During this year, we trailed new methods of planning and assessment based on the needs of our school.  I taught all core subjects (Literacy, Maths and Science) alongside of several foundation subjects (History, Geography, Art, D&T, PE…).  Despite being a challenging year, this was the year that I learnt and enjoyed the most as I gained firsthand experience of being a teacher, in the UK.” 

Stacey is now employed as a Year 1 and 2 Class Teacher at Harford Primary School, and is hoping to implement many of the skills she has learnt and used whilst teaching in the UK.

SHG

29 September 2015 

 

ON LOCAL TV

History was made on St Helena on Tuesday 15 September 2015, as a Beechcraft King Air 200 aircraft touched down at St Helena’s new Airport.

18 minutes of footage showing the plane approaching the runway, landing on the Island and making history – followed by interviews with key personnel – will be shown on Local TV 2 from this evening (Monday) until Wednesday 30 September 2015, at 7pm each day.

SHG

28 September 2015

 

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE OLDER PERSON

Thursday 1 October 2015 is the International Day of the Older Person and we would like to celebrate this by promoting healthy ageing.  This information about activity and diet, although specifically for those over 65, can be used by anyone to pursue a more active lifestyle.

Why is Activity Important?

Physical activity will make you look and feel better.  It will give you more energy, help you relax and generally tone your body.   It is also good for your mind in reducing stress and anxiety, improving concentration and self confidence. Finally, it is good for your body in helping to control weight and a variety of medical conditions.  It also reduces your risk of heart disease, stroke and some cancers.  It will help you maintain your independence as well by helping maintain and increase the movement of your joints and decrease your risk of falls.

How Much Activity do I Need?

It is recommended that older people take 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day.  This will help keep your heart, lungs, muscles and bones in good working order.  If to start with you can’t manage 30 minutes, start with 10 minutes  once or twice a day (or whatever you can manage) and add 5 minutes every two weeks until you reach the 30 minutes a day. If you can manage more than 30 minutes that will help even more.

What Type of Exercise Should I Do?

Try to do exercise in as many ways as possible with a range of exercises such as brisk or uphill walking, gardening, swimming, and housework.  Try to be as active as possible taking the opportunity to stretch and gradually increase your strength, flexibility and balance. Moderate exercise means that you don’t have to puff and pant, but if you do that is OK – although if you have any health concerns check with your doctor or nurse before starting to exercise.  And if you already do regular exercise in excess of this, carry on doing this in a manner to suit your capability.

Balancing Activity with Healthy Eating

It is important to try to balance the energy being used for physical activity with energy going into your body (food and drink).  This will help you to maintain a healthy weight and will help to keep your body working well.  Ensure you eat at least three meals a day. Use the layout of the Eatwell Plate below to guide how much you should be eating of each type of food.  If you would like a leaflet with the Eatwell Plate on, please contact the Health Promotion Team via the details below.

Enjoy a wide variety of nutritious foods such as:

• Starchy foods – bread, potato, rice, pasta and cereals
• Fruit and vegetables – eat as many as you like but at least 5 a day is recommended
• Dairy foods – milk, yoghurt, cheese and eggs. Plenty of these for calcium which will slow bone loss as you age.  Choose low fat or calcium enriched where possible
• Protein – meats, fish, poultry, eggs and nuts.

In addition to this, try to eat a diet low in saturated fat to help your cholesterol level.  Cut visible fat off meat and avoid processed foods as much as possible.  Reduce your intake of foods such as biscuits, cakes and chocolate.  To control your blood pressure, it is also advisable to choose food low in salt and preferably to add no salt when cooking.  Instead add extra flavour by using herbs and spices. Use sugar in moderation in your food and choose low sugar or diet versions of foods or drinks where possible.

It is also important to make sure you drink enough fluid.  If your urine is dark yellow it is a sign you are not drinking enough.  Drinking enough will prevent dehydration, mean that the kidneys do not have to work so hard and will help prevent constipation, urine infections and kidney stones.

If you drink alcohol, limit how much you drink.  As you get older your liver is not able to manage alcohol as well.  You are more likely to have trips and falls if you drink too much.  You also need to know if alcohol is safe with any medication that you take.  If you are not sure, talk to the Pharmacist.

For further information, contact Marian Kanes, Health Promotion Trainer at hp.trainer@publichealth.gov.sh, or Marian Yon, Health Promotion Coordinator at marian.yon@publichealth.gov.sh.

Thanks for reading.

Marian Kanes

Health Promotion Trainer

SHG

28 September 2015

 

To date SHG have issued 1300 wheelie bins for Island households, 36 communal bins for domestic waste and around 330 wheelie bins for commercial use. St Helena Waste Management Services (WMS) retains 40 blue wheelie bins for recycling use and deployment at Island events.

The public and commercial businesses are advised that WMS has exhausted their supply of wheelie bins for households and commercial use, and WMS now recommends that all new build homes and businesses procure their own wheelie bins, compatible with the Island’s Refuse Collection Vehicles.

Householders and commercial businesses are further advised that bagged waste must be suited for wheelie bins in order to be safely collected for disposal. Recipients of SHG issued bins are also reminded that if a bin is lost or damaged, replacement of the bin is their responsibility and not SHG’s.

Further information can be obtained from Environmental Risk Manager, Mike Durnford on tel: 24724 or via email: mike-durnford@enrd.gov.sh

SHG

28 September 2015

The public is advised that the St Helena Archives will be closed from 1.15pm on Tuesday 29 September 2015 for staff development purposes. The service will re-open to the public as normal the following morning, Wednesday 30 September 2015.

SHG apologises for any inconvenience this may cause.

SHG

28 September 2015

 

HMS Lancaster, one of the Royal Navy’s Type 23 Frigates, and the tanker RFA Gold Rover, are expected to visit St Helena from Tuesday 13 to Friday 16 October 2015 to take part in the bicentennial anniversary of Napoleon’s arrival to the Island 200 years ago (aboard HMS Northumberland). She will take part in the Napoleon anniversary commemorations, and further strengthen existing ties with the Island.

All the ships in the Type 23 class are named after Dukes, in this case, the Duke of Lancaster – who is better known as Her Majesty the Queen.  The British Monarch is the ship’s very special sponsor and Her Majesty takes a keen interest in Lancaster’s activities around the globe.

The RFA Gold Rover, built on the River Tyne in north-east England, entered service in 1974. This is her final deployment after over 40 years of service, replenishing Royal Navy ships with fuel, oil, aviation fuel, lubricants, fresh water and a limited amount of dry cargo and refrigerated goods. Her 56 officers, non-commissioned officers and other sailors departed from HM Naval Base Devonport for the last time with an escort of tugs throwing water spouts high into the air to mark the occasion.

Commander Peter Laughton MBE, HMS Lancaster’s Commanding Officer said:

“It is a great honour to visit St Helena and take part in the Napoleonic Bicentenary Week.  I am sure it will be a wonderful experience and also allow us to continue the long and close relationship the Royal Navy enjoys with the Island and its community.”

HMS Lancaster has completed two thirds of her nine-month deployment, and has so far travelled over 24,000 miles with over 14 port visits on four continents. As well as visiting British Overseas Territories, her deployment has also seen a range of other tasks including general defence engagement, maritime security and conducting training with foreign militaries. On leaving St Helena, HMS Lancaster will visit a further seven countries. On returning from deployments, HMS Lancaster is greeted, wherever possible, by a Lancaster bomber of the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, which provides a fly past over Portsmouth harbour.

HMS Lancaster is the first ship in the Royal Navy to deploy with the new Wildcat helicopter and her crew are wearing the newest Naval uniform in 70 years.

The versatile Wildcat, the latest generation of multi-role helicopter for the Royal Navy, is designed for a variety of roles including anti-ship, anti-submarine, ship protection, casualty evacuation, battlefield reconnaissance and general utility.

Three photos are attached to this release, along with an information leaflet on HMS Lancaster.

Further information on the ships’ visit will follow.

SHG

28 September 2015