Category: Press Releases

Workers unloading hold baggage from a shipping container on St Helena, which arrived from Ascension Island, have found a live gecko moving around among the baggage.

Caught by Peter Corker, it was passed to Customs and then to the Biosecurity team. One glance at the animal was sufficient to confirm that it was different to the geckos normally found on St Helena, and this has now been confirmed by international experts viewing the photos.

On St Helena, there exists an Asian House Gecko, while the captured gecko is provisionally identified as an Afro-American House Gecko. Both species are known to occur on Ascension Island.

Since geckos eat invertebrates, they pose a potential threat to the biodiversity of St Helena, as many of the Island’s unique species are invertebrates. Stopping the spread of a new species before it can do any harm is therefore very important.

Shipping containers are well known for their ability to carry new species around the world.  Some people may remember the Peacock Butterfly which was found in a container from the UK in 2013.

Senior Veterinary Officer, Joe Hollins, said:

“Finding a live gecko is only one step away from finding a live snake, and we definitely don’t want one of these on the Island. We are very grateful to the workers on the Wharf for their quick action in noticing and catching this animal”.

If you spot any unfamiliar plant, insect or animal, please call the Biosecurity Team at ANRD on 24724.

SHG

29 July 2015

A Population and Housing Census will be conducted on St Helena in early 2016 to capture the pre-airport characteristics of the St Helena population.

The date set for the Census is Sunday 7 February 2016 with piloting planned to take place in November this year.

The project team is currently consulting with key stakeholders on the topics to be addressed in the 2016 Census questionnaire. The starting point is the 2008 questionnaire with questions tweaked to be in-line with accepted international standards. It is proposed that some topics such as literacy and number of children born living will be dropped due to the sensitivity of the questions and limited use of the information they will provide. Some additional topics will be addressed to fill some of the most important information gaps in the data held about the Island’s population.

If you have any questions or suggestions of topics that might be included in the 2016 Census please get in touch and make sure your opinions are considered. The information that is collected will be used to monitor developments and inform decision making for many years to come. This is the Island’s data and we need to work together to make it as comprehensive and as high in quality as possible.

Proposed topics to be addressed in 2016 Census questionnaire

Proposed new topic for 2016

The consultation on the Census questionnaire is being coordinated by Senior Statistics Assistant, Justine Joshua, who will be delighted to hear from you and to answer any questions you may have.

Contact: (+290) 22138, email: statistics@sainthelena.gov.sh or visit the team at the Castle.

SHG

28 July 2015

Andy Liddell of MOD’s Salvage & Marine Operations division has given an update on the small release of oil in James’ Bay yesterday, caused by a valve failure during the hot tapping process on the RFA Darkdale wreck.

Andy said:   

 “A second valve was successfully installed into tank 5 Port yesterday afternoon and the pumping operation started as soon as this was in place. 

 “In addition to the leak resulting from the failed valve, it became apparent that there were also several small leaks from other places on this particular tank – all from corroded rivets.  The rivet lines had obviously been very fragile and the disturbance of us installing valves had been enough to make them leak.  All these leaks were patched up with putty and the leaks from the tank were all stopped by late afternoon.

 “We pumped the tank until late evening, when we saw clean water being pumped -indicating that the tank was empty.  We left the tank to settle overnight to allow any remnants of oil to migrate to the top of the tank, before giving the tank a final short pump this morning. 

 “We removed approximately 50 cubic metres of oil from this tank and are now satisfied that it no longer contains any significant oil.  

 “Work is continuing with installing the remaining valves on the wreck today, but using a different system which puts less force on the wreck – so hopefully should not disturb any of the rivets.”

SHG

28 July 2015

A Population and Housing Census will be conducted on St Helena in early 2016 to capture the pre-airport characteristics of the St Helena population.

The date set for the Census is Sunday 7 February 2016 with piloting planned to take place in November this year.

The project team is currently consulting with key stakeholders on the topics to be addressed in the 2016 Census questionnaire. The starting point is the 2008 questionnaire with questions tweaked to be in-line with accepted international standards. It is proposed that some topics such as literacy and number of children born living will be dropped due to the sensitivity of the questions and limited use of the information they will provide. Some additional topics will be addressed to fill some of the most important information gaps in the data held about the Island’s population.

If you have any questions or suggestions of topics that might be included in the 2016 Census please get in touch and make sure your opinions are considered. The information that is collected will be used to monitor developments and inform decision making for many years to come. This is the Island’s data and we need to work together to make it as comprehensive and as high in quality as possible.

Proposed topics to be addressed in 2016 Census questionnaire

*Proposed new topic for 2016

The consultation on the Census questionnaire is being coordinated by Senior Statistics Assistant, Justine Joshua, who will be delighted to hear from you and to answer any questions you may have.

Contact: (+290) 22138, email: statistics@sainthelena.gov.sh or visit the team at the Castle.

SHG

28 July 2015

Councillors will be holding a series of Constituency Meetings during August and September 2015.

Taking into account comments from the public, topics for discussions at the meetings will be Safeguarding and Opening Hours for businesses on Sundays, Public and Bank Holidays. The 2016 St Helena Population and Housing Census will also be an agenda item.

Roads and Health issues were also requested for discussion at these meetings but, due to the Roads Manager and the Director of ENRD being currently off-Island, the Roads topic will be left until the next round of Constituency meetings and Health issues will be discussed via local radio programmes.

The schedule for the upcoming meetings is as follows:

SHG

28 July 2015

The Health Directorate will be holding a Public Health Committee meeting on Wednesday 5 August 2015 at 9am in the Public Health conference room in the Hospital administration building.

The meeting begins with an open session which is open to the public. Open Agenda items include:

• Matters arising from Open Session of the meeting held on Wednesday, 1 July 2015
• Aircraft Dis-insection
• Community Clinics Update
• Ambulance Audit

SHG

27 July 2015

The Health Directorate will be holding a Public Health Committee meeting on Wednesday 5 August 2015 at 9am in the Public Health conference room in the Hospital administration building.

The meeting begins with an open session which is open to the public. Open Agenda items include:

• Matters arising from Open Session of the meeting held on Wednesday, 1 July 2015
• Aircraft Dis-insection
• Community Clinics Update
• Ambulance Audit

SHG

27 July 2015

A valve failure during the hot tapping process on the RFA Darkdale wreck has today caused a small release of oil into James’ Bay, estimated at 100 litres. The oil released is on the surface and is currently all flowing offshore.

Andy Liddell of MOD’s Salvage & Marine Operations division said:

“A valve that was being installed on the Darkdale wreck has failed to seal in the way it is designed to – which has caused oil to leak around the base of the valve.  Immediate action was taken to minimise the leak, but we estimate that about 100 litres of oil was released. 

“Divers are now installing a second valve onto the tank, adjacent to the failed one.  As soon as this is installed, we will be pumping the contents of this tank into the Pacific Dolphin and Pacific Supporter as a contingency measure.

“The leaked oil is being taken out to sea by the current but we will continue to monitor the situation, in case we need to deploy our boom.”

SHG

27 July 2015

The Roads Section would like to inform the public that, following a collapsed wall, Shy Road is closed to all vehicle traffic and pedestrians until further notice. Only emergency vehicles will be granted access.

The Roads Section would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused, and thank the public in advance for their continued cooperation. A further announcement will be made when the road reopens.

SHG

27 July 2015

St Helenian student, Sasha Bargo, of Half Tree Hollow (photo attached), has graduated from Sparsholt College (verified by Portsmouth University) with a FdSc (Distinction) in Ecology and Conservation Management.

Funded through the Post-School Scholarship Programme, Sasha left the Island in August 2013 to embark on her two-year course. During her first year, Sasha studied modules on Global Ecosystems, Habitat and Species Identification Skills, Land-based Ecology and Fundamentals of Science. Year 2 covered Applied Industrial Research, Applied Ecology, Field Ecology Techniques, Countryside Law and Policies, Applied Work Practice and Conservation Land Management.

As part of her Dissertation Sasha will be completing a habitat suitability study on an endangered species of butterfly – the Duke of Burgundy (Hamearis lucina) – focusing on four study sites within Winchester, Hampshire.  The findings from her project will then be donated to Butterfly Conservation.

Alongside her theory work, Sasha also undertook practical placements with the Environment and Planning Section of Hampshire County Council as an ecological consultant, as well as with Butterfly Conservation, working as a team member. Each work placement was for a period of three weeks.

Sasha will now complete a top-up year in the same course to achieve a BSc.

Sasha said:

“I am very pleased with my achievements and was overwhelmed to be awarded for the best overall performance for my two years of study.  I am now looking forward to my third year – and to completing my challenging end-of year thesis.”

Director of Education Shirley Wahler, concluded:

“On behalf of the Education & Employment Directorate, I would like to congratulate Sasha on her outstanding achievement so far in a field of study which is very important to St Helena’s future.  We wish her continued success as she moves on to complete her Degree!”

SHG

27 July 2015