The Health Directorate will be holding a Public Health Committee on Wednesday 1 July 2015 at 9am in the Public Health conference room in the Hospital administration building.
The meeting, is open to the public. Agenda items include:
SHG
29 June 2015
Since 2012, the Education & Employment Directorate have trialled the admission of children, approaching their third birthday, into Nursery classes in the Primary Schools. On review of this temporary policy some changes have been made to the admission arrangements in order to better meet the needs of these very young children.
The Education & Employment Directorate would therefore like to advise all parents and guardians of pre-school children that with effect from this academic year, commencing 1 September 2015, all children must have reached the age of three years before they can be offered a place in Nursery.
Admission into Nursery education will be via a staged approach. Therefore from 1 September 2015 places will be offered in the Nursery classes as follows:
| To start in September 2015 | To start in January 2016 | To start in May 2016
|
| Children born before 1 September 2012 | Children born on or between 1 September and 31 December 2012 | Children born on or between 1 January and 30 April 2013 |
The Directorate will be in contact with parents and guardians of those children born on Island who are eligible to enter Nursery education in the school year September 2015 – August 2016 – to offer a place and give details of school placement and date of admission.
It would be appreciated if parents of children who were not born on St Helena, and who will not be on record with the Education & Employment Directorate, could submit the following information in writing to:
Assistant Director Schools
Education & Employment Directorate
Education Learning Centre
Jamestown
(i) The child’s FULL NAME AND DATE OF BIRTH
(ii) NAME and ADDRESS OF PARENT/S or GUARDIAN
(iii) TELEPHONE NUMBER and EMAIL ADDRESS (if applicable)
Once all required information has been received, parents will be advised of their child’s Nursery placement.
Based on St Helena education policy, a child must attend school in the catchment area where he or she is resident. However, for non-compulsory schooling, exceptions can be made for regular attendance outside the identified catchment area if numbers in the requested school are low enough to accommodate the extra intake. In such cases, parents must be willing to take responsibility for transporting their children to and from school.
Further details can be obtained from the Assistant Director (Schools) on telephone number 22607 or email wendy.benjamin@education.gov.sh
SHG
29 June 2015
Further to the Press Release issued on 30 June 2014 informing the public of the ‘No Go’ area around the Permanent Wharf, it has been brought to the attention of the Harbour Master that boats are coming too close to the restricted area. It appears that marine users are increasingly ignoring the marker buoys despite their strategic positioning to guide boats around the dive area. Earlier this week a boat came particularly close, posing a serious risk to divers’ safety, despite the visible Alpha Flag –the internationally recognised blue and white flag, signifying there are divers in the water.
Marine users are reminded of the restrictions currently in place at Rupert’s and are asked again to adhere to the signage and to note the ‘No Go’ area – marked by yellow buoys – ensuring that all operations take place outside of them. Anyone seen not complying with these limitations will be dealt with under the Harbours Ordinance, Section 14 – Enforcement of Directions to Vessels in Harbour Waters.
Marine users are also reminded of Section 13.1 of the Harbour’s Ordinance which states: ‘The Harbour Master may give directions applicable to a particular vessel, to all vessels, or to a specified class of vessels in harbour waters for the purpose of ensuring the safety of moored vessels at, or to property at, or forming part of, any landing place, or of securing the efficient conduct of the business of boarding, unloading, arriving at or departing from any landing place, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing.’
A map of the ‘No Go area’ is attached to this press release.
SHG
26 June 2015
After nine months of operation, St Helena Government’s Code of Practice for Public Access to SHG Information has so far received a total of eight requests for information. The Code, launched on 1 September 2014, relates to requests from the public for information held by SHG where it is not already available by other means. It also offers a central enquiry point for such requests.
The key elements of these requests are outlined below:
SHG will provide a further update after a full year of operation of the Code.
The full Code of Practice for Public Access to SHG Information can be found at: https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Public-Access-to-SHG-Information-Code-of-Practice-1-September-2014-F.pdf
SHG
26 June 2015
SHG is pleased to announce that AW Ship Management Ltd (AWSML) has been selected as Preferred Bidder for the sea freight service to St Helena after the RMS St Helena leaves service next year. SHG has reached this decision after much deliberation and discussion, in large part due to the high standard of tender submissions received from all short-listed bidders.
AW Ship Management Ltd said:
“AW Ship Management is delighted to have been appointed as the Preferred Bidder to provide a marine cargo service to St Helena into the future. We look forward to further detailed discussions with SHG in order to quickly move this project forward.
“Using its current experienced agency arrangements, AWSML will provide as seamless a transition as possible between the current St Helena Line service and the new operations, whilst also providing the improvements proposed as a part of our tender.
“AWSML and its staff have close to fifteen years’ experience in the provision of cargo services to St Helena under the management of the St Helena Line service. We will continue and build upon the reliability of the SHL cargo service that the Island has enjoyed to date, and we look forward to playing a part in the Island’s future growth and prosperity as it enters a new era.”
There will now be a period of detailed discussions between AWSML and SHG to confirm the arrangements, the ship that will be deployed, and the precise service to be provided. Further details will be announced shortly.
SHG
24 June 2015
The public and businesses are advised that due to the illness of the substantive Crane Operator, crane operations at the Wharf will be limited for the immediate future. Subsequently, Port Control requires 24hrs advance notice of any activities requiring use of the Crane.
Please contact the Deputy Harbour Master, Steve Kirk, on email: Deputy.Harbourmaster@hmrc.gov.sh or tel: 22287 for further information.
SHG
23 June 2015
A team led by the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MOD) is currently on St Helena to remove remaining fuel oil from the wreck of the RFA Darkdale in James’ Bay (see press release of 14 April 2015).
During this marine and environmental operation there will be certain restrictions in place at particular times, which will be announced. There will be:
The application of these restrictions will be announced once the timing of operations is confirmed. The public is kindly asked to adhere to these limitations, both for their own and the team’s safety.
The first of three vessels to be used in these operations is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday 30 June 2015, with exploratory dives taking place shortly after.
Further information will be provided shortly.
SHG
23 June 2015
Executive Council met today Tuesday, 23 June 2015.
There were three items for discussion on the Open Agenda, the first of which was an application for full development permission for the General Hospital external alterations and extension. ExCo were pleased to advise that full development permission should be granted which will see an extension to the surgical theatre, a new diagnostics suite, and a new bed lift. We look forward to the improvements to healthcare and facilities that this development will bring.
The second item sought approval of the finalised Development Plan for Rupert’s Valley. Recognising the significant changes from the original draft plan, ExCo advised that a further public consultation process be carried out for a minimum period of six weeks, before approval could be granted.
The third item sought ExCo approval for the Aerodrome Regulations 2015. These Regulations relate to access to and activities at the Airport and had previously been discussed in detail with Members. ExCo was therefore able to approve the Aerodrome Regulations 2015.
The meeting concluded at 10.20am.
ExCo
23 June 2015
In its meeting of Tuesday, 12 May 2015, Executive Council approved the RMS Shipping Schedule from April 2016 to July 2016. A press release detailing the final voyages of the RMS St Helena and the associated booking policy was issued on 19 May 2015.
Further to this press release, SHG would like to advise the public that the passage fares and freight tariffs for these final voyages remain unchanged from the levels set in April 2014, apart from those relating to the UK leg (last set in August 2011), which have been adjusted for inflation as normal.
The RMS St Helena passage fares for the final three voyages in 2016 are attached to this press release.
The final voyages of the RMS include the following four key components:
Tristan fares for V241 April 2016
SHG
23 June 2015
The Chief of Police has announced this week that, following a challenging promotion selection process, two local officers will be promoted to the rank of Sergeant within the St Helena Police Service. Constables Julianne Benjamin and Jane John who have been with the St Helena Police Service for around three years will take up their posts on 1 August 2015.
Chief of Police, Trevor Botting said:
“I am delighted to be able to promote two local Police Officers to Sergeants within the St Helena Police Service. Whilst officers from the UK are required for a number of specialist posts within the Police Service I am committed to having local officers providing local policing wherever possible – and the promotion of Constables Benjamin and John will play a key role in delivering local community policing. I look forward to seeing their development as leaders within the Service.”
Chief of Police, Trevor Botting
SHG
23 June 2015