Category: Press Releases

As Airport accreditation and opening nears, the St Helena Sea Rescue Service continues to develop. This service will not only support Airport operations on flight days but will significantly enhance sea rescue operations for St Helena.

Two new boats are being provided as part of the Airport contract. The boats (Gemini Waverider 850s) will provide a fast response to marine emergencies and rescues. It is anticipated that the boats will be delivered in July 2015, but their construction is very advanced and they are looking very impressive. The new boats will complement the current sea rescue boat, the ‘Lima’, which of course will remain as part of the sea rescue fleet.

Recruitment is underway to identify both full-time and auxiliary staff to crew the boats, with extensive training planned for July and August to prepare the team for sea rescue operations. The training will be provided by the  National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), from South Africa, who are very experienced in sea rescue operations.

Chief of Police, Trevor Botting, commented:

“Sea rescue is an important service provided by the Police Directorate and the new boats, full and part-time crew, and the extensive training planned for July and August will ensure that Airport operations and the wider marine leisure activities around St Helena are supported by a professional and well trained Sea Rescue Service. I am very pleased to have Simon Wade in post as the Sea Rescue Manager and look forward to welcoming the new crew once recruitment is completed.”

Two photos, courtesy of Basil Read, are attached to this release.

Trevor Botting, Chief of Police

SHG

13 May 2015

International Nurses Day was celebrated on St Helena today, Tuesday 12 May 2015, with an event held at the General Hospital, open to the public from 12noon.  International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world on the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth.

Hospital Nursing Officer, Lisa Rhodes explained the idea behind the event:

“I thought it would be a nice idea for the event to be held at the Hospital so those who worked here could also attend and display to the public our place of work. 

“Displays today focus on newly introduced uniforms, plans for the Hospital Development, opening of the Education Centre and information on Hospital and Community staff.  We also would like people to get involved in the scenarios we have set up around resuscitation procedures which one day could help save a life.”  

Director of Health, David Jenkins opened the event and highlighted the importance of the new Post Graduate Education Centre, scheduled to open in a few weeks.  The Centre moves staff development in the right direction by improving on the competencies within the Health Directorate and in turn providing adequate facilities to meet them.

David said:

“This year we will see dramatic improvements made to the Hospital premises; these include the new operating theatre and diagnostic suite, with better health care provision for Saints.”  

Councillor Derek Thomas concluded with thanks to the Director and Health Service staff for their commitment to driving the service in a positive direction, attracting more qualified staff and developing their training needs.

International Nurses Day recognises the contribution that Nurses make to society.  On St Helena it also highlighted the dedication of the Directorate and staff to improve competencies across the board of the healthcare profession.

Three pictures are attached.

SHG

12 May 2015

Executive Council met today, Tuesday 28 April 2015, with two items on the Open Agenda.

The Acting Governor welcomed the Honourable Cyril George to the meeting as a temporary Member of Executive Council, in the absence of the Honourable Derek Thomas who is currently on overseas business.

The first item was to seek approval for an amendment to the Water Regulations to create an offence where a person fails to comply with water restrictions imposed by the Utilities Provider in the event of a water shortage. This was approved by Executive Council.

For the second item, Executive Council approved the Coroners (Allowances, Fees and Expenses) and the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations, which will become effective from 1 May 2015.

It was noted that the Honourable Wilson Duncan and the Honourable Mrs Pamela Ward Pearce will depart the Island on Monday, 11 May 2015.  The Honourable Duncan will be attending the CPA 45^th British Islands and Mediterranean Regional Conference in Cyprus and the Honourable Mrs Ward Pearce will be attending the Caribbean Regional Seminar in Managua, Nicaragua, which is being organised and funded by the United Nations.  Members wished them both a successful conference.

ExCo

28 April 2015

The current Prison in Jamestown is believed to be around 180 years old and is no longer appropriate as a Prison, both for the staff who work there and the prisoners who are held there. A new site has been identified and planning consent approved for a new Prison at Sundale in Half Tree Hollow.

This plan has been approved by Elected Members and is crucial in the development of the Prison Service on St Helena. During the planning phase, the local community in the area of Sundale voiced their concerns at the choice of the site for a new Prison and this was raised during consultation and through Elected Members.

Whilst the plans were approved, the concerns were acknowledged and taken into account. Now that work will shortly start at Sundale, in order to provide information and reassurance to the public, a communications and engagement strategy has been developed. It should be emphasised that the work in relation to the strategy is not further consultation as to the decision to site the Prison in Half Tree Hollow but it is to allow concerns to be raised by the local community and information to be made available regarding the progress of the development.

A Liaison Officer (Acting Prison Manager, Nicholas Crowie) has been identified and will be the point of contact for the community to raise any concerns about the project. The following email address can be used to raise any concerns regarding the project as it develops and moves forward: sundale@police.gov.sh

In addition, the following activity is planned to keep the local community informed and updated with the development and relocation of the new Prison:

• Letter drop to residences around Sundale – April 2015 and as required
• Access to the plans and to senior Prison staff by the local community to discuss the Prison and alleviate any concerns through an Open Evening at the local community centre – May 2015
• Access to the Prison itself (at an appropriate time) during the build process and on completion to see the facilities and security arrangements – To be confirmed once the development is underway
• Ongoing public meetings during the build phase – Quarterly commencing from May 2015
• A security plan will be developed as the project nears completion but it is too early at this stage to have a completed plan in place. Safeguarding will of course be a specific area within the Security Plan.

Local residents or anyone else across St Helena are encouraged to make contact with Nicholas Crowie if they have any questions or concerns about the development of Sundale. The Police Directorate is committed to keeping local residents informed of progress throughout the development and, in due course, allow the local community to see the facilities and security for themselves.

Details of the events outlined above will be circulated in due course.

Chief of Police, Trevor Botting

SHG

28 April 2015

WEDNESDAY 29 APRIL 2015

The first formal session (for 2015) of the Public Accounts Committee will take place tomorrow, Wednesday 29 April, at 9.30am in the Court House, Jamestown. The public is invited to attend.

The Order Paper for the meeting is as follows:

1. Chairman’s Address
2. St Helena Bulk Fuel Installation – Audited Financial Statements for Year Ended 31 March 2014
3. St Helena Fisheries Corporation – Audited Financial Statements for Year Ended 31 March 2014
4. St Helena National Trust – Audited Financial Statements for Year Ended 31 March 2014
5. Performance Audit Report 2014: Delivering Government Objectives

SHG

28 April 2015

Head of the Governor’s Office, Sean Burns, was yesterday afternoon sworn in as Acting Governor, taking the prescribed Oaths in the presence of the Sheriff of St Helena, Mrs Pat Musk MBE JP, family and colleagues in the Governor’s Office.

Sean’s appointment is effective immediately.

HE Governor Capes accompanied by Mrs Capes, departed the Island on (27 April 2015) for a period of overseas business and leave.  Governor Capes will return to the Island on 8 July 2015.

SHG

28 April 2015

Corporate Support is in the process of updating its register of persons interested in serving on statutory and bona fide Boards and Committees.

The register records previous experience and interests together with any training undertaken – this proves useful when selecting individuals for appointment to any of the various Boards or Committees.

Corporate Support would like to hear from persons who wish to register their interest. It should be noted that registering does not mean that a person will be automatically appointed as this will depend very much on specific statutory requirements and the individual’s background experience and interests.

Appointees are paid an attendance allowance of £20 per meeting and a mileage allowance of 60p per mile.

The relevant application form to register an interest may be obtained from Mrs Carol George, Corporate Services Executive Manager, at the Castle on Tel No: 22695, via email: carol.george@sainthelena.gov.sh or on the SHG website at https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/forms/.

SHG

27 April 2015

Open to the Public from 9.30am

Executive Council will meet tomorrow morning, Tuesday 28 April 2015, in the Council Chamber.

The meeting will be open to the public from 9.30am for the following Open Agenda items:

• Water (Amendment) Regulations, 2015
• Coroners (Allowances, Fees and Expenses) Regulations, 2015, and Coroners (Investigations) Regulations, 2015

Executive Council Members are: Lawson Henry, Wilson Duncan, Leslie Baldwin and Christine Scipio-O’Dean. Councillor Cyril George is a temporary Member of ExCo while Councillor Derek Thomas is on overseas business.

SHG

27 April 2015

Press release – sent on behalf of Basil Read

Basil Read is re-scheduling the date of the Calibration Flights for navigational aids, which will now occur in or around September 2015.

The revised date will comfortably meet the schedules of all involved organisations and has no effect on the Certification process in November, nor on the Contract Completion date of February 2016.

Basil Read

25 April 2015

April 2015

The Quarterly Statistical News Bulletin for April 2015, covers the period January to March 2015 (Quarter 1), and contains updates for the annual rate of Inflation of the Retail Price Index, Income, Estimated Population and Arrivals to St Helena. The bulletin is available on the SHG website at:  www.sainthelena.gov.sh/statistics

Annual inflation of the St Helena Retail Price Index (RPI) stood at 2.8 per cent in Quarter 1 2015 – a decrease of 0.5 per cent from the previous quarter. The major upwards pressures continue to be increases in electricity tariffs and the price of purchasing and importing a vehicle to St Helena. This quarter the decease in fuel tariffs are noted as the largest downwards pressure on the rate of annual inflation. In financial year 2014/15 the rate of annual inflation averaged 2.6 per cent, up from an average rate of 1.2 per cent in 2013/14.

In the last calendar quarter of 2014, the number of people on Island averaged 4,665 and the average St Helenian population was 4,170. Compared to the same period in 2013 this represents a 5.5 per cent increase in the total population and a 1.7 per cent increase in the St Helenian population.

Passenger arrivals to St Helena in the first three quarters of financial year 2014/15 were essentially unchanged from the previous year. An increase in RMS passengers has been balanced by a decrease in the number of overnight visitors from yachts and other vessels.  There has been a 38 per cent, 360 bed-night, increase in the number of tourist visitors staying on Island during the eight-night turn around of the RMS to Ascension Island. A 52 per cent, 487 person increase, in the number of day-visitors from cruise ships is also noted during the same period.

Finally, the Statistics Office is now conducting its annual user satisfaction survey. If you would like to contribute your views on priorities relating to the development of statistical services for St Helena, please visit the statistics office website (www.sainthelena.gov.sh/statistics) for an online link to the survey, or contact the office to arrange collection of a paper copy of the survey questionnaire.

If you have requested a copy of this bulletin via email and have not yet received it, please contact the Statistics Office on 22138, or e-mail statistics@sainthelena.gov.sh

SHG

24 April 2015