Category: Press Releases

The Income Tax (Amendment) Bill 2015 will be presented at the next Formal Session of Legislative Council, on Friday, 27 March 2015.

This Bill seeks approval to amend the Income Tax Ordinance 2012, to adjust the tax rates, introduce a higher rate tax band and to introduce tax on dividends.

In the lead up to the Formal Legislative Council Session next week, it is planned to hold an Information Session on the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, with employers and other interested parties, on Wednesday, 25 March 2015, at the Information Centre in the Canister, starting at 4pm. 

It is also planned to hold separate information sessions via local radio.

The Income Tax (Amendment) Bill 2015 can be viewed on the St Helena Government Website at https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/publications/

SHG

18 March 2015

Basil Read’s Certification & Operational Readiness Manager, Simon Walker, arrived on St Helena, today Tuesday 17 March 2015, to discuss plans for Airport Certification and Operational Readiness.

Simon is a familiar face to the St Helena Airport Project, having previously provided aviation advice to DFID and SHG.

In his new role, Simon joins the team in Basil Read working on Airport Certification.  During his visit, Simon will work closely with Basil Read, the Project Management Unit and the SHG Access Office to review key responsibilities and tasks required for Airport Certification and the operation of the Airport.

Further details on Simon’s visit and work programme will be published in the March Airport Update.

Simon will depart the Island on Wednesday 1 April 2015.

 SHG

17 March 2015

The electorate is reminded that if they are ill or physically incapacitated and cannot make it to the Polling Station on Polling Day (Wednesday, 4 March 2015), there is provision to vote by Proxy.

To vote by Proxy you must obtain advance permission from the Returning Officer, Gillian Francis, at the Castle.  To get permission you must complete the relevant form (available on the SHG website https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/publications/) which must be handed to the Returning Officer by no later than 10am on Monday 2 March 2015 (any forms received after this time will not be valid).

If you are voting by Proxy on Polling Day, your Proxy must be on the current Register of Electors and in the same Polling District in which you are registered.

For Proxy forms or to inspect the current Register of Electors you may contact the Returning Officer, Assistant Returning Officers or Assistant Registration Officers. Copies of the Register are also available at the Customer Service Centre, Public Library and on the SHG website.

 SHG

27 February 2015

The public is reminded that a Bye-election will take place on Wednesday 4 March 2015 when St Helena will go to the Polls to elect a new Member to fill the vacant seat on Legislative Council.

Candidates for the 2015 Bye-election are: Anthony Arthur Green of St Paul’s, Geoffrey Patrick George Knipe of Sandy Bay, Pamela Ward-Pearce of Longwood and Lionel George Williams of St Paul’s.

Polling stations will be at the Blue Hill Community Centre, Half Tree Hollow Clinic, Harford Community Centre, St Mary’s Church at the Briars, Kingshurst Community Centre, Levelwood Community Centre, Jamestown Community Centre, and Sandy Bay Community Centre.

Constituents in the Alarm Forest electoral district should note the change in venue for the Polling Station i.e. St Mary’s Church.

Only those named on the Register of Electors dated 4 February 2015 will be able to vote in the Bye-election and you must vote in the Polling District in which you are registered.

If on Polling Day you cannot make it to the Polling Station, you may vote by Proxy – providing you obtain advance permission from the Returning Officer, Gillian Francis, at the Castle.  To get permission you must complete the relevant form (available on the SHG website https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/publications/) which must be handed to the Returning Officer by no later than 10am on Monday 2 March 2015 (any forms received after this time will not be valid).

If you are voting by Proxy on Polling Day, your Proxy must be on the current Register of Electors and in the same Polling District in which you are registered.

For Proxy forms or to inspect the current Register of Electors you may contact the Returning Officer, Assistant Returning Officers or Assistant Registration Officers.The names of these Officers were printed in newspapers dated 19 and 20 February 2015. Copies of the Register are also available at the Customer Service Centre, Public Library and on the SHG website.

Further information on Polling Day was published as an insert in last week’s newspapers.

SHG

24 February 2015

The Education Directorate notes that there has been an increase in the number of absentees in Island Schools, in recent weeks, as a result of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), currently present on St Helena.

The virus spreads easily, and to limit further spread, the Education Directorate encourages parents of children experiencing any symptoms of RSV, to keep them at home until they are comfortable they have recovered.

Island Schools will be considerate to the situation and acknowledge that children will not be able to attend School if they are unwell – a parental note will be accepted in this situation.

SHG

23 February 2015

Councillors are holding a series of constituency meetings during February and early March 2015.

Topics for discussion are Health and Water, but members of the public are encouraged to attend the meetings in their districts to raise any issues they might have.

The schedule for the remaining meetings is displayed below. All meetings will begin at 7.30pm.

SHG

23 February 2015

In view of recent media speculation regarding criminal investigations into former employees of the St Helena Government it is appropriate that I confirm that those investigations have now concluded.

The investigation was instigated by St Helena Police following a family case heard in the Supreme Court where the Chief Justice concluded:

“So troubled am I by what has occurred that I shall direct that a copy of this judgment and addendum be sent to HE The Governor. I shall recommend that experienced independent Counsel should urgently be engaged to review the papers in this case and to advise on whether the evidence is such as to disclose reasonable grounds for suspecting the commission by any member of the Applicant’s staff of any criminal offence pertinent to attempting to pervert the course of justice or perjury.”

HE The Governor followed the Chief Justice’s recommendation and appointed an independent Queen’s Counsel, experienced in family and international matters, to complete the review. It was as a direct result of that review that the St Helena Police Service was requested to undertake an investigation into allegations of criminal conduct.  The investigation was led by St Helena Police and supported by Merseyside Police in the UK.

The matters were rigorously and thoroughly investigated. The evidence from this investigation was reviewed by a second independent Counsel, appointed as Public Prosecutor of St Helena specifically to undertake this task. Counsel concluded that some of the actions of the suspected persons were ill-advised, unprofessional and showed poor judgment but that there was insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction.  Counsel applied the test set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors as would be applied by the UK Crown Prosecution Service.  There will therefore be no criminal charges preferred following this investigation.

The criminal aspects of the investigation are now concluded and relevant evidence in this matter will be shared with the professional regulatory bodies concerned.

Attorney General

20 February 2015

The St Helena Post Office would like to advise their customers that they have not received any official report from the Authorities in South Africa as to the reasons for the delays in receiving post from and via South Africa.

The Post Office would also like to inform customers that the Ascension Island Post Office does not have any authority to open or break any seals on post bags dispatched from the UK for St Helena.  However, there could be missent mail included in either the Ascension or St Helena post bags which is then sorted and forwarded on.

The following are approximate postal times:

 POST VIA SOUTH AFRICA

Surface mail to the UK, including other destinations takes approximately 13-15 weeks.

Airmail to the UK including other destinations takes approximately 4-5 weeks.

POST VIA ASCENSION ISLAND

Airmail to the UK including other destinations takes approximately 3 weeks.

 It should be noted that these times are from the date of departure of the RMS St Helena from St Helena Island.

 SHG

20 February 2015

Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Voting in the Bye-election 2015