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Category: Press Releases

  • St Helena GIS Office To Celebrate GIS Day

    The St Helena Government GIS Section will celebrate GIS Day on 16 November 2023 with an event at the Jamestown Community Centre, between 9am and 3pm.

    During the event the GIS section will be celebrating innovative applications of geographic information system (GIS) technology in analysis, visualisation and gaining insights into geospatial data. This will include displays of drone images and its application in 3D visualisation and agriculture, illustrations of various mapping techniques and gain the communities help in our participatory mapping exercise.

    GIS analysis allows data that would otherwise lay dormant in files or spreadsheets to be transformed into visual data that can be accessed and used for a variety of purposes. Since first being formed in 2005, the SHG GIS section has been transforming historic data into modern engaging maps that provide end-users with clear visual representations.

    The end result is data that can be used to help SHG and stakeholders make more informed decisions for the betterment of St Helena Island and its people. This includes things like mapping rainfall patterns across the Island to help understand possible land uses, utilising advancements in technology to increase sustainability and demonstrate the power of data through visualisation techniques. All of this makes GIS a vital tool for the government and other stakeholders.

    Over 20 years ago, Jack Dangermond, the founder and president of Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI), envisioned people collaborating and sharing how GIS affects everyone. This led to the establishment of GIS Day, which was first observed in 1999. The explosion of geospatial technology since then has expanded that idea into a global event that shows how geography and the real-world applications of GIS are making a difference in business, government and society. It’s a chance for organisations to share their accomplishments and inspire others to discover and use GIS.

    This November, the SHG GIS section will join hundreds of organisations worldwide in celebrating the impactful work of GIS professionals and serve to ignite the imagination of the future innovators who will further advance global progress using GIS.

    More information about GIS Day can be found online at www.gisday.com.

    For more information on GIS day here on St Helena, please contact Devlin Yon, GIS Manager by email through devlin.yon@sainthelena.gov.sh or by telephone on 22270.

    #StHelena #GIS #GISDay

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  • National Conservation Areas Management Project Seeks Public Views – Online Survey

    St Helena Government (SHG) has partnered with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) and the South Atlantic Environmental Research Institute (SAERI) to develop plans for the sustainable management of the ‘nature’ NCAs.

    The project, Sustainable Management of St Helena’s National Conservation Areas, aims to actively involve local community members, businesses and landowners in and around the NCAs to develop management options for sustainable land-use.

    On 12 October 2023, Project Officer Tom Kitching participated in an initial engagement session with members of the public at the Market in Jamestown. Those who attended took part in informal chats about the project and were asked to complete a short survey.

    The survey, which was only available in paper format at the time, can now be accessed online. Public feedback in the survey will provide important context ahead of work beginning to start formulating and developing management plans. As management plans will determine how we manage and use our NCAs, we want to hear your views.

    The survey can now be accessed via the SHG website through www.sainthelena.gov.sh/2023/press-releases/national-conservation-areas-management-project-seeks-public-views/. The closing date for completed surveys is Wednesday 8 November 2023.

    For more information please contact Tom directly by email through thomas.kitching@sainthelena.gov.sh or by telephone on 24724.

  • 2023-2024 Budget – Environment, Natural Resources And Planning

    In July 2023, the SHG budget for 2023/24 was approved by Legislative Council. The budget allocated a total of £47,072,000 for recurrent and capital expenditure.

    Of the £47,072,000, the Environment, Natural Resources and Planning (ENRP) Portfolio was allocated £1,682,000. This means that of the six Portfolios included in the 2023/24 Budget Book, ENRP receive 3.6% of the SHG recurrent budget.  

    The Portfolio has 84 recurrent and 16 project staff roles to deliver its range of work.

    What are ENRPs strategic aims?

    Whilst all Portfolios contribute to the five national goals, the ENRP Portfolio primarily supports the Altogether Greener and Altogether Wealthier goals. To deliver this, ENRP work programmes contribute to seven of SHG’s 33 strategic objectives.

    To support these national goals and strategic objectives, ENRP is pursuing five main policy priority areas as part of its Strategy and Delivery Plan, which are being used to inform and direct their work programmes. These are:

    • Protecting the natural environment by conserving biodiversity, preventing, minimising or mitigating against any negative activity and or impact, to conserve and enhance the Island’s natural capital.
    • Increasing our capacity to safeguard natural habitats and save critically endangered species.
    • Managing our natural resources sustainably to increase food production, provide forestry services and products.                    
    • Safeguarding St Helena through implementing a robust biosecurity system and reducing the environmental impact of invasive species.
    • Implementing an effective land planning and building control system in support of sustainable development and economic growth.

    Where will ENRP’s allocation be spent?

    ENRP’s allocation will support delivery of a number of leadership, advisory, regulatory, provider and enabling functions, as well as a number of public services.

    The ENRP is responsible for a broad range of functions and services, such as managing the SHG forest and agricultural estates, agricultural services to producers, environmental protection, waste management, biosecurity, licencing of fishing and marine activities and their enforcement, energy and water policy, and a land planning and building control service.

    The allocation will also compliment a number of externally funded projects, including marine and fisheries conservation, cloud forest management, National Conservation Area (NCA) management, waste materials recycling, single-use plastics and upgrades to the SHG agricultural estate.

    Whilst much of the ENRP budget is focused on delivering these policy priority areas the policy deliverables they are focusing on include:

    • Review of existing policy and strategy in the areas of agriculture, biosecurity and climate change.
    • Developing a new renewable energy policy to underpin St Helena’s transition to generating 80% of its energy demand from renewables by 2027/28.
    • Developing a new policy for environment and marine pollution, to ensure that we are adequately protecting our precious environment and special biodiversity, and meeting international environmental and maritime obligations.
    • A terrestrial conservation programme aimed at maintaining and managing key endemic species and habitats, helping to manage the risk posed by the current pathogen situation, whilst also supporting activities of the Cloud Forest project.
    • Developing a new five year Biosecurity Policy

    Since the budget was approved ENRP has already delivered a number of outputs. This has included:

    • Progressing 38 development applications for decisions
    • Further SHG Agriculture Estate upgrading work under the Investment in Agriculture Project funded by EDIP
    • Imported a further consignment of day-old chicks to replenish the Island’s stock of layers for egg production
    • Adoption of a further a new five year Marine Management Plan for St Helena’s MPA
    • Adoption of new Marine Tourism and Interactions with Marine Life Regulations and delivery of training and accreditation to implement a  marine tourism and interactions with marine life licencing system

    If you would like more information about any areas of the ENRPs work, please get in touch with Darren Duncan, Portfolio Director, by email through darren.duncan@sainthelena.gov.sh or by telephone on 24724.

    #StHelena #ENRP #Budget23

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  • New Flight Connection Introduced Between St Helena And The Falklands Via Ascension

    On Monday 23 October, the Ascension Island Government (AIG) announced that a new air connection was now available between St Helena and the Falkland Islands. The new connection will utilise the South Atlantic Airbridge between the Falklands and Ascension, and the inter-island Airlink service between Ascension and St Helena.

    The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) on Ascension have introduced these arrangements with immediate effect following consultation with UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCDO), AIG, St Helena Government (SHG) and the Falkland Islands Government (FIG).

    This follows completion of the refurbishment works to Ascension’s Wideawake Runway and the return of the South Atlantic Airbridge to the island. This new connection will provide residents of St Helena living on the Falklands with the opportunity to travel between the Falklands and St Helena via Ascension. Utilising the Airbridge to transit between the UK and St Helena via Ascension remains unavailable at this time.

    Bookings and Enquiries

    To request a booking, make enquiries or to request a copy of the relevant booking form, please email flight.bookings@ascension.gov.ac or contact the switchboard by telephone on (247) 67000, extension 1111. Flight confirmation will be issued via email with flight details and baggage allowances.

    Please note that those applying for visas must ensure accommodation has been arranged on the island through sponsorship by family or friends, or through a private booking at one of the island’s guesthouses.

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  • His Excellency The Governor Departs The Island

    His Excellency, Governor Nigel Phillips CBE, departed St Helena on Saturday, 21 October 2023. The Governor is taking two weeks of leave before working in the UK for the following two weeks. Whilst in the UK he will meet with officials and attend this year’s Joint Ministerial Council (JMC).

    Governor Phillips is due to return to St Helena on 18 November 2023.

    Greg Gibson, Head of the Governor’s Office, has been sworn in as Acting Governor until Governor Phillips’ return.

    #StHelena #GovernorDeparts #JMC

    SHG
    23 October 2023

  • Improving Essential Equipment In Overseas Territories Programme Update – St Helena Airport

    In November 2022, SHG announced St Helena would receive funding from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s bespoke 2022/2023: Improving Essential Equipment in Overseas Territories’ programme.

    St Helena was allocated up to £1,800,000 for the purchase of equipment of critical importance to the Island, in areas including healthcare, emergency services, port operations, road maintenance and the airport. Of the £1,800,000, in November SHG identified £1,735,482 to procure equipment vital to improving the resilience and well-being of our community.

    Focus on St Helena Airport

    £42,224 was allocated on equipment for the airport. This was used to purchase a Dry Chemical Powder Recirculation station, along with Nitrogen cylinders and filling regulators. These arrived in April 2023 and are already in use by the Airport Fire Fighting response vehicles.

    This essential equipment is required to ensure that the airport remains in compliance with international airport regulations for the discharge rate of dry chemical powder.

    Due to the humidity experienced at the airport, the dry chemical powder needs to be aerated to prevent ‘caking’ and to ensure effective discharge rates. This in turn ensures any response to fires that require a dry chemical agent are dealt with rapidly, preventing further spread, and minimising risk to life and damage to property.

    Trainer, Deon Van Zyl, from South African based Brigit Systems, arrived on 15 April 2023 to provide training on the nitrogen system. On 5 May 2023, trainer Mark Richards from Perren Engineering Ltd, a UK based company, arrived to provide training on the dry powder system.  

    Although £42,224 was allocated to the airport, the total spent on the equipment and training was approximately £37,500. This is a result of fluctuations in things like currency, equipment and shipping costs, and preferred suppliers between the point of allocation and the point of delivery and commissioning. These fluctuations have some limited impact on the final costs of procuring the other equipment, albeit well within the £1,800,000 funding ceiling.

    Photos

     Other essential equipment

    Further to the press release issued in June, a number of additional items have arrived for the Health and Social Care Portfolio. This includes equipment for cardiology and blood services, and are currently being installed and commissioned.

    The reach stacker, slurry paver and immunoassay device are expected to arrive on the next voyage of the Maria da Paz.

    A further update on this programme will be provided in due course.

    #StHelena #FCDO #ImprovingEssentialInfrastructure

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    SHG

    23 October 2023

  • SHG’s Mental Health Team Lead supports Government of Montserrat

    St Helena Government’s Mental Health Team Lead, Ian Rummery, and UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Public Health Consultant, Sunita Sturup-Toft, recently visited Montserrat and provided mental health strategy and interventions support to the territory’s prison.

    Montserrat is a small island located in the Caribbean and, like St Helena, is a UK Overseas Territory.

    The UKHSA received a request from the Governor of Montserrat to explore what more could be done to address the increasing mental health challenges within the island’s prison. Montserrat has a similar sized prison to St Helena and faces similar challenges in managing its prison population. Ian has been involved in developing a health care service for HM Prison Jamestown, and so agreed to support the request in conjunction with UKHSA.

    Ian and Sunita arrived in Montserrat on 27 September 2023 and departed on 11 October 2023. During their time on Montserrat Ian and Sunita met with the Montserrat mental health team, other health professionals, as well as the police and prison personnel. 

    Ian commented:

    “This was an amazing opportunity to meet fellow professionals in a similar sized Overseas Territory and discuss ways in which we care for people who are in prison and experiencing mental health problems. My colleagues in Montserrat were so welcoming and we have had very productive discussions about the challenges they face.”

    “On St Helena it is easy to lose perspective as we work in isolation. To have the opportunity to visit another Overseas Territory and hear both their successes and challenges has been professionally and personally very rewarding. I am very grateful to UKHSA for giving me this opportunity.”

    Notes to editor:

    Ian’s visit to Montserrat was funded by the UKHSA as part of the OT Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) Governance Programme.

    Photo

    From left to right standing: Adegboyega Bamisile (Clinical Psychologist – Montserrat); Donamie Mathieu (Mental Health Nurse Practitioner- Montserrat), Sunita Sturup-Toft (UKHSA Consultant); Ian Rummery (Mental Health Team Lead – St Helena) and sitting Donique Layne (Community Psychiatric Nurse – Montserrat).

    #StHelena #Montserrat #OverseasTerritory #MentalHealth

    SHG
    23 October 2023

  • R2 Project: Rehabilitation Of Field Road – Update

    Since our last update on 2 October and the intermittent closure of Side Path Road from 9 October 2023, the contractor has continued to make excellent progress.

    Hillside excavation work has currently progressed ahead of schedule. Discussions are now ongoing with the contractor to see if they are able to increase their rate of removing the excavated material from the site. If so then there is a real possibility of being able to shorten the overall construction programme and enable Field Road to re-open ahead of schedule.

    To try and help facilitate this, following a request from the contractor, permission has been granted for them to also work on Sundays.

    To facilitate this, the Highways Authority has approved the closure of Side Path Road on Sunday, 29 October 2023. Road closure and diversion signs will be in place, with access to and from Jamestown still being available via Constitution Hill Road. With the low levels of traffic generally experienced on Sundays, the contractor will not be implementing any further traffic management measures.

    Depending on the progress of works, further Sunday closures of Side Path Road may be considered where this can help works to be completed faster. However, any such closures will be the subject of separate approvals and announcements.

    For any questions regarding the Field Road site works, please contact the EDIP Site Supervisor, Mr Chris Williams, by telephone on 67424.

    #StHelena #Field Road #EDIP

    SHG

    20 October 2023

  • St Helena Air Services

    Saturday, 14 October 2023, marked six years since the commencement of flights to St Helena and just over a year since resumption of regular services following the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The initiation of regular air services has transformed travel to and from the Island. Travel time between St Helena and South Africa, and St Helena and Ascension, has reduced by over 96%.

    St Helena air services enable Saints, friends and family, tourists and business travellers to connect quickly to international hubs around the world. This fast mode of travel has had a huge impact on the lives of many living and working on St Helena, especially through medical evacuations. Given St Helena’s remoteness, air access was also critical to the transportation of essential medical supplies and equipment to the Island during the COVID-19 pandemic and our transition to post-pandemic normality. Air connectivity also continues to support the development of the Island’s economy, from facilitating faster trips by investors and experts, to growing the tourism sector.

    Since 2017 St Helena has been served by a regular air service operated by Airlink. Due to the Island’s remoteness and conditions at the airport, air services require specific technical and operational capabilities, in addition to having appropriate aircraft and air crews. This has been demonstrated again recently, whereby the airport faced the windiest September on record since its opening, requiring a flexible approach to scheduling.

    St Helena has worked closely with Airlink to support the development of their service over the last six years. Given these requirements there are only a limited number of operators capable of providing the kind of service the Island needs, and we are proud to be partnering with one of the leading carriers in the region to deliver this.

    Regular dialogue with the Airlink management team allows for periodic enhancements to the services, including expansion of weekly frequencies during peak travel periods. This has been facilitated by the support of the UK Government via the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), for which SHG is equally grateful.

    Work continues to grow the route and we will see the reintroduction of twice weekly flights between Johannesburg and St Helena operating between November 2023 and February 2024. Discussions remain ongoing between SHG, Airlink and regulatory authorities in South Africa to put appropriate measures in place to allow the resumption of additional flights to and from Cape Town for the following peak season.

    Air services have been facilitated by the opening of St Helena Airport in 2017. The commencement of flights was the conclusion of a six year project, which itself followed decades of discussions and consideration as to how build and commission an airport in one of the most remote and challenging territories in the world.

    St Helena Airport is a highly regulated organisation, ensuring it maintains the highest industry standards. As well as being subject to regular monitoring and evaluation, in August it was subject to an audit conducted by the airport’s regulator, Air Safety Support International (ASSI). It achieved exemplary results, demonstrating that it achieved and complies with all necessary international standards.

    Minister for Economic Development, Mark Brooks, said:

    “It is hard to overstate the impact that the airport and regular air services have had on our Island. From the countless saved lives to the ability for loved ones to travel to and from St Helena quickly and with ease, many of whom might not previously otherwise have been able to make the journey. It’s also facilitating the increased growth of our tourism sector, what is now the third largest contributor to the economy after the two types of financial aid we receive from the UK Government.”

    “Operating air services to St Helena is not as straightforward as is the case for many destinations elsewhere around the world. The fact we are able to do so is a testament to the hard work and determination of our partners Airlink, our staff and the ongoing technical and financial support we receive from the UK Government. We’re grateful to everyone involved and I’m excited to see the continued transformation for our Island that comes from our connectivity to the rest of the world.”

    Infographics

    SHG

    17 October 2023

    #StHelena #Airlink #AirTravel #ABreathOfFreshAir

  • World Food Day 2023

    World Food Day is observed annually on 16 October to highlight the need for regular access to nutritious food and the impacts on the millions of people worldwide who cannot afford a healthy diet. The theme for 2023 is ‘Water is life, water is food. Leave no one behind’.

    ‘Water is life, water is food. Leave no one behind’

    The provision of water on St Helena is intimately linked to the distribution of habitats and in particular the cloud forest area. Previous projects under the Darwin Plus programme demonstrated that native habitats function more effectively as water catchments than those with high proportions of invasive plants.

    SHG has taken a number of steps to facilitate improved agricultural practices in order to improve the Island’s food and water security. One recent example of this is the Darwin Plus funded St Helena Climate Change and Drought Warning Network project. From this we now have more robust climate and water resource information, which is important in allowing authorities and businesses to make evidence based decisions around the impacts of drought and climate change.

    The ongoing St Helena Cloud Forest Project also ran alongside the St Helena Climate Change and Drought Warning Network project. Doing so has enabled the Darwin Plus team to expand the water resource and climate monitoring networks, providing additional funding to support the procurement of essential equipment.

    The Cloud Forest Project has already achieved its intended outcome to develop and operate a climate and water resource data collection network around the Island. It has also improved the quality and accuracy of weather forecasts. In addition to this, a Water Resource Management Plan is currently being developed by SHG and Connect Saint Helena (Connect), with the support of FCDO. This will set out a long-term plan for the water sector on St Helena, ensuring we are well placed to meet future needs.

    What can you do to help?

    Conserving water and preserving our natural habitats is an Island-wide endeavour. According to data collected by Connect, consumption figures show that when it rains the public uses less water, meaning they are using harvested water for activities which they would otherwise use mains water for. This is often through the use of harvested (collection of roof water) water for watering gardens and washing cars.

    Some of the producers and farmers are already making use of more water efficient methods. This has so far included things such as drip irrigation and mulching in their agricultural practice.

    Fixing leaks promptly also assists in water conservation. Connect thank the public for promptly reporting any leaks they come across and encourage the public to continue doing so.

    #StHelena #WorldFoodDay

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    SHG

    17 October 2023