Category: Public Announcements

The revised bus timetable, introduced on 22 May 2013, will see further changes later this week, as a result of information collected since the trial bus service started on 11 February 2013.

Changes to the revised timetable will cut out less frequently used routes and offer routes that are more ‘in demand’. These changes will take effect from Thursday 25 July 2013.

Changes to the current timetable are as follows:

On Route C the two trips from Jamestown leaving at 11.30am and again at 12.30pm will be merged. Currently the trip which leaves Jamestown at 11.30am travels to Ladder Hill, Half Tree Hollow, New Ground and White Wall, returning to Jamestown at 12.20pm. The bus which leaves Jamestown at 12.30pm travels to Ladder Hill, White Wall, New Ground and terminates at White Gate.

From Thursday, the merged, single trip will leave the Grand Parade, Jamestown at 12 noon, travel to Ladder Hill, Half Tree Hollow, White Wall, New Ground, Cleughs Plain, Rosemary Plain, and Scotland, before terminating at White Gate. Following this termination will be the normal Route B run, which begins at 1.35pm (Details of this run can be found on the existing timetable).

Exact times for each stop on the newly merged route can be obtained from Joshua’s Taxis on 3648.

The second change to the timetable is the removal of the Route B public transport run on a Wednesday. The bus which leaves the Grand Parade at 8.30am, 3pm and 9pm will now only travel as far as the CCC. But subject to the demand of Hospital staff also using this run, the bus might travel further, to take staff home.

Acting Deputy Chief Secretary, Derek Henry, said of these changes:

“The reason for further refining the current trial bus timetable is to better cater for public demand.

“We received suggestions about certain routes and taking these comments into consideration we have tried to arrange routes to benefit the majority of our users. These changes will hopefully provide the best mix for our final timetable, which will be published once the trial service finishes at the end of August.”

SHG
22 July 2013

Thirty-two year 11 students of Prince Andrew School have from 1 July volunteered to take part in the work experience programme provided by the Adult Vocational Education Service (AVES).  Having completed their compulsory schooling and GCSE examinations – for the next six weeks these students will be working in various organisations across the Island. A number of these students have decided to work for St Helena Government and related bodies – including in the Police Directorate, Environmental Management Directorate (EMD), Primary Schools, and Health and Social Welfare.

Students have also shown interest in the Tourist Office, a part of Enterprise St Helena, which has a strong link with SHG.

The experience gained from working in these Directorates will give students an insight into an actual working environment, providing them with more knowledge and experience about the career path they might choose.

We caught up with two students on the programme.

Alexandria Thomas (photo attached) has an interest in tourism and has chosen to work five days a week in the Tourist Office, Jamestown. Alexandria says that so far her work is satisfying, but she has a challenge to overcome her shyness and become more confident. At the end of the programme, Alexandria will have gained experience of what is like to be in the working world, and then hopes to work towards a career in travel and tourism.

Another student, Candice Thomas (photo attached), chose to work at Pilling Primary School as she would like to have a future in teaching. Being a former student of Pilling Primary, Candice is familiar with her working surroundings. Candice enjoys working three days a week and has learnt how to cope with different behaviours and how to be a good role model to those younger than her. Candice is sure that the work experience programme will help to prepare her for the future, as she is also interested in counselling children and says that she would like to work as a full time employee at Pilling Primary.

Cynthia Bennett of AVES organised the programme for students as part of the Careers Guidance Programme to help them choose the right job to suit their personality and to gain knowledge of what is needed to continue their career path.

Before the programme started, a one to one interview was conducted between Cynthia and each student to discuss their career plans and their choice of work experience. From there, Cynthia contacted the employers of each chosen workplace to ask for permission and to set a programme for the student. In addition to this programme, Cynthia will conduct an in-depth interview/job search programme that will last for four days and which she encourages all students, particularly those who will not be returning to school, to participate in.

So far Cynthia says that she has had positive feedback from all trainers. She commented:

“I am very pleased with the way the programme is going and, that all the students have taken this seriously and have realised the benefits.

“I am also pleased about the support I’ve had from the training providers and all the employment organisations. A lot of people have really come on board with it and have been very supportive.

“We ask the employers to come up with a work programme so that the students will have some idea of what is expected of them – each employer has done that. An assessment is made at the end of the programme – and that is an important reward to the students as they can keep it as a reference when they seek employment.”

 

SHG

22 July 2013

St Helena’s newly elected Councillors started their term in office today, with a briefing from senior officials.  This is in preparation for the first formal meeting of the new Legislative Council (LegCo) on Wednesday 24 July 2013.  The new Elected Members are:

• Leslie      Paul Baldwin, Nigel Dollery, Wilson Charles Duncan, Gavin George Ellick,      Cyril Robert George, Anthony Arthur Green, Lawson Arthur Henry, Brian      William Isaac, Bernice Alicia Olsson, Ian Sebastian Rummery, Christine      Lilian Scipio-O’Dean, and Derek Franklin Thomas.

 

At this inaugural LegCo, Oaths of office will first be administered.  Following this, Councillors will elect a Speaker and Deputy Speaker, and also elect Committee Chairmen and Members to serve on Executive Council (ExCo).  Finally, three Members to serve on the Public Accounts Committee will be elected.  The Governor will preside over this inaugural meeting of the Legislative Council, but steps down as soon as the Speaker is elected.

The first meeting of ExCo will take place on Tuesday 6 August 2013.

As part of the Induction process for Elected Members, a Delegation from the UK branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) will arrive on-Island on Monday 29 July. 

 

CPA Delegation

Members of the Delegation will work with Councillors over an eight-day programme to strengthen and promote good Governance in St Helena.

Members of the CPA Delegation are:  Lord Shutt of Greetland OBE FCA (a former Deputy Chief Whip in the House of Lords and Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard), John Grimes (former Head of Governance at the National Assembly for Wales), Barry Paint (an Elected Member – or ‘Deputy’ – on the island of Guernsey), Tim Crookall (a Member of the House of Keys for Peel on the Isle of Man), and Joyce Watson (Welsh Assembly Member for Mid and West Wales since May 2007).

The post-Election seminar for Councillors will cover a range of subjects, including their role as Councillors, the leadership required from them, strategic policy making, the vital Councillor/community link, scrutiny and accountability, and the ethical behaviour and standards that are expected from Elected Members. The CPA will work with senior SHG officials in covering these subjects.

 

Notes for Editors

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association’s mission is to advance Parliamentary democracy by enhancing the knowledge and understanding of democratic Governance.  It seeks to build an informed political community able to deepen the Commonwealth’s democratic commitment and promote co-operation among its members.

SHG

19 July 2013

St Helena has won its first ever Gold Medal at the Island Games in the 2013 competition, currently being held in Bermuda.

Marksman, Simon Henry (pictured), took the Gold in the 10m Air Rifle Event emerging in top position with a score of 567 points, ahead of Gotland with 565 and Jersey with 558.

Simon also won a Silver Medal on Wednesday in the 50m Three Position Small Bore Rifle Open Event and on Tuesday both him and Carlos Yon won Silver Medals in the 50m Three Position Small Bore Rifle Team Event.

SHG
19 July 2013

For the second time in two days, St Helena has won a Silver Medal in the NatWest Island Games 2013, currently being held in Bermuda.

Marksman, Simon Henry (picture attached), came second place in the 50m 3 Position Small Bore Rifle Open Event with a score of 535, just 29 points behind Gotland (564) and 4 points ahead of Guernsey (531).

 

Fellow St Helenian Carlos Yon followed closely behind in 6th position out of 11 shooters.

These results make this St Helena’s best ever performance in the Island Games, with several events still to come.

SHG
18 July 2013

Returning Officer, Gillian Francis this morning announced the results of Polling Day for the General Election 2013 and has accordingly declared that the following candidates have been duly elected to serve as Members of the St Helena Legislative Council:

• Leslie Paul Baldwin, Half Tree Hollow

• Nigel Dollery, St Pauls

• Wilson Charles Duncan, Longwood

• Gavin George Ellick, St Pauls

• Cyril Robert George, St Pauls

• Anthony Arthur Green, St Pauls

• Lawson Arthur Henry, Alarm Forest

• Brian William Isaac, Longwood

• Bernice Alicia Olsson, Jamestown

• Ian Sebastian Rummery, Alarm Forest

• Christine Lilian Scipio-O’Dean, Longwood

• Derek Franklin Thomas, Half Tree Hollow

The Count took place from just after 8.30pm last night to just after 4.00am this morning.

The votes awarded to each candidate were as follows:

• Leslie Paul Baldwin 608

• Audrey Mavis Constantine 419

• Nigel Dollery 845

• Wilson Charles Duncan 536

• Gavin George Ellick 511

• Cyril Robert George 711

• Stedson Robert George 355

• Anthony Arthur Green 570

• Cyril Keith Gunnell 230

• Earl Hilton Henry 338

• Lawson Arthur Henry 857

• Brian William Isaac 678

• Brenda Elaine Moors 405

• Bernice Alicia Olsson 502

• Ian Sebastian Rummery 894

• Christine Lilian Scipio-O’Dean 771

• Derek Franklin Thomas 594

• Lionel George Williams 188

• Raymond Kenneth Williams 153

• Mervyn Robert Yon 202

In total 1264 people cast valid votes. This represents approximately 55 % of those eligible to vote – compared with 58% in 2009, and 47% in 2005.

There were 7 invalid Ballot Papers.

SHG
18 July 2013