Nathaniel Benjamin of Pilling Primary School was honoured at a special tea party held in the Governor’s Office on Thursday 6 March 2025. This celebration recognised Nathaniel’s winning design in the annual Christmas card competition.
This marks Nathaniel’s second victory, having previously won the competition in 2022 whilst a student at St Pauls Primary.
Nathaniel was joined by his parents, his younger brother, Mrs Emma Phillips, and Worsley.
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Nathaniel receiving his prize from HE Governor Phillips
At a meeting of the Executive Council held on 11 March 2025, an increase to the minimum wage of 50p per hour was approved.
This change will take effect from 01 July 2025 and will increase from £4.00 to £4.50 for persons over 18 years, and £3.05 to £3.55 for persons aged 16 or 17 years. This represents an annual increase of 12% and 16% respectively.
The approval of this increase is in line with the objective of establishing a more ambitious minimum wage, benefitting workers and providing adequate time for businesses to plan and adapt.
The principle informing the minimum wage is that of the Minimum Income Standard (MIS), which states that “minimum income is based on needs and not wants, but it provides more than what is just needed for survival. It supports social participation and recognises that choice is important, but also that choice cannot be unlimited”. Although the MIS varies for people based on their specific circumstances, the current MIS of at least £5.23 per hour is dependent on the cost of housing, which includes costs to a family for renting accommodation or paying a housing loan, and car ownership.
In determining the increase, consideration was given to the current cost of living pressures on both employees and employers and it was noted that a balance would need to be struck. The Minimum Wage Policy therefore recognises that there is a limit to the size of increases that businesses can absorb in a single year, whilst at the same time acknowledging the need to continue raising the minimum income level on St Helena to go some way in encouraging residents to remain in employment on St Helena.
This year’s increase follows consultations with employers, employees and other relevant stakeholders including the Chamber of Commerce.
The minimum wage will be reviewed again in early 2026 and will include public consultation to consider further uplifts for the period 2026/27.
Since its inception in 2013, the minimum wage has raised from £2.30 to £4.50 for persons over 18 years, and from £1.45 to £3.55 for persons aged 16 or 17 years. These increases equate to a 95% and 145% rise respectively.
St Helena Government (SHG) invites Expressions of Interest (EOI) from interested persons to undertake the role of Non-Executive Director (NED) on the boards of State-Owned Entities (SOEs) and entities in which SHG has an equity interest.
As an SHG-appointed NED on SOE boards, you will play a crucial role in aligning entity strategy with government policy and providing financial leadership comparable to a Finance Director. Your key responsibilities will include:
Strategic Alignment: Bridging the gap between entity strategy and government policy.
Financial Leadership: Providing financial leadership comparable to a Finance Director, fostering growth, economic development, and reform.
Collaboration and Communication: Maintaining effective communication and monitoring, managing relationships with key stakeholders, and working closely with Ministers and Senior Officials to align portfolio direction with SHG policy.
Performance and Governance: Driving performance and collaboration within the economic group, critically evaluating spending and planning, overseeing external consulting, and implementing recommendations to enhance corporate governance and accountability between SHG and its SOEs.
As NED, you would be expected to represent SHG on the following boards: Bank of St Helena Ltd; Connect St Helena Ltd; St Helena Hotel Development Ltd; St Helena Airport Ltd; and Solomon & Company (St Helena) PLC.
To provide the capacity required to help drive improvements in governance and performance across the SOEs, this will be a full-time role. However, consideration may also be given to part-time and remote working options. The post holder will be required to be flexible and able to respond to demand and work requirements. The role will include contribution to the SOE transformation agenda, in addition to routine attendance at Board Meetings, preparation time, and reporting to Ministers and Officials.
The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications and experience:
Extensive experience in a similar role.
CIMA/ACCA or CCAB qualified accountant (or equivalent) with current membership and an up-to-date CPD record.
Proven experience at board level in key industries such as utilities, banking, hospitality, insurance, or retail (advantageous).
A strong background in public sector organisations.
Demonstrated political astuteness.
Excellent interpersonal skills, including listening, negotiating, and the ability to present detailed information effectively.
For further information about the duties of the post and a copy of the terms of reference, interested persons should contact Phil Sharman, SOE Non-Executive Director, via email at phil.sharman@shg.gov.sh or by visiting the SHG website at: www.sainthelena.gov.sh/vacancies. Applications, consisting of a CV and covering letter, should be submitted by email to recruitment@sainthelena.gov.sh by no later than 16:00 on Friday, 28 March 2025.
On Thursday, 20 March 2025, several Education, Skills and Employment Portfolio service facilities will be closed to enable staff to participate in the Careers Fair.
The facilities that will be closed include the Education Learning Centre, St Helena Community College, St Helena Research Institute, Career Access and the Public Library.
Normal opening hours will resume on Friday, 21 March 2025.
The public are thanked for their cooperation and understanding during this closure.
The Post and Customer Services Centre (PCSC) informs customers that it will be closed on Saturday 29 and Monday 31 March 2025 due to end-of-financial-year processes.
Normal business will resume on Tuesday 1 April 2025 from 08:45 to 15:00.
Social Benefit payments for the week ending 27 March will need to be collected by Friday 28 March. Any benefits not collected will be refunded.
Thanks are extended in advance to the public for their co-operation.
In 2024, the St Helena Government (SHG) commissioned an Education Review to assess how St Helena’s education services can be made sustainable for the future, supporting the island’s economic and workforce development. The review is aimed at enhancing educational attainment and learning outcomes for all residents. The resulting report addresses the key question of standards residents can expect in terms of education.
On Friday, 14 March 2025, SHG released the summative Education Review Report. The report examines the strengths of our education system, including the St Helena Research Institute (SHRI), our post-16 offer and the Public Library. It also identifies areas for improvement within the island’s education system. The importance of the decision to adopt COBIS standards in September 2024, as the education standards framework for St Helena, is threaded throughout the report.
The review has drawn on extensive public consultation: the input of leaders and staff in the Education, Skills and Employment Portfolio (ESE), a wide range of education data, and a number of reports by external experts. The ESE is grateful for the input of parents, staff, the wider community and external experts from Hampshire Local Authority (HLA) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO).
Education is an engine of change. Currently in St Helena, the report explores how education is currently the engine of decline. The report outlines the case for change and the need for a system-wide school improvement. The report is a call to arms to the St Helena Government, the UK Government (via the FCDO) and the island’s community, to prioritise education for our children and young people, who need an adequate education which raises their aspirations enabling them to fulfil their potential and support St Helena’s economic aspirations.
Improving education will be essential to meeting SHG’s overall vision of ‘A sustainable environment that creates opportunity, inspires social and economic progress, ensuring a better quality of life for all’. This report sets out the opportunities and a clear way pathway forward for improvement.
Please be advised that the road closure scheduled for the road going through The Arch leading to the sea front in Jamestown on Wednesday 19 March 2025 has been cancelled.
The cancellation is due to preparations underway for the Careers Fair, scheduled for Thursday 20 March.
The Highways Authority has approved the road going through The Arch leading to the sea front in Jamestown to be closed to all vehicular traffic and pedestrians on Wednesday 19 March from 13:00 to 15:30.
This closure is necessary to continue essential repairs to the arch structure by the Building Works Section. Pedestrian access to the wharf and lower Jamestown will be via the Terrace and Harbour View steps.
Emergency services will have access as needed. The Roads Section apologises for any inconvenience caused and thanks the public for their understanding and co-operation.
Please be advised that the road closure scheduled for the road going through The Arch leading to the sea front in Jamestown on Wednesday 19 March 2025 has been cancelled.
The cancellation is due to preparations underway for the Careers Fair, scheduled for Thursday 20 March.
St Helena Emergency Services has announced the rollout of innovative location technology, what3words. Adding what3words to its toolkit will help pinpoint 999 callers’ exact locations, and ensure resources can be dispatched directly to the scene.
When calling the emergency number (999), one of the first questions you’ll be asked is ‘What is the address of the emergency?’ However, pinpointing your exact location on St Helena can be difficult, especially outside of Jamestown. Whilst we don’t use postcodes in the same way as the UK or elsewhere in the world, relying on landmarks or general area names like ‘near Woody Ridge’ or ‘above Thompson’s Hill’ can be vague. Furthermore, many locations are remote, such as sections of the coastal paths, the Peaks National Park, or isolated bays. Describing your location accurately in these areas can be stressful and challenging, potentially delaying vital assistance from the Emergency Services.
what3words is available in over 60 languages to date, and is free to download for both iOS and Android devices, or use via the online map at what3words.com. The system works offline, making it ideal for use in areas with unreliable data connection, such as beaches, coastal areas and campsites.
Whilst not intended as a replacement for the traditional ‘must-pack’ equipment, what3words has proved to be an invaluable addition to the global emergency response toolkit, helping to save both time and resources. As well as a what3words address, call handlers are trained to gather as much information as possible to identify the location of an incident, including road names, landmarks, and more.
Emergency Operations Manager, Michael Gaga-Hale, commented:
“The location of an emergency is vital when responding to those who need us most. Time is critical in medical emergencies such as a cardiac arrest, where every second counts. Without a formal address system in St Helena, locating people quickly can be challenging, especially in high-pressure situations. As our workforce changes, we are less able to rely on responders’ local knowledge, making accurate location information even more important.”
“‘what3words’ provides a simple and precise way to share your exact location, helping us find you sooner. We urge everyone in the community to download the free app and share it with family, friends, and colleagues. You never know when you might need to call for help.”
“We also understand that some people may find it difficult to read the three words displayed in the app. Because the map is divided into 3m squares, you can select a nearby address that is easiest for you to read to the call handler. If needed, take your time and spell the words out letter by letter. The call handlers will support you through the process to get help to you as quickly as possible.”
Chris Sheldrick, Co-Founder and CEO of what3words commented:
“St Helena is home to some of the world’s most unique and remote landscapes, which can present challenges for incident response. We’re incredibly proud our technology is supporting the island’s emergency services, helping to save time, resources and in some cases, lives. By providing a simple way to communicate precise locations, what3words will help enhance the safety of local residents and visitors exploring the island’s stunning scenery.”
A simple guide on how to download and use what3words can be found at the bottom of this press release. Furthermore, St Helena Emergency Services invites the public to attend the Careers Fair on Thursday 20 March 2025, where the Ambulance Services Stand will provide further information on what3words. The team will be available to assist members of the public in identifying their property’s what3words address and demonstrate the application’s functionality. We encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about this valuable tool.
The latest provisional estimates have been released for the numbers of passenger arrivals and departures to and from St Helena, up to the end of January 2025.
Note: this release was updated on April 15 2025; estimates of the arrivals of St Helenians and those arriving for leisure are not yet available for November 2024 onwards, due to a change in immigration arrival procedures.
Arrivals
In January 2025, there were an estimated 756 arrivals, with 519 arriving by air; this compares with 625 arrivals in January 2024, with 449 arriving by air.
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/EA4bJ/29/
During the last 12 months (February 2024 to January 2025) there have been 4,576 arrivals, compared to 4,361 in the same period a year ago – a 4.9% increase.
Departures
In January 2025 there were an estimated 974 departures from the island, 218 more than the number of arrivals. During the last 12 months (February 2024 to January 2025), there were a total of 4,623 departures, compared to 4,385 in the same period a year ago – an increase of 5.4%.
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/KlqTH/23/
Get the data
A file in Excel format with detailed monthly statistics on arrivals and departures to January 2025 can be downloaded here.
