The Marine Enforcement Section would like to advise all fishers of the need to stop all fishing for lobster species and commercial fishing for Deepwater Bullseye.
To protect St Helena’s fish populations and ensure they remain healthy for the future, we set limits on how much fish can be caught. These limits, called Total Allowable Catches (TACs), help us manage different fish species. We also divide these limits into catch quotas for different types of fishing (commercial, sports angling/spearfishing, and recreational). Our main goal is to keep fish stocks sustainable for the long term while also considering the impact on our fishing community.
Recent fishing data shows that we have reached the overall catch limits for all lobster species and the commercial quota for Deepwater Bullseye. As a result, landings or retention of the following species within St Helena’s fisheries limits (200 nm) is prohibited during the period commencing Wednesday 30 July 2025 to Friday 31 December 2025:
Brown Spiny Lobster (Panulirus Echinatus): This applies to all types of fishing.
Red Slipper Lobster (Scyllarides Obtusus): This applies to all types of fishing.
Deepwater Bullseye (Cookeolus japonicus): This applies only to commercial fishing.
Any Brown Spiny Lobster, Red Slipper Lobster or Deepwater Bullseye (through commercial fishing) caught as by-catch during this period must be returned immediately to the sea. Returning by-catch immediately will not be considered a violation of this notice.
Please be aware that breaking a Fishing Control Notice is a serious offense under section 72(2) of the Fisheries Ordinance, 2021. If found guilty, individuals could face a maximum fine of £25,000.
For further information please contact Kelly Jonas, Marine Enforcement Officer, by telephone on 25947 or via email through kelly.jonas@sainthelena.go.sh
HM Customs and Immigration would like to advise the public that their offices will be closed at various times over the next two weeks starting from Monday, 28 July to Friday, 08 August 2025, to accommodate essential specialised training. Due to the varying schedule of this training, operating hours for the upcoming two weeks will be as follows:
Monday to Friday: 09:00 – 15:00 (for businesses and individuals receiving and issuing items/shipments)
Monday to Wednesday: 09:00 – 15:00 (open for Ascension Cargo only)
Thursday to Friday: 09:00 – 15:00 (open for all cargo)
Please note that HM Customs and Immigration will close daily from 12:00 to 13:00. During the training period, the reception desk will remain unattended, and staff will have limited access to email, which may cause delays in responding to enquiries.
The public are thanked in advance for their patience and understanding.
Following our previous announcement, please be advised that Ladder Hill Road will be closed from 09:00 on Monday, 04 August until Friday, 22 August 2025 at 15:30, weather permitting.
The Roads Section has received confirmation that they will be receiving a new consignment of bitumen on Voyage 17 later this week and the planned re-surfacing works will commence as soon as the off-loading is complete.
This closure is to allow the Roads Section to carry out full-width surface works with the micro-paver. Funded by the Economic Development Investment Programme (EDIP), these rehabilitation works form part of the primary road network project.
Emergency services and public transport will also be affected. All vehicles needing to travel in and out of Jamestown during this time must travel via Side Path or Constitution Hill Road. Suitable road closure signage will be in place.
Please note that Jacobs Ladder will remain accessible, including the halfway path connecting to Shy Road.
Car-sharing is encouraged to reduce the cost of travel.
The public are thanked in advance for their patience and understanding during these important works.
The MV Karoline is scheduled to arrive at James Bay on Friday 25 July 2025 at 11:00. Weather permitting the vessel will dock alongside Rupert’s Jetty and cargo operations will commence as soon as practicable.
The public are therefore advised that the Port of Jamestown and whole of Lower Rupert’s including the beach area, will be closed from 11:00 on Friday 25 July 2025, until all cargo operations are completed.
These areas will be strictly prohibited and access will be limited to those who have made prior arrangements with St Helena Port Control.
Boat owners and operators are advised that mooring on the ‘span’ mooring rope near the landing steps at the Jamestown Wharf is prohibited for the duration of cargo operations.
The public are thanked in advance for their patience and co-operation.
The public are advised that the Immigration section of the Safety Security and Home Affairs Portfolio will be closed for business on Wednesday, 23 July 2025.
Normal opening hours will resume on Thursday, 24 July 2025 from 08:30
The public are thanked in advance for their understanding and cooperation.
The St Helena Government wishes to give notice that it has received an investment proposal for the development of Mundens and its surrounding land, comprising approximately 20 acres. This significant parcel of land boasts former military fortifications, historic buildings, and diverse coastal terrain, offering an exceptional blend of historical, cultural, and strategic importance.
As a result, on 17 June 2025, the Executive Council approved the addition of Mundens to SHG’s disposal register. In its commitment to ensuring best value and exploring all potential options, SHG is now offering developers and investors an opportunity to submit further development proposals. This is a unique opportunity to unlock a site with immense potential.
We are seeking serious submissions that demonstrate, a clear concept and vision for the site, a business plan, and a defined project financing strategy. Crucially, all proposals must align with the island’s Sustainable Economic Development Strategy 2023.
The Health Directorate wishes to inform the public that theLongwood Clinic will be temporarily closed from Monday, 21 July to Tuesday, 5 August 2025. This closure is necessary to facilitate essential re-roofing of the building, along with associated maintenance and touch-up work to ensure the safety and comfort of patients and staff.
During this period, the following arrangements have been made to minimise disruption to services:
Alternative Clinic Services: Persons who would normally attend the Wednesday Longwood Clinic sessions may do so at the Jamestown Outpatient CliniconWednesdays for the duration of the closure. Appointments can be booked as usual by contacting the Appointments Line on telephone number 22321.
Pharmacy Services: The Pharmacy Bus will be in the vicinity of the Longwood Clinic on Wednesdays between 10:00 and 12:00. Please note that only pre-ordered repeat prescriptions will be dispensed during this time. To pre-order, Longwood residents are kindly asked to call the Pharmacy by no later than 12:00 each Monday.
The Longwood Clinic is expected to reopen on Wednesday, 6 August 2025. The Health Directorate apologises for any inconvenience caused and thanks the public for their understanding and cooperation.
The MT Ardberg is scheduled to arrive at St Helena on Saturday, 19 July 2025, at 19:00 and anchor in James Bay. Weather permitting on Sunday, 20 July 2025 at sunrise, MT Ardberg will berth alongside Rupert’s Jetty, and as soon as the clearance is completed bunkering operations will commence.
The public are therefore advised that the whole of lower Rupert’s, including the beach area, will be closed to the public from 06:00 Sunday, 20 July 2025 until the bunkering of fuel is completed. Due to the floating pipeline, all mariners are advised that Rupert’s Bay will also be closed.
These areas will be strictly prohibited and is limited only to those persons who have made prior arrangements for authorisation from Port Control.
The public are thanked in advance for their patience and co-operation.
Latest index value and inflation rates for Q2 2025
The latest estimate of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) has been released by the St Helena Statistics Office, for the second quarter of 2025 (Q2 2025). The CPI has been measured at 103.6, a small increase of 0.1% on the previous quarter (Q1 2025) but a 6.3% increase compared to a year ago (Q2 2024). This annual inflation rate of 6.3% is a drop in the rate of 0.2 percentage points compared to the rate measured in Q1 2025, which was 6.5%.
Price changes over the last year
On average, all broad groups of items saw their prices rise compared to a year ago. The highest average annual increase was in Communication (18.4%), resulting from increases in July 2024 in the landline telephone tariff and the price of mobile data packages. There was an average annual increase in Household Energy of 14.5%, the result of the increase in the price of electricity in July 2024, and increases in the price of firewood and gas cylinder refills. The average annual increase in Food prices was 7.0%, which was slightly lower than the annual increase measured last quarter (8.4%).
Price changes over the last quarter
The quarterly change in the CPI was 0.1%, comparing Q2 2025 to Q1 2025. Only three groups of categories experienced average increases since the last quarter: Household Energy, 1.8%; Miscellaneous Good & Services, 0.9%; and Transport, 0.6%. Clothing, Food and Alcohol and Tobacco fell slightly and all other categories remained unchanged.
In this quarter, the major prices changes that have affected the inflation rate were in locally-provided services (electricity and telecommunications), but price changes in both the UK and South Africa usually have a strong impact on prices on St Helena, since the majority of goods imported are purchased in those two countries. In May 2025 annual consumer price inflation in the UK was measured at 3.4% (UK Office for National Statistics), down from 3.5% in April. In South Africa, annual consumer price inflation was measured at 2.8% in May 2025 (Statistics South Africa), unchanged from April 2025. Changes in the value of the Rand compared to the Pound can have a large effect on the change in the price of goods purchased in South Africa, especially during periods of increase or decrease. However, for the period July 2024 to June 2025, the Pound averaged 23.5 Rand, which is very similar to the average value for the previous twelve months, which was 23.6, and so had no major impact on the St Helena inflation rate.
Methodology
Rebasing the Index
The Index was rebased in the third quarter of 2024, following the 2023 Household Expenditure Survey (HES) and subsequent analysis by the Statistics Office. The HES reviewed the composition of the average ‘shopping basket’ of goods and services purchased by households on St Helena, to make sure it reflects current spending habits. The Statistics Office has also reviewed the items that are used to represent each category of spending in the basket, to make sure they are also up to date and relevant. The rebased Index includes 205 categories of expenditure, within nine broader groupings; these broader groupings are unchanged from the previous Index. Within the broad groupings, the detailed categories of expenditure have been adjusted slightly to better align with international guidelines, and in particular they now only include expenditure related to household consumption, and not all expenditures. This has also made a change to the terminology necessary: the Index has been renamed the Consumer Price Index (CPI), rather than the Retail Price Index (RPI).
What is price inflation and how is it measured?
Price inflation is the change in the average prices of goods and services over time. The rate of price inflation is calculated from the change in the CPI, which is the official measure of the average change in the prices of goods and services paid by consumers. The CPI is estimated each quarter, i.e. once every three months, and the rate of price inflation is usually quoted on an annual basis; that is, comparing price changes over a 12-month period. Prices and the CPI tend to go up, but they can occasionally go down – which is known as price deflation.
The CPI is a statistical measure of the change in consumer prices on St Helena; an increase in the CPI means that, on average, prices have gone up since the last time they were measured, and a decrease in the CPI means that, on average, prices have fallen. The annual change in the CPI is called the annual inflation rate, and is the usual measure of the change in prices in an economy. The CPI is an average measure: if it goes up, it does not mean that all prices have gone up, and similarly, if it goes down, it does not mean that all prices have fallen.
Why do we measure inflation?
An accurate measure of price inflation helps understand the extent and nature of the impact of price changes on the government, businesses, households and individuals. Inflation rates are often used in budgeting and accounting processes so that costs can be adjusted for the effect of price changes.
How is the CPI calculated?
The basis for the CPI is the average weekly cost of goods and services purchased by households on St Helena for consumption, sometimes called the CPI ‘shopping basket’. Items which households purchase more of, such as food, have the biggest share of the CPI basket. The current CPI uses a basket from the latest Household Expenditure Survey in 2023; prices representing the groups of items in the basket are collected every quarter, and the price of the total basket is compared to the price in the baseline period, the third quarter of 2024. By convention, the value of the basket in the baseline period is scaled to 100, and the CPI values are quoted in relation to that baseline. For example, a CPI value of 120 means that average prices have increased by 20 per cent compared to those recorded in the baseline period.
Composition of average household weekly expenditure (Q3 2024 CPI ‘Shopping Basket’)
What happens when items are not available?
If an item of the ‘basket’ is not available then either the previous price will be carried forward from the previous quarter, or a suitable substitute item will be identified and an adjustment calculation made. Care is taken to ensure that this substitute item represents the item category and that it does not introduce error to the measurement of the CPI. An important principle is that price changes should reflect actual price increases and decreases, and not changes in the quality of items.
Please get in touch. We are Neil Fantom, Statistical Commissioner, Kelly Clingham and Justine Joshua, Senior Statistical Assistants and Courtney O’Dean, Statistics Assistant. You can find us in person at the Statistics Office on the top floor of the Post Office, Jamestown. You can also contact us by telephone on our direct line through 22138. If calling from overseas, the international dialling code for St Helena is +290. Our general office e-mail address is statistics@sainthelena.gov.sh, or you can email team members directly (the format is firstname.lastname@sainthelena.gov.sh).
The UK State Awards known as Honours Awards are prestigious awards conferred by HM The King. These awards recognise people who have made outstanding contributions to public life, or who have significantly enhanced the UK’s reputation and interests. To be considered, achievements must be truly exceptional, demonstrating a commitment that goes well beyond the expected. Nominees should have made a lasting, positive impact, with benefits that extend widely across the community or a specific sector.
Who can be nominated?
Anyone can nominate someone for an Honour. There are no restrictions on who can be nominated. You cannot, however, nominate yourself.
The Honours system is committed to promoting diversity and nominations are actively encouraged for individuals from all backgrounds and ethnicities. Nominations are not limited to any specific individuals or groups within society.
When can someone be nominated?
There is no fixed length of time which should have elapsed before an honour can be made, but the service should be recent or whilst an individual is still active in their role. Particular weight is given to voluntary work, which can be the central reason for the nomination or as an additional contribution.
Some examples of fields where Honours have been given in the past are community and voluntary local services, arts and media, health, sport, education, science and technology, and conservation etc
Types of Honours
There are many different Orders and Levels of Awards, but usually nominations received for St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha are for the ‘Order of the British Empire’. Awards given to the territories under this Order are usually (from lowest to highest conferring level): A British Empire Medal (BEM), Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). Visit https://www.gov.uk/honours/types-of-honours-and-awards to read about what level of achievement qualifies for each level of Honour.
Submitting Strong Nominations
Nominations for Honours Awards are invited by the St Helena Public Service twice per year – Usually in May (for the New Years Honours), and in November (for the Kings Birthday Honours). A strong nomination should include the following:
What has been the personal impact of the nominee’s work?
Is the service voluntary?
How is it exceptional in nature?
Is the person still active in the service or was their service recent?
Have they overcome obstacles or challenges that might make their achievement more significant and if so, what were they?
How have their achievements or contribution led to them being recognised as a good role model?
What support for, and evidence of their achievements or contribution is there?
Is the proposed level of award commensurate with the work the person has done?
If you would like to nominate someone, please contact Linda Benjamin, Information & Research Support Officer at Linda.Benjamin@sainthelena.gov.sh for a nomination form.
Governor’s Office, St Helena, Ascension & Tristan da Cunha
