Blog

St Helena is to have an Open Day at one of its three new steel-framed homes, on Tuesday 27 August.

Opening at 10am until 6pm, members of the public are invited to view the home, located near the second hole of the Longwood Golf Course.

Housing Executive Andy Crowe said:

“This was a pilot project where St Helena Government commissioned local builder, Adrian Duncan, to design and build the steel framed houses in two locations on the Island. We’ve learnt a great deal from the exercise and this will all be used to inform the bigger project of the Half Tree Hollow Comprehensive Development Area.”

All three homes feature large bedrooms, a small outside patio and fully fitted kitchens and bathrooms. Each home has solar-powered water heating.

Andy commented:

“The cost of heating water is normally very high, but with solar power we will be able to reduce the cost of living for the occupants. Nearly all of the existing Government homes lack an internal hot water supply so this is a pointer for the future.”

People taking advantage of the Open Day will be asked for their ideas on the home. These views will then inform the design guidance SHG provides for its new homes. The event will also provide an opportunity for visitors to comment on SHG’s plans for the development at Half Tree Hollow.

SHG
20 August 2013

This week sees the start of ‘School Spruce’, a community-based project which aims to visually and physically improve St Helena’s three primary schools.

Schools are essential hubs of all communities, and during participation work with young people in April of this year, it was recognised that the Island’s primary schools were in need of improved play facilities. Recognising that play is important for the development of the child, a proposal was put forward to improve the three primary schools on St Helena.

This community project involves St Helena Government (SHG), the Private Sector, the St Helena National Trust, Enterprise St Helena, Civil Society, parents, teachers and the children themselves – and will provide a play area for each school, using donated recycled materials. Other improvements have also been proposed, including the building of seating areas and general revamp of the schools – each school has a different set of ideas for improvements ranging from a new lick of paint to renovations that will enhance the learning experience of the pupils.

Each school has £2500 for improvements – £3000 was donated by SHG which was match funded by £3000 raised by the schools themselves, and £1500 was donated from the Governor’s Delegated Fund.
All the work is being done voluntarily.

The schools were approached to find out what kind of playground they wanted from the materials and money available – and then the children were able to design their own playground based on their interests and needs.

Coordinating the project, Rachel Armstrong, from the Corporate Policy and Planning Unit said:

“Play is an essential part of development because it contributes to the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being of children. Through this community-based project, we hope that providing new playgrounds in each of the three primary schools will benefit the children significantly.

“The children have been heavily involved in the design of their playground, and each school will have a unique play area suited to their individual needs.”

In addition to new play areas, each school will also have their own endemic garden, featuring an endemic plant from their school’s area of the Island. The idea behind this is to educate the children on the importance of the endemics on St Helena, and allow them to plant and maintain the endemics themselves
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The School Spruce project kicks off this week with the levelling of the playing field at St Paul’s Primary School in readiness for playground works to begin.

Frequent progress updates on the individual projects will follow in due course.

SHG
19 August 2013

On Wednesday 21 August, Councillor Cyril George will depart for the 59thCommonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Conference in Johannesburg, scheduled to take place between 28 August and 6 September.

Cyril is the first Councillor from the newly elected Council to attend a CPA Conference – aiming to develop effective solutions to Commonwealth development challenges.

The plenary sessions include members discussing Separation of Powers and Good Governance in Small States and whether Education is Meeting Local Employment Needs in Small States.

 Workshops held will include topics such as:

• Land Access and Ownership, Progress and Challenges Experienced by Rural Communities in Accessing Land. What could be the Role and Intervention of Parliamentarians?
• Should there be Parliamentary Intervention in the Informal Economy and Entrepreneurship Sectors?
• The Challenges of Attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015; and
•  Inequitable Resource-Sharing: A Threat to Democratic Governance

 Commenting on the conference, Cyril said:

 “I am looking forward to this interesting but new challenge, and although this is something that I am not familiar with I am grateful for the opportunity to take on this experience to contribute and learn from it. 

 We were all informed initially that as Councillors we would get opportunities to attend meetings in other Countries.  When the CPA team arrived on Tuesday 30 July they informed us that the next meeting would be held in Johannesburg.  The selection process began, will all interested Councillors putting their names forward.  A draw took place and the first name picked was mine.”

The conference will close on 5 September, beginning with a General Assembly and receiving of plaques, followed by the final plenary session with the Parliamentary Response to the Commonwealth Charter.

SHG

19 August 2013

The Quarterly Statistical News Bulletin, published August 2013, covers the period April – June 2013 and contains updates for the annual rate of inflation of the Retail Price Index, Estimated Population, Visitor arrivals, Building and Rainfall statistics and a summary of other high-level economic information on St Helena.

Annual inflation of the St Helena Retail Price Index (RPI) stood at 0.8 per cent in Q2 2013 – the lowest record in over ten years. There was a 0.3 per cent decrease in the RPI (the overall cost of the ‘St Helena Shopping Basket’) from Quarter 1 to Quarter 2, 2013.

The fall in both the RPI and annual inflation of the RPI is due to a combination of:
•Reduction in price of expensive occasional purchase items, such as a vehicle and white goods
•Smaller price decreases in more regular purchases such as fuel, internet services and building materials
•Delay in the expected annual increment of utility bills, meaning last year’s price increases no longer features in our calculation of annual inflation of the RPI

Despite the noted decreases, important price rises are also noted, particularly in the cost of Services -namely childcare, hospital stay and domestic services. Increased labour costs within the construction industry are also noted. These rises are primarily due to increased staffing costs following the welcome introduction of a Minimum Wage on St Helena on 1 June 2013.

The St Helena resident population continues to grow. There is a temporary long-term increase as a result of increasing numbers of Basil Read and expatriate Government workers living on the Island for a period of six months or longer. We are also seeing a steady trickle of Saints returning to live and work on the Island.

Visitor arrivals in the first six months of 2013 are up the same period last year. The majority of arrivals on the RMS are Saints and Business visitors. Tourist arrivals are up by 5.5% compared to the same period in 2012.

The Statistical News Bulletin, along with other statistical reports, is available for download from the SHG website www.sainthelena.gov.sh/statistics

If you have requested a copy of the Quarterly Statistical News Bulletin via email and have not yet received it, please contact the office on 2138 or statistics@sainthelena.gov.sh

Statistics Office
SHG
19 August 2013

On Thursday evening, 15 August, invited guests, including returning university students, parents and teachers bid farewell to two previous Prince Andrew School students, Sasha Bargo and Chloe Terry, as they embark on their journey to the UK through the St Helena Scholarship Scheme.   

Sasha Bargo has chosen to study a foundation Degree in Ecology and Conservation.  On her return to the Island she hopes to put her skills to use within the St Helena National Trust.  Speaking about picking this particular subject, Sasha commented:

“I have a keen interest in the outdoors and with my career I wanted a balance between working within an office environment and working outdoors.” 

Although Sasha is anxious about the new challenge she is about to face, she is excited about being given this new opportunity.

Chloe Terry will attend Loughborough University to study a Bachelor of Science Degree in Air Transport Management, for three years. 

Commenting on her choice, Chloe said:

“The Island is moving forward and I wanted to be a part of that by becoming involved in the airport project.  I am nervous about leaving my parents as I know I will miss them as well as my friends, and the lifestyle the Island offers.”

HE Governor, Mark Capes gave a short speech during the reception, congratulating returning scholarship students who all received first class honours degrees in their chosen fields.  He wished Chloe and Sasha luck in their university studies and drawing from his previous speech at the Prince Andrew School awards ceremony, the message was one of achievement through having the right attitude.  Both students will be leaving their families to study in the UK and the Governor recognised the difficult task that they are about to face.  He encouraged them to talk with returning students to draw from them their experiences – and to make the most of their time in the UK.      

Throughout the rest of the evening Chloe and Sasha mingled with guests who offered their congratulations.  They also chatted with previous university students about the difficulties and benefits of studying for a Degree.   

(Four pictures are attached with this release)

SHG

16 August 2013

Prince Andrew School held its annual awards ceremony on Friday 9 August, where students who had worked hard and achieved well over the last school year were awarded for their efforts.

In celebration of these achievements, His Excellency Governor Capes, present at the ceremony, spoke to the students about the importance of achievement and having a positive attitude.

Governor Capes remarked:

“…a sense of achievement feels really good. To do something well, to achieve what you set out to do, what you set your mind and heart on, that is a satisfying feeling. It makes us feel good about ourselves. It also makes others feel good, our families and our friends, to see that we have achieved our goals, achieved success.”

Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year were awarded to Ronan Legg, Sunna Thomas, Jordan Yon and Chelsea May Young.  Music awards went to Jade Leo, Nandeli Pelembe, Lisa Joshua and Lizemarie Robbertse.  Student of the Year for Year 7 was presented to Nandeli Pelembe, Year 8, Scott Thomas, Year 9, Scott George, Year 10, Lizemarie Robbertse, and Year 12 went to Lisa Joshua, Kyle Yon and Curtis Peters.  Prizes also encompassed Citizenship and Outstanding Progress. 

Paul Starkie, Head teacher of Prince Andrew School, commented: 

“At PAS we want all our students to enjoy and achieve, to be inspired and to contribute to their own learning and the learning of others. We as teachers are driven by the desire to ensure all our students fulfil their true potential and are successful in everything they undertake.”

Governor Capes continued that much of what we do in life depends on our attitude.  He added that resilience and determination are only ingredients of the right attitude. Negative people with a bad attitude instead of doing something about their problems, find excuses not to do something and forever criticise and find fault in others. Whereas those with a positive ‘can do’ attitude will encourage, support and lift up others to help them to achieve too, and will gladly celebrate the achievements of others.

Governor Capes encouraged students to be that positive person who will face up to  a challenge and grip it with confidence – to achieve success and move on to the next challenge.  A full version of Governor Capes’ speech can be found on the SHG website at: www.sainthelena.gov.sh

SHG

15 August 2013

Dr Attila Frigyesi (picture attached) has arrived on Island to serve as the new Clinical Director (SMO). Dr Frigyesi comes from the Intensive Care Unit of Lund University Hospital in Sweden. He has also previously worked in Greenland and the Faroe Islands. He is a certified specialist in anaesthesiology, intensive care medicine, cardiology and internal medicine.

Although Attila is foremost a clinician, his new post on St Helena will see him taking on a more administrative role, which Attila commented: “has a large bearing on the standards of healthcare.”

Dr Frigyesi added: “I see David Jenkins (Director of Health and Social Welfare) and myself as a team. We need to make provisions for better healthcare on St Helena, to benefit as many patients as possible. We have the same goals, though coming from different areas of expertise.”

As a cardiologist, Attila will be running a Cardiac Clinic in parallel with the nurse – led clinic already in place.

Dr Frigyesi is accompanied by his wife Emma (a Pediatrician) and their four children aged two to nine.

SHG
13 August 2013