The following is a Public Announcement from the Emergency Planning Department:

Following an inspection of the mast at Signal House, Ladder Hill, it has been deemed necessary to carry out a partial disassembly of the mast’s yard arm.

The St Helena Fire & Rescue Service, along with partners from the Environment & Natural Resources Directorate (ENRD), will be carrying out the work required on Thursday, 10, and Friday, 11 January 2019.

As a precaution, it will be necessary to create a safety area below and immediately surrounding Signal House.

The public is therefore advised that on Thursday, 10 January 2019, between 8am and 4pm, the Leisure Park, Coffee Shop, Sanray’s Bistro, the Museum car park, Donny’s Place, the Sand Yard, the road leading to West Rocks, and all of the West Rocks area, will be out of bounds to members of the public.

Access to the area surrounding Signal House will be limited to authorised persons only.

All areas will be cordoned off and signs will be in place.

Work is envisaged to be completed by 4pm on Friday, 11 January 2019.

The public will be kept updated via local radio stations with regards to the opening of affected areas and the cessation of works.

SHG
8 January 2019

http://www.sainthelena.gov.sh

The following is a Public Announcement from HM Customs, Income Tax, and Port Control:

HM Customs & Income Tax

The HM Customs & Income Tax department would like to advise the public that their office at the Jamestown Wharf will close for business from Thursday, 10 January, through to Tuesday, 15 January 2019.

A Customs Officer will be on-call during this closure for emergencies and vessel clearance only.

HM Customs & Income Tax services at the Wharf office will open as normal at 8.30am on Wednesday, 16 January 2019.

Port Control

The office of Port Control will be closed on Thursday, 10, and Friday, 11 January 2019. During this period of closure, Port Control Officers will be on-call via tel: 22287.

The office of Port Control will reopen at 8.30am on Monday, 14 January 2019.

These closures are due to various maintenance works needing to take place.

Any inconvenience caused is regretted and HM Customs, Income Tax, and Port Control thank the public for their support and cooperation.

SHG
8 January 2019

http://www.sainthelena.gov.sh

The latest rate of annual price inflation is estimated to be 4.7%, between the fourth quarter of 2018 and the fourth quarter of 2017. This is a 0.6 percentage point increase from the previous quarter, when the annual price inflation rate was measured at 4.1% (Chart 1). The average annual inflation for 2018 was 3.8%, calculated as the average of the rates for the four quarters that make up the 2018 calendar year.

Chart 1. Annual price inflation rate, St Helena, 2013 to 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The average prices in every category increased, compared to a year ago. ‘Communications’ remains the category with the highest annual inflation, 10.4% currently compared to 10.8% the previous quarter – this is mostly the result of the increase in telephone tariffs during Q3 2018. Tariff increases in both government (i.e. road licences) and private sector service fees (i.e. television subscriptions) also resulted in increased annual inflation rates for the ‘Miscellaneous goods and services’ and ‘Transport’ categories. The ‘Food’ category saw a two percentage point increase in the annual inflation rate compared to the previous quarter, the combined effect of increases in highly-weighted items such as local bread and price increases in other food items. The average price of food, as measured by the representative items collected in the shopping basket, has increased by almost 5% compared to this point last year. As the price of domestic electricity has remained static, the ‘Household Energy’ expenditure category has the lowest annual inflation rate at 1.3%. The annual price increase in the ‘Clothing’ and ‘Housing’ categories also fell, to 2.3% and 2.7% respectively.

#StHelena #Statistics #PriceInflationRates #StatsNews

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SHG

8 January 2019

 

 

 

St Helena Government’s first Future Leaders Programme (FLP) has come to the end of an exciting year. The programme was designed to give a group of motivated and ambitious colleagues the opportunity to develop their leadership skills, gain wider exposure to SHG, and gain skills to assist them in progressing and developing as potential leaders of the future.

The Future Leaders (FLs) – Belinda Piek, Nicole Hercules, Nikita Crowie and Sasha Bargo (see photo attached) –  have spent their first year undertaking familiarisation visits across the organisation, attending and participating in various workshops tailored to the leadership competencies, working on their professional development, and planning and executing group projects for the benefit of SHG.

Forming part of their work was the SHG Internal Communications Project, commissioned by the Head of News, and which will feed directly into the SHG Communications Strategy. The overall aim of this project was to understand the issues around how we communicate information within SHG, after it was flagged as a concern in the 2015 and subsequent 2018 Employee Opinion Surveys. The FLs qualitative data collection involved speaking to various employees across SHG to find out their views. The report has been shared with the Head of News and key findings were presented to the Core Leadership Group on 29 November 2018.

Chief Secretary and Programme Initiator, Susan O’Bey, said:

“I have been impressed by the way the group have worked together on the Programme, they have demonstrated that they have what it takes to be the leaders of tomorrow, they have set the standard for future cohorts and I am extremely proud of their work ethic and their achievements. I hope that other people in the organisation will be inspired to come forward and join the next cohort.”

The FLs embarked on their first work placements at the beginning of September 2018. The purpose of these placements was to expose the FLs to a different directorate, thus giving them a wider understanding of SHG and, through shadowing a leader, learn different leadership styles. So far, the FLs have been involved with strategic planning, budgeting, extending and applying their professional development, and becoming familiar with how different directorates are structured and managed.

Organisational Development Manager and new Programme Lead, Laura Stroud, commented:

“The FLP is a fantastic opportunity offered by SHG and during my first six months I have seen the FLs grow in experience and confidence.  They are enthusiastic and ambitious and share a wide range of experiences and fresh perspectives.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank directors for their continued support and a big thank you to other supporters who are involved in the next phase of this programme.”

Since the start of the programme, the FLs have had the opportunity to learn substantial leadership skills, networked with a variety of different people, learnt how SHG operates at a more corporate level, gained confidence in their abilities as leaders and some have made significant career progressions. The next, and final, phase of the programme will be tailored more towards their long-term goals and where they see themselves as leaders in the future.

SHG will soon be seeking a new cohort of future leaders which will be advertised in due course.

#StHelena #FutureLeaders #OneYearOn

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 SHG

4 January 2019

‘I am pleased to announce that Her Majesty the Queen has conferred the award of an MBE to Mr Albert Edward Henry Baldwin for services to the community and local services in St Helena.

‘Mr Baldwin has devoted 23 years of voluntary work with the St Helena Heritage Society and the Museum of St Helena.

‘Mr Baldwin has always had an interest in St Helena, particularly with regard to its history. During his visit to the island in 1995 Mr Baldwin became involved with the plans that were underway to move the Museum from Broadway House in Jamestown to a former warehouse situated at the bottom of Jacob’s Ladder. He was closely involved with the development of the Museum Project and in addition to advising on the layout and content of the Museum, he assisted with the ordering of specialist materials to ensure timely arrival on island to enable the works to be carried out as scheduled for its grand opening in 2002. Mr Baldwin has donated some very important objects to the Museum and has also worked to secure donations from other parties which has enhanced the Museum offering. Mr Baldwin’s voluntary work, and the donations of these objects, has helped to create a flagship tourist attraction at the Museum. Following the opening of the Museum in 2002, Mr Baldwin continues to work with the St Helena Museum and the St Helena Heritage Society.

‘I am further pleased to announce the award of an MBE to Mrs Anne Violet Green who has been nominated for services to the community in Tristan da Cunha.

‘Mrs Green retired as a Head teacher after spending 43 years in the teaching profession. She started her career in teaching in 1975. During her years of teaching she was promoted to Deputy Head Teacher and Senior Teacher. She was the first female Chief Islander and has served as a member of the Island Council for many years. Mrs Green has also been Acting Administrator of Tristan on a number of occasions. Her voluntary work extends to the tourism sector where she accompanies visitors on island tours. Mrs Green helped to raise funds to build the first Catholic Church and has been instrumental in a number of charitable endeavours. She is a highly respected member of the community and actively helps people in the community, especially the elderly and the less fortunate.

‘I am sure you will all join me in congratulating both Mr Baldwin and Mrs Green on these well-deserved Awards.’

Lisa Honan
Governor of St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
28 December 2018

The following is a public announcement from the Emergency Planning Department:

The Emergency Planning Department would like to inform the public that a north westerly swell is forecast for St Helena from Thursday, 3 January through to Tuesday, 8 January 2019.

The public is advised to use caution when accessing the Seafront area. To avoid damage to vehicles, drivers are asked to take care when parking near the safety rails.

Due care and attention should be taken when swimming in Rupert’s and James’ Bay during this time.

Port Control will be monitoring sea conditions and may restrict access to the Seafront, Wharf and Rupert’s Jetty areas if necessary.

SHG
2 January 2019

http://www.sainthelena.gov.sh

The monthly meeting of the Environment & Natural Resources Committee (ENRC) and the Highways Authority took place on Thursday, 13 December 2018.

The Invasive Plant Specialist, Ludi Kern, presented an update on the ‘Namibian Iceplant’. This particular species is a perennial herb with pink or whitish pink flowers about 4-5mm wide. This invasive plant was first seen on St Helena in February 2017 by Mikko Paajanen whilst working as an Ecologist on the LEMP Project. The plant was observed mainly within the boundaries of the Airport. However, it has since been identified outside of this area mostly where some of the imported sand from Namibia was either stored or used. The current control and monitoring actions in place are centred around public awareness, how to identify this species and reliance on the public to inform the Invasive Plant Management team of particular areas where the plant is believed to be growing. To date the team has accounted for over a thousand plants found in locations in and around the Airport, but are also concerned that these plants can germinate as far as 150 metres away from its presumed original propagule source. The plant can produce an estimated 95 to 300 seeds annually. The plant can be eradicated successfully if immediate action is taken and information shared by all. Most of the plants found so far were disposed of through double bagging and/or incineration. If anyone has seen this plant or similar plants please call the Agriculture & Natural Resources Division (ANRD) Office on tele: 24724 and provide as much information as possible which will assist the team in identifying the plant.

The Acting Marine Conservation Officer, Samantha Cherrett, presented an update on the Marine Interaction Policy.

The ‘Environmental Policy for Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus), Devil Ray (Mobula tarapacana) and cetacean interaction activities on St Helena Island to minimise risk of injury and disturbance’, adopted under the Marine Management Plan (2016) currently provides guidance on interaction with marine species of St Helena.

A recent review of this Policy and associated Environmental Best Practice Guidelines identified gaps in guidance for some interactions as well as grey areas such as rare chance encounters. In consultation with the Marine Management Organisation, local stakeholders and organisations, the policy (renamed ‘Policy for marine species interaction activities on St Helena Island to minimise risk of injury and disturbance’), as well as species and activity related best practice guidelines were reviewed and updated to include details for more species and provide guidance for chance encounters with large or rare marine megafauna. It is hoped that these documents will be used as best practice moving forward and incorporated into the Marine Management Plan in the future.

It was also noted that at the special ENRC meeting held on Thursday, 29 November 2018, from a total of 51 applications, 28 were successful in qualifying for funding from the Community and District Roads Project. Those applicants who were awarded funding will need to use these funds by the end of this financial year which is 31 March 2019.

#StHelena #ENRC #HighwaysAuthority #MeetingSummary

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 SHG

2 January 2019

The public is advised that Corporate Services, including Corporate IT, at the Castle and the Benefits Office, will be closed from 12noon on Friday, 21 December 2018. This closure is to enable staff to participate in their end of year party.

The St Helena Archives will continue to open as normal and the Castle switchboard on tele: 22470 will remain operational.

Any inconvenience caused is very much regretted.

SHG
20 December 2018

http://www.sainthelena.gov.sh

Ethel Yon OBE was today reappointed as Sheriff of St Helena by HE Governor Lisa Honan.

Mrs Yon took the prescribed Oaths before the HE Governor in the Governor’s Office at the Castle. Mrs Yon’s appointment is effective until 31 December 2019.

The Sheriff of St Helena is nominally responsible for enforcing Court Orders, with this usually carried out by the Police Service on the Sheriff’s behalf. The Sheriff is also responsible for summoning Jurors when a Jury is required, either in the Supreme Court or for a Coroner’s Inquest. Her most conspicuous public role, however, is the swearing in of Governors and Acting Governors.

#StHelena #SheriffOfStHelena #Reappointment

 SHG

19 December 2018