St Helena

The following is a public announcement from the Roads Section:

The Highways Authority has given approval for the road to be closed from Seales Corner to the Guide Hall, between 9am and 3pm, on Monday, 17 and Tuesday, 18 December 2018. This closure is to enable the Roads Section to carry out line painting works.

For the duration of the works, all residents and workers in the Seales Corner area, including the Carnarvon Court Complex, Connect Saint Helena Ltd, Harris’ Flats, Matron’s Quarters, Parish Block, and the Guide Hall, are asked to vacate these car parks by 8.30am to allow works to commence. For the closure, residents and workers may use Pilling Primary School playground to park their vehicles.

The Roads Section would like to thank the public in advance for their continued understanding and cooperation.

SHG
10 December 2018

The Education and Employment Directorate is pleased to announce that Lisa Joshua has graduated with a Bachelor of Education (Hons) degree in Primary Education.

Lisa, daughter of Lionel and Veronica Joshua, started her teaching career in St Helena as an Initial Teacher Trainee in 2014. She departed the Island to pursue her studies in August 2015. Lisa studied a B.Ed in Primary Education (5-11), with a Music specialism, at the University of Winchester for three years.

Elements of her studies included looking at the development and leadership of Music within primary schools and undertaking work placements in various primary and junior schools in Hampshire, UK.

Lisa undertook three core placements during her degree programme, teaching 80% of a class timetable. In addition, Lisa undertook various volunteer and course placements throughout university. She was privileged to be able to visit schools in Denmark and Latvia and presented a research project – Outdoor learning in Early Years – at The International Conference in Riga, Latvia.

Lisa successfully completed her studies in July 2018 and graduated on 18 October 2018. Lisa is now working through her Induction Year as a newly qualified Teacher and is currently teaching a Year Three class in a school in Eastleigh, Hampshire.

Lisa commented:

“The past three years have definitely been a challenge, particularly being away from home and family. However, it has only made me grow as a person and as a teacher. I have learnt so much throughout the course which I will be able to bring to St Helena and which I am already using with my current class. I am loving having my own class so far, especially leading up to Christmas.

“I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who made this possible and to those who helped make this experience a memorable and positive one.”

#StHelena #Education #Graduation #SaintSuccess

SHG
10 December 2018

WEEK SEVEN

This was the final week of the St Helena Police Initial Police Training seven-week course.

The students took their final examinations and were tested against the entire course content in a final summative exercise. This consisted of having to deal with six practical scenarios. These included dealing with a violent domestic incident, a suspected drunk driver, a disturbance in the street, a vulnerable person, a male with an offensive weapon, and a suspect in custody.

This was a challenging practical examination, but the students dealt with each incident in a measured and professional manner. As a result, they all passed this final test.

During the week, they also received additional law training, including how to deal with a breach of the peace. The Health Directorate also delivered First Aid Training to the officers.

This now completes their Initial Police Training. The successful officers will now be out on patrol, in company with other Police Officers. They will return for further post foundation training over the next twelve months to build on their initial training.

Tutor, Sgt Mike Miskell, said:

“They will now need the support of the community to help them keep people safe and make St Helena an even better place to live and work. I wish all of them well for the future.”

Tutor, Learning & Development Sergeant, Mark Coombe, said:

“The students have now successfully completed their initial training and I would like to thank the public for the support that has been shown during the past seven weeks. It has been a pleasure to assist in the development of these new officers and I wish them every success for the future.”

Their course culminated in a Police Passing-Out Parade at Plantation house on Thursday, 6 December, in front of the Governor, Senior Officers, family and friends.

#StHelena #StHelenaPolice #InitialPoliceTraining #WeekSeven #SuccessfulCompletion

SHG
10 December 2018

The Education & Employment Directorate would like to advise that Prince Andrew School (PAS) will be hosting their annual Athletics Day at Francis Plain on Friday, 14 December 2018. The sports will start at 9.15am and end at approximately 2.45pm. All parents, guardians and members of the public are invited to attend.

With the safety of the children in mind, PAS would appreciate if all spectators could adhere to the following conditions:

No animals will be allowed on Francis Plain for this event
Only the appointed Marshalls, helpers, invited guests, and School Team Leaders will be allowed on the field for the duration of the event
Only school-appointed photographers will be allowed to photograph the event
No alcohol is allowed
Smoking is restricted on the whole of Francis Plain for this event. Persons wishing to smoke must do so outside of the Francis Plain and school premises. The allocated smoking area is away from the school along Watercourse Road
Parking will only be allowed on the Red Hill car park, the Ring Road, and other designated areas within the school area. Please can road users be mindful that this is still a school day, and that the school is still in operation
All litter is to be put into the bins provided

Please note, if parents/guardians wish to transport their children home after the event, they are asked to ensure that a written note is handed in or a telephone call is made with the school via tel: 24290 so that all students can be accounted for.

PAS looks forward to your support in making this a successful day for our children.

SHG
6 December 2018

Last week Executive Council approved a change to the Minimum Income Standard (MIS) that is used to determine the rates for Income Related Benefits (IRB) and Basic Island Pension (BIP).

The following increases were made to Basic Island Pension:

Categories	Old Rate	New Rate
Individuals with 30 or more qualifying years	70.20	71.30
Individuals with less than 30 qualifying years but more than 25 qualifying years	52.65	53.48
Individuals with less than 25 qualifying years but more than 20 qualifying years	35.10	35.65

The following increases were made to Income Related Benefits:

Categories	Old Rate	New Rate
The Applicant	67.90	69.00
For each additional adult in the household	38.90	39.70
For each of the first three children in the household	27.16	27.60
For each additional child thereafter	20.37	20.70

The approved Social Security (Amendment No. 2) Regulations, 2018, came into effect on Friday, 30 November 2018. Payment at these new rates will commence from the week ending 13 December 2018. In recognition of this, payment of the arrears of two weeks will also be made.

In addition to this, Executive Council also agreed that an ex-gratia payment be made to households and individuals in receipt of IRB and BIP that recognises the four week period that has lapsed between the end of October, when Executive Council had previously given a commitment to review IRB and BIP, and the actual date of the uplift.

The arrears and ex-gratia payment will be made to all recipients with their benefit payment for the week ending 13 December.

Letters will be issued to all IRB recipients and to BIP recipients in receipt of another pension, detailing their new adjusted rate. Letters will not be issued to recipients only in receipt of BIP as the uplift is a basic change as detailed in the table above.

Reference to the ex-gratia payment or the arrears in benefit will not be included in the letters. Anyone in receipt of IRB or BIP is advised to check your Remittance Advice that accompanies your benefit payment.

If any member of the community would like further information about eligibility for both BIP and IRB, or the new rates, they can contact the Social Security Office, at the Post Office in Jamestown in person, by appointment, or via tel: 22605.

#StHelena #MIS #BIP #IRB #ExCo

SHG
6 December 2018

The Education & Employment Directorate would like to advise that the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom (CSC) is inviting nominations from St Helena for scholarships tenable from October 2018.

One nomination may be in either of the following categories:

Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship (one year)
Commonwealth PhD Scholarship

And one nomination may be in the following category:

Commonwealth Undergraduate Scholarship

Commonwealth Scholarships are intended to contribute to the development needs of Commonwealth countries by providing training for skilled and qualified professionals and academics and to contribute to UK higher education and foreign policy aims by encouraging collaboration and links.

Intended beneficiaries include academically successful candidates who wish to earn first degrees and high-quality postgraduate students who have the potential to enhance the development of their home countries with the knowledge and leadership skills they acquire.

The CSC aims to identify talented individuals who have the potential to make change and are of the highest academic quality. Scholarships are being offered under six development themes:

Science and technology for development
Strengthening health systems and capacity
Promoting global prosperity
Strengthening global peace, security and governance
Strengthening resilience and response to crises
Access, inclusion and opportunity

The Commission is committed to a policy of equal opportunity and non-discrimination, and encourages applications from a diverse range of candidates. For further information on the support available to candidates with a disability, please see the CSC disability support statement at http://cscuk.dfid.gov.uk/apply/csc-disability-support-statement.

Further information on the Commonwealth Scholarships can be found on the website http://cscuk.dfid.gov.uk/apply/applicants or by emailing robyn.franconi@sainthelena.gov.sh.

Persons interested in a scholarship should write an initial letter of application that identifies the developmental theme they wish to apply under, the type of study that they wish to pursue, their reason for pursuing it, and its relevance to St Helena. In addition to this, the letter should include their professional aspirations and educational background including previous study undertaken and qualifications earned. Initial letters of application should be sent to the Scholarships Awards Committee, through the Secretary, Education Learning Centre, or via email to robyn.franconi@sainthelena.gov.sh by no later than Friday, 14 December 2018.

The Awards Committee is the official nominating body for the Scholarships Award and will decide on a suitable nomination based on the set criteria.

SHG
5 December 2018

The St Helena Sea Rescue Service recently welcomed back to the Island, Training Facilitator of the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), Graeme Harding.

At the outset of the newly formed Sea Rescue Service, in July 2015, Graeme came to the Island to deliver the Initial Sea Rescue Coxswain training to members of the Sea Rescue team. He has now returned to further develop the skills learnt to the current team.

Graeme will deliver training to the Auxiliary Crew, who haven’t yet attained their qualification as Rescue Coxswains, and also to reassess and certify a crew member for a 40 nautical mile Rescue Coxswain license.

During the training period, Graeme will also carry out an audit on the Sea Rescue Service’s procedures to ensure the service is operating to a high professional standard.

Sea Rescue Manager, Simon Wade, said:

“It is a privilege to have Graeme back here with us at Sea Rescue and we look forward to the training in the coming weeks.”

#StHelena #SeaRescueService #Training #NSRI

SHG

4 December 2018

Dr Rushbrook (photo attached) will be taking up his appointment in St Helena on Saturday, 4 May 2019, accompanied by his wife, Janis. He will be the 66^th Governor and the first to arrive by air at St Helena airport to assume his post. As soon as is practicable during 2019, he is also aiming to undertake his first visits to Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha.

On his appointment, Dr Rushbrook said:

“I am honoured and excited to be coming to St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha at this unique period in the islands’ histories. I recognise it is a time of lasting change as well as one of some uncertainty. I look forward to working closely with the governments and communities in St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha to build a confident view of the future for the islands’ inhabitants, to make the most of the economic prospects available, and to safeguard their unique characters and natural beauty.

“On St Helena, I intend to support the government and the island to make the most of the possibilities offered by the airport, an emergent business sector, and the much anticipated arrival of the fibre-optic broadband cable.

“On Ascension I plan to assist the administration in clarifying the island’s future direction, whilst taking a particular interest in getting the runway and infrastructure improvements completed as swiftly as possible.

“On Tristan da Cunha, maintaining international market access post-Brexit for its top-quality fishing, and helping to deliver a Marine Protected Area that ensures livelihoods and protects the unique ecosystem, will both be high on my agenda with the island administration.”

Reflecting on her three years as Governor of St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, Governor Honan added:

“I have really enjoyed my time living on St Helena and dealing with the territories of St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. It has been a life changing experience for me in so many ways, both professionally and personally. And for each of the territories, I have been privileged to see them move forward in different ways and face the inevitable challenges of their remoteness with resolve, pragmatism, and flexibility. I have made some amazing friendships and met some incredibly committed people. I wholeheartedly wish each and every person in the three territories a successful future.”

Councillor Christine Scipio, on behalf of Executive Council, concluded:

“On behalf of St Helena I would like to thank and congratulate Governor Honan for her most distinguished service as Governor of St Helena. We offer her and her husband Dave our affectionate good wishes for a happy but less hectic time in the period ahead.

“It gives me great pleasure to welcome Dr Philip Rushbrook as the new Governor of St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. Myself and my fellow Elected Members look forward to working together to create a community of harmony, prosperity, and progress.”

#StHelena #NewGovernor

SHG
4 December 2018

As part of their Neighborhood Policing Programme, St Helena Police Officers will continue their ‘Beat Surgeries’ in various places around the Island throughout December 2018.

These surgeries are designed to take place in busy areas where it is easier for more people to attend. Members of the public are encouraged to use these surgeries to raise any concerns or issues affecting them, or to report crimes or give information on any offences or offenders. Police will also be available for community engagement, consultation, help and advice.

Please see below the dates, times and venues for December.

Date	Time	Venue
Sunday, 2 December	2pm – 4pm	Francis Plain
Tuesday, 4 December	5pm – 7pm	V2 Paradise, Longwood
Wednesday, 5 December	2pm – 4pm	Blue Hill areas
Wednesday, 5 December	5pm – 7pm	Alarm Forest areas
Friday, 7 December	3pm – 5pm	Sandy Bay Shop
Saturday, 8 December	10am – 12pm	The Canister, Jamestown
Monday, 10 December	11am – 1pm	Half Tree Hollow Supermarket
Monday, 10 December	5pm – 7pm	Longwood Avenue / Longwood Police Post
Tuesday, 11 December	2pm – 4pm	Rupert’s Valley
Wednesday, 12 December	10am – 12pm	General Hospital
Friday, 14 December	3pm – 5pm	Phillip Johns Shop, St Pauls
Saturday, 15 December	4pm – 6pm	Silver Hill Shop, Levelwood

#StHelena #StHelenaPolice #CommunityEngagement #NeighbourhoodPolicing