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The public are advised that Safety Security & Home Affairs (SS&HA) Head Quarters at The Wharf, Jamestown will be closed on Monday 23 March 2026 from 12:00, to allow electrical works being carried out.
Normal business will resume on Tuesday 24 March from 08:30.
SS&HA staff would like to thank the public for their understanding and apologises for any inconvenience caused.
Reports have been received of rocks falling between Coal Yard and Needle’s Eye at the Jamestown Landing Steps. While the area remains accessible, swimmers are advised to enter the water at their own risk.
Safety Advice:
- Stay Vigilant: Please remain alert to your surroundings and watch for any further rock movement whilst in the area.
- Report Incidents: If you witness any further falls, please report them immediately to the Joint Emergency Services Control Centre (JESCC) by calling 22626 or 999.
A further assessment will be conducted next week.
HE Governor Nigel Phillips CBE has today announced, on behalf of Executive Council, an independent investigation into the causes of the St Helena Airport closure to commercial air services between 5 and 17 February 2026.
Intended to establish the root cause and learn lessons to prevent future recurrence, a selection exercise will be taken forward to identify a suitable, independent contractor to undertake the investigation. This will also determine the cost of the investigation. The contracting will be taken forward by St Helena Government.
The investigation will focus on understanding why all three fire tenders developed similar faults within a matter of weeks of each other. It is for investigators to decide who they wish to talk to and what they wish to examine but it is likely that they will want to review commissioning, usage, servicing and maintenance, consumables and other areas to build a comprehensive understanding.
It is important that we keep the scope proportionate and relevant, with a view to learning lessons before the delivery and commissioning of our new airport fire tenders, later in the year.
We are grateful to St Helena Airport Limited and other partners for their co-operation in this matter.
Once complete, we will consider the findings of the investigation before deciding if further work is necessary. A summary of the findings will be made public, ensuring transparency.
A further update will be issued once an investigator has been appointed and the timescales for reporting better understood.
Further to the previous public announcement regarding the lighting replacement works on Jacob’s Ladder, the project is now moving into its next stage. To safely accommodate the next phase of work, the entire length of Jacob’s Ladder will be closed from 20 March until further notice. Safety signage will be in place at all access points.
The public are kindly requested to follow all safety instructions and avoid entering any restricted areas.
The public are thanked for their cooperation.
SHG
18 March 2026
The MV Karoline is scheduled to arrive at James Bay on Thursday, 19 March at 18:00. Weather permitting, the vessel will berth alongside Rupert’s Jetty at first light on Friday 20 March.
During this time, Rupert’s Cargo Management Facility, the beach, the Jetty, and Rupert’s Bay will be placed under Access Level 3, meaning these areas will be restricted to authorised personnel only.
Access will remain restricted until all cargo operations are completed and the vessel has departed.
Once the vessel leaves, access will be reduced to Level 2, at which point only the Cargo Management Facility will remain restricted during normal working hours (08:00–17:00).
The beach, Jetty, and Rupert’s Bay will reopen to the public and may be accessed via the public walkway beginning at Liberation House or via the Ferry Service (charges apply).
After working hours, the Access Level reduces to Level 1, whereby vehicular access is allowed through the Facility.
St Helena Port Control thanks the public for their cooperation and understanding.
SHG
17 March 2026
Please note that flight operations today, 16 March 2026, will cause disruptions to normal Customs and Immigration services.
The public are thanked for their patience and understanding.
SHG
16 March 2026
The public are advised that the Highways Authority has approved the temporary closure of Shy Road from today, Monday, 16 March, to Monday, 23 March 2026 from 09:00 – 15:00.
This closure is required to allow the Roads Section to rebuild a section of retaining wall that was damaged in a road traffic collision (RTC)
During this period, access will be restricted to Emergency Services only.
The Roads Section thanks the public in advance for their cooperation and understanding.
SHG
16 March 2026
An Executive Council in Planning Meeting will be held on Tuesday, 17 March 2026 at 11:00 in the Council Chamber, The Castle.
The agenda includes the following Development Applications for consideration:
Development Application – Retention of a covered area at the Mule Yard Jamestown (ECIP Memo 01/2026)
Publicity/Briefings to the Press
Development Application – Installation of Fence at St Helena Coffee Shop, Jamestown (ECIP Memo 02/2026)
Publicity/Briefings to the Press
Development Application – Installation of Security Fencing and Crash Barrier at Wastewater Treatment Plant, Ruperts Valley (ECIP Memo 03/2026)
4.1 Publicity/Briefings to the Press
Documentation for this meeting is available on the Executive Council page of the St Helena Government website via: https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/st-helena/government/executive-council/
Members of the public who would like to view hard copies of the documents should contact the Secretary to Executive Council, Natasha Bargo, at the Castle on 22470 or via email at natasha.bargo@sainthelena.gov.sh.
Executive Council sitting as the Planning Authority comprises Governor Nigel Phillips as Chair, Chief Minister, Dr Rebecca Cairns-Wicks and Ministers Gillian Brooks, Martin Henry, Andrew Turner and Karl Thrower. The Attorney General is a non-voting member of Executive Council.
#StHelena #ExecutiveCouncil #PlanningProposals
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SHG
16 March 2026
For the first time in 14 years, the Government is proposing an increase to the Personal Tax-Free Allowance (PTFA). Since its introduction in 2012, the allowance has remained frozen at £7,000, even as the cost of living has steadily risen year on year. When tax allowances stay frozen while prices increase, your spending power is eroded.
Our policy intention is to limit the impact of cost-of-living increases. We know this change is not as much as many people had hoped for.
How We Got to £7,150
Inflation in the last quarter of 2025 was 2.2%. To prevent further erosion of living standards, the Government has proposed raising the PTFA from £7,000 to £7,150; a modest but meaningful increase aligned with inflation. This uplift is not a short-term “perk”; it is a correction to ensure the real value of the tax allowance is maintained. It also signals a significant shift in approach: instead of allowing thresholds to stagnate for a decade.
Why Not £7,500 or £10,000?
Government explored more than 20 models, including increases to £7,500 and £10,000. But choices must be affordable.
Financial impacts in 2026/27:
- £7,000 → £7,150: £90,000
- £7,000 → £7,500: £290,000
- £7,000 → £10,000: £1,530,000
Increasing to £7,500 immediately would require cutting essential services like public transport or abandoning new initiatives like the planned child benefit scheme.
Increasing to £10,000 would be unaffordable without significant reductions to frontline services, something this Government refuses to do.
Why £7,150 is the Responsible Choice?
The proposed increase:
- protects households against inflation
- is affordable without cuts to health, education or social support
- sets the foundation for annual adjustments, not once-a-decade jumps
- allows Government to proceed with wider reforms supporting working families
This is part of a balanced cost-of-living package, not a one-off measure.
How the Personal Allowance Fits with Other Measures
Government is developing multiple measures designed to support those most affected by rising costs of which the tax-free allowance increase is a small part.
1. Personal Tax-Free Allowance Increase
Keeps more income in the pockets of working people, particularly those on low or middle wages.
2. Proposed Minimum Wage Increase
Minimum wage has been reviewed for 2026. The Employment Rights Committee recommendation is a rise of 35p per hour, bringing the minimum wage to £4.85. This delivers immediate, direct benefits as listed in the table below:
| Scenario | Benefit |
| Adult on minimum wage (40 hrs/week) | £577.72 |
| 2 adults on minimum wage | £1,155.44 |
| Part-time worker (20 hrs/week) | £364 |
These increases alone will meaningfully improve disposable income for the lowest‑paid.
3. Child Benefit Scheme
Government is working on the introduction of a Child Credit / Child Benefit Scheme during the next financial year. While figures cannot yet be published, the intention is to provide substantial, recurring support for young families.
This is key to Government’s wider demographic strategy: Supporting young families today strengthens St Helena’s future tomorrow.
4. Will the workload to do this cost more than the increase?
No. The proposed uplift is a simple numerical change, not a restructure of the tax system. It is intentionally modest to avoid additional administrative complexity or staffing demands within both the public and private sector.
5. Why This Matters for St Helena’s Future?
This is about more than tax thresholds. It is about:
- making sure work pays
- giving families breathing room
- keeping young people on island
- addressing St Helena’s ageing demographic
- strengthening the workforce of the future
By protecting income, supporting families and ensuring stable public finances, Government is building a fairer and more sustainable St Helena.
This package is designed for:
- working people
- young families
- low-income earners
- those struggling with rising prices
#StHelena #IncomeTax
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On 27 January 2026, Executive Council approved an amendment to the Registered Land Rules 1981, to increase fees for Land Registry Services, including the registration of interests in land, land surveys and other services as provided under the Registered Land Ordinance 1980.
Land Registry fees were last reviewed and updated on 1 November 2020 and have remained unchanged until now. The increase is necessary to align fees with the cost of delivering these services, ensure the long-term viability of Land Registry, and support the timely delivery of land registry processes.
The revised fees will come into effect on 1 April 2026.
The schedule below outlines the upcoming fee changes:
| Fee No. | Description | Revised Fee |
| 1 | On application for the registration of: | |
| A transfer (of a freehold, leasehold or charge) for each parcel affected | £40.00 | |
| A lease or sub-lease or easement for each parcel affected | £30.00 | |
| A mortgage or charge— If presented at the same time as an instrument to which fee 1(a) or 1(b) appliesIn every other case, the same fee as would apply on an application to register a transfer of the land or lease comprised in the charge | £12.00 | |
| A caution or restriction | £25.00 | |
| Discharge and removal or a charge or caution | Nil | |
| Other instrument (including power of attorney presented under section 114) | £12.00 | |
| 2 | On filing any instrument, otherwise than for the purpose of registration | Nil |
| 3 | On the issue of a Land certificate: | |
| If issued in consequence of registration of an instrument for which a fee in item 1(a) or 1(b) applies | Nil | |
| In every other case | £18.00 | |
| 4 | Upon opening a new register in consequence of subdivision, partition or combination – for each new register: (Payable in addition to survey fees in item 8) | £6.00 |
| 5 | On application to inspect a register or filed instrument or plan or registry map: | |
| First document | £4.00 | |
| Each additional document inspected | £3.00 | |
| 6 | On application for an official search | £6.00 |
| 7 | On application for a certified copy of the register, filed instrument, plan or map: | |
| First page | £4.00 | |
| Each additional page | £3.00 | |
| 8 | On an application for subdivision, reparcellation or fixing a boundary, or any other application necessitating a survey (in addition to any other fee): | |
| Standard service (within 90 days): For each hour (or part thereof) of survey work within the Standard service: Trainee surveyor Surveyor Senior Surveyor GIS Manager Crown Estates Officer | £6.00 £10.00 £13.00 £17.00 £17.00 | |
| Premium service (within 21 days): Standard hourly fees in item 8(a) will be doubled | ||
| Economy service (within 180 days): Standard hourly fees in item 8(a) will be reduced by one third | ||
| For each beacon, post, or other boundary marker placed by the survey officers in the course of such survey | £3.00 | |
| 9 | Miscellaneous applications to the Registrar: | |
| For rectification of the Register | £18.00 | |
| For partition or sale of land owned in common | £30.00 | |
| For registration as proprietor of land, or of an easement or profit, by prescription | £25.00 | |
| 10 | For any matter or thing for which no provision is specifically made in this Schedule | £30.00 |
Land Registry
Economic Development Portfolio
12 March 2026