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The Inauguration Ceremony for Governor Designate Ms Belinda Lewis will be held on Saturday, 12 September 2026 at 14:00 on the Supreme Court Terrace, Jamestown.
Uniformed contingents will parade from the Canister to take up their positions on the Grand Parade at approximately 13:50 where the Combined Brass Band will provide music for the event.
Following the reading of the Royal Commission appointing Ms Lewis as Governor of St Helena, Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha by Chief Secretary Mr Ian Todd, OBE, the Oaths of Office will be administered by the Sheriff of St Helena, Mrs Ethel Yon, OBE.
Welcome addresses will be read by the Sheriff of St Helena and the Hon Chief Minister, Dr Rebecca Cairns-Wicks MBE, to which Ms Lewis will respond before inspecting the Parade accompanied by her Aide de Camp and the Parade Commander. The Rt Rev the Lord Bishop of St Helena, Dale Bowers MBE, will then give a Prayer and a Blessing before the Parade Commander requests permission to march off parade. Contingents will then march past to enable Her Excellency to receive the salute.
Following the ceremony, Her Excellency accompanied by her husband, Major Anthony Galvin (USMC Retd.), will proceed to the Court House where they will be able to greet members of the Legislative Council, officials, dignitaries and members of the public.
#StHelena #Governor #InaugurationCeremony
SHG
02 September 2026
The public are advised that temporary parking and road closures will be in place for the inauguration of Governor-designate Ms Belinda Lewis. The Highways Authority has given approval for these arrangements.
From 06:00 on Monday, 7 September 2026, six parking spaces outside Supreme court Terrace will be closed to allow a stage to be installed. All vehicles must be removed beforehand.
From 06:00 on Saturday, 12 September 2026, the remaining parking spaces between the Public Library and the Public Works Department entrance will also close as preparations continue. The road form the Canister to the Seafront will then close between 13:30 and 15:00 to allow uniformed contingents to participate in the ceremony.
The public are thanked for their cooperation.
The Roads Section wishes to advise the public that the Maldivia Car Park, located near the hospital, will need to be cleared of all vehicles tomorrow, Wednesday, 2 September 2026, from 07:00 to 11:00.
The temporary closure is required to allow the Roads Section to carry out cleaning and preparations for the demarcation and reinstatement of the white parking lines.
Parking may resume shortly after the works have been completed in the relevant sections.
Members of the public are kindly asked to remove their vehicles before 7:00 am and to follow any instructions provided by the Roads Section while the works are underway.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank the public for their cooperation.
The public are advised that a period of strong winds is forecast to affect St Helena from 06:00 UTC on Saturday 29 August 2026 until 12:00 UTC on Sunday 30 August 2026.
Winds are expected to be South-Easterly, with upper winds of 28-31 knots during the warning period. Surface winds are expected to have mean speeds of 15-20 knots, with gusts of 25-32 knots widely. There is also an isolated risk of gusts reaching around 40 knots, particularly in exposed locations with moderate to heavy showers that may affect St Helena during this period.
Care should be taken when walking or hiking, particularly in exposed areas. Residents are advised to secure any loose items that could be blown away, such as wheelie bins and outdoor equipment.
Boat owners should ensure that vessels are securely tied to their moorings. Motorists are advised to exercise caution when driving, particularly on exposed roads and routes prone to strong crosswinds. Motorists should also remain alerts for loose debris on roads.
There is a possibility that the strong winds may continue, this will be monitored by the Emergency Planning Department and the Met Office with further updates issued as necessary.
The public are advised that a period of strong winds is forecast to affect St Helena from 06:00 UTC on Saturday 29 August 2026 until 09:00 UTC on Sunday 30 August 2026.
Winds are expected to be South-Easterly, with upper winds of 28-31 knots during the warning period. Surface winds are expected to have mean speeds of 15-20 knots, with gusts of 25-32 knots widely. There is also an isolated risk of gusts reaching around 40 knots, particularly in exposed locations with moderate to heavy showers that may affect St Helena during this period.
Care should be taken when walking or hiking, particularly in exposed areas. Residents are advised to secure any loose items that could be blown away, such as wheelie bins and outdoor equipment.
Boat owners should ensure that vessels are securely tied to their moorings. Motorists are advised to exercise caution when driving, particularly on exposed roads and routes prone to strong crosswinds. Motorists should also remain alerts for loose debris on roads.
There is a possibility that the strong winds may continue, this will be monitored by the Emergency Planning Department and the Met Office with further updates issued as necessary.
The Tennis Court at Ladder Hill will be closed to the public from 1 September 2026 to 18 October 2026 to allow restoration works to take place.
The works will focus on enhancing the tennis court to improve the condition and safety of the facility.
We thank you for your continued cooperation and apologise for any inconvenience caused during this period.
The public are reminded that the New Prison development site at Bottom Woods is inaccessible and should not be entered, as it remains an active construction site with restricted access for safety reasons.
We are aware that some members of the public have been visiting the area, including by motorbike. We kindly ask everyone to avoid the new access road and main site, regardless of the mode of transport. The area presents several hazards, including uneven ground, construction machinery, and ongoing site activities. Unauthorised access could also cause ecological harm and damage to the excavated area, potentially increasing project costs and extending the construction timeline.
The contractor has installed barriers and signage, and the Royal Saint Helena Police will be carrying out periodic out-of-hours monitoring of the site.
The public are thanked for their cooperation during this time.
The public are advised that the Immigration (Amendment) Ordinance 2026 was passed by Formal Legco on 17 July 2026 and was approved by the Governor on 3 August 2026.
This follows the revocation of the previous Immigration (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 in September 2025.
Why Was the Previous Version revoked?
The Immigration (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 was passed in April 2025 but its commencement was revoked in September 2025 due to errors in the drafting which would have brought about unintended consequences should the ordinance have come into force. .
What the New Amendment Means for Our Community
- Streamlined Work and Stay Permits for Local Businesses and Workers: The separate long-term entry permit, work permit, and immigrant employment certificate have been combined into a single, unified Permission to Stay and Work Permit (valid for up to 5 years). This simplifies hiring for local businesses and speeds up turnaround times for workers.
- Clearer “Holiday Permits” for Visitors: The traditional short-term entry permit is now designated as a Holiday Permit. Valid for up to 183 days (and extendable up to 365 days), it allows visitors to enjoy extended stays. To support local community initiatives, Holiday Permit holders may also undertake up to 30 days of voluntary work for registered local charities or non-profit organisations.
- Flexible Discretionary Leave: An Immigration Officer can now grant Discretionary Leave in emergency situations, during unexpected travel delays, or for short-term essential work (such as visiting medical specialists or key technical contractors).
- Faster Administrative Reviews: Responsibility for processing applications and status determinations is centralised under the Chief Immigration Officer, supported by a structured administrative review process to resolve queries quickly without unnecessary delay.
- Clear Protections for Existing Permit Holders: All existing permits, work permissions, and legal rights granted prior to this Ordinance remain fully valid for their remaining duration. Current permit holders do not need to take immediate action.
Next Steps and Implementation
The Ordinance will come into effect on a date fixed by the Governor by Order. Ahead of implementation, the St Helena Immigration department will share key information and host public awareness sessions to walk community members and local businesses through the new processes.
#StHelena #ImmigrationUpdate #ImmigrationOrdinance
SHG
25 August 2026
St Helena Secondary School is celebrating an impressive set of public examination results, with students achieving strong outcomes across a wide range of qualifications and demonstrating the breadth of talent, hard work and determination within this year’s cohort.
This year, students achieved qualifications across a broad range of subjects and levels, including Entry Level, Level 1, Level 2 (GCSE), and Level 3 (A Level) stages. The results also represent a positive step forward from the previous year, with the proportion of students achieving the school’s key measure (five or more subjects at grade 4/C or above, including English and Mathematics) increasing from 29% in 2025 to 56% this year, an increase of 27 percentage.
We are thrilled to celebrate several other significant achievements:
- 91% of girls achieved a Level 2 qualification in English (equivalent to grades A*-C or 9-4)
- 76.5% of students achieved Level 2 qualification in English (equivalent to grades A*-C or 9-4)
- 59% of all students secured a Level 2 qualification in both English and Mathematics, a 22% increase on last year.
- 73% of all assessments undertaken achieved Level 2, a 23% increase on last year.
- The English result compares particularly well with the latest National Reference Test benchmark for England. In 2025, 67% of students were estimated to achieve grade 4 or above in GCSE English Language
Headteacher Phil Toal commented:
“I am incredibly proud of the achievements of our students this year. These results represent much more than numbers on a page. Behind each result are individual stories of perseverance, progress and achievement. Examination results measure only one part of a young person’s journey, I am proud of students who achieved top grades, met or exceeded their targets, made significant progress, or overcame personal challenges to complete their studies.
I would like to thank our teachers and support staff for the dedication, expertise and care they have shown throughout the year. Their commitment to helping every student achieve their potential is at the heart of these results.
I would also like to thank our families for the encouragement and support they have given our young people. Success in examinations is a team effort, and these results belong to the whole St Helena community.
Most importantly, I want to congratulate our students. Whether you achieved the grades you were hoping for, exceeded your expectations, or simply persevered through difficult circumstances, you should be proud of what you have accomplished.
Today marks an important milestone, but it is not the destination. I look forward to seeing our students take the next steps in their education, employment and wider lives with confidence, ambition and determination.”
#StHelena #StHelenaSecondarySchool #ExamResults
The public are advised that strong winds are forecast to affect St Helena from 12:00 UTC on Saturday 22nd August 2026.
Winds are expected to be SE, with mean speeds of 10–20 KT, gusting 20–30 KT widely, with an isolated risk of 40 KT gusts in prone locations throughout the period. There is an increased risk of 40–45 KT gusts (gale force winds) from around 18:00 UTC, when the upper winds are expected to be at their strongest.
The highest risk period is expected between
18:00 UTC on Saturday and 06:00 UTC on Sunday, when the strongest winds are forecast. Winds will gradually begin to ease between 06:00 UTC and 09:00 UTC on Sunday 23rd August.
Care should be taken when walking or hiking, particularly in exposed areas. Residents are advised to secure any loose items that could be blown away, such as wheelie bins and outdoor equipment. Boat owners should ensure vessels are securely tied to their moorings.
Motorists are advised to take caution when driving, particularly on exposed roads and routes prone to strong crosswinds, and to remain alert for loose debris on roads.
The Emergency Planning Department and Met Office will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide further updates as necessary.