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The public are advised that the Health and Social Care Directorate have received several reports of minor health issues following the consumption of fish products.
Patients have reported facial flushing, headaches and diarrhoea within 10-60 minutes of eating tuna mince. The likely cause is scombroid (histamine) fish poisoning that can result from certain types of fish being incorrectly held at warm temperatures after capture, during subsequent handling, storage, retail or home preparation.
This condition is not life-threatening and usually settles on its own within 4-6 hours. Taking oral antihistamines can help to alleviate symptoms.
Environmental and public health professionals are actively investigating this issue and working with the industry to identify the source and prevent further cases.
In the meantime, the public are requested to:
- Avoid consuming products or meals containing tuna mince until further notice
- Seek immediate medical care if developing difficulty breathing, blurred vision, tongue swelling or fainting episodes after eating tuna
- Report any adverse reactions after eating tuna (including in the past 3 months) to the environmental health office at eh.office@sainthelena.gov.sh.
Please retain any tuna mince products and await further advice on how these can be disposed of or returned. Further updates on the affected batches will be provided as the investigation progresses.
The public are advised that a series of Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccination clinics will be held across the island over the coming weeks.
The following dates and times have been scheduled for those who have registered with the Health Promotion team and for walk-in appointments:
| Week 1 | ||
| Tuesday 21 April | 10:00 – 15:00 | For anyone travelling overseas within the next 2 months. Jamestown Outpatient Clinic |
| Thursday 23 April | 14:00 – 16:00 | Jamestown Community Centre |
| Friday 24 April | 10:00 – 15:00 | Jamestown Community Centre |
| Week 2 | ||
| Monday 27 April | 11:00 – 15:00 | Longwood – Harford Community Centre |
| Tuesday 28 April | 10:30 – 12:30 | Levelwood Clinic |
| Tuesday 28 April | 14:00 – 16:00 | Sandy Bay Community Centre |
| Wednesday 29 April | 10:00 – 15:00 | HTH – Community Care Complex |
| Thursday 30 April | 10:30 – 15:00 | Jamestown Community Centre |
| Week 3 | ||
| Monday 4 May | 10:00 – 14:00 | Kingshurst Community Centre |
| Tuesday 5 May | 10:00 – 12:00 | Bluehill Community Centre |
| Tuesday 5 May | 14:00 – 16:00 | Guinea Grass Community Centre |
Residents are encouraged to attend the clinic most convenient to them.
For individuals who are housebound and unable to attend any of the above sessions, arrangements can be made for a home visit by a nurse. Please contact the Health Promotion team on 25949 to register your request.
The Roads Section plans to carry out resurfacing works on W-road from Monday, 20 April to Friday, 8 May.
To facilitate these works, weekday road closures will be in place from 09:00 to 15:00. The programme includes a combination of road cleaning, preparation, and slurry surfacing works.
Appropriate road signage and traffic control personnel will be in place throughout the works. Emergency Services and public transport may be affected.
The Roads Section apologises for any inconvenience caused and thanks the public for their understanding.
The St Helena Secondary School will be hosting their annual Swimming Gala at the Jamestown Swimming Pool on Friday, 17 April 2026.
All parents, carers, and members of the public are invited to attend. However, space within the pool complex is limited, and priority will be given to parents/carers. Those attending are also reminded that there is limited seating and shade.
The Gala will start at approximately 9:30 and will end at approximately 14:00.
As this is a school event, we would appreciate if all spectators could adhere to the following conditions in the interests of the safety of our students:
•No animals will be allowed at this event
•Only the appointed marshals, helpers, and School Team Leaders will be allowed around the edge of the pool.
•There will be school appointed photographers for the day. No photos are to be taken during this event by spectators. However, in the interest of safeguarding others, parents/carers may take photos of their own child/children.
•No alcohol is allowed anywhere on the premises
•Smoking is restricted at the pool for this event. Persons wishing to smoke must do so outside of the pool area, and away from all pupils.
•All litter is to be put into the bins provided.
Please note, if parents/carers wish to transport their children home after the event they are asked to ensure that they send in a note, or see a staff member on the day so that all children can be accounted for.
We look forward to your support in making this a successful day for our children.
The public are advised that crane lifting services at Jamestown Wharf and Rupert’s Jetty will be unavailable from 20 to 26 April due to staff unavailability. .
During this period, emergency lifting only will be undertaken. Members of the public are therefore requested to plan any activities and vessel maintenance accordingly.
St Helena Port Control thanks the public for their cooperation and understanding.
Executive Council has today approved amendments to the Civil Litigation (Costs) Ordinance 2025 to be taken forward as Government business. The proposed amendments are intended to strengthen fairness and improve access to justice. They will now be published for public consultation before being brought to the Legislative Council for consideration and approval. The current ordinance, scrutinised by all parties in the Judicial Review proceedings, based on legal advice, will clarify the circumstances under which After-the-Event (ATE) Insurance can be recovered and ensure our legislation meets the original intention of the Civil Litigation Costs Ordinance.
A key element of the proposal is the introduction of provisions relating to ATE insurance. These changes would allow the courts to include some or all of the cost of ATE insurance premiums in cost awards for medical negligence and personal injury claims. This is intended to reduce the financial risk for individuals pursuing legitimate claims and ensure that access to justice is not limited by personal financial circumstances.
Alongside this, the Civil Litigation (Costs) Notice 2026 has been amended to provide greater clarity and transparency around recoverable legal costs. It sets out when the cost of initial legal advice may be recovered, helping individuals better understand their position from the outset. The proposals also ensure that legal cost rates remain fair, consistent, and up to date. Solicitor rates would align with the England and Wales guideline hourly rates for “National Band 1”, allowing them to adjust over time without the need for frequent revisions.
Importantly, linking St Helena’s rates to those used in England and Wales represents a significant step forward. It ensures that the island’s legal framework remains aligned with recognised and well-established standards, providing confidence to both local residents and external legal professionals. This approach also helps future-proof the system, ensuring that it keeps pace with changes elsewhere while still being applied in a way that reflects St Helena’s local context.
The use of “National Band 1” is considered appropriate for St Helena as it reflects rates typically applied to all of England and Wales, except for parts of central London. Barristers would be paid at the highest rate.
Theproposed amendments approved by Executive Council will be published and open for public consultation prior to the next Legislative Council meeting. Following consultation, they will be brought before the Legislative Council for consideration and approval.
Note to Editors
After the Event (ATE) insurance is a type of insurance used in legal cases, similar to a Conditional Fee Agreement (or “No Win – No Fee” Agreement). It is taken out after a dispute has already arisen, not before. It is insurance that protects claimants from having to pay large legal costs (for example in expert fees) if the claimant loses the case.
#StHelena #CivilLitigation #CostsOrdinance
The cruise ship MV Amera will arrive in St Helena on Tuesday morning, 14 April 2026. There are approximately 684 passengers on-board.
There are no pre-arranged bus tours booked for this visit so guests will likely book freelance taxis and tour operators on the day.
It is expected that passengers will carry the following currencies: GBP, US Dollars and Euros. Currency rate of exchange information is available form the Bank of St Helena and the Tourist Office.
The predominant nationality of passengers on-board, is German.
Temporary One-way Traffic System
The public are advised that a temporary one-way system will be in place in the direction of Gordons Post to Hutts Gate along Tomb Road on Tuesday, 14 April 2026, from 09:00 to 15:00.
Traffic wishing to travel in the opposite direction will be diverted from Hutts Gate to Gordons Post via The Dungeon, as per the map below:
The one-way system has been put in place to safely manage traffic and ease congestion, given the anticipated increase in vehicle volumes due to the visit of the MV Amera cruise ship. This is the same process as has been put in place in previous years, and for the last cruise ship visit, and is likely to also be a feature during future cruise ship visits.
The Highways Authority has given approval for the road between Hutts Gate Junction and the Dungeon Cemetery Junction to be closed on Wednesday, 15 April from 09:00 to 15:00, to allow masons to replace an existing underground land drain near Vaughans.
Emergency Services will be permitted to pass through at all times.
The Roads Section thanks the public for their continued support and cooperation during this time,
SHG
10 April 2026
The public are advised that the Jamestown Wharf will be closed to all members of the public from 06:00 on Tuesday, 14 April 2026, due to the arrival of the cruise ship MV Amera.
The Jamestown Wharf will remain closed until the vessel has departed.
Access to the Jamestown Wharf will be strictly prohibited and will be limited only to those who have made prior arrangements with Port Control.
Boat owners are further advised that no maintenance works will be permitted on the Wharf during this period.
Port Control thanks the public for their cooperation during this time.
The MV Karoline is scheduled to arrive at James Bay on Friday, 10 April at 22:00 hours. Weather permitting, the vessel will berth alongside Rupert’s Jetty at first light on Saturday 11 April.
During this time, Rupert’s Cargo Management Facility, the beach, Jetty, and Rupert’s Bay will be under Security 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, Security will reduce to Access Level 2, at which point only the Cargo Management Facility will remain restricted during normal working hours (09:00–17:00 ).
The beach, Jetty, and Rupert’s Bay will reopen to the public and can be accessed via the public walkway beginning at Liberation House or via the Ferry Service (charges apply).
After working hours, the Security 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.