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St Helena Government (SHG), in conjunction with the St Helena National Trust (SHNT), would like to advise the public of an upcoming trial being undertaken by WindBorne Systems.
WindBorne Systems is expanding its global weather balloon constellation into the South Atlantic and has selected High Knoll Fort as the location for a new trial launch site. Situated approximately halfway between South America and Africa, St Helena occupies a strategically important location in a region where upper-air weather observations have historically been extremely limited. Weather balloon launches from the island will help close one of the last major gaps in global atmospheric data coverage, contributing to improved weather forecasting across the southern hemisphere and the tropical Atlantic.
Should the trial prove successful, WindBorne Systems intends to establish a permanent launch site on St Helena. In addition to strengthening global weather forecasting capabilities, a permanent presence on the island would create opportunities for part-time employment and ongoing site maintenance.
The trial programme will involve the launch of two to three weather balloons per day from Thursday 25 June to Friday 3 July, between 10:00 and 13:00. Members of the public are welcome to observe the daily launches from High Knoll Fort.
WindBorne representatives will also be delivering a public presentation next week, providing an overview of the company, its operations, and the objectives of the St Helena trial. Further details regarding the presentation will be announced shortly.
Members of the public seeking further information are invited to contact the Trade and Investment Team via email at invest@sainthelena.gov.sh or Mike Ormrod, Head of Trade and Investment on telephone +290 22470.
Notes to Editors
WindBorne Systems operates the world’s largest constellation of weather balloons and collects more in-situ atmospheric observations than any single governmental weather agency. With approximately 600 balloons airborne at any given time, accumulating around 14,400 flight hours each day, atmospheric data collected is used to train and power advanced forecasting models capable of predicting weather conditions across the globe, including kilometre-scale forecasts over the continental United States. These forecasts are refreshed hourly and can project weather patterns up to 15 days in advance.
The company is also committed to environmental sustainability and operates as a plastic-negative organisation.
#StHelena #Trail #WeatherBalloonLaunch
Members of the public who still need to receive their first Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccination, or who are due for their second dose, are encouraged to attend one of the below clinic sessions.
These clinics represent the last opportunity for anyone yet to receive their first dose to complete the two-dose MMR vaccination schedule. This is because the stock of vaccines received for this campaign expire in September 2026 and the two doses must be given at least 28 days apart.
| District | Date | Time |
| Longwood (Harford Community Centre) | Monday 6 July | 10:00 – 11:00 |
| Levelwood (Clinic) | Monday 6 July | 12:00 – 13:30 |
| HTH (Community Care Complex – CCC) | Wednesday 8 July | 10:00 – 11:30 |
| Jamestown Community Centre | Thursday 9 July | 10:00 – 11:30 |
These clinics will be repeated in August to allow completion of the two-dose schedule.
Important reminder: If attending for your second MMR vaccination, please ensure that at least 28 days have passed since your first vaccination.
Members of the public are encouraged to attend the session most convenient for them. Please bring a list of your current medications.
Vaccination is an important step in protecting yourself and helping to safeguard the wider community.
For individuals who are housebound and unable to attend any of the scheduled sessions, home visits can be arranged with a nurse. Please contact the Health Promotion Team on 25949 to register your request.
Anyone passing by the former Harford Primary School recently will have noticed a significant increase in activity on-site. The Programme Management Office (PMO) is pleased to share a closer look at these developments as essential enabling works conclude, paving the way for the school’s transformation into a vibrant, age-specific learning environment.
This foundational phase prepares the site for future redesign works that will convert the existing Harford School into a positive, tailored learning space specifically designed for Key Stage 1 (KS1) and the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
Key Achievements to Date:
- Internal and External Strip-Out: Teams successfully cleared the building’s interior, removing legacy wiring, wall and floor coverings, skirting, plumbing, and old toilet systems. Demonstrating a strong commitment to sustainability, 70% of these materials have been recycled.
- Southern Area Excavation: Extensive earthworks were completed in the southern area to develop an accessible EYFS playground. The new design directly connects internal learning spaces to dedicated outdoor play areas while flooding the rear of the school with natural light.
- Utility Diversions: Private sewer lines were completely redirected outside of the school grounds to secure and modernize the site’s utility infrastructure.
The PMO extends its thanks to Clint Contractors and CSH for their hard work on-site, which has ensured the area is safe, cleared, and fully prepared for the next phase.
The project has now officially entered the procurement and tendering stage for the main contractor. Further updates will be shared once the contract is awarded.
This project forms part of the UK Government (UKG) funded Economic Development Investment Programme (EDIP).
Photos
Some of the works to date include removal of legacy wiring, wall and floor coverings and skirting
Extensive earthworks completed in the southern area to develop an accessible EYFS playground.
#StHelena #PrimaryReorganisationProject #ProjectManagementWorks
St Helena Government would like to advise the public that all roadworks in Longwood have now been completed.
As a result, the Route 1 Bottom Woods departure time will revert to 09:10, Monday to Saturday, as per the public transport schedule.
The public are thanked for their continued support.
The Royal St Helena Police Service (RSHP) is urging residents to exercise a high degree of caution following a recent increase in local reports regarding hacking and phone mirroring.
In these incidents, scammers attempt to gain unauthorised access to personal devices and accounts, often pretending to be someone you know.
To safeguard your personal data and digital identity, the RSHP strongly advises taking the following protective measures:
- Verify Friend Requests: Do not accept social media friend requests (such as on Facebook, Snapchat, or Instagram) from individuals you do not know.
- Double-Check Familiar Faces: If you receive a friend request from someone you believe you are already connected with, verify their identity through an independent channel. Call them on a known, trusted phone number. Never use contact details provided by the new account to verify their identity.
- Be Sceptical of Links: Avoid clicking on any links sent via text, email, or social media messaging unless you are entirely confident the source and the website are legitimate.
- Preserve Evidence: If you suspect you have been targeted, please retain all relevant chat histories, messages, and screenshots on your device. These digital records are vital for police investigations.
- Block and Report: If an online interaction feels unsafe or suspicious, block the user immediately.
How to Report
Please report any suspicious digital behaviour, particularly on platforms like WhatsApp or Snapchat, to the police at the earliest opportunity.
Your proactive reporting helps protect the wider community. For assistance or to lodge a report, please contact the Police Station directly on 22626.
The Marine Enforcement Section wishes to advise all fishers that a temporary ban on lobster fishing will come into effect on Tuesday 23 June 2026 and will run until Friday 31 December 2026.
This ban is being put in place as the annual catch limits for both the Brown Spiny Lobster and Stump Lobster have now been reached across all fishing sectors.
The catch limits were established using scientific research undertaken through the Darwin Lobster Project (2018–2021), which significantly improved our understanding of our Lobster population status around the island (where they occur, how they live, and how abundant they are). A precautionary approach is applied when establishing catch limits to ensure that sufficient breeding stock remains in the sea to keep St Helenas lobster populations healthy and sustainable for the future.
Fishing Control Notice
- The landing or retention of the following species within St Helena’s fisheries limits is prohibited during the period commencing Tuesday 23 June 2026 and ending Friday 31 December 2026:
- Brown Spiny Lobster (Panulirus Echinatus)
- Stump Lobster (Scyllarides Obtusus)
- Any Brown Spiny Lobster or Stump Lobster caught as bycatch during this period must be returned immediately to the sea and any bycatch so returned will not be considered to have been caught in breach of this notice.
Penalties
Please note that breaking a Fishing Control Notice is a serious offence under section 72(2) of the Fisheries Ordinance, 2021. Violators face prosecution and a maximum fine of £25,000.
Next Steps
The Marine and Fisheries Conservation Section (MFCS) has over the last three years continued to monitor lobster stocks through annual surveys, tagging programmes, and fisher logbook returns. This valuable data that will soon be analysed to review the current catch limits to ensure thaty future limits reflect the latest scientific understanding.
Thank you to all fishers who contribute data and support our survey work. Your cooperation plays a vital role in protecting and sustaining this important fishery for everyone. For further information please contact Kelly Jonas, Marine Enforcement Officer, by telephone on 25947 or via email at kelly.jonas@sainthelena.gov.sh.
St Helena Government (SHG) is pleased to learn that Jonathan, the world’s oldest known land animal and a much-loved resident of the island, has been officially recognised as a Guinness World Records (GWR) ICON.
The announcement forms part of a global campaign led by Guinness World Records, celebrating Guinness World Records holders that have achieved exceptional international recognition and significance. Jonathan’s inclusion highlights his extraordinary longevity and global appreciation.
Living at Plantation House, the official residence of the Governor of St Helena, Jonathan has become one of St Helena’s most recognisable figures. Known for charming visitors from around the world, he also holds a special place in the hearts of the local community.
Jonathan’s recognition brings welcomed international attention to St Helena. As a living symbol of resilience, he has been a constant in our island’s history seeing the introduction of cars, electricity, TV, mobile and internet connectivity.
Media Invitation: Local and international media are invited to attend a press conference with HE Governor Nigel Phillips and Mrs Emma Phillips to discuss Jonathan’s prestigious Guinness World Records ICON recognition. The press conference will take place tomorrow, Wednesday 17 June 2026, at 09:00 GMT / 10:00 BST via https://representationplus.whereby.com/alison-cryer.
Commenting on this momentous announcement, His Excellency, Governor Nigel Phillips, says “Jonathan’s recognition as a Guinness World Records ICON is warmly welcomed by the people of St Helena. For generations, he has been regarded as a local icon, deeply embedded in the island’s identity and collective memory. This global acknowledgement reflects what the community has long known, that Jonathan is not only remarkable in age, but truly special to St Helena and its people.“
Note
GWR ICON status is a distinguished recognition awarded to record-holders, pioneers and internationally significant figures whose achievements have had a lasting impact. Jonathan’s inclusion places him among a select group of globally recognised ICONs and reflects the exceptional significance of his place in St Helena’s heritage and identity.
Photos
Jonathan the tortoise with his GWR ICON certificate
#StHelena #JonathanTheTortoise #GuinnessWorldRecords #ICON
The St Helena Government is pleased to inform the public that the new lighting installation at Jacob’s Ladder has now been completed.
The lights will be switched on from this evening, 16 June 2026, providing enhanced visibility and showcasing one of the island’s most iconic landmarks.
The Ladder will reopen to the public from tomorrow, 17 June 2026. While some minor works are still to be completed, these will be carried out without impacting public access.
The public’s patience is appreciated, and thanks are extended to Solomon & Company for their role as contractors in delivering this project.
At a meeting of the Executive Council held on 10 March 2026, an increase to the minimum wage of 35p per hour for an adult 18+ and 28p for young persons aged 16 and 17 was approved.
This change will take effect from 01 July 2026 and will increase from £4.50 to £4.85 for persons over 18 years, and £3.55 to £3.63 for persons aged 16 or 17 years. This represents an annual increase of 7.8%. The approval of this increase is in line with raising living standards, benefitting workers and providing adequate time for businesses to plan and adapt.”
The principle informing the minimum wage is that of the Minimum Income Standard (MIS), which states that “minimum income is based on needs and not wants, but it provides more than what is just needed for survival. It supports social participation and recognises that choice is important, but also that choice cannot be unlimited”. Although the MIS varies for people based on their specific circumstances, the current MIS of at least £5.88 gross (before tax is paid) per hour for a family of four is dependent on the cost of housing, which includes costs to a family for renting accommodation or paying a housing loan, and car ownership.
In determining the increase, consideration was given to the current cost of living pressures on both employees and employers, and it was noted that a balance would need to be struck. The Minimum Wage Policy therefore recognises that there is a limit to the size of increases that businesses can absorb in a single year, whilst at the same time acknowledging the need to continue raising the minimum income level on St Helena to go some way in encouraging residents to remain in employment on St Helena.
This year’s increase follows consultations with employers, employees and other relevant stakeholders including the Chamber of Commerce.
The minimum wage will be reviewed again in early 2027 and will include public consultation to consider further uplifts for the period 2027/28.
Since its inception in 2013, the minimum wage has raised from £2.30 to £4.85 for persons over 18 years, and from £1.45 to £3.83 for persons aged 16 or 17 years. These increases equate to a 110% and 164% rise respectively.
#StHelena #MinimumWage #AltogetherWealthier
www.facebook.com/StHelenaGovt/
The public are advised that from Thursday, 18 June, the paved area at Half Tree Hollow Playground will be an active construction site while MUGA (Multi-Use Games Area) ends are installed. The playground equipment will remain accessible; however, the public are asked to stay clear of the construction area and follow all site signage until the work is complete.
This new facility has been delivered through investment under the Economic Development Investment Programme (EDIP) Playgrounds Project, and the continued support and cooperation of the community is appreciated.
Photos:
The MUGA paved area and a similar design of the MUGA ends being installed