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Following an ongoing review of our domestic recyclable waste collection service, please be advised that with effect from 1 November 2026, the frequency of this service will be reduced from weekly to fortnightly.
This adjustment has been decided in line with current operational demand for the service.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this change, please contact Waste Management Services Supervisor (WMSS) Shane Williams:
- Telephone: 66380
- Working Hours: Monday to Friday 06:00 – 13:00
Thank you for your understanding and continued cooperation in supporting local waste management initiatives.
On Thursday 1 October 2026, the following additional Public Transport Service journeys commenced for a 3- month trial period.
Journey changes from 1 October 2026
The following route changes will be introduced for a trial period of three months:
| ROUTE 1 – LONGWOOD | ROUTE 2 – LEVELWOOD | ROUTE 3 – ST PAULS & HALF TREE HOLLOW |
| Tuesdays and Thursdays – departing Jamestown at 11:30am to Bottom Woods, return journey to Jamestown departing Bottom Woods at midday | Last Saturday of each month – depart Jamestown at 10:10 travelling to Ruperts and back into Jamestown at 10:25. Return journey to Ruperts departing Jamestown at 12:30 | Tuesdays and Thursdays – depart Jamestown at 11:30 to White Gate, return journey to Jamestown departing White Gate at 12 noon |
| Fridays – departing Jamestown at 17:15 to Bottom Woods, return journey departing Bottom Woods at 17:50 | Fridays – depart Jamestown at 17:15 travelling to White Gate and New Ground via Sapper Way |
In addition to the above additional journeys, the following changes have been made to the pre-October 2026 timetables:
| ROUTE 1 – LONGWOOD | ROUTE 2 – LEVELWOOD | ROUTE 3 – ST PAULS & HALF TREE HOLLOW |
| For the months of November – March Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays – depart Jamestown at 10:30 to Longwood Green. Return journey to Jamestown departs Bottom Woods 13:30 at calling at Longwood Green at 13:33. | The ‘Every Day’ journey to the CCC will travel as far as the Community Care Centre | Monday – Friday journey departing Jamestown at 07:44 to White Wall will cease to operate. Customers who currently use the journey from White Wall to Jamestown at 07:54 can use Route 4 departing White Wall at 08:05. |
| The Tuesday and Saturday journeys from Jamestown to Bellstone will depart at 12:50 rather than 13:00. | ||
| For the months of November – March Thursdays – depart Jamestown at 10:10 to Plantation House, return journey departs Plantation House at 12:35. |
The new reduced Hop On Hop Off ticket costs will be:
| JOURNEY | TICKET COSTS UNDER 70s | TICKET COSTS 70+ AGE GROUP |
| Short | £2.25 | £1.30 |
| Medium | £2.50 | £1.65 |
| Long | £3.00 | £1.80 |
Children under 10 years of age will travel at half price.
Customers aged 70+ years will need to apply for a photo ID card to indicate they are eligible to pay lower ticket costs. For those customers who have not already applied for their ID card, please contact Sara-Kay Yon or Lisa Bailey at the Castle who will be available to assist you with your application.
Copies of all PTS timetables can be found on the SHG website via the following link: https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/public-services/publictransportservice/.
The Health and Social Care Portfolio will be delivering a selective influenza vaccination campaign this November to protect our community ahead of the peak flu season in December and January.
About influenza
Influenza, more commonly known as the ‘flu’, is a viral infection of the windpipe and lungs. It causes seasonal outbreaks almost every winter in the UK. Increased travel between the UK and St Helena during our summer months puts our community at risk.
Flu is not the same as a common cold, and it can be very serious. Anyone can catch it, but for some people it may likely lead to severe illness. Flu has contributed to a certain number of deaths each year. It is caused by viruses, and not bacteria, so antibiotics won’t treat it. The best form of protection is vaccination.
Who will be offered a vaccine
The flu vaccination programme will target people at highest risk, but over half of the population of St Helena will be eligible for the free vaccine. Eligible groups include:
- All people aged 65 years or more
- All children aged 2 to 16 years
- All adults and children over 6 months with underlying medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart, lung or kidney disease
- Pregnant women
- People in long-stay residential facilities
To offer further protection to those at-risk, the vaccine is also offered to carers of elderly or disabled people, household contacts of people with weakened immune systems, and all frontline health and social care workers.
Where and when will the vaccine be available
There will be drop-in vaccination clinics operating across the island throughout November. There will also be opportunities to receive the vaccine during routine community health clinics.
The dates, times and locations of the vaccination clinics will be published in due course. In the meantime, all eligible people are invited to register their interest by calling the Health Promotion team on Tel: 25949 or by emailing healthpromotion@sainthelena.gov.sh.
Online registration is also available by scanning the QR code below or by directly accessing the form at: www.surveymonkey.com/r/shflu
For more information, please click the link to our Influenza Vaccination FAQ sheet.
QR Code
#StHelena #FluVaccination #AltogetherHealthier
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) visited St Helena from 21 to 25 September 2026 to help Health and Social Care and partner agencies strengthen the island’s response to a mass casualty incident.
The visit followed the approval of Health and Social Care’s new Mass Casualty Plan, which sets out how the island will respond when the number or needs of casualties exceed available capacity. The plan complements St Helena’s wider Major Incident Response Plan and takes account of the challenges of delivering an emergency response in a small, geographically isolated community.
During the visit, staff took part in familiarisation sessions covering major incident command arrangements, joint working, casualty triage and movement, hospital capacity, communications and recovery.
An operational exercise tested the plan in practice. The programme concluded with Exercise Black Dog, a strategic tabletop exercise involving senior staff and partner agencies.
Exercise Black Dog tested the island’s transition from business-as-usual arrangements to a coordinated major incident and mass casualty response. It considered gold, silver and bronze command arrangements, casualty management, limited clinical resources, communications, multi-agency working and recovery planning.
Emergency Operations Manager, Michael Gaga-Hale, said:
“These workshops followed the development and approval of our new Mass Casualty Plan. We are grateful to UKHSA and SHG’s Emergency Planning Department for helping us develop a plan that reflects the needs and capabilities of the Health and Social Care Portfolio, and for supporting us to test it at both operational and strategic levels. The sessions and exercises were informative and well organised. They highlighted strengths across SHG and identified lessons that will help us further improve the plan and its implementation. I would also like to thank everyone who took part during the week and our partner organisations, including the St Helena Red Cross, for their support and contribution. Effective emergency preparedness depends on agencies working together, and the programme provided a valuable opportunity to strengthen those relationships and our collective response.”
Head of Social Care, Tracy Poole-Nandy, commented: “I found the whole exercise an excellent opportunity to test the updated mass casualty plan from an operational and strategic perspective. The week was really well planned and executed by Anel, Michael, Peter, Lizzy and Grace as part of the ongoing partnership work with the UKHSA. Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to the overall learning”
Head of National Response Centre, Peter Daividson, commented: “As part of the UKHSA UK Overseas Territories (UKOT) Health Security Programme, we have been working with SHG over the past three years to support the development of health resilience through a range of activities. This has included reviewing past incident responses to identify areas of good practice and where improvements can be made, delivering training, workshops and briefings. We have had the pleasure of working with teams across SHG, at operational, tactical, and strategic levels and with Ministers.
During this visit we have been able to build upon previous work with the Health and Social Care portfolio and SHG’s Emergency Planning Department to develop the Mass Casualty plan by supporting the delivery of mass casualty briefing sessions to SHG colleagues and the Table-Top Exercise Black Dog. During the exercise we examined how well the plan supported multi-agency partners to respond to a simulated scenario that overwhelmed normal operational activity and required implementation of different ways of working. The exercise provided the opportunity for SHG colleagues to consider and review their roles and responsibilities within the plan, set out the response priorities, whilst maintaining service delivery.
It has been a rewarding experience to work with the dedicated team from SHG to support the development of both the Mass Casualty plan and Exercise Black Dog. This has given our team an insight into the unique challenges faced in a small island context and allowed our experience and resource to support SHG’s work, providing external challenge to help strengthen preparedness and response arrangements for future emergencies. The UKOT Health Security Programme is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Offices’ (FCDO) Resilient Economies Programme”
The programme increased understanding of the new arrangements, tested the plan at operational and strategic levels, and identified priorities for further development.
The Health and Social Care Portfolio extends its thanks to the UKHSA team, the Emergency Planning Department, partner organisations and everyone who participated during the week.
Photos:
Attendees of Exercise Black Dog
Trainers of Exercise Black Dog
Exercise Black Dog
Emergency Planning and Trainers
#StHelena #EmergencyPreparedness #MassCasualtyPlanning
After several years of preparation, the St Helena Government (SHG) is ready to take the next step in modernising the island’s legal system. The implementation of Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) will take effect from 1 November 2026.
An FPN is a formal notice that allows an individual to pay a set financial penalty for a specified offence, avoiding prosecution through the courts.
Implementation of this law forms part of SHG’s ongoing work to modernise the island’s legal system, making it more efficient while ensuring that offences continue to be dealt with fairly and proportionately. FPNs are intended to address low-level offences through a streamlined process, while offering a practical alternative for individuals who commit minor infringements.
Background
SHG enacted legislation in 2020 and in June 2025 enacted regulation to implement FPNs.
Since enactment the public service has been working on developing the administrative infrastructure and capacity to implement.
What happens if you receive a notice
Individuals who receive an FPN will have the opportunity to discharge liability for the offence by paying the prescribed penalty. Payment of an FPN is not an admission of guilt and does not result in a criminal record. In some circumstances, a reduced penalty amount may apply if payment is made within a specified period.
There are several offences prescribed in legislation including guidance on what penalty amount offences may attract an FPN, how notices may be issued, how payments can be made, and the options available to anyone who wishes to challenge a notice.
Public information campaign
Over the coming weeks, SHG will undertake a public information campaign through local newspapers, radio programmes, social media channels and the SHG website to ensure the community is fully aware of the new arrangements, understands why they are being introduced, how they will be implemented and knows what responsibilities and options are available.
SHG recognises that some of the offences covered by the scheme relate to matters that directly affect daily life on the island, including road traffic and environmental enforcement matters. The communications campaign will therefore include targeted engagement with community groups, and the general public to answer questions and provide clear information.
SHG encourages members of the public to engage with the campaign and take the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the new arrangements before they are applied on 1 November 2026.
#StHelena #FixedPenaltyNotice
The MV Karoline is scheduled to arrive at James Bay in the early hours of Friday, 9 October. Weather permitting, the vessel will berth alongside Rupert’s Jetty at first light and begin cargo operations as soon as practicable.
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 (8am–5pm). 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.
Following the press release issued by St Helena Government (SHG) on 24 September 2026 regarding the Primary School Reorganisation Project, SHG has decided to pause the building and refurbishment element of the project while further work is undertaken to review the proposed model.
As a result, the Education, Skills, and Employment Portfolio (ESE) is advising the public of temporary changes to the delivery of Lifelong Learning Services (LLS). The changes will make additional space available for Key Stage 2 (KS2) school provision during this period.
Relocation of Services
During this period, St Helena Community College (SHCC), the NVQ Centre and Career Access St Helena (CAS) will relocate to Carnarvon Court, at the lower end of Connect St Helena.
The relocation and consequent limited access to the Education and Learning Centre (ELC) will affect the availability of some SHCC facilities and services.
SHCC Facilities and Bookings
All those who have made existing bookings for SHCC facilities will be contacted. While the temporary arrangements remain in place, new bookings for the following facilities will be available only during the primary school holidays:
- IT Suite
- Main Hall
- VC Room
- Conferencing facilities
To make a booking during the primary school holidays, please contact SHCC by email at shcc.bookings@sainthelena.edu.sh or by telephone on +290 22607.
Examinations
Examinations will continue to be held at the ELC. However, on-demand examinations will be available only during the primary school holidays.
The necessary facilities will remain available for ACCA session-based examinations under special arrangements.
Where required, affected learners will receive further information about examination arrangements directly.
Career Access St Helena
Career Access St Helena (CAS) will relocate to Carnarvon Court.
CAS service users should attend Carnarvon Court, rather than the ELC, to access services. CAS opening hours will remain unchanged. All Sixth Form time books should be delivered to CAS at Carnarvon Court.
NVQ Services
All NVQ learners and service users should attend Carnarvon Court, rather than the ELC, for NVQ-related services and support.
St Helena Research Institute
The St Helena Research Institute (SHRI) will remain at Carnarvon Court and continue to operate from its current location.
To facilitate the relocations, SHCC, the NVQ Centre and CAS will be closed from Monday 19 October to Friday 23 October 2026. Services will reopen at Carnarvon Court on Monday 26 October 2026.
ESE recognises that these temporary arrangements may cause inconvenience to learners, service users and members of the public. However, the changes are necessary to support wider education provision during this period. The arrangements will remain under review while work continues to consider the future model for the Primary School Reorganisation Project.
Further updates will be issued as the arrangements develop.#StHelena #EducationServices #ServiceUpdate #LifelongLearning
The published Primary School term dates for the 2026–27 academic year have been revised to allow all primary school staff to attend a training day on Monday, 26 October. Parents, carers, and members of the public are advised to take note of this change and make any necessary arrangements.
Please find the revised primary term times here: https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/app/uploads/2026/10/Primary-School-Term-Times-2026-2027-Revised.pdf
Thank you for your understanding and continued support. We apologise for any inconvenience this change may cause and appreciate your cooperation.
HM Customs and Immigration Services advises the public that its office will close at noon (12:00) on Wednesday, 07 October 2026. The closure is to facilitate a staff function.
Normal operations will resume at 09:00 on Thursday, 08 October 2026.
St Helena Government (SHG) has launched a public consultation on a new legislative framework to strengthen St Helena’s arrangements for tackling money laundering, terrorist financing and the proceeds of crime.
The consultation covers four draft instruments:
- the Proceeds of Crime Bill, 2026;
- the Anti-money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Regulations;
- the Non-Profit Organisation Regulations; and
- the Anti-money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Directive.
Together, these measures will replace and substantially modernise the existing framework under the Money Laundering Ordinance, 2008.
The reforms form an important part of delivering St Helena’s Sustainable Economic Development Strategy 2023-2033 (SEDS). The SEDS identifies reform and modernisation of St Helena’s financial services laws and regulations as necessary to encourage competition within the sector, support economic growth and improve compliance with international standards.
The work also forms part of the wider Financial Services and Company Registry Development Programme. The programme is intended to establish the foundations for a credible international company registry, increase locally generated government revenue, create new employment and skills opportunities, and support greater diversification of St Helena’s economy.
A credible anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing framework is an essential part of that work. St Helena must be able to demonstrate that the development of new financial services and internationally focused business is supported by effective safeguards against financial crime and meets the standards expected internationally.
The proposed framework is designed to bring St Helena into closer alignment with the standards established by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global standard-setting body for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing.
It will strengthen arrangements for preventing and detecting financial crime, recovering the proceeds of crime and supervising businesses that are required to comply with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing requirements.
It will also introduce formal requirements for certain businesses and professions that are not currently subject to the full AML/CFT framework. These include relevant activities carried on by real estate agents, lawyers, accountants, trust and company service providers and high value dealers. A separate, risk-based regime is proposed for non-profit organisations.
Minister for Economic Development, Karl Thrower, said:
“These reforms are an important part of delivering our Sustainable Economic Development Strategy. If St Helena is to develop its financial services sector and a credible international company registry, we also need a modern regulatory framework that meets international standards.
“Doing this properly will help protect St Helena’s reputation, support confidence in the jurisdiction and create the conditions for new business, jobs and locally generated revenue as we diversify our economy.”
The consultation gives businesses, professionals, non-profit organisations and members of the public an opportunity to review and comment on the draft legislation before it is finalised.
The consultation documents comprise the four draft instruments together with an Explanatory Note setting out the background to the reforms, explaining the principal provisions and describing how the new framework is expected to operate in practice. These are all available at https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/st-helena/government/public-consultation/.
The consultation will close at 16:00 on 27 November 2026.
Responses should be submitted by email to damian.burns@sainthelena.gov.sh or by post to:
Economic Development Portfolio, The Castle, Jamestown, St Helena, STHL 1ZZ
When submitting a response, respondents are asked to provide their name and contact details and state the capacity in which they are responding, for example as a business, professional, non-profit organisation, representative body or individual.
Public information sessions on the proposed framework will also be announced next week through SHG press releases, local media and online channels.
Following the consultation, responses will be considered by SHG, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority and the Attorney General’s Chambers before the legislative package is finalised and the Proceeds of Crime Bill proceeds to Legislative Council.
#StHelena #PublicConsultation #ProceedsofCrime&Anti-moneyLaunderingFramework