Latest Posts
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
www.facebook.com/StHelenaGovt
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
www.facebook.com/StHelenaGovt/
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
St Helena celebrated Commonwealth Day 2026 on Monday 9 March with assemblies at St Helena Secondary School (SHSS) and the Key Stage 1 and 2 schools, as well as a flag-raising ceremony held at Anne’s Place, Jamestown. This year’s theme, ‘Unlocking opportunities together for a prosperous Commonwealth’, focused on partnership, sustainable economic growth, and skill development, particularly for youth and women across the 56 member countries.
To open the ceremony at Anne’s Place, the Speaker of the St Helena Legislative Council and St Helena Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Branch President, Maureen Thompson, delivered a welcoming speech. The speech highlighted the island’s participation in the upcoming flag-raising ceremony at the Palace of Westminster and highlighted that St Helena’s future prosperity relies on international collaboration and sustainable development. Central to the message was a call to empower the island’s youth, preparing them to lead on the world stage in fields ranging from governance to technology and sports.
HE Governor Nigel Phillips CBE read the message from Head of the Commonwealth, His Majesty King Charles III. Chief Minister, Hon Dr Rebecca Cairns-Wicks MBE, read a message from the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations, Hon Shirley Botchwey, and Vice Chairperson of the Youth Parliament, Lilli Adams, read the Commonwealth Affirmation.
Shortly after, Speaker Thompson raised the Commonwealth Flag as part of the ‘Fly a Flag for the Commonwealth’ initiative. This initiative aims to inspire participants to join with others throughout the Commonwealth, a family of 56 member states, which has a combined population of 2.7 billion, with more than 60% aged 29 or under, representing around a third of the world’s Commonwealth’s population.
Speaker Thompson commented:
“Today, we join hands with 56 nations in celebrating our shared journey, our enduring values, and our vision for a brighter future. Our prosperity is built on collaboration, it is about partnership both within our community and with our friends across the globe to invest in our infrastructure, our sustainable development, and our people.”
To commemorate the 77th anniversary of the Commonwealth of Nations and to discuss its past accomplishments and ongoing aspirations, guest speakers Mr Jonathan Passaportis of St Helena Tourism, Youth Entrepreneur Mr Louis Youde, and Zac Bargo of the St Helena Youth Parliament were invited to speak at the ceremony.
Councillor Ronald Coleman MLC concluded the ceremony with thanks to HE the Governor, speakers, attendees, Anne’s Place staff, and the working group, marking the end of the Commonwealth Day 2026 event.
The Commonwealth Day message from the Head of the Commonwealth was read by Members of the Legislative Council at schools across the island. Minister Andrew Turner and Councillor Julie Thomas MLC attended the assembly at SHSS whilst Councillor Robert Midwinter MLC attended the assembly at the Key Stage 1 School, and Councillor Dr Corinda Essex MLC attended the Key Stage 2 assembly.
St Helena Government UK Representative, Mrs Kedell Worboys MBE, was also invited to attend several engagements to commemorate Commonwealth Day in the UK.
Representing the island in London, Mrs Worboys, attended a series of high-profile events to mark the occasion, beginning with a flag-raising ceremony at Portcullis House. This was followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the Commonwealth Memorial Gates on behalf of the Government and people of St Helena. After attending the Commonwealth Day Observance at Westminster Abbey, Mrs Worboys concluded the day’s commemorations at a reception hosted by HM The King at St James’s Palace.
Deputy Speaker of the St Helena Legislative Council, Connie Johnson, Councillor Dennis Leo MLC and Legislative Council Office Assistant, Marita Bagley, who are in the UK attending the Westminster Seminar attended the Flag-Raising Ceremony, where Connie read an extract from “The House of the Commonwealth” and the Commonwealth Day Observance at Westminster Abbey.
Photos
Speaker Maureen Thompson delivering a welcome speech
HE the Governor reading the Commonwealth Day message from HM the King
Chief Minister Cairns-Wicks reading the message from the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Shirley Botchwey
Vice Chairperson of the St Helena Youth Parliament reading the Commonwealth Confirmation
The Flag-raising Ceremony
Guest speaker, Jonathan Passaportis
Guest speaker, Louis Youde
Guest Speaker, Zac Bargo
Invited guests at Anne’s Place
Minister for Education, Skills and Employment, Andrew Turner, at the SHSS assembly
Deputy Speaker, Connie Johnson, reading an extract from “The House of the Commonwealth”
#StHelena #CommonwealthDay
www.facebook.com/StHelenaGovt/
A Stronger, Fairer Future for St Helena: Government Sets Out New Vision Strategy
St Helena has come a long way in recent years with the successful delivery of some key projects and policies, including the delivery of a new port in Rupert’s, improved road infrastructure, the recovery of tourism through the Tourism Recovery Strategy, internationally recognised marine and terrestrial conservation initiatives, and the commencement of primary re-organisation.
Despite these wins, St Helena still faces a complex set of interlinked social, economic, and environmental challenges that threaten the island’s long-term sustainability and the well-being of our community. Rising costs of living, an aging and declining population, labour shortages, fragile national infrastructure, and declining trust in institutions have eroded public confidence and reinforced a cycle of uncertainty and outward migration. These dynamics reinforce one another. Population decline reduces the labour force and tax base; weak systems undermine confidence; environmental degradation threatens water, food and health; and uncertainty drives outward migration.
The Government is developing its new Vision and Strategy setting out a clear path to first stabilise and start to reverse these trends and build a fairer, more resilient, and forward-looking St Helena. We believe in a community where every person is valued, has the opportunity to live a healthy and fulfilling life, and where families, businesses, and the environment can thrive together.
Our vision is for a fair, inclusive, more resilient and forward-looking St Helena, confident in its future, responsible in its stewardship and united in purpose to become a sustainable thriving community with people at its heart.
We recognise that rebuilding confidence will require phased reform, and a clear focus on what is affordable and what can be delivered sustainably within our financial and institutional capacity. We also recognise the increasing costs of service delivery, as a result of our aging population and shrinking worforce as well as the impact of increasing international costs, for example supply of pharmaceuticals. This means we need to look carefully at the sustainability of our current range of service delivery.
The strategy will be built around three themes that have been shaped by the voices and experiences of St Helenians across the island:
- Stabilising the Population and Labour Market: Creating conditions for people to stay, return, and contribute through fulfilling careers, skills development, and fair access to services.
- Protecting Living Standards and Core Services: Ensuring immediate support for those under pressure, while reforming health, social care, education, and infrastructure for long-term sustainability.
- Enabling Sustainable, Locally Driven Growth: Diversifying the economy, investing in digital and physical infrastructure, and developing productive economic sectors which safeguard the environment as a strategic asset, creating an enabling environment to accelerate opportunities for growth.
Key actions include aligning education and workforce planning with current and future needs, commitment to partnership with the community in preventative healthcare, affordable utilities, and public service modernisation. The strategy also recognises the need for incremental tax and revenue reform and disciplined public financial management. The strategy will support initiatives already in train, such as the continued implementation of the Tourism Development Programme, Company Registry and Financial Services Development Programme, and completion of the long overdue immigration reforms. It also seeks to explore new areas of goverment intervention, with fresh thinking already commenced with the fishery, in high value agriculture, wharf redevelopment, and on expanding the St Helena Research Institute.
Implementation will be phased, with clear milestones and measurable outcomes, which will be shared pending the outcome of budget discussions with the UK Government. Government will communicate openly about progress and constraints, adapt as needed based on evidence and lived experience, and work in partnership across portfolios, communities, business, and civil society.
Government is clear that St Helena cannot only tax its way out of structural challenges by increasing the burden on wages in a shrinking population. Long-term sustainability requires a broader and fairer revenue base, improved compliance, and growth-linked revenues, alongside disciplined public financial management.
By focusing first on stabilising people’s lives and rebuilding trust, while strengthening the foundations of our economy, services, and environment, we will restore confidence and set St Helena on a more secure and hopeful path, step by step, and together.
Policy Priorities 2026–2029
Following on from the above, the Government will focus on nine cross government policy priorities:
1. Stabilise the population and labour market
2. Protect health and social care and improve prevention outcomes
3. Reform education and build the future workforce
4. Reduce the cost of living through investment in utilities and infrastructure
5. Enable sustainable, locally driven economic growth
6. Grow revenues fairly
7. Reform and strengthen the public service
8. Safeguard the environment as a strategic asset
9. Protect living standards during transition
These priorities are aligned with a set of Strategic Outcomes, that reflect the importance of cross portfolio partnerships, the reality of resource limitations, and the interconnections and interdependencies inherent in bringing about changes.
Each outcome guides the various work streams and activities across the different sectors, for example:
- Health: stabilising hospital flow, reducing overseas referrals, expanding residential care, developing sustainable financing models.
- Education: COBIS accreditation, primary school reorganisation, Additional Educational Needs reform, post-16 vocational pathways, a more inclusive educational system and establishing a Higher Educational Provision on St Helena.
- Utilities: renewable energy transition, telecoms regulation, water security.
- Growth: tourism development, Impact Company Registry, financial services reform, agriculture and fisheries revival.
- Public Service: digital transformation, workforce planning, performance management.
Over the coming weeks, the Government will discuss the draft strategy more widely with focused stakeholder groups and invite discussion to help identify any remaining gaps, including issues relevant to groups we have not yet reached. Our aim is to finalise and publish the strategy once we have confirmation of our budgetary aid settlement, expected in April 2026 and at this time clear milestone and timelines will be confirmed. We will review the strategy annually to ensure it remains responsive to the island’s changing needs which time we expect to know our budgetary aid settlement, and we will review it annually to ensure it remains responsive to the island’s changing need.
#StHelena #VisionandStrategy
www.facebook.com/StHelenaGovt/
A meeting of the Police and Crime Panel took place on Thursday, 05 March 2026.
A recording of this meeting, which was also live-streamed, is now available for viewing via the SHG YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@sthelenagovernment1638
The report summary can be found on the SHG Website: The Royal St Helena Police Service | St Helena Government
Printed versions of the report summary and the full report are available to read at the Library and the Customer Service Centre in Jamestown.
For more information, please contact the Temporary Director of Police, Kevin Weir, by telephone on (00290) 22626 or via email through kevin.weir@sainthelena.gov.sh
#StHelena #RSHP #PoliceandCrimePanel
SHG
11 March 2026
The St Helena Government (SHG) today announced the launch of a Business Support Scheme to provide financial relief to tourism-sector businesses directly affected by the temporary closure of St Helena Airport in February.
Background
On Friday, 6 February 2026, St Helena Airport was unable to operate under normal conditions. Unfortunately, the airport could not provide the ICAO Rescue and Firefighting Category 6 required to support the scheduled Airlink service.
This situation led to four flights being cancelled before Category 6 was restored. The interruption had an immediate and significant impact on the tourism sector, particularly for businesses reliant on visitor arrivals.
Who Can Apply?
The scheme is open to businesses that are incorporated or normally domiciled in St Helena, operating in one of the following sectors:
- Destination Management Companies
- Travel Agents
- Tour Operators
- Tourist Accommodation Providers (Food and Beverage excluded)
To qualify, businesses must be able to demonstrate that a confirmed booking or contract was directly affected by the airport closure, and that this resulted in a loss of guaranteed profit. Supporting evidence will be required as part of the application.
What Support Is Available?
Once an application has been approved SHG will provide assistance to affected businesses.
Support options approved by Executive Council are:
- Interest-Free Loan: This scheme will be most suited to businesses who have experienced significant cash flow issues because of the airport closure but can reclaim the losses from suppliers or through insurance. This will need to be repaid within 24 months.
- SHG Booking and Prepayment Scheme for 2026–2028 Services: SHG will provide assistance by booking and prepaying for services that match the loss incurred due to the airport closure. This is most suited to accommodation providers and tourism service operators. For example, if an accommodation provider is determined to have lost 10 nights stay, then SHG will book and pre-pay for 10 nights’ accommodation. SHG portfolios will utilise these bookings within a 24-month period for familiarisation, media, academic, or other approved trips.
These schemes provide businesses with both immediate relief and confidence going forward. Businesses may apply for one or both types of support.
Minister for Economic Development, Environment, Natural Resources and Planning, Karl Thrower, stated:
“This scheme demonstrates SHG’s commitment to supporting our private sector through extraordinary circumstances. We recognise the very real impact this disruption has had on businesses and the livelihoods that depend on them, and we want to act quickly and fairly.”
How to Apply
Application forms are available on request from Head of Trade and Investment, Michael Ormrod, by telephone on 22470 or via email at invest@sainthelena.gov.sh. Completed application forms and supporting documents must be submitted to the SHG Trade and Investment Team by Thursday 9 April 2026.
If you believe you may be eligible, please get in touch as soon as possible.
#StHelena #BusinessSupportScheme
www.facebook.com/StHelenaGovt/
The MV Karoline is scheduled to arrive at James Bay on Tuesday, 10 March 2026, at 22:00. Weather permitting, the vessel will berth alongside Rupert’s Jetty at first light on Wednesday 11 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, security will reduce to Access Level 2, at which point only the Cargo Management Facility will remain restricted during normal working hours (8:00–17:00).
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.
The Roads Section are pleased to advise the public that slurry works on Phase 5 of the Road Resurfacing Project (Longwood Gate to Hutts Gate) have been successfully completed. No further road closures are planned for this section.
Final finishing works will continue along the sides of the road over the coming days. Motorists are kindly asked to drive with caution, as road workers may still be operating in this area throughout this weekend and into next week.
The main slurry team has now moved to the final phase of the project, covering the stretch between Briar’s Junction and Button-up Corner. Preparation works are ongoing, and slurry operations are expected to commence during the new week.
Please note that the existing weekday road closure (09:00 – 15:00) on this section will remain in place until late March. Initial works will take place between the top of the concrete section of Side Path Road and Briars Junction, carried out in half-widths with traffic directed as required. Appropriate signage will be in place.
The Roads Section thanks the public for their continued patience and cooperation as these essential works progress.
SHG
6 March 2026