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The Economic Development Portfolio is driving a focused programme of work to strengthen St Helena’s economy, improve access, support enterprise and investment, and create the conditions for a more resilient, sustainable and locally driven future.
The portfolio’s work sits at the heart of Government’s wider strategy to stabilise the population, protect living standards and core services, and enable sustainable growth. Its responsibilities include strategic economic development policy, export, trade and investment, digital development, air and sea access, tourism, financial services and management of the crown estate.
The 2026/27 budget sets out a practical programme for growth. Tourism, financial services, digital connectivity, agriculture, enterprise support and capital investment are all being taken forward as part of a joined-up approach to broaden the economy and reduce reliance on a small number of sectors. The newly agreed three-year aid settlement with the UK Government gives St Helena greater certainty to plan ahead. At the same time, the Economic Development Investment Programme will support essential capital works over the next three years.
Tourism remains one of St Helena’s most important opportunities. Visitor arrivals have recovered strongly since the pandemic, reaching close to 2019 levels in 2024/25. The next phase of the Tourism Development Programme will focus on product development and infrastructure, marketing and promotion, staffing, training, upskilling, and institutional arrangements. The objective is to support 4% annual growth in arrivals and build capacity for an industry capable of welcoming 6,000 visitors a year by 2031. A dedicated £550,000 fund supports tourism activities, and £74,000 supports the visitor information service.
St Helena’s tourism offer is distinctive: walking and heritage trails, marine life, dark skies, biodiversity, history, culture and the island’s remoteness all support a high-value, low-volume visitor model. Recent work has supported upgrades and accreditation of key visitor assets, including Post Box walks and heritage sites. The portfolio will continue to work with partners and businesses to improve the visitor experience, strengthen accommodation and services, and ensure tourism growth benefits the wider community.
Improving access by air and sea is central to economic growth. Reliable transport links support visitors, residents, businesses, medical referrals, imports and supply chains. The portfolio is working across Government and with partners to strengthen resilience in access arrangements, learn from recent disruptions, and support long-term planning for aviation, shipping and logistics.
Digital development is opening new possibilities. The Equiano fibre optic cable has transformed St Helena’s connectivity, with improved data capacity and lower telecommunications costs for households and businesses. Better connectivity supports digital services, remote working, education, business development and investor confidence. Government is considering long-term options for public telecommunications beyond the current licence arrangements to provide stability for residents, businesses and potential investors.
Financial services and the Company Registry are being developed carefully and ethically. The St Helena Government has allocated £320,000 to the Financial Services and Company Registry Development Programme. This will make St Helena a better place to do business, improve consumer protection, reinforce governance standards, increase locally generated revenues and strengthen regulatory effectiveness. Work includes modernising the Company Registry, supporting banking services, aligning with international standards, strengthening anti-money laundering procedures, and developing a commercially viable offer for internationally active businesses. SHG has taken an ethical approach to developing financial services and will ensure that trusts are not misused for tax-evasion purposes. It will develop a Company Registry product for businesses with strong environmental, social and governance credentials.
Support for local enterprise and productive sectors is also being expanded. The budget includes funding for agricultural development, agriculture improvement interventions, and a grant scheme for enterprises. These measures are intended to help businesses invest, improve productivity, strengthen food security and create new opportunities for local enterprise.
Minister for Economic Development, Karl Thrower, said:
“Economic development isn’t about how many projects Government can announce or how much money we can say we are spending. The test is whether people can see the difference, whether businesses have more opportunities, whether it becomes easier to invest and do business, and ultimately whether more people feel they can build a future for themselves and their families on St Helena.
We have made significant progress over the past year, and I want to recognise the considerable amount of work that has gone into that. My team and colleagues across Government have worked extremely hard to move a number of important areas forward, often while dealing with limited resources and some very difficult challenges. We should be proud of what has been achieved, but we also need to be realistic: there is still a great deal of work ahead of us, and many of the changes we are trying to make will take time before their full benefits are felt.
Government cannot achieve economic growth on its own. Our responsibility is to get the fundamentals right: reliable air and sea access, better connectivity, affordable and increasingly renewable energy, appropriate infrastructure, sensible regulation and practical support for the private sector. Moving towards renewable energy is particularly important because it can reduce our exposure to imported fuel costs, improve our resilience and, over time, help create a more competitive environment for households and businesses.
None of these things sits neatly within one portfolio. Economic development has to be a whole-of-Government effort, with portfolios working together rather than in isolation. The days of silo thinking have to be behind us. Decisions on energy, infrastructure, planning, education, housing, health, access, and the environment all affect our economy, and we will achieve far more if we look at these issues together rather than separately.
There isn’t one project or one industry that is going to solve all of St Helena’s economic challenges. We have to continue the good work already under way, build on the gains we have made, and keep pushing forward across a number of areas at the same time. Just as importantly, we have to be prepared to measure whether what we are doing is actually delivering the results we expect.”
Economic Development Budget Infographic
#StHelena #Budget26-27 #EconomicDevelopment
The public are advised that all Economic Development Portfolio offices, including the Tourist Office and Property Section, will be closed on Friday, 11 September 2026.Therefore, social housing tenants should contact Building Services directly for any faults or repairs while the Housing Office is closed.
The Tourist Office booth at the Airport will open on Saturday, 12 September, from 11:30 to 14:30. The main Tourist Office at the Canister will open on Sunday, 13 September, from 09:00 to 12:00.
Normal business operations will resume on Monday, 14 September 2026.
The Education, Skills and Employment Portfolio has today published the combined findings from St Helena’s first comprehensive survey into children and young people’s internet and social media use, bringing together responses from 225 young people aged 8–18 across primary and secondary schools.
Over the past two weeks, findings from the primary and secondary school surveys have been published separately. Bringing the results together provides a broader picture of children’s digital lives across the 8–18 age range.
The survey shows that digital technology is now a routine part of childhood. Almost every child has access to the internet at home, while smartphones are an increasingly important way of accessing the online world. YouTube is the most popular platform, followed by TikTok, Snapchat and WhatsApp, with Instagram also featuring among older young people.
The results also show that many young people are already aware that excessive social media use can affect their wellbeing. Across the survey, children and young people identified tiredness, lack of sleep, reduced concentration, lower school performance and changes in mood among the impacts they associate with excessive social media use.
At the same time, the findings highlight areas where continued awareness, guidance and support are needed.
Across the combined 8–18 age group:
- 14% reported experiencing cyberbullying.
- 40% had been contacted, or may have been contacted, by strangers online.
- 37% spend 16 or more hours each week on social media.
- Nearly half use mobile data outside the home, meaning parental controls based only on home Wi-Fi may not provide complete protection.
Online gaming is also significant, with some young people spending considerable amounts of time gaming and interacting with strangers through games.
Children and young people are telling us what they need
The findings show that many young people recognise the challenges of spending excessive amounts of time online and identify parents, carers, friends, siblings and other trusted adults as people they would turn to if something online worried or made them uncomfortable. This provides an important foundation for continued work.
The survey is not intended to tell parents how to raise their children, nor does it suggest that technology or smartphones are inherently harmful. Instead, it provides St Helena with a shared understanding of how young people are using technology and the issues families, schools and the wider community may need to consider.
The Digital Literacy and Boundaries Group was established in response to these concerns and brings together representatives from education, safeguarding, health, policing, Youth Parliament and other community partners. The Group’s aim is to understand children’s digital lives, consider the evidence and identify ways to support children and families to use technology positively and safely.
Children’s Champion and member of the Safeguarding Board, Cllr Julie Thomas, said:
“The findings from this survey provide us with an invaluable, clear picture of our children’s digital lives, but they must also serve as an urgent call to action. As Children’s Champion and a member of the Safeguarding Board, my absolute priority is ensuring that our young people are kept safe online at all costs. We are not looking to strip technology away from our youth, but rather to empower our community with the awareness and education needed to establish healthy boundaries.
By equipping parents, guardians, and the children themselves with the right knowledge, we can collectively make informed, cautious choices about device usage and connectivity. Protecting our children in this fast-evolving digital space requires a shared commitment, and we must ensure every decision we take is guided by a proactive dedication to their safety, well-being, and protection.”
Continuing the conversation
The findings come at a time when communities internationally are considering how best to help children navigate an increasingly digital world.
The focus is not on removing young people from technology, but on helping them develop the knowledge, confidence and boundaries they need to benefit from it safely and positively.
Parents and carers, young people, schools, health professionals, police and safeguarding partners, politicians and policymakers all have a role to play in supporting digital safety.
The survey also provides an opportunity for families to keep asking simple but important questions about what children use their devices for, how much time they spend online and who they are interacting with.
The survey has given St Helena something many communities do not have: a clearer picture of how our children and young people are experiencing the digital world.
The opportunity now is to use that information to shape what comes next.
To view the results of the survey, please click the link at https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/app/uploads/2026/09/Children-Young-Peoples-Social-Media-Use-Findings-All-Schools-Final.pdf
#StHelena #OnlineSafety #AltogetherBetterfortheSafetyofChildrenandYoungPeople
The Highways Authority has approved a temporary road closure from Corner Wall, near The Briars Junction, to the Viewing Deck at Two Gun Saddle.
The closure will take place tomorrow, Wednesday 9 September, from 09:00 to 15:00 to allow the Rock Guards and Roads teams to safely remove a section of bank that has been identified as unsafe.
During this time, access for public transport and emergency services may be limited. Members of the public are asked to use the diversion route via Haul Road.
If the works are completed ahead of schedule, the public will be notified and the road will be reopened as soon as it is safe to do so.
Residents in Constitution will continue to have road access, and The Briars area will not be affected by the closure. Advance warning and diversion signs will be in place to alert motorists. The Roads Section apologises for any inconvenience this temporary closure may cause and thanks the public for their patience, cooperation and understanding
His Excellency Governor Nigel Phillips CBE will end his term of office on Friday, 11 September 2026.
As is customary on St Helena, His Excellency the Governor will make himself available in the Governor’s Office to bid members of the public farewell.
Accordingly, Governor Phillips will be available in the Governor’s Office, the Castle, Jamestown, from 10:00 to 11:00 this Friday, 11 September 2026, to receive members of the public and bid farewell to those who wish to attend.
#StHelena #HEGovernor #Farewell
The Health and Social Care Portfolio (HSC) wishes to inform the public that, due to a temporary shortage of doctors, some outpatient clinics will be operating at reduced capacity over the coming weeks.
We recognise that changes to appointments can be worrying, and we want to explain clearly what this means for you and your care.
Most appointments will continue as scheduled. If your appointment needs to be moved, our team will contact you directly. Unless you hear from us, please attend as planned.
If your appointment is moved, you will not lose your place. We will offer you the earliest available alternative slot as full capacity is restored.
Please note that emergency services will not be affected.
The HSC thanks the public for its patience and understanding while we work to restore full clinic capacity as soon as possible.
The Health & Social Care Portfolio would like to remind the public to allow 5 working days for the Pharmacy to process repeat medication requests.
To avoid running out of medication, patients are encouraged to submit repeat prescription requests when they have 7 days of medication remaining.
Repeat prescription requests can be sent to pharmacy.prescriptions@sainthelena.gov.sh or made by calling 25867.
Thank you for your cooperation.
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.