Arriving on the RMS on 22 April 2014 will be Simon Quinn from Nicholas O’Dwyer Consulting Engineers and Mathieu Le Gourrierec from CAN France.

Nicholas O’Dwyer Consulting Engineers were contracted in 2008 to undertake a number of key tasks, which included designing and supervising the Main Works element of the Jamestown Wharf Improvements Project Phase 1. CAN France was contracted to undertake the construction of these designs, and both contracts are funded from the 9th European Development Fund.

A number of the concrete slabs laid in 2011/12 have now to be replaced or repaired under the defects clause of the contract. These repairs will be managed by CAN France with engineering oversight from Nicholas O’Dwyer, and CAN France has sub-contracted the works to local contractor John Isaac Construction. Works are due to start around 24 April 2014.

These remedial works are at no additional cost to St Helena Government. T

he slabs which are to be repaired are located in the Thompsons Crane area (mid-Wharf, sea side), and all efforts will be made to reduce disruption to Wharf operations during the 2-3 weeks of work. Inevitably there will need to be some temporary alterations to working arrangements, which will be agreed through liaison with all relevant parties.

SHG

11 April 2014

Leaving on the RMS St Helena today after a week on-Island are Matt Young and Kedell Worboys MBE, two of the Directors of St Helena Line (SHL), which is responsible – on behalf of St Helena Government – for entering into and managing a contract for St Helena with a shipping management company, currently Andrew Weir Shipping.

The focus of their visit was to engage with Councillors and other interested parties in understanding the role of St Helena Line and discussing options around the withdrawal of the RMS St Helena from its current service in 2016.  There have been various discussions about how St Helena can source the most appropriate and affordable shipping service going forward. 

In looking for the best solution for the Island, SHG has strengthened the position of the Working Group – consisting of SHG officials, representatives from the private sector through the Chamber of Commerce, the Tourism Association and Enterprise St Helena – set up specifically to look at St Helena’s future shipping needs and possible solutions.  The Group is currently examining all options for St Helena, including whether a shipping service to Ascension Island will be viable. 

An invitation for Expressions of Interest to provide a service to St Helena will be issued to the international shipping market by the end of May 2014, with a view to opening discussions and negotiations with potential service providers in the second half of 2014.

SHG Shipping Officer Dax Richards commented:

“A post-Airport shipping service to St Helena is a complex undertaking – but one that is so vital to St Helena that we must make sure we get it right.  Having both Matt and Kedell on-Island over the past week has been extremely helpful and very timely – allowing them to assess and contribute to the intensifying efforts of the Working Group.  It has also strengthened the continuing working relationship between SHL and the Group – key to getting the right level of service for the Island at the right price.”

Kedell Worboys added:

“I very much support the collaborative approach taken by the Working Group and fully endorse Dax’s sentiments. Myself, Matt and the other SHL Directors look forward to assisting the Group as we work towards a solution.”

Further updates on post-Airport shipping will be released in due course.

SHG

8 April 2014

Jonathan Holland recently arrived on St Helena to take on the post of Head of HM Customs and Port Control, on a 3 year contract, replacing his predecessor Peter Henderson.

Jonathan will take on a dual role, managing the customs service and the port with a staff of around 20.  Jonathan will ensure that Jamestown Wharf complies with the International Ship and Port Facility (ISPS) Code, which prescribes responsibilities to Government, shipping companies, shipboard personnel, and port/facility staff.   

Jonathan commented:

“Jamestown wharf does have a management and security plan in place but this needs to be updated regularly to fall in line with day to day operations and international obligations.”

During his week on Island, Jonathan has been taking time to meet all key stakeholders and has observed operations, including the arrival of the RMS St Helena.

Jonathan added:

“There are a lot of things I would like to work on, but my intention is not to turn every process upside down.  I would like to incorporate change, but do it in an orderly and gradual fashion.  I am not inclined to fix things that are already working, effectively.

“I have been extremely impressed with the HM Customs and Port Control staff.  They have an overwhelming loyalty to the section and they are versatile in the job that they do, being in an administrative role and then transferring to a front line law enforcement service when the ship arrives.” 

As Jonathan’s experience includes working in the Caribbean and Middle East, he is no stranger to working in a remote location, with the constraints that involves.

He has 31 years’ experience in law enforcement and has worked in nine countries and territories including St Helena.  He spent 15 years in policing in the UK, moving on to Border Protection and Immigration.  Jonathan has also spent time in Iraq to train Police and Customs and Border Security personnel.  He also has experience working in the United States, Canada, Qatar and Abu Dhabi 

SHG

8 April 2014

Councillors Leslie Baldwin and Gavin Ellick are soon to represent St Helena at conferences in the UK. Councillor Baldwin will depart St Helena on Friday 16 May 2014 to attend the 44th British Isles and Mediterranean Region Annual Conference (BIMR Conference), this year hosted by the Wales Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, in Cardiff Bay from 27-30 May 2014.

The theme for this year’s BIMR Conference is ‘Equality of Access to Democracy’ and during the conference Councillor Baldwin will attend plenary sessions on various issues, including the Campaign for Women in Public Life, Bilingualism and the Role of Official Languages in Parliament, and Youth Parliaments and Engagement of Young Citizens in the Democratic Process.

Councillor Baldwin will also have the opportunity to participate in workshops based around the plenary sessions to discuss women in public life, official languages in Parliament and youth engagement.

On conclusion of the BIMR Conference, Councillor Baldwin will remain in the UK to attend the 63rd Westminster Seminar and Workshop, being held from 16-26 June in London. He will be joined for this conference by Councillor Gavin Ellick who departs St Helena on Thursday 5 June 2014.

The aim of the Seminar and Workshop is to explore Parliamentary democracy, practice and procedure within a Westminster-style framework – to enhance the capacity of Parliamentarians and Clerks. During the Seminar both Councillors Baldwin and Ellick will participate in various briefings, sessions and practical observations.

Topics include the Role of Parliament in Holding the Executive to Account, the relationship between Parliament and the Media, Representation and the Role of the MP in the Constituency, Standards, Privileges and Accountability and the Management and Administration of Parliament, including the work of the Speaker/Presiding Officer and the Commission. Councillors Baldwin and Ellick will return to St Helena in July.

Two photos are attached to this release.

SHG

8 April 2014

St Helena Island has a new Crown Counsel. Aina Hurley (photo attached) arrived to the Island on Monday 31 March 2014 and is here on a two year contract working in the Attorney General’s Chambers at the Castle.

Aina acts as a legal representative for the Government and her role will be to provide legal advice to SHG if a case is taken against it. She will also be prosecuting criminal cases working closely with the Attorney General and Solicitor General, other relevant Directorates and the St Helena Police Service.

Aina said: “I’m really enjoying my job so far and I’m very pleased that I’ve had the opportunity to come and work on St Helena. All the staff in the Attorney General’s Chambers have been very helpful and supportive and I’m looking forward in continuing my work here. I aim to do the job of being Crown Counsel to the very best of my ability. I also aim to do my job in a fair and just manner, and hope to be able to form good working relationships with various stakeholders on St Helena.”

Aina has previously worked as a Barrister in Ireland and studied Law at Dublin Trinity College. As part of a student exchange programme, Aina travelled to Atlanta, Georgia in America, spending a year studying at a Law School. She returned to Ireland and trained as a Barrister at the ‘Honourable Society of King’s Inn’ where she studied for a Law degree. Finally, after being trained by experienced Barristers, Aina worked as a self-employed Barrister in Dublin.

SHG

4 April 2014

Executive Council met today Tuesday 1 April to consider six items on the Open Agenda.

The first two items related to Government Landlord Housing – dealing with the sale of existing Landlord houses to tenants and the introduction of a new Housing Register and Allocations policy. Both papers had previously been before Executive Council and were taken back to the Social & Community Development Committee for further detailed work. Executive Council was pleased to agree both papers, and further details will be made available to those affected.

The third item was a request for a Variation Order relating to removal of land from the National Forest – in order to facilitate the relocation of the Fire Station. This issue had gone out for public consultation and no adverse comments were received. Therefore Executive Council endorsed the recommendation which allows for development permission now to be sought for the construction of the new Fire Station.

The next item was an Amendment to the Animal Diseases Regulations. Following the recent outbreak of Avian Cholera, it was noted that when these Regulations were last amended a Schedule had been omitted. A new section was also required to give the Agriculture Authority the power to establish temporary Quarantine areas. Executive Council agreed to the required Amendments.

The final two items on the Open Agenda were information papers on the Undertakings and Resolutions made at the two previous formal Legislative Council sessions. These will be tracked to ensure that appropriate actions are undertaken.

On the closed agenda there was a long and informative discussion on the issue of backyard slaughtering, which will be continued when further information has been gathered. 

The meeting ended at 1.15pm.

ExCo

1 April 2014