The law allows a voter who cannot attend the Polling Station due to:

• Absence from St Helena on Election Day, or
• Illness or physical incapacity

to appoint a person (a “Proxy”) to vote on his or her behalf.

The Proxy must be a person whose name is on the Electoral Register for the same Polling District as the sick or absent elector.  No person may act as Proxy for more than one sick or absent voter.

Appropriate forms are available from the Returning Officer (at 1 Main Street), the Customer Care Centre and the Library.  Completed forms must be submitted to the Returning Officer by 10am on Monday 15 July 2013, or earlier.

SHG

4 June 2013

Residents Urged to Conserve Water

The countdown to a partial water shutdown on St Helena continues as stored water levels remain exceptionally low. Consumption from the Red Hill Treatment Plant has reduced slightly (at 232 cubic metres today, compared with an average of roughly 400 cubic metres) and this is positive – we thank the public for stretching this precious resource. But stored levels still only give us about 6 days’ supply. 

Rainfall over the past few days has not raised levels of stored water in any of the Harpers reservoirs.

This weekend, we urge residents served by the Red Hill Treatment Plant to do all they can to use less water.  A leaflet – Your Top Ten Tips to Saving Water – is now available in local shops (see below).

The new long term weather forecast indicates only light, intermittent rainfall over the next couple of month, which is not good news.  So the Contingency Planning Group (CPG) is mobilising resources in anticipation of a possible shutdown of domestic water in:  Half Tree Hollow, Cowpath, Ladder Hill, Red Hill, Sapper Way, New Ground, Clay Gut, Pounceys, Kunjie Field, Scotland, Plantation, Cleughs Plain, Rosemary Plain, Francis Plain, Crack Plain and Guinea Grass.

This would see public water tanks at key locations in the affected areas, plus other public sources (for example, in Jamestown) to ensure that the public can access the water they need.

Specific sites for public water tanks are being identified and tanks deployed (an ongoing process). CPG has been discussing this and other matters with third parties, including merchants, retailers, Faith groups and Basil Read. Residents will no doubt be thinking of family and friends who might be vulnerable and may need help.

A Control Centre, which will be manned during the day, evenings and weekends, is now in place ready, should shutdown go ahead.

Finally, any reports of water wastage will be investigated by the Police.

Notes to Editors:

The public will wish to note that since November last year, St Helena has received only about a third of the rainfall it would normally expect – not at all like the seasonal norm.

The Island-wide hosepipe and sprinkler ban (imposed on Friday 24 May 2013) remains in place until further notice. All St Helena residents are reminded that they can now use water for domestic purposes only.

NOTE:  Customs Duty Exemption on Bottled Water and Water Containers:

Following public representations, a proposal was put to the Collector of Customs and to ExCo, that all bottled water and water containers be made exempt from Customs Duty.  The Acting Governor in Council agreed that from 30 May 2013, no Customs Duty would be payable on such imports from that date.   

It is strongly hoped that this reduction in Duty will result in a comparable reduction in the price of water sold by retailers, once the ship returns from Cape Town.  We wish to see the full 20% reduction passed on to customers. The price of water will be closely monitored by SHG. This exemption is for a temporary period, until drought concerns are lifted, and will be assessed by Customs on a ship by ship basis.

The CPG today also thanked the RMS for donating 4 pallets of bottled water as a further contingency measure

St Helena residents – particularly those in the problem areas – are urged to exercise real care and consideration when using water. A leaflet – Your Top Ten Tips to Saving Water – is now available at:

Public Library, Jamestown, Customer Service Centre, Jamestown, Health and Social Welfare Directorate, Upper Jamestown, and Consulate Hotel,

Plus Half Tree Hollow Supermarket, A & D’s Mini Mart, Half Tree Hollow, Andy’s Shop, Half Tree Hollow, MTB’s Pick and Pay, Half Tree Hollow, and Godfather’s Rock Club, Half Tree Hollow.

And Phillip John’s Shop, St Paul’s, McDaniel’s Shop, Cleugh’s Plain, New Ground Shop, Sydneyray’s Shop, Cow Path, and Red Hill Shop,

The leaflet reminds residents that they can save water in numerous ways, including:   

Not flushing the toilet on every occasion

• Using washing up water on the garden or vegetable patch
• Using the washing machine sparingly and only when full
• Taking a short shower instead of a bath – you can save up to 90 gallons of water a week
• Turning the tap off while brushing teeth – this could save 25 gallons of water a month
• Using a bowl when washing vegetables/fruit instead of using running water
• Checking your taps for leaks and fixing them – a small drip can amount to 20 gallons a day.

More water saving tips can be found online at http://www.thameswater.co.uk/home/540.htm

Residents not served by the Red Hill Treatment Plant may use water for agriculture if they are growing on a large scale for commercial purposes. Such residents should ask ENRD to answer any specific questions they have.

The use of fresh water on a small scale, such as on household vegetable patches, is prohibited throughout the Island.

SHG

31 May 2013

The countdown to a partial water shutdown on St Helena continues as stored water levels remain exceptionally low. The light rains over the past two days have helped very slightly but have not raised stored levels.

Consumption from the Red Hill Treatment Plant is disappointingly high at 373 cubic metres today, compared with a normal average of roughly 400 cubic metres. We must stretch this precious resource – please use less water in this area. Stored levels still only give us about 6 days’ supply.
The medium term weather forecast shows no substantial rainfall over the next few days, so the Contingency Planning Group (CPG) is progressing the plan for shutting off domestic water in specific areas if necessary. This will see water tanks at key locations in the Red Hill Treatment Plant area and other public sources (for example, in Jamestown) to ensure that the public can access the water they need.

The affected areas would be Half Tree Hollow, Cowpath, Ladder Hill, Red Hill, Sapper Way, New Ground, Clay Gut, Pounceys, Kunjie Field, Scotland, Plantation, Cleughs Plain, Rosemary Plain, Francis Plain, Crack Plain and Guinea Grass.

Specific sites for public water tanks are being identified and tanks deployed (an ongoing process). CPG has been discussing this and other matters with third parties, including merchants, retailers, Faith groups and Basil Read.

Residents in the affected areas will now want to consider whether they have suitable clean containers to collect water, and will no doubt also be thinking of family and friends who might be vulnerable and needing help. If we have to take the step of shutting off supplies, we have been examining phasing options.

A Control Centre, which will be manned during the day, evening and weekends, has now been assembled and systems are being put in place should actual shut down happen.

Some specific reports have been received about water wastage, which are now being investigated (principally by the Police). We urge the public to continue to think very carefully about their water usage.
The public will wish to note that since November last year, St Helena has received only about a third of the rainfall it would normally expect – not at all like the seasonal norm.

A water conservation leaflet will soon be available from Health and Social Welfare, the Customer Service Centre and various other outlets, including local shops. Further details will follow.

Notes to Editors:
The Island-wide hosepipe and sprinkler ban (imposed on Friday 24 May 2013) remains in place until further notice. All St Helena residents are reminded that they can now use water for domestic purposes only.
St Helena residents – particularly those in the problem areas – are urged to exercise real care and consideration when using water.
Residents are reminded that they can save water by:
• Not flushing the toilet on every occasion
• Using washing up water on the garden or vegetable patch
• Using the washing machine sparingly and only when full
• Taking a short shower instead of a bath – you can save up to 90 gallons of water a week
• Turning the tap off while brushing teeth – this could save 25 gallons of water a month
• Using a bowl when washing vegetables/fruit instead of using running water
• Checking your taps for leaks and fixing them – a small drip can amount to 20 gallons a day.

More water saving tips can be found online at http://www.thameswater.co.uk/home/540.htm
Residents not served by the Red Hill Treatment Plant may use water for agriculture if they are growing on a large scale for commercial purposes. Such residents should ask ENRD to answer any specific questions they have.
The use of fresh water on a small scale, such as on household vegetable patches, is prohibited throughout the Island.

The water storage situation at Harpers remains severe.

The Contingency Planning Group includes members from Connect SH Ltd, Health and Social Welfare, ENRD, the Police and other senior SHG officials.

Leaks in mains supplies remain a priority and any problems should be reported promptly to Connect Saint Helena Ltd on telephone 2255 during working hours, or 2522 out of hours.

SHG
29 May 2013

All employers on St Helena are reminded that a Minimum Wage for all employees will come into force on 1 June 2013.
The hourly minimum wage rates agreed by Executive Council on 26 February 2013 are:

• £2.30 per hour for all employees having attained the age of 18 years;

• £1.45 per hour for all young people having attained the age of 16 and 17 years.

Under the Employment Rights ordinance 2010, employers must from 1 June 2013 ensure their employees are paid at a rate that is at least the minimum rate they are entitled to receive.

SHG
30 May 2013