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Looking Ahead – Protecting St Helena
The St Helena Government (SHG), in partnership with Connect Saint Helena Ltd and JBA Consulting, invites all residents to take part in the public consultation for the island’s new Water Resource Management Plan (WRMP).
This important plan will guide how St Helena can secure reliable and sustainable water supplies for our homes, agriculture, businesses, and natural environment over the coming decades. It will explore:
•How water is currently supplied and used across the island;
•Options for improving storage, sourcing, and efficiency;
•Ways to strengthen our resilience to climate change and drought;
•Opportunities to protect our environment while meeting community needs.
Why Your Voice Matters
Water affects everyone on St Helena. Your local knowledge, ideas, and feedback are vital to shaping a plan that reflects our island’s priorities and requirements. By getting involved, you’ll help guide how water is managed and invested in to meet our current needs and the needs of future generations. Please hit the QR code below to complete our questionnaire and be part of securing water for St Helena.
How to Take Part
Join one of our community consultation events:
St Pauls: Kingshurst Community Centre– Tuesday 18th November 7pm -8pm
Longwood: Harford Community Centre – Wednesday 19th November 7pm – 8pm
Jamestown: Saint Helena Community College Hall – Thursday 20th November 7pm – 8pm
Consultation materials will also be available online and at key public venues, with opportunities to submit feedback in writing. Your input will help refine and evaluate the resourcing options being proposed before the plan is finalised later this year.
This project forms part of the £30 million Economic Development Investment Programme (EDIP), funded by the UK Government, supporting a sustainable future for St Helena.
11 November 2025
Chief Minister, Dr Rebecca Cairns-Wicks MBE, is due to depart St Helena on Saturday 15 November 2025, to travel to the UK to attend the annual Overseas Territories (OTs) Joint Ministerial Council (JMC).
The JMC takes place every year in London and is hosted by the UK Government. It brings together elected leaders and representatives from all the OTs, as well as UK Ministers, and provides the principal forum for political dialogue and consultation between the UK and the OTs.
The JMC is due to begin on 24 November 2025, with the main formal discussion meetings taking place between 26 and 27 November. The Chief Minister will also have a number of official engagements before and after the event itself. These engagements will include a bilateral meeting with Stephen Doughty, Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories and meetings with other UK Government Ministers, OT leaders and other representatives.
The Chief Minister will be joined by His Excellency the Governor Nigel Philips CBE and SHG UK Representative, Kedell Worboys MBE.
The Governor and the Chief Minister are due to arrive back on St Helena on Saturday 6 December. Whilst they are off-island, Tasha Harris, Head of the Governor’s Office, will be sworn in as Acting Governor and Minister Martin Henry will be appointed Deputy Chief Minister.
In speaking about her attendance at the JMC, the Chief Minister said:
“I am honoured to represent St Helena at my first UK Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council. This is the most important annual political event in the calendar for St Helena and all UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs). Bringing together UK Ministers and elected leaders from each Territory to discuss key issues, agree priorities, progress action and strengthen the partnership between the Territories and the UK Government. This is an important opportunity for our new Government to raise St Helena’s voice directly in the UK, to showcase St Helena’s progress and achievements over the last year, highlight our challenges, set out our plans for development and advocate for the support needed to build a more sustainable and resilient future for our island.”
11 November 2025
Recently, St Helena was nominated for ‘Most Desirable Island (World)’ at the 24th annual Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards. The results were announced yesterday at a special event held during the World Travel Market (WTM) in London.
While St Helena did not win this year, the nomination itself signifies St Helena’s growing reputation and positioning on the international tourism map.
The awards are voted for by thousands of well-travelled readers of the UK’s leading travel magazine, Wanderlust and St Helena Government would like to thank everyone locally and internationally who voted for St Helena.
Minister for Economic Development and Environment, Natural Resources and Planning, Karl Thrower, commented:
“Our nomination at the Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards confirms that the unique beauty, history, and genuine warmth of the St Helenian people resonate deeply with discerning travellers. It signals a growing appetite for unique, off-the-beaten-path destinations offering authentic, immersive experiences, which St Helena has in spades. We thank everyone for taking the time to vote for St Helena and hope we can call on your support for similar opportunities in future.”
Photos
Tourism Manager, Dianne Venning and Economic Development Officer, Marcella Mittens at awards ceremony.
#StHelena #WanderlustTravelAwards #ABreathOfFreshAir
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SHG
10 November 2025
The Safety Security and Home Affairs Portfolio is pleased to report that the skills and knowledge gained from training delivered by our Border Force colleagues in the UK earlier this year continue to enhance the capabilities of our Customs and Immigration Team.
Building on this training, and through close collaboration between Customs & Immigration, and the Royal St Helena Police, several items were successfully detained last weekend by Customs.
This achievement reflects the effectiveness of joint working and the commitment of all agencies involved.
In a small community island such as ours, working together is essential to ensure that we can manage our borders effectively and safeguard the interests of our people. These efforts demonstrate our shared responsibility to protect and serve our community.
The Roads Section would like to inform the public of revised closure dates and times for resurfacing work planned for the Tomb Road to Hutt’s Gate.
Please note the following key closure details:
| Schedule of Roadworks | |||
| Road Closures | Dates | Daily Closure Time | Diversions |
| Tomb Road to Hutt’s Gate | Tuesday 4 November to Sunday 9 November 2025 | 09:00 to 15:00 | The Dungeon via Gordon’s Post and Haul Road. |
| Monday 10 November to Thursday 13 November 2025 | Full closure from 09:00 on Mon 10 November to 15:00 Thurs 13 November 2025 | ||
These works will affect regular public transport routes and may impact Emergency Services response times during the closure hours. We are working to complete this project as quickly as possible to minimise disruption.
Please note that the full-time closures effective from Monday 10th November are necessary to enable the slurry to dry sufficiently in the current inclement weather conditions being experienced. Opening the road to vehicular traffic before the slurry layer has cured sufficiently increases the risk of damaging the new layer.
All motorists are advised to expect delays when travelling through or around these areas during working hours. Please exercise extreme caution and strictly follow all posted signage and instructions from on-site staff.
The Roads Section would like to thank the public in advance for their co-operation, patience and understanding as these essential improvements are carried out.
The Environment, Natural Resources and Planning Portfolio (ENRP) has announced key management decisions regarding the fishing of Grouper, Deepwater Bullseye, and Moray Eel (Conger) for the remainder of the 2025 fishing year. These decisions, effective from Friday 31 October 2025, follow an Advisory Board meeting held on 24 October 2025 with the Minister for Economic Development and ENRP, Karl Thrower, present virtually.
Precautionary Increase for Grouper
The updated management measures for Grouper reflect positive results from continued data collection and targeted monitoring. This work was conducted by the Marine and Fisheries Conservation Section (MFCS), in collaboration with the UK’s Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS).
A significant decline in abundance of Grouper required a reduction in the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) from 25 tonnes (equating to 20 tonnes commercial and 5 tonnes recreational) to 1.65 metric tonnes in 2024. This 1.65 tonnes was distributed equally between recreational fishers, with each licensee being able to catch 30 fish.
Further data collection over the past 2 years supports a precautionary increase of the TAC from 1.65 tonnes to 2.0 metric tonnes. ENRP has implemented a new, licence-neutral allocation system. Under this system, all previous Grouper landings are void, and each fishing vessel licence holder will receive an equal share of the remaining TAC, equivalent to 22 Grouper per licence.
Licence holders have the flexibility to land these fish under either their commercial or recreational licence. Furthermore, transfers of Grouper allocations between licence holders will be permitted, subject to mutual consent and pending approval from the Chief Fisheries Officer. The Marine Compliance and Enforcement Section (MCES) will process all transfer applications within 48 hours during regular office hours.
This adjustment applies only for the remainder of 2025. A comprehensive review of Grouper management options is scheduled for December 2025, with potential revisions to be implemented in 2026.
Deepwater Bullseye and Moray Eel
Effective 31 October 2025, the Chief Fisheries Officer has revoked the Fisheries Control Notice for Deepwater Bullseye, allowing commercial fishing for the species to immediately resume. Whilst no formal Total Allowable Catches will apply for Deepwater Bullseye or Moray Eel (Conger) for the remainder of 2025, ENRP strongly encourage all fishers to maintain sustainable fishing practices.
This interim approach reflects an improved understanding of recent fishing data and actual landings. Revised, evidence-based TACs for both species are expected to be introduced in 2026, following updated scientific advice from the CEFAS.
Next Steps and Acknowledgements
All fishing vessel licence holders have received formal documentation concerning these changes, including a variation to their fishing licences and a Grouper transfer form for allocation exchanges. The MCES has confirmed updated entitlements and conditions via correspondence to each licence holder.
ENRP expresses its appreciation to the fishing associations and individual licence holders for their continued co-operation, patience, and engagement throughout this review process. The constructive dialogue and feedback received has been invaluable in ensuring that these management measures support both environmental sustainability and the livelihoods and interests of local fishers.
#StHelena #Marine
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St Helena Government (SHG) and Airlink are pleased to announce the release of an 18-month forward flight schedule to St Helena.
Airlink will continue to operate its regular weekly Saturday service between Johannesburg (JNB) and St Helena (HLE), and monthly inter-island service between St Helena and Ascension, maintaining consistent connectivity. In addition, from mid-December 2026 through to the mid-March 2027, Airlink will introduce a seasonal Tuesday return service between Cape Town and St Helena, catering to increased travel demand during the southern summer months.
While the published schedule extends 18 months into the future, it is important to note that flights can only be booked up to 360 days in advance, in line with Airlink’s booking system. Travellers and tourism operators can therefore plan ahead with confidence, knowing flight timings and service frequencies beyond the current booking window.
The schedule provides visitors and residents with enhanced visibility of planned flight operations, offering greater confidence and flexibility when planning travel to one of the world’s most unique and remote destinations. This will also allow the island’s businesses, tour operators, and hospitality partners to better prepare for upcoming travel seasons.
On the announcement, Minister of Economic Development, Karl Thrower, said:
“This 18-month schedule demonstrates our continued collaboration with Airlink, and our shared commitment to making St Helena more accessible for everyone. This predictability is vital, especially for our community. We hope this extended view will be helpful for the local population, diaspora and visitors in their forward planning.”
Chief Commercial Officer of Airlink, Katherine Whelan, added:
“We are proud to continue connecting St Helena to the world through our Johannesburg and seasonal Cape Town services. The release of this extended schedule gives travellers the confidence to plan well in advance and supports the island’s ongoing tourism and economic development. St Helena is a remarkable destination, and Airlink is delighted to play a role in opening it up to more visitors.”
The full flight schedule for the period November 2025 to March 2027 can be seen on the SHG website or found on the Airlink website 362 days prior to departure.
Tickets for travel between South Africa and St Helena are available online, via the Airlink website and through all IATA travel agents.
Ticket bookings for residents of St Helena can be made through your local travel agent.
Tickets for travel on the inter-island service between St Helena and Ascension are available through the AIG Travel Office. Passengers can contact the Travel Office via email at flight.bookings@ascension.gov.ac or by telephone on +247 67000 ext 1111.
#StHelena #VisitStHelena #Airlink #FlyAirlink
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The cruise ship Azamara Pursuit will arrive in St Helena at 07:00 on Friday, 7 November 2025. There are approximately 777 passengers and approximately 380 crew on-board.
Approximately 301 passengers are booked on island tours. Tours will depart at 09:00 from Jamestown Wharf.
It is expected that the passengers will carry the following currencies: Euros, Dollars and GBP. Currency rate of exchange information is available from the Bank of St Helena and the Tourist Office.
There is a wide range of nationalities on-board, with the main nationalities being Australian, Canadian, British and American.
The Azamara Pursuit will depart St Helena around 18:00.
Temporary One-way Traffic System
The public are advised thata temporary one-way system will be in place in the direction of Gordons Post to Hutts Gate along Tomb Road on Friday, 7 November 2025, from 09:00 to 15:00.
Traffic wishing to travel in the opposite direction will be diverted from Hutts Gate to Gordons Post via The Dungeon, as per the map below:
The one-way system will be clearly signed and will be removed as soon as no longer required.
The one-way system has been put in place to safely manage traffic and ease congestion, given the anticipated increase in vehicle volumes due to the visit of the Azamara Pursuit cruise ship. This is the same process as has been put in place in previous years, and for the last cruise ship visit, and is likely to also be a feature during future cruise ship visits.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank the public for their understanding in this matter.
The St Helena Open Oceans Fund, a collaborative initiative between the St Helena Government (SHG) and ocean adventure company Wavysail, is pleased to announce the selection of its latest grant recipients for the upcoming Cape Town to St Helena to Cape Town voyage cycle. This ongoing partnership aims to promote inclusive yachting and grant members of the St Helena community an invaluable open-ocean sailing experience.
The two successful recipients for this third voyage cycle are:
- Cerys Joshua: Selected for the first leg, will travel from Cape Town to Jamestown. She is scheduled to depart Cape Town today, Friday, 31 October 2025.
- Isabella Scott: Chosen for the outbound journey, will sail from Jamestown back to Cape Town.
The voyages, which typically cost several thousand pounds, are entirely funded for the recipients through the St Helena Open Oceans Fund, removing cost as a barrier for islanders seeking this unique experience.
Cerys Joshua commented:
“Despite the bad weather and flight delays, I’m really looking forward to such an amazing adventure with the Wavysail crew. One thing that I’m really excited about, is the potential to see some really cool wildlife, and epic sunrises and sunsets!
I’d like to thank the Open Oceans Fund and St Helena Government, for such an amazing opportunity.”
Isabella Scott added:
“I would like to thank Wavysail and SHG. I am very grateful to be chosen for this sponsorship and look forward to learning and gaining experience in sailing from this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
About the Fund
Launched in 2023, the St Helena Open Oceans Fund leverages the longstanding relationship between SHG and Wavysail, a frequent visitor to the island. The grant provides a full placement on the yacht, including the option for recipients to stay for up to three nights in accommodation booked by Wavysail in Cape Town.
Eligibility and Future Applications
The grant is open to persons currently living on the island, as well as those who are part of St Helena’s diaspora, and applicants must be at least 18 years old by the time of departure.
Applications for future voyages can be made via self-nomination or by nominating someone else who would benefit from the experience.
To find out more about the St Helena Open Oceans Fund and to apply, please visit: https://bit.ly/3N83r66.
Photos
Cerys Joshua
Isabella Scott
Notes To Editors
Important Travel Conditions: As with any Wavysail experience, the grant recipient is responsible for covering and arranging their own travel to and from the arrival and departure points (e.g. flight back to St Helena from South Africa), as well as any hotels, meals, and expenses incurred off the boat.
Further Information: Full terms and conditions for the Open Oceans Fund are available online at www.wavysail.com/OpenOceans. Alternatively, contact Wavysail directly by email at info@wavysail.com.
#StHelena #OpenOceansFund #Wavysail
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The Emergency Planning Department would like to advise that the St Helena Airport along with the St Helena Government (SHG) First Responders will be conducting a major incident exercise on Wednesday, 12 November 2025.
This is a pre-planned training exercise to test emergency response procedures. During this time, members of the public may notice activity at Bradleys Camp and emergency vehicles (with blue lights) travelling between Bradleys Camp and the airport.
Please do not be alarmed — this exercise is not a real emergency.
Members of the public are kindly asked to stay away from the area if possible to allow the exercise to proceed safely and without disruption.
We thank you for your understanding and cooperation while this essential training takes place.