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The public are reminded that the playground sites at Longwood Green and Half Tree Hollow remain active construction areas as part of the ongoing Economic Development Investment Programme (EDIP) Playgrounds Project. Security fencing has been erected around  these areas, and the public are asked to stay outside of these fenced zones and strictly adhere to all site signage. 

This reminder is necessary as some motorists have been driving through the playground area at Longwood Green, which is not only dangerous but could also result in damage to the equipment and facilities currently being installed.

These new playground facilities have been made possible through significant planning and investment under the EDIP, and the continued support and cooperation of the community is appreciated as the project progresses towards competition.

SHG

06 March 2026

Please be advised that the following Education, Skills and Employment Portfolio establishments will be closed on the 06 March 2026 from 12:30 to 16:00:

•The Education Learning Centre

•St Helena Community College

•Career Access

•The Public Library .

The Public Library will resume normal working hours on Saturday, 07 March 2026.

SHG

05 March 2026

St Helena Government (SHG) is keen to hear from organisations who have an interest in organising this year’s St Helena’s Day celebrations – a chance to celebrate and showcase our island’s community spirit and unique culture.

As the organising body, you will have the creative freedom to design an authentic St Helenian experience for the community. While no funding is available for setup or promotion, all proceeds raised on the day will be yours to keep, making it an excellent opportunity to support your organisation’s goals and continuing the St Helena’s Day tradition.

If your organisation would like to take this on, please contact Culture and Sport Champion, Councillor Dennis Leo at dennis.leo@parliament.sh or Charities Champion, Councillor Ronald Coleman at ronald.coleman@parliament.sh by 18 March 2026 to register your interest.

A meeting of the Police and Crime Panel will take place on Thursday, 05 March 2026, from 13:00 to 14:30. This meeting will be held at the conference room in Customs House, Jamestown, and will be live streamed via the SHG YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@sthelenagovernment1638

The agenda will include a Police and Crime Panel report from the Temporary Director of Police and a question and answer (QA) section from the panel.

The report summary can be found on the SHG Website: The Royal St Helena Police Service | St Helena Government

For more information, please contact the Temporary Director of Police, Kevin Weir, by telephone on (00290) 22626 or by email through kevin.weir@sainthelena.gov.sh

The public are advised that the road between Scotland Roundabout and PEAKS Enterprise will be closed tomorrow, Wednesday, 4 March 2026, from 09:00 to 15:00.

This closure is to allow the Forestry Section, ANRD, to trim trees away from the high voltage lines along this road.

All emergency vehicles will be granted access throughout the closure period.

We thank you for your continued cooperation and apologise for any inconvenience this closure may cause.

The Immigration and Customs office at Liberation House in Ruperts will be closed to the public tomorrow Wednesday 4th March 2026 to accommodate staff training. Normal operations will resume on Thursday 5th March 2026.

We thank you for your continued cooperation and apologise for any inconvenience this closure may cause.

A meeting of Executive Council (ExCo) was held on 24 February 2026.
The agenda for the meeting was as follows:

CLOSED AGENDA

  1. Declaration of Interest
  2. Confirmation of Minutes of the Executive Council Meeting held on 27 January 2026
  3. Matters Arising from Minutes of 27 January 2026
  4. Confirmation of Minutes of the Executive Council Meeting held on 6 February 2026
  5. Matters Arising from Minutes of 6 February 2026
  6. Ship Registry Policy, 2026 (ExCo Memo 03/2026)
  7. Policy for Safety of Large St Helena Registered Fishing Vessels and Foreign Registered Fishing Vessels and Regulations, 2026 (ExCo Memo 04/2026)
  8. Income Tax and Customs Duty Changes (Alcohol, Tobacco, and Vaping Products), 2026 (ExCo Memo 05/2026)
  9. Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2025/2026 (ExCo Memo 06/2026)
  10. Ministerial Updates on significant issues

NB Items marked (*) are commercially sensitive and depending on the subject matter, might not be referred to in the top lines.

The following items were considered:

2 – 5. Confirmation of Minutes and Matters Arising from the Minutes
Executive Council confirmed and signed off the minutes of the meetings held on 27 January and 6 February 2026.

  1. Ship Registry Policy, 2026 (ExCo Memo 03/2026)

    Executive Council approved the amendments to the Ship Registry Policy 2024, confirming that the publication of the Ships Registry Policy, 2026 will supersede all previous versions. The agreed will be used to inform the drafting of Ship Registry Regulations under section 16(1) of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance, 2021 (MSO).
  2. Policy for Safety of Large St Helena Registered Fishing Vessels and Foreign Registered Fishing Vessels and Regulations, 2026 (ExCo Memo 04/2026)

Executive Council approved the Policy for the Safety of Large St Helena Registered Fishing Vessels and Foreign Registered Fishing Vessels and approved the Merchant Shipping (Safety of Large St Helena Registered Fishing Vessels and Foreign Registered Fishing Vessels) Regulations, 2026 to take effect on publication.

This will provide a modern regulatory framework for the survey and certification of large fishing vessels which are, or could be, registered on St Helena’s Ship Registry. As well as address lacunae in the provision for such regulatory framework in St Helena, as previously identified, and observed during the 2025 International Maritime Organisation (IMO) III Code Proxy Audit.

Executive Council also requested that a cost benefit analysis of the Ships Registry be undertaken.

  1. Income Tax and Customs Duty Changes (Alcohol, Tobacco, and Vaping Products), 2026 (ExCo Memo 05/2026)

Income Tax
Executive Council was asked to consider options for changes to the current income tax threshold of £7,000 from 01 April 2026. Executive Council discussed the options at length, noting the budgetary impact.

Customs Duty Changes (Alcohol, Tobacco, and Vaping Products)
Executive Council was asked to consider and advise on proposals for changes to the duty on alcohol, tobacco and introduction of an import duty on vaping products from 1 April 2026.

  1. Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2025/2026 (ExCo Memo 06/2026)
    Executive Council approved:

a) the Supplementary Appropriation (2025/26) Bill, 2026 to be printed, published, and presented as Government Business at the next formal meeting of Legislative Council scheduled for 19 March 2026; and
b) Subject to Legislative Council approving the Supplementary Appropriation (2025/26) Bill, 2026, Executive Council was asked to consider and advise whether the Governor should approve the Withdrawal Warrant provided to fund the supplementary appropriation.

The Supplementary Appropriation (2025/26) Bill, 2026 will be presented to Legislative Council next month.

  1. Ministerial Updates on significant issues
    Executive Council discussed updates on:
    • The Connect Saint Helena Ltd Utilities Licence; and
    • the Airport Major Incident, considerations for transparent investigation.

Please be advised that the following scheduled road closures have been postponed due to weather conditions:

Both routes will remain OPEN today and are expected to remain open tomorrow. We plan to resume work as soon as weather conditions improve.

Ascension Island Mobile (AIM) has recently launched mobile phone services on Ascension Island. The priority during the network launch has been to ensure that the local island network is up-and-running in advance of Sure South Atlantic exiting on 28 February 2026. There will be some disruption to international calling from Sunday, 1 March. During the transition period, residents in St Helena are advised that residents in Ascension Island may not be able to make or receive international telephone calls or send international SMS (text messages) using landline or mobile voice services.

Telecoms operators internationally can route phone calls to Ascension Island. AIM recognises the importance of maintaining affordable routes of communication and is actively working with Sure South Atlantic and other global partners to put in place the necessary arrangements as soon as possible.

As international dialling arrangements may vary by country and provider, callers are advised to contact the intended recipient in advance to confirm the correct number to dial from outside Ascension Island.

To stay connected, residents are encouraged to use Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and social media messaging services as temporary alternative means of communication. Applications such as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger should continue to function and can be used for voice calls, video calls and messaging, subject to internet availability.

#StHelena #Telecoms

www.facebook.com/StHelenaGovt/

St Helena is likely to experience a north-westerly swell from midday, Saturday, 28 February 2026, resulting in unsettling sea conditions in both James and Rupert’s Bay.

Boat owners are advised to ensure their vessels are securely moored during this period.

Swimmers should exercise extreme caution when entering the water in James and Rupert’s Bay and refrain from using life rings and other lifesaving equipment for recreational swimming.

Vehicle owners are advised to avoid parking near the rails on the seafront and individuals are asked to use caution when in close proximity to the railings due to the potential risk of wave overspray and associated hazards.

The Emergency Planning Department will continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide further updates as necessary.

SHG

27 February 2026