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Legislative Council have today voted in a new Chief Minister for St Helena. Initially there were several expressions of interest for this role, however after considerable discussion among all Elected Members, only one expression of interest remained. Today the Honourable Dr Rebecca Cairns-Wicks received the unanimous support of all Elected Members to be the island’s new Chief Minister. Elected Members take this opportunity to congratulate Dr Rebecca Cairns-Wicks and to reiterate their support for her as the Chief Minister.
The inaugural meeting of St Helena Legislative Council will take place at 10am on Wednesday, 10 September 2025, in the Council Chambers.
The meeting will be broadcast live via South Atlantic Media Services (SAMS) Radio 1.
The Order Paper, can be viewed on the SHG website at: https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/st-helena/government/legislative-council/order-papers/.
The Post and Customer Services Centre (PCSC) would like to inform customers that, due to the low customer numbers the PCSC will close on alternate Saturdays on a trial basis.
This will take effect from Saturday, 13 September 2025 to Saturday, 22 November 2025.
An opening hours schedule will be posted on the notice board outside the PCSC.
Thanks are extended in advance to the public for their co-operation.
Revised Saturday Opening Hours
| Closed | Open |
| 13 September 2025 | 20 September 2025 |
| 27 September 2025 | 4 October 2025 |
| 11 October 2025 | 18 October 2025 |
| 25 October 2025 | 1 November 2025 |
| 8 November 2025 | 15 November 2025 |
| 22 November 2025 | 29 November 2025 |
His Excellency the Governor extends sincere thanks to everyone who took part in the General Election held on Wednesday, 3 September 2025.
A total of 1,147 valid votes were cast, representing 56% of those eligible to vote. This reflects the continuing commitment of the community to St Helena’s democratic process.
The Governor extends congratulations to the 12 candidates elected to serve as Members of the Legislative Council and appreciation to all who stood for election, contributing to open debate and providing meaningful choice for voters.
Thanks are also extended to the Returning Officer, election officials, presiding officers, poll clerks, counting staff and volunteers whose professionalism ensured the election was conducted smoothly and transparently, and to those in the community who supported others to attend the polls.
The General Election is a reminder of the importance of civic responsibility and the role each person plays in shaping the island’s future.
#StHelena #GeneralElection
www.facebook.com/StHelenaGovt/
The public are advised that Customs, Immigration, and Port Control will begin relocating from Customs House at the Wharf to the new Rupert’s Cargo Facility starting Monday, 08 September 2025.
Services in Jamestown will continue as normal until the move is complete; however, please note there may be some disruptions during the transition. Staff will also have limited access to email and telephone communications during this period.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your patience and understanding.
Further updates and information will be shared as the relocation progresses.
SHG
05 September 2025
The Education, Skills and Employment Portfolio (ESE) today announced that the reorganisation of the primary school structure, which will create two new schools dedicated to Key Stage 1 (KS1) and Key Stage 2 (KS2), will begin earlier than planned. The transition will now start in January 2026 instead of the original date of September 2026.
This change is necessary to ensure the safety of all students and staff during extensive renovations at the future school sites Harford Primary School and St Paul’s Primary School, which were agreed earlier this year. Construction on this scale cannot be safely completed with pupils on-site, and the revised timeline allows the contractors to efficiently carry out this crucial work.
A Phased Plan for a Smooth Transition
To determine the best approach for the reorganisation, the ESE Portfolio carefully explored several temporary options, including using community centres and office buildings. However, these spaces were not suitable due to scheduling conflicts and the significant cost and time required to make them fit to meet educational standards. The ESE also considered relocating students to other schools, including the secondary school.
Through this detailed analysis, one clear option emerged: introducing the new KS1 and KS2 model for all primary-aged children from January 2026. This reorganisation will take place in three phases to minimise disruption to learning and limit the number of moves for students and staff.
Phase I: January 2026 – Launch Preparations
- Building work will begin at the KS1 site (Harford Primary School).
- All KS1 students from the three existing primary schools will relocate to the St Paul’s Primary School site.
- All KS2 students will relocate to the Pilling Primary School site.
This approach allows all children to remain together with their friends during the renovations and provides valuable time for staff training and planning.
Phase II: September 2026 – KS1 School Launch
- The new KS1 School will officially open at the renovated Harford Primary School site.
- KS2 students will remain at Pilling Primary School while renovations begin on their future school site.
Phase III: March 2027 – KS2 School Launch
- Following the completion of works, the new KS2 School will officially launch at the renovated St Paul’s Primary School site.
Our Commitment to Students and Families
We understand that this change may bring concern and will work closely with the community during this period. We know this impacts many families, from daily routines to transport arrangements. The ESE Portfolio is actively working behind the scenes on all logistical details to ensure a seamless transition.
The safety, learning, and well-being of our students remain our top priority. We will ensure ample time is given before January 2026 to help prepare them for the upcoming changes.
As part of our commitment to keeping the public informed, we are launching a communications campaign called ‘Together We Thrive: One journey. One island. One future.’ We encourage all parents and community members to stay engaged by looking out for updates online, in the media, and through the primary schools.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the ESE Portfolio at info@sainthelena.edu.sh.
#StHelena #Education #TogetherWeThrive:Onejourney.Oneisland.Onefuture
www.facebook.com/StHelenaGovt/
Returning Officer, Carol Henry, this morning, Thursday 4 September 2025, announced the results of Polling Day for the General Election 2025 and has accordingly declared that the following candidates have been duly elected to serve as Members of the St Helena Legislative Council:
List in alphabetical order of surname
Clint Richard Beard: of Market Street, Jamestown
Gillian Ann Brooks: of 25 Barracks Square, Jamestown
Rebecca Elizabeth Cairns-Wicks: of “Mount Pleasant”, Sandy Bay
Ronald Arthur Coleman: of Silver Hill, Levelwood
Corinda Sebastiana Stuart Essex: of “Villa Ajaccio”, Napoleon Street, Jamestown
Martin Dave Henry: of Tern Drive, Half Tree Hollow
Dennis Karl Leo: of Half Way, St Pauls
Robert Charles Midwinter: of “Vasco Da Gama House”, Tern Drive, Half Tree Hollow
Derek Franklin Thomas: of Cow Path, Half Tree Hollow
Julie Dorne Thomas: of Gordon’s Post, Alarm Forest
Karl Gavin Thrower: of The Flag, Levelwood
Andrew James Turner: of Burgh House, Barren Ground, Blue Hill
The Count took place from just before 22:00 last night to approximately 05:00 this morning.
The votes awarded to each candidate were as follows:
List in alphabetical order of surname
Colin Douglas Bargo: 309
Clint Richard Beard: 407
Gillian Ann Brooks: 543
Mark Alan Brooks: 352
Cruyff Gerard Buckley: 314
Rebecca Elizabeth Cairns-Wicks: 823
Ronald Arthur Coleman: 389
Jeffrey Robert Ellick: 326
Corinda Sebastiana Stuart Essex: 730
Melissa Kim Fowler: 306
Anthony Arthur Green: 333
Martin Dave Henry: 541
Elizabeth Knipe: 174
Cyril Kenneth Leo: 217
Dennis Karl Leo: 644
Robert Charles Midwinter: 441
Derek Pedley: 326
Derek Franklin Thomas: 629
Julie Dorne Thomas: 403
Kevin Adrian Thomas: 128
Karl Gavin Thrower: 650
Andrew James Turner: 761
Patrick Arthur Williams: 59
In total 1147 people cast valid votes. This represents approximately 56% of those eligible to vote – compared with 60% in 2021, 49% in 2017, 55% in 2013, 58% in 2009, and 47% in 2005.
There were four invalid Ballot Papers.
#StHelena #GeneralElection2025 #TheResults
The closing date for expressions of interest in the roles of Speaker and Deputy Speaker has been extended to Monday, 8 September 2025.
This extension is to accommodate the recent provision enabling public officers to stand for election to these roles.
We encourage all interested and eligible individuals to submit their expressions of interest by the new deadline.
Interested persons are encouraged to contact the Legislative Council Office on telephone: 22590 or via email: morgan.thomas-henry@sainthelena.gov.sh or Marita.Bagley@sainthelena.gov.sh for further details and to register your name by 16:00 on Monday, 8 September 2025.
St Helena’s Emergency Services hosted a successful Open Day on Friday, 22 August 2025, at the Sea Rescue Base in Rupert’s. The free, family-friendly event drew a large crowd, providing the community with a unique look at the island’s dedicated emergency responders and the vital work they do.
The event brought together the Ambulance Service, Sea Rescue, Royal St Helena Police, Fire and Rescue, HM Prison, the Joint Emergency Services Control Centre (JESCC), GIS, and the Medical Laboratory Team. Attendees of all ages were able to interact with the teams and participate in a range of engaging activities.
Highlights of the day included:
- Live demonstrations by the Police, Ambulance, Fire, and Sea Rescue teams, showcasing their skills in action.
- Interactive stalls that allowed the public to get hands-on with equipment and learn about each service’s capabilities.
- A challenging obstacle course that tested participants’ skills.
- The fire truck pull challenge, a test of strength and teamwork that drew a crowd of spectators.
- A multi-agency demonstration that illustrated how the services work together seamlessly during a real-life emergency.
In addition to the demonstrations, the Medical Laboratory Team was on hand to share information and encourage blood donations, an essential life supporting service for the island’s community.
Deputy Emergency Planning Manager, Anel O’Bey, commented:
“On behalf of the Emergency Planning Department, SHG Blue Light Services and supporting agencies we would like to thank all those who attended and participated in the recent Multi-Agency Emergency Services Open Day!
Your presence at this event underscored the vital partnership between our emergency services and the community we proudly serve. We hope you gained valuable insights into the rigorous training, state-of-the-art equipment, and collaborative spirit that define our daily operations. From live demonstrations of rescue and respond techniques to interactive exhibits showcasing individual services, the day was designed to foster a deeper understanding of how we work together to ensure your safety and well-being.
We are particularly grateful for those who assisted us in the lead up and on the day. Special thanks goes out to Solomon & Company, St Helena Tourism, New Horizon Youth Club, St Helena Secondary School, Jamestown Community Centre, Johnny Isaac Contractors, Dan’s Bakery, Uncle John’s Ice Cream, Colin Peters, Debbie Yon, Port Control and the SHG Communications Hub.
The feedback we received was overwhelmingly positive, and we were inspired by your enthusiasm and support. Events like these are invaluable for strengthening community ties, promoting safety awareness, and encouraging the next generation of first responders.
Thank you once again for your participation and unwavering support. We look forward to continuing our collaboration and serving you with the highest level of dedication and professionalism.”
Photos
The Emergency Services Team
Fire and Rescue Service Stall
GIS Stall
Participants were invited to board the Sea Rescue boat
Rescue demonstration
Ambulance Team
Members of the Sea Rescue Team
Members of the Royal St Helena Police
Members of the Police and GIS Teams
A participant engaging with Police equipment
The Fire Truck Pull Challenge, carried out by the Ambulance Team
Children in the audience were also given a turn to attempt the Fire Truck Pull Challenge
The Medical Laboratory Team
#StHelena #EmergencyServices #OpenDay
Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Legislative Council
Expressions of Interest are invited from members of the public to fill the vacant office of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Legislative Council. Interested persons must be registered as an Elector on the Register of Electors which came into effect from 1 July 2025.
The Speaker presides over meetings of Legislative Council and ensures the observance of rules of order. The Speaker is non-voting. The Speaker is also the President of the local Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. Another activity of the Speaker is to oversee the Complaints procedure for conducting investigations into complaints made against Elected Members, in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Members of Legislative Council.
In the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker assumes these responsibilities.
In accordance with Section 55 of the St Helena, Ascension and Tristan Da Cunha Constitution, both positions are elected by Elected Members of Council; this election will take place at the first sitting of Legislative Council, soon after the General Election 2025. Two different elected members must propose and second any eligible person who has put themselves forward for either position. That means, to be considered for one of the two positions, two different elected members have to support you. The Speaker and Deputy Speaker will take up office immediately following his/her election.
Interested persons are encouraged to contact the Legislative Council Office on telephone: 22590 or via email: morgan.thomas-henry@sainthelena.gov.sh or Marita.Bagley@sainthelena.gov.sh for further details and to register your name by 16:00 on Monday, 8 September 2025.