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Honourable Maureen Thompson and Honourable Connie Johnson have been elected as the new Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively.
To be elected as Speaker a candidate is required to secure a total of seven votes. On the first day of voting, none of the candidates met this threshold and after five rounds of voting, there was a tie between the final two candidates. In accordance with Standing Order 5, Rule 25(b), the election for the Speaker was therefore deferred to the following day. The Speaker and Deputy Speaker are both important roles and this provision allows Elected Members additional time to reflect on their decision, promoting a more thoughtful and deliberate outcome.
In a situation such as this, Standing Order 5 Rule 25(b) also requires that a fresh election be held. In other words, unless one or more of the six candidates who put themselves forward for election as Speaker withdraws, the election should start again with the same six candidates.
Accordingly on the second day, a fresh election was held for the Speaker, and the election for the Deputy Speaker was also conducted. This re-commencement of the election process ensures complete transparency and fairness for all candidates, reinforcing the democratic principles of the council.
The Honourable Maureen Thompson, Speaker, commented:
“I am honoured to be elected as Speaker and look forward to serving the Legislative Council and the people we represent with diligence and impartiality.”
The Honourable Connie Johnson, the newly elected Deputy Speaker, added,
“I am committed to supporting the Speaker and the work of the Legislative Council.”
The Legislative Council extends its congratulations to both Honourable Thompson and Honourable Johnson and looks forward to their leadership.
#StHelena #LegislativeCouncil
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St Helena Airport and Emergency Planning are seeking enthusiastic volunteers to participate in a major incident exercise to simulate an aircraft emergency.
The outdoor exercise will take place on Wednesday, 12 November 2025, from 08:00 to 13:30 at the St Helena Airport.
Volunteers are needed for the following roles:
- Role playing of injured passengers
- Distraught family members and other bystanders
Please be aware that this event may be emotionally and psychologically demanding for volunteers.
Lunch will be provided and transport on request.
Volunteers interested in this unique opportunity can contact Marc Fowler by telephone on 25180, or by email at marc.fowler@sthelenaairport.aero. Alternatively, contact Anel O’Bey on 25052 or email anel.obey@helanta.co.sh.
Advice relating to entry of the St Helena Airport and clothing requirements will be discussed when volunteers make contact.
A large shark was first sighted inshore on the weekend commencing 22 August 2025, specifically along the leeward/northern side of the island. A further sighting of a shark was seen around 06:00 on Tuesday, 9 September 2025, at the back of the moorings. Maritime, along with Marine Fisheries and Conservation Section continue to monitor the situation.
As a precautionary measure, we ask everyone to remain extra careful and vigilant when in or near the water.
Important Guidance:
- For swimmers: Any activities taken in the water are at your own risk
- For mariners and fishermen: Please remain vigilant when operating your vessels and avoid close contact with any marine life.
- For everyone: If a shark is spotted, do not approach or interact with it. Instead, observe from a safe distance and report the details (location, time, estimated size) to the contact below.
It is important for us to identify the species involved in this sighting so that we can assess any potential threat levels to public safety and understand the ecological implications. Accurate information will help us make informed decisions about precautionary measures and long-term marine management.
Report sightings to Marine Fisheries and Conservation Officer, Adam Riggs, by telephone on 25966 or via email through adam.riggs@sainthelena.gov.sh.
When reporting, please provide as much detail as possible, including:
- Location and time of sighting
- Estimated size and behaviour
- Photographs or video (if safe to obtain)
Fishers and members of the public are reminded to discard fish waste responsibly:
- Rock fishers: Take waste inland and dispose of it in a bin.
- Boat fishers: Discard fish waste at least one mile out from the shore.
Discarding fish waste close to the coast can attract sharks closer to shore to feed, increasing the risk near popular areas such as James Bay and Rupert’s Bay. This can impact the safety of recreational activities such as swimming, snorkelling, and diving.
The safety of our community is our highest priority, and we will provide further updates as soon as more information is available.
The St Helena Community College, ELC and Career Access St Helena will close their offices from 12:00 to 16:00 on Friday, 12 September 2025 .
Normal hours will resume on Monday, 15 September 2025.
The Education, Skills and Employment Portfolio thanks the public for their understanding and apologises for any inconvenience this may cause.
Please be advised that the Immigration Section will have revised opening hours from Thursday, 11 September to Monday, 15 September 2025.
During this period, the section will be open to the public from 09:00 to 12:00 only on the following dates:
- Thursday, 11 September 2025
- Friday, 12 September 2025
- Monday, 15 September 2025
These temporary changes are necessary to facilitate our move from the Jamestown office to our new location in Rupert’s.
Normal business hours will resume at 08:30 on Tuesday, 16 September 2025.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we make this important transition.
The inaugural meeting of the newly elected Legislative Council took place in the Council Chamber today. Local media, members of the public and Public Service officials attended to witness the first formal meeting under the new elected government.
The proceedings were opened with the entry of the President, His Excellency Governor Nigel Phillips CBE, followed by Prayers and the Administration of Oaths where each Member was called forward to take before the Governor the Oath of Allegiance and Due Execution of Office of Member of the Legislative Council.
Governor Phillips presided over the meeting.
In his opening Address (full copy) HE the Governor said:
“It is a great pleasure to welcome you today as you take your seats in this Chamber, having earned the trust of the people of St Helena through democratic election. Whether you are returning to Council or joining it for the first time, your presence here reflects a commitment to public service that deserves recognition and respect.
The work of this Council is central to the life of our democracy. As elected representatives, you are entrusted with three core responsibilities: to make legislation that services the long-term interests of the island; to scrutinise the work of government with fairness and rigour; and to represent the voices, concerns, and aspirations of your constituents.”
HE the Governor concluded by saying:
“I recognise that the months ahead will bring challenges. There will be difficult decisions, competing priorities, and moments of disagreement. But I also know that this Council brings together a wealth of experience, insight, and commitment. If you approach your work with humility, with a willingness to listen, and with a focus on the common good, you will serve this island well.
Let me close by thanking each of you for stepping forward to serve. The people of St Helena have placed their confidence in you. I wish you wisdom, strength, and unity as you begin this important work.”
Elections then followed for the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Chief Minister:
At this point the Attorney General presented a motion to suspend Standing Orders concerning the election of the Speaker and to agree to the adoption of alternative procedures to allow for all candidates to be nominated and seconded en bloc. The motion was supported unanimously.
Speaker
Six nominations were received for the role of Speaker. However after five rounds of voting, votes were tied and a motion was agreed that the elections for Speaker and Deputy Speaker would be adjourned.
Chief Minister
There was one nomination for Chief Minister which resulted in the Honourable Dr Rebecca Cairns-Wicks being elected as the second Chief Minister for St Helena.
Legislative Council will resume tomorrow, 11 September, the main items of business will be the election of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker.
Photo
New Chief Minister, Dr Rebecca Cairns-Wicks
#StHelena #LegislativeCouncil #ChiefMinister
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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