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The St Helena Government (SHG) is pleased to announce the launch of a public consultation on the proposed Communications Bill 2025, which aims to modernise the island’s telecommunications regulatory framework to support digital transformation and economic growth.
Modernising St Helena’s Digital Infrastructure
The Communications Bill 2025 will replace the outdated Telecommunications Ordinance 1989 and establish a modern regulatory framework essential for maximising the benefits of the Equiano fibre optic cable connection that was activated in October 2023.
Minister for Treasury and Economic Development, Mark Brooks said:
“This legislation represents a crucial step in St Helena’s digital journey, with the island now connected to high-speed fibre, we need an appropriate legal framework to ensure these benefits reach all residents and businesses while supporting economic development. I thank the public for their patience while officers have been working hard to review and update the new Communications Ordinance. I encourage everyone to engage with our team to help ensure this new legal framework meets the needs of all.”
The Bill implements the Policy for Communications, Networks and Services, approved by the Executive Council in 2020 and reaffirmed in 2024, focusing on a wide range of issues including:
- Communications Regulator – Establishing an independent regulator to oversee compliance, investigate breaches, and ensure licensees act in customers’ best interests
- Universal Service Obligation – Guaranteeing access to communication services island-wide
- Consumer Safeguards – Introducing quality of service standards, complaint procedures, and privacy protections
- Price Controls – Balancing affordability for consumers with fair returns for service providers
- Spectrum Management – Creating effective procedures for managing electromagnetic spectrum and licensing radiocommunications
The consultation seeks feedback on whether the draft legislation accurately reflects the previously approved policy objectives and how implementation might affect stakeholders.
The consultation document and draft Bill are available on the Public Consultation page on the SHG website at https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/government/public-consultation/.
The consultation period will end onWednesday 16 April 2025. Any questions or views on the draft Communications Bill 2025 may be submitted to Portfolio Assistant, Alexandria Thomas, via email through Alexandria.Thomas@sainthelena.gov.sh.
Following the consultation, responses will be reviewed by the Attorney General’s Chambers, with necessary amendments made before the Bill proceeds to the Legislative Assembly. The government aims to enact the legislation by June 2025.
Notes to Editors
- The Policy for Communications Networks and Services was first approved in October 2020 following public consultation. The policy can be found on the Public Information, Reports and Policies page at https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/documents/final-communications-networks-and-services-policy-october-2020/.
- The Equiano cable connection in October 2023 has already begun transforming internet services on the island.
- Further information about St Helena’s Sustainable Economic Development Strategy is available at https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/documents/Sustainable-Economic-Development-Strategy-2023-2033.
#StHelena #DraftCommunicationsBill2025 #PublicConsultation
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On 21 January 2025, Executive Council approved the Financial Services Regulation Policy 2025. The Financial Services Regulation Policy aims to modernise selected parts of our financial services regulatory framework. It is driven by the Sustainable Economic Development Strategy (SEDS) 2023-2033, as well as SHG’s Vision and Strategy.
The SEDS states that “SHG has identified that St Helena’s financial services laws and regulations require reform and modernisation in order to encourage competition within the sector and support economic growth. There are substantial gaps in current legislation. SHG’s objective is to enhance the financial services landscape by removing barriers to entry, while working toward compliance with international best practice and recommendations.” It notes that comprehensive reform and updates to existing financial services laws and regulations are required in order for St Helena to achieve its development goals.
The Financial Services Regulation Policy 2025 has four key objectives:
- Enhance the attractiveness of St Helena as a place to do business
- Strengthen consumer protection
- Reinforce governance standards
- Improve the effectiveness of our regulatory framework
The objectives are all inter-related. In particular, success in making St Helena a commercially attractive destination for financial services businesses in turn requires a more modern regulatory framework to cope with the needs and expectations of new businesses, especially overseas owned or managed businesses which choose to establish a presence in St Helena. In addition, the regulatory architecture helps to fulfill the customers’ needs of improved consumer protection measures and high-level service standards, in turn increasing the confidence and accountability within the financial service sector.
Minister Mark Brooks commented:
“The Financial Services Regulation Policy 2025 is an essential step towards improving the financial services landscape. The policy’s specific aim is to modernise SHG’s financial sector, which includes broadening the access to services and products for residents and investors. With regulations and policies in place to enable smooth, safe investment in financial services, this policy supports an enabling environment that allows people and businesses to thrive. The improved framework is designed to attract new firms to establish themselves in St Helena, positioning the island as a strategic base for delivering financial services to global customers. This aligns with the government’s broader vision of becoming ‘Altogether Wealthier’ by fostering a thriving financial services sector while upholding the highest standards of international regulatory compliance.”
Should members of the public wish to provide feedback on the policy, please contact Economic Development Portfolio Assistant, Alexandria Thomas, via email through alexandria.thomas@sainthelena.gov.sh.
This policy is now available on the Public Information, Reports and Policies page of the SHG website at https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/documents/Financial-Services-Regulation-Policy-2025.
#StHelena #FinancialServicesRegulations #EconomicDevelopment
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Minister Jeffrey Ellick will depart the island on Saturday, 22 March 2025 to attend a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Small Branches Workshop on ‘Strong and Independent Parliaments in Small Jurisdictions’. This workshop will take place from 01 to 03 April 2025 in the Isle of Man.
In addition to the workshop, Minister Ellick will also be undertaking visits and meetings with various government departments and parliamentarians in the UK. These meetings are related to ongoing business within the Safety, Security and Home Affairs (SSHA) Portfolio.
Minister Ellick is expected to return on Saturday, 12 April 2025.
During the Minister’s absence, Minister Christine Scipio will serve as the primary point of contact for matters pertaining to SSHA Portfolio and can be contacted via email at Christine.scipio@sainthelena.gov.sh.
#StHelena #ElectedMembers #CPAWorkshop
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The Education, Skills and Employment Portfolio (ESE) has been working with stakeholders to review our primary school structure. A critical priority is to shape our primary provision to meet the educational needs of our children. Currently, we have a number of challenges in our primary school provision, including a declining number of children living on St Helena, a shortage of qualified teachers, an increasing need for support for our students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs, and concerning educational outcomes.
The review of our primary school provision was informed by extensive public consultation, including input from leaders and staff within the ESE Portfolio, a wide range of education data, input from key local stakeholders, and contributions by external experts, which has resulted in a series of essential reports. The ESE Portfolio expresses its sincere gratitude to parents, staff, the wider community and external experts from Hampshire Local Authority (HLA) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) for their monumental support throughout this educational journey of change.
After careful consideration of the evidence and the clear views of parents and the broader community, demonstrating their strong support for improved education provision the following decision has been taken.
As of September 2026, St Helena will operate a brand new primary school structure. Our primary school provision will be offered from two school sites only, comprising of:
- A Key Stage 1 school that will cater for Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), which include Nursery and Reception and Years 1 and 2 students, which will operate on the existing Harford School site, and
- A Key Stage Two school, which will cater for Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 students which will operate from the existing St Paul’s School site.
SHG is determined that the needs of pupils, staff and parents are central to the transition process, which will commence in April 2025, with the aim of opening our two new schools at the beginning of the new school year in September 2026. This lead-in time provides us with a generous 17-month window to honour the rich contributions our existing three schools – Harford, St Paul’s and Pilling – have made to our island community. This timeframe will also support our preparations to open our two new schools, on existing school sites. The new structure and ways of operating will recognise and take the positive aspects of the existing schools, whilst recognising that there are some significant areas of improvement that we can make through the new approach.
There is still much work to be done over the next year to transition to these new arrangements. We recognise that the thought of change can bring concern and worry and therefore, we will work closely with our staff during this transition. Emphasis will be placed on training, development and support for our existing staff. This will ensure our staff and school leaders feel confident and ready for the implementation of the new arrangements, which bring with them potential benefits that will, over time, significantly improve education standards for our young people.
Other practical considerations include:
- As part of this process, school leaders will be working in partnership with the students to secure new names for our two new schools.
- The ESE will be working with our school bus providers to secure updated transport routes that are best suited to our new school arrangements.
- Through the Economic Development Investment Programme (EDIP), the two primary schools will undergo phased facility upgrades.
- Working in partnership with our secondary school will continue to be a key priority, to secure the Council of British International Schools (COBIS) standards, our recently approved education standards framework.
This decision has been made to initiate a much needed educational journey that will bring opportunities for improvement, which support a determination in the community to improve educational outcomes for our primary children.
We seek your continued support in prioritising the needs of children and young people as central to community decisions. Education is, an engine of change, and is fundamentally at the heart of St Helena’s future journey.
#StHelena #EducationReview #AltogetherBetterForChildrenAndYoungPeople
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On 18 February 2025, the Environment, Natural Resources and Planning Portfolio (ENRP) received a consignment of 1000 Dekalb-Amberlink breed day-old chicks to replenish the island’s layers for egg production. The import was necessary to meet existing orders for chicks that were not fulfilled through the first batch imported in 2023.
In compliance with biosecurity requirements, the chicks have undergone a four-week period of quarantine and will be released for sale to egg producers on Wednesday, 19 March 2025.
In line with current policy, priority for provision of chicks has been given to commercial producers, in order to complete their orders. All smallholders who requested 10 or more chicks will receive their full requirement. The chicks will be sold at £3.00 per chick, with ENRP applying a 50% subsidy per chick to cover the costs associated with importation and quarantine. Such actions are aimed at improving our self-sufficiency in local fresh egg supply for the community and to encourage local production so that the community has reasonable access to local supplies of fresh produce.
There still remains a small number of producers who will not receive any chicks via this consignment. Consideration is being given to a further import of day-old-chicks later this year to supply the small number of orders that remain, and to invite further applications. Availability of chicks from our supplier, seasonality, and on-island feed supply considerations, will inform a date for this future import. ENRP will contact those applicants concerned.
The public will be notified via an advert in the newspaper and on radio when a further opportunity for applications for chicks can be made to ENRP.
#StHelena #LocalEggProduction #AltogetherWealthier
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Waste Management Services, in partnership with the St Helena National Trust (SHNT) and Zoological Society of London (ZSL), as part of the South Atlantic Plastic’s Project, is pleased to announce the winners of their recent competition to design a recycling superhero for St Helena.
The competition, aimed at primary-aged school children on the island, inspired some fantastic and creative entries. After careful consideration, the judging panel has selected the following winners:
- 1st Place – Hari Stead, Pilling Primary
- 2nd Place – Autumn Benjamin, St Paul’s Primary
- 3rd Place – Emma Jacobs, Harford Primary
We extend congratulations to Hari Stead, Autumn Benjamin, and Emma Jacobs for their imaginative designs.
The announcement of today’s winners coincides with Global Recycling Day celebrated annually on 18 March. This annual event serves as a powerful reminder of the critical role recycling plays in safeguarding our planet’s resources and fostering a sustainable future. By empowering our youth to become advocates for recycling, we are investing in a healthier and more environmentally conscious St Helena.
The winning designs will play a key role in promoting recycling awareness on St Helena. A final superhero design has been created, incorporating elements from all three winning entries, and will be used in upcoming campaigns.
We would like to thank all the learners who participated in the competition, their schools, and our partners, SHNT and ZSL, for making this initiative a success.
Photos
1st Place Winner: Hari Stead’s design of a ‘Wirebird Warrior’
2nd Place Winner: Autumn Benjamin’s ‘Ms Ebony’
3rd Place Winner: Emma Jacobs’ “I Recycle, What’s your Super Power?”
The final design created by Waste Management Services, incorporating elements from all three of the winning designs.
#StHelena #RecyclingHeroes #GlobalRecyclingDay
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Nathaniel Benjamin of Pilling Primary School was honoured at a special tea party held in the Governor’s Office on Thursday 6 March 2025. This celebration recognised Nathaniel’s winning design in the annual Christmas card competition.
This marks Nathaniel’s second victory, having previously won the competition in 2022 whilst a student at St Pauls Primary.
Nathaniel was joined by his parents, his younger brother, Mrs Emma Phillips, and Worsley.
Photo
Nathaniel receiving his prize from HE Governor Phillips
Nathaniel and his parents opening his prize
The winning card
#StHelena #Christmascardcompetition #GovernorsOffice
At a meeting of the Executive Council held on 11 March 2025, an increase to the minimum wage of 50p per hour was approved.
This change will take effect from 01 July 2025 and will increase from £4.00 to £4.50 for persons over 18 years, and £3.05 to £3.55 for persons aged 16 or 17 years. This represents an annual increase of 12% and 16% respectively.
The approval of this increase is in line with the objective of establishing a more ambitious minimum wage, benefitting workers and providing adequate time for businesses to plan and adapt.
The principle informing the minimum wage is that of the Minimum Income Standard (MIS), which states that “minimum income is based on needs and not wants, but it provides more than what is just needed for survival. It supports social participation and recognises that choice is important, but also that choice cannot be unlimited”. Although the MIS varies for people based on their specific circumstances, the current MIS of at least £5.23 per hour is dependent on the cost of housing, which includes costs to a family for renting accommodation or paying a housing loan, and car ownership.
In determining the increase, consideration was given to the current cost of living pressures on both employees and employers and it was noted that a balance would need to be struck. The Minimum Wage Policy therefore recognises that there is a limit to the size of increases that businesses can absorb in a single year, whilst at the same time acknowledging the need to continue raising the minimum income level on St Helena to go some way in encouraging residents to remain in employment on St Helena.
This year’s increase follows consultations with employers, employees and other relevant stakeholders including the Chamber of Commerce.
The minimum wage will be reviewed again in early 2026 and will include public consultation to consider further uplifts for the period 2026/27.
Since its inception in 2013, the minimum wage has raised from £2.30 to £4.50 for persons over 18 years, and from £1.45 to £3.55 for persons aged 16 or 17 years. These increases equate to a 95% and 145% rise respectively.
#StHelena #MinimumWage #AltogetherWealthier
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St Helena Government (SHG) invites Expressions of Interest (EOI) from interested persons to undertake the role of Non-Executive Director (NED) on the boards of State-Owned Entities (SOEs) and entities in which SHG has an equity interest.
As an SHG-appointed NED on SOE boards, you will play a crucial role in aligning entity strategy with government policy and providing financial leadership comparable to a Finance Director. Your key responsibilities will include:
- Strategic Alignment: Bridging the gap between entity strategy and government policy.
- Financial Leadership: Providing financial leadership comparable to a Finance Director, fostering growth, economic development, and reform.
- Collaboration and Communication: Maintaining effective communication and monitoring, managing relationships with key stakeholders, and working closely with Ministers and Senior Officials to align portfolio direction with SHG policy.
- Performance and Governance: Driving performance and collaboration within the economic group, critically evaluating spending and planning, overseeing external consulting, and implementing recommendations to enhance corporate governance and accountability between SHG and its SOEs.
As NED, you would be expected to represent SHG on the following boards: Bank of St Helena Ltd; Connect St Helena Ltd; St Helena Hotel Development Ltd; St Helena Airport Ltd; and Solomon & Company (St Helena) PLC.
To provide the capacity required to help drive improvements in governance and performance across the SOEs, this will be a full-time role. However, consideration may also be given to part-time and remote working options. The post holder will be required to be flexible and able to respond to demand and work requirements. The role will include contribution to the SOE transformation agenda, in addition to routine attendance at Board Meetings, preparation time, and reporting to Ministers and Officials.
The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications and experience:
- Extensive experience in a similar role.
- CIMA/ACCA or CCAB qualified accountant (or equivalent) with current membership and an up-to-date CPD record.
- Proven experience at board level in key industries such as utilities, banking, hospitality, insurance, or retail (advantageous).
- A strong background in public sector organisations.
- Demonstrated political astuteness.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including listening, negotiating, and the ability to present detailed information effectively.
For further information about the duties of the post and a copy of the terms of reference, interested persons should contact Phil Sharman, SOE Non-Executive Director, via email at phil.sharman@shg.gov.sh or by visiting the SHG website at: www.sainthelena.gov.sh/vacancies. Applications, consisting of a CV and covering letter, should be submitted by email to recruitment@sainthelena.gov.sh by no later than 16:00 on Friday, 28 March 2025.
SHG
17 March 2025
St Helena Emergency Services has announced the rollout of innovative location technology, what3words. Adding what3words to its toolkit will help pinpoint 999 callers’ exact locations, and ensure resources can be dispatched directly to the scene.
When calling the emergency number (999), one of the first questions you’ll be asked is ‘What is the address of the emergency?’ However, pinpointing your exact location on St Helena can be difficult, especially outside of Jamestown. Whilst we don’t use postcodes in the same way as the UK or elsewhere in the world, relying on landmarks or general area names like ‘near Woody Ridge’ or ‘above Thompson’s Hill’ can be vague. Furthermore, many locations are remote, such as sections of the coastal paths, the Peaks National Park, or isolated bays. Describing your location accurately in these areas can be stressful and challenging, potentially delaying vital assistance from the Emergency Services.
what3words provides a simple solution. The system has divided the world into a grid of 3m x 3m squares, and assigned each square a unique combination of three words: a what3words address. Now every front gate, side door, country house entrance and point along an unmarked path has its own what3words address. For example, ///rooms.nettles.windowsill pinpoints a precise spot on Sandy Bay Beach. A what3words gives callers an easy way to communicate the precise location of where help is needed.
what3words is available in over 60 languages to date, and is free to download for both iOS and Android devices, or use via the online map at what3words.com. The system works offline, making it ideal for use in areas with unreliable data connection, such as beaches, coastal areas and campsites.
Whilst not intended as a replacement for the traditional ‘must-pack’ equipment, what3words has proved to be an invaluable addition to the global emergency response toolkit, helping to save both time and resources. As well as a what3words address, call handlers are trained to gather as much information as possible to identify the location of an incident, including road names, landmarks, and more.
Emergency Operations Manager, Michael Gaga-Hale, commented:
“The location of an emergency is vital when responding to those who need us most. Time is critical in medical emergencies such as a cardiac arrest, where every second counts. Without a formal address system in St Helena, locating people quickly can be challenging, especially in high-pressure situations. As our workforce changes, we are less able to rely on responders’ local knowledge, making accurate location information even more important.”
“‘what3words’ provides a simple and precise way to share your exact location, helping us find you sooner. We urge everyone in the community to download the free app and share it with family, friends, and colleagues. You never know when you might need to call for help.”
“We also understand that some people may find it difficult to read the three words displayed in the app. Because the map is divided into 3m squares, you can select a nearby address that is easiest for you to read to the call handler. If needed, take your time and spell the words out letter by letter. The call handlers will support you through the process to get help to you as quickly as possible.”
Chris Sheldrick, Co-Founder and CEO of what3words commented:
“St Helena is home to some of the world’s most unique and remote landscapes, which can present challenges for incident response. We’re incredibly proud our technology is supporting the island’s emergency services, helping to save time, resources and in some cases, lives. By providing a simple way to communicate precise locations, what3words will help enhance the safety of local residents and visitors exploring the island’s stunning scenery.”
A simple guide on how to download and use what3words can be found at the bottom of this press release. Furthermore, St Helena Emergency Services invites the public to attend the Careers Fair on Thursday 20 March 2025, where the Ambulance Services Stand will provide further information on what3words. The team will be available to assist members of the public in identifying their property’s what3words address and demonstrate the application’s functionality. We encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about this valuable tool.
A guide on how to download and use what3words
#StHelena #EmergencyServices #what3words