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An open session of Executive Council in Planning (ECiP) was held on Tuesday, 14 October 2025 in the Council Chamber.
The agenda for the meeting was as follows:
| OPEN AGENDA 1. Declarations of Conflict of Interest 2. Development Application – Proposed Construction of a New Prison with AncillaryDojo, Service Buildings, access road, parking area and sewerage treatment plant atBottom Woods, Longwood North (ECIP Memo 04/2025) 2.1 Publicity/Briefings to the Press |
The Acting Chief Planning Officer, Shane Williams, members of the Project Management Office and Alex Mitham, Portfolio Director for Safety Security and Home Affairs were in attendance along with members of the public. The key item considered:
Development Application No. 2025/53 Development at Bottom Woods on Parcel LWN0501 Governor in Council was asked to consider and advise whether full development permission should be granted, with conditions, as recommended for the Proposed Construction of a New Prison at Bottom Woods with ancillary dojo, service buildings, access road, parking area and sewerage treatment plant.
This application had previously been considered by the Land Development Control Authority on 4 September 2025 who recommended that the Governor in Council grant development permission subject to planning conditions set out by the Chief Planning Officer.
At the meeting:
Minister Thrower set out the context for the current application, before handing over to the Acting Chief Planning Officer to detail the key changes and conditions as outlined in published documentation.
HE the Governor opened the floor for questioning and discussion which centered on the recommended conditions.
Following deliberation, ECiP unanimously approved the development application subject to recommended conditions, with amendments to reword condition 13 for the Lighting Scheme, and condition 11 for the Storm Water Management Plan and the confirmation of the fencing design and colour with the Chief Planning Officer. Minister Thrower will give details of the application together with an overview of the decision, on radio this coming Thursday.
Documentation for the meeting is available via the SHG website http://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/government/legislative-council/executive-council/
#StHelena #ExCo #Toplines
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Join Your Elected Members for Upcoming District Meeting
Elected Members invite all residents to a series of District Meetings aimed at strengthening communication and collaboration between the Council and the Community.
These meetings are your opportunity to:
- Meet and greet with your elected representatives
- Share your views on local issues
- Raise concerns and highlight priorities
- Help to shape the future of your district and our island
This is a key step toward open, two-way dialogue – ensuring that every voice is heard and community ideas help guide decisions.
Strong communication builds good governance. Together, we can find solutions that meet your district needs whilst planning for our shared future.
Meetings will be held across all districts, giving everyone a chance to discuss what matters most locally with the entire team
Everyone is encouraged to come along, ask questions, and play an active part in contributing to shaping the direction of our community and the work of your elected Council.
Your voice matters — be a part of the conversation!
| Schedule of Meetings | ||
| Date | Venue | Chairperson |
| Monday, 20 Oct 2025 7:30pm | HTH Community Centre | Cllr Derek Thomas |
| Tuesday, 21 Oct 2025 7:30pm | Jamestown Community Centre | Cllr Dr Corinda Essex |
| Thursday, 23 Oct 2025 7:30pm | Sandy Bay Community Centre | Cllr Clint Beard |
| Monday, 27 Oct 2025 7:30pm | Harford Community Centre | Cllr Denis Leo |
| Tuesday, 28 Oct 2025 7:30pm | Alarm Forest Meeting held at Jamestown Community Centre | Cllr Julie Thomas |
| Wednesday, 29 Oct 2025 7:30pm | St Michael’s, Rupert’s | Cllr Dr Corinda Essex |
| Thursday, 30 Oct 2025 7:30pm | Kingshurst Community Centre | Cllr Robert Midwinter |
| Monday, 3 Nov 2025 7:30pm | Levelwood Bar | Cllr Ronald Coleman |
| Thursday, 6 Nov 2025 7:30pm | Blue Hill Community Centre | Cllr Clint Beard |
Please note that Minister for Economic Development and Environment, Natural Resources and Planning, Karl Thrower will be overseas.
The public are invited to review and provide comment on the options paper for the proposed Jamestown seafront redevelopment. This is available on the St Helena Government (SHG) website at https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/JT-redevelopment-Report-with-appendix-2025.pdf.
This important document outlines various strategies for the future development and revitalisation of the seafront area, marking a significant step in the project’s progression.
Minister Karl Thrower added,
“On behalf of the Economic Development team we would like to sincerely thank everyone who has contributed to the process thus far. Your input has been invaluable in shaping the options presented in this paper and we now welcome all constructive feedback on the options presented as we move forward in the decision-making process.”
Submitting Feedback
Feedback can be communicated directly to the Economic Development team via email at the following addresses: ·
- invest@sainthelena.gov.sh
- Head of Property, Nikita Crowie, at nikita.crowie@sainthelena.gov.sh
Please submit your feedback by 30 November 2025.
#StHelena #Jamestown #SeafrontDevelopment #PublicConsultation
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The Ambulance Service is offering an accredited Qualsafe ‘Emergency First Aid at Work’ training course, open to all St Helena Government (SHG) staff and members of the public. The one-day course will be held at the St Helena Community College from 09:00 to 16:00 on the scheduled dates.
This course provides participants with the essential knowledge and practical skills needed to respond effectively to medical emergencies in the workplace. Upon successful completion, learners will receive a Qualsafe Emergency First Aid at Work qualification, which remains valid for three years.
Course Dates and Fee
The course will be offered on the following dates:
- Tuesday, 18 November 2025
- Friday, 28 November 2025
- Tuesday, 16 December 2025
- Wednesday, 18 February 2026
- Thursday, 26 March 2026
The course fee is £20 per person. This fee covers all training materials, printing, and the learner registration fee that must be paid to Qualsafe, the awarding body. This contribution also supports the ongoing costs of maintaining accreditation, ensuring that the island can continue to deliver nationally recognised qualifications in the future.
How to Book
To book a place, please contact Carley Peters on +290 22607.
Alternatively, you can register online using the St Helena Community College registration form, by clicking here. Please note that the ‘Emergency First Aid at Work’ course can be found under the ‘Qualsafe’ course category. You are not required to enter an SHCC Membership number – you can bypass this step and continue to complete the form.
#StHelena #AltogetherHealthier #FirstAidTraining
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Following the recent revocation of the Immigration Ordinance commencement date of 01 October 2025, the St Helena Government (SHG) is pleased to report that priority work has begun on refining the legislation. The revision to the Ordinance will ensure closer alignment with the policy intent whilst also adequately protecting the community’s needs.
It is expected that the revised draft of the legislation will be presented at Legislative Council towards the end of this year for approval. In parallel, with the legislative process, the new immigration digital platform will be adjusted to meet the requirements of the updated legislation. SHG is focused on ensuring the system is as streamlined and user-friendly as possible for all users.
Should Legislative Council approve the revised Ordinance, a transition period of approximately three months will be necessary to publicise the changes and ensure everyone is aware of how to use the new immigration digital platform before it comes fully into effect.
SHG remains committed to a robust, fair, and transparent immigration system. We will provide further updates as this process moves forward.
#StHelena #ImmigrationOrdinance #Changes
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A development application has been referred to Executive Council sitting as the Planning Authority. The Development Application is being referred to Governor-in-Council in accordance with Section 23(2)(b) of the Land Planning and Development Control Ordinance 2013.
An open session meeting will take place on Tuesday, 14 October 2025 commencing at 09:30 where Executive Council will consider the following application:
- Proposed Construction of a New Prison at Bottom Woods with ancillary dojo, service buildings, access road, parking area and sewerage treatment plant at the former goat pen, Bottom Woods, Longwood North
Documentation for this meeting is available on the Executive Council page of the St Helena Government website via: www.sainthelena.gov.sh/government/legislative-council/executive-council/.
Members of the public who would like to view hard copies of the documents should contact the Secretary to Executive Council, Natasha Bargo, at the Castle on 22470 or via email at natasha.bargo@sainthelena.gov.sh.
Executive Council sitting as the Planning Authority comprises Governor Nigel Phillips as Chair, Chief Minister, Dr Rebecca Cairns-Wicks and Ministers Gillian Brooks, Martin Henry, Andrew Turner and Karl Thrower. The Attorney General is a non-voting member of Executive Council.
#StHelena #ExecutiveCouncil #PlanningProposals
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Hon. Derek Thomas from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) St Helena Branch is currently attending one of the largest annual gatherings of Commonwealth Parliamentarians that is taking place this week at the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) hosted by the Parliament of Barbados and the CPA Barbados Branch.
The flagship event will bring together over 500 parliamentarians, parliamentary staff and decision-makers from across the Commonwealth for this unique conference. The CPC offers the prospect of the coming together of the CPA’s global membership to address the critical issues facing today’s parliaments.
The 68th CPC will be attended by Speakers, Presiding Officers and Members of Parliament from across the membership of the CPA. The CPA is the only parliamentary association to bring together national, state, provincial and territorial legislatures and the CPA’s membership includes almost 180 parliaments and legislatures across the Commonwealth.
The Head of the CPA St Helena Branch’s delegation, (President) Hon. Maureen Thompson said:
“We are delighted to be able to attend the 68th CPC and CPA General Assembly to represent the St Helena Legislative Council. The CPA’s annual conference offers the opportunity for Members to benefit from professional development, supportive learning and the sharing of best practice with colleagues from Commonwealth Parliaments together with the participation of leading international organisations.”
The main conference theme for the 68th CPC is ‘The Commonwealth: A Global Partner’. The conference will explore a wide range of workshop topics including strengthening parliaments to support democracy, leveraging technology and AI to transform parliaments, examining the impact of climate change on global health and building trust in Legislatures.
During the 68th CPC, there will also be a number of additional conferences and meetings including the 41st CPA Small Branches Conference; the 9th Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Conference; meetings of the Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD) network; the 2025 CPA General Assembly and meetings of the CPA Executive Committee; and the 59th Society of Clerks-at-the-Table (SOCATT) meetings.
During the conference, a number of elections will also take place for the Chairpersons of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) and the Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD), the CPA Treasurer and the CPA Vice-Chairperson.
Information about the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) can be found at the CPA website www.cpahq.org/68-cpc.
Photo
The St Helena Government (SHG) welcomes a significant finding from the latest international scientific expedition, which offers critical new insights into the island’s lost biodiversity and creates a renewed focus on conservation in the eastern part of the island.
Whilst searching for fossil bird bones in a cave in Sharks Valley, a team comprising researchers from the Université de Lyon (France), the Natural History Museum of London (UK), alongside the St Helena National Trust and the St Helena Research Institute unearthed a new fossil site. This location yielded numerous bones from extinct endemic seabirds and a large number of insect remains, including evidence of the island’s famous lost invertebrate: the St Helena Giant Earwig (Labidura herculeana).
The Giant Earwig, once the largest in the world, was tragically declared extinct in 2014 after the last living specimen was seen in 1967. The new finds include:
- A total of four large male forceps of the Giant Earwig, including one of the largest ever measured, reaching 3.1 cm.
- Two female forceps.
- Remains of the supposedly extinct St Helena Giant Ground Beetle.
A Remarkable Window into the Past
This discovery of the Giant Earwig and other extinct insects in Sharks Valley is of immense importance. It significantly expands the known historical range of this iconic creature far beyond the last known sighting at Horse Point, suggesting it likely inhabited the whole eastern side of the island.
Informing Future Conservation Efforts
Whilst the species remains officially extinct, SHG supports the research team’s assessment that this discovery creates hope that the island’s extensive eastern habitats could still hold isolated, undiscovered populations of this, or similar, unique endemic fauna.
All recovered insect remains, including the Giant Earwig fossils, have been handed over to the St Helena National Trust. These remains mark the foundational pieces for the Trust’s new insect reference collection, which will be vital for future research, conservation, and education about the island’s unique invertebrates.
The international team, working under the “AtlantAves” project (funded by the French National Research Agency), completed its third excavation campaign in August this year. SHG extends its gratitude to the AtlantAves team for their dedication to uncovering our island’s natural history. We remain committed to protecting our endemic biodiversity for future generations and will use the insights from this expedition to inform our ongoing conservation and biosecurity strategies.
Photos
Male giant earwig forceps. Credit: Anaïs Duhamel
Eddie Duff celebrating the discovery. Credit: Anaïs Duhamel
Liza Fowler in the search for bones and insects. Credit: Anaïs Duhamel
Insect remains found in the cave. Credit: Julien Joseph
The entrance to the cave. Credit: Liza Fowler
#StHelena #biodiversity #ExtinctGiantEarwig
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St Helena Government (SHG) has been receiving a number of complaints from freight forwarders and importers regarding delayed air freight via the Airlink service from Johannesburg. Whilst best efforts are made to ensure air freight arrives on time without delay, there are a number of factors that may impact the ability to get goods to the island using the air service.
Due to contractual commitments, Airlink must prioritise the loading of goods and passengers, designed to ensure the island’s needs are properly met. Goods and passengers are loaded in the following order:
1. Passengers travelling for medical purposes;
2. Mail;
3. Medicines;
4. Fuel Samples;
5. Other passengers;
6. Other cargo and
7. Pets.
As a result, it can often be the case that general cargo will be held back to make space for other goods. Airlink and cargo handlers may also exercise discretion on the ground for live animals, fresh produce and human remains where the ability to store them at the airport in Johannesburg is limited.
To encourage more efficient transportation of other cargo, SHG will be issuing further guidance to all freight forwarders and importers. This is aimed to advise on the correct packaging, labelling procedures, and documentation classification which would reduce the chance of cargo being delayed.
For further clarification regarding air freight arrangements please contact Christina Plato, Civil Aviation Support Officer on 22477 or email Christina.Plato@sainthelena.gov.sh.
#StHelena #AirFreight
The St Helena Government (SHG) is pleased to announce a historic milestone in the island’s development: the initial opening of Rupert’s Cargo Facility for cargo on Friday, 26 September 2025. This project was funded by the UK Government through the Economic Development Investment Programme (EDIP).
This inaugural operation marks a significant leap forward, moving cargo operations from the Jamestown Wharf after hundreds of years and into a purpose-built, modern facility. While construction is still ongoing, the initial opening already represents a substantial improvement for handling goods on St Helena as evidenced by positive feedback received from members of the public.
SHG extends its sincere thanks to all SHG colleagues involved and contractors for their dedication and hard work in bringing this project to fruition. Equally important is the gratitude extended to the public, local businesses merchants and consolidators for their vital support and cooperation—this achievement would not have been possible without everyone’s help.
The Rupert’s Cargo Facility is a pivotal step in modernising St Helena and is set to unlock significant opportunities for future development. As work continues to fully complete the port, SHG acknowledges there may be minor teething issues. However, with continued community assistance, the government is confident in making this facility an ongoing success.
Thank you once again to everyone for your support.
#StHelena #RupertsCargoFacility #EDIP