A meeting of Executive Council (ExCo) was held on 26 June 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 13 April 2026 3.Matters Arising from Minutes of 13 April 2026 4.Confirmation of Minutes of the Executive Council Meeting held on 26 May 2026 5.Matters Arising from Minutes of 26 May 2026 6.Immigration (Amendment) Ordinance (ExCo Memo 20/2026) 7.Continued Operation of St Helena Ship Registry (ExCo Memo 21/2026) 8.St Helena Government Vision, Strategy and Strategic Outcomes and Objectives – April 2026 – March 2029 (ExCo Memo 22/2026) 9.Postage and Revenue Stamps (Invalidation) Order, 2026 (ExCo Memo 23/2026) 10.Designation of Customs Areas (ExCo Memo 24/2026) 11.Ministerial Updates on significant issues 12.Any Other Business 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 from 13 April and 26 May 2026
Executive Council confirmed and signed off the minutes of meeting held on 13 April and 26 May 2026
6. Immigration (Amendment) Ordinance (ExCo Memo 20/2026)
Executive Council was asked to consider and advise whether the Immigration (Amendment) Bill, 2026 at Annex A should be printed and published and tabled as Government business at the next formal meeting of Legislative Council scheduled to be held on 17 July 2026.
Executive Council noted that the Bill follows the Immigration Policy approved by Executive Council in April 2025 and provides the legal basis for the implementation and enhancement of immigration processes. Ministers confirmed that there was no intention, at this stage, to review the Immigration Policy, April 2025. They further noted that the Ordinance is central to Budget Conditionality and the BIOT Extension Agreement.
A previous version of the Ordinance, was approved in 2025, but its commencement was revoked due to drafting errors that would have brought about unintended consequences if the Ordinance had come into force.
The principle of the Immigration Policy and therefore this Bill is that increasing the population, particularly the working age population, is critical to growing the economy and sustainable prosperity for the island. Streamlined and faster applications and processing systems are a step to attracting and welcoming inward migration.
Executive Council accepted and approved the Immigration (Amendment) Bill, 2026, noting the need for sufficient lead time to test the new Immigration Portal and to communicate effectively with relevant stakeholders ahead of implementation.
7. Continued Operation of St Helena Ship Registry (ExCo Memo 21/2026)
Executive Council was asked to consider and advise whether to:
a) commit to developing the Ship Registry so it meets the required standard; or
b) continue the Ship Registry in its current form and accept the risk of the UK’s
Maritime and Coastguard Agency asking for or taking corrective action; or
c) take active steps to close the Ship Registry and deregister the ships currently
flagged with St Helena.
Members discussed and considered the details of the options presented including key points highlighted by the Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA). Chris Olsen, Director, Maritime Governance & Regulatory Compliance, from the MCA, together with St Helena’s Maritime team, joined the meeting to answer Members questions.
Executive Council agreed to commit to the continued development of the Ship Registry to ensure that it meets the required standard. In so doing, SHG commits to a development programme to strengthen the legislation and resources supporting the Ships Registry. The Ships Registry is considered as an economic enabler, with the potential to generate revenue with full development.
8. St Helena Government Vision, Strategy and Strategic Outcomes and Objectives – April 2026 – March 2029 (ExCo Memo 22/2026)
Executive Council was asked to consider whether the St Helena Government Vision and Strategy for April 2026 to March 2029, together with the Strategic Outcomes and Objectives, should be endorsed to guide strategic planning and budgeting over the next three years.
Members considered the ambitions set out for the next three years, taking into account the wider budget context, available capacity for legislative drafting, key delivery pressures, and the plan for monitoring progress.
Executive Council approved the SHG Vision and Strategy for 2026 to 2029.
9. Postage and Revenue Stamps (Invalidation) Order, 2026 (ExCo Memo 23/2026)
Executive Council was asked to consider and advise whether the Postage and Revenue Stamps (Invalidation) Order, 2026 should be approved.
Section 3(b) of the Post Office Ordinance, 1898, provides that the Governor in Council may, by order, invalidate postage or revenue stamps that are no longer current issues. This process allows the Post Office to clear old stocks of stamps and make room for new stock holdings.
Executive Council accepted and approved the Postage and Revenue Stamps (Invalidation) Order, 2026.
10. Designation of Customs Areas (ExCo Memo 24/2026)
Executive Council was asked to consider and advise whether the Customs (Designation of Customs Areas) Regulations, 2026, should be approved and the Customs (Designation of Customs Areas) Regulations, 2014, be revoked.
Members noted that the approval of the Regulations would provide clarity in relation to the designated customs areas at the island’s three port facilities; Rupert’s, Jamestown and the Airport, Prosperous Bay Plain. The updated customs areas support Customs Officers in performing their duties under the Customs and Excise Ordinance, 1999. Attention was also drawn to an oversight identified within the 2014 Regulations.
Executive Council accepted and approved the Customs (Designation of Customs Areas) Regulations, 2026, and agreed to revoke the Customs (Designation of Customs Areas) Regulations, 2014.
11. Ministerial Updates on significant issues
- Minister Henry raised a logistic matter regarding the loading of an anaesthetic machine on the Airlink plane.
12. Any Other Business
No matters were raised.