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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 via email at marc.fowler@sthelenaairport.aero by 31 October 2025. 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 meeting of Executive Council (ExCo) was held on 14 October 2025.
The agenda for the meeting was as follows:
| CLOSED AGENDA 1. Declaration of Interest 2. *Bank of St Helena (BOSH) Dividend (ExCo Memo 61/2025) 3. Confirmation of Minutes of the Executive Council Meeting held on 17 June 2025 4. Matters Arising from Minutes of 17 June 2025 5. Confirmation of Minutes of the Executive Council Meeting held on 24 June 2025 6. Matters Arising from Minutes of 24 June 2025 7. Confirmation of Minutes of the Executive Council Meeting held on 30 June 2025 8. Matters Arising from Minutes of 30 June 2025 9. Commencement of Customs and Excise (Tariffs and Exemptions) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025 (ExCo Memo 60/2025) 9.1 Publicity/Briefing to Press 10. Addressing the Short Notice Period on the current Sure Licence (ExCo Memo 62/2025) 11. Any Other Business 11.1 Legal Assistance Funding Criteria NB Items marked (*) are commercially sensitive and depending on the subject matter, might not be referred to in the top lines |
The following were items were considered:
2. BOSH Dividend 2025
The Head of Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) attended for this item.
3 – 8. Confirmation of Minutes and Matter arising from the Minutes
It was agreed that the minutes for 17 June 2025 would be tabled at the next ExCo meeting.
Minutes for 24 and 30 June 2025 were signed off and all matters arising captured in minutes of 14 October 2025.
9. Commencement Customs Excise Regulations
Executive Council was asked to consider and advise whether the Customs and Excise (Tariffs and Exemptions) Regulations 2025 could commence from 16 October 2025.
At the meeting:
- It was noted that the Customs and Excise (Tariffs and Exemptions) (Amendment) (No 2) Regulations were presented to the Executive Council and approved on 20 May 2025. At the time it was agreed that the Regulations would come into force when Rupert’s Cargo Facility became operational. As a date could not be confirmed, the Regulations provide that they will come into force on a date fixed by the Governor by Order.
ExCo approved the commencement date of 16 October 2025.
10. Addressing the Short Notice Period on the current Sure License
The Portfolio Director for Economic Development, Chief Digital Officer, and Head of Communications Policy, Regulation and Compliance attended for this item.
ExCo was asked to consider and advise whether the Sure South Atlantic Ltd (Sure) telecoms rolling license notice period of six months should be amended to 12 months.
At the meeting:
- It was noted that ExCo agreed with Sure to amend the notice period that has to be given if either party (SHG or Sure) wanted to terminate (end) the current license for telecommunication provision from a six month to a 12-month notice period. This amendment is in the best interests of all parties and is essential to ensuring continuity and stability of services at their current level while the government determines its approach to longer term licensing for telecommunications.
ExCo approved to extend the rolling notice period from six months to 12 months.
11. AOB
Legal Assistance Funding Criteria
At the request of the Chief Magistrate, HE the Governor brought to the attention of Ministers, the updated Legal Assistance Funding Criteria document.
Thanks to retiring Chief Secretary, Susan O’Bey
On behalf of ExCo past and present, HE the Governor extended thanks to Susan O’Bey, Chief Secretary as this was her final ExCo meeting. In turn, Susan conveyed her thanks and appreciation, and offered her best wishes to the recently appointed ExCo.
#StHelena #ExCo #Toplines
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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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The MV Karoline is scheduled to arrive at James Bay on Tuesday 21 October 2025 at 06:00. Weather permitting the vessel will dock alongside Rupert’s Jetty and cargo operations will commence as soon as practical.
The public are therefore advised that the whole of Lower Rupert’s including the beach area, will be closed from 06:00 on Tuesday 21 October 2025. During this time the port will be in Security State Level Three and will remain until all cargo operations are completed and the vessel has departed.
Access into the port will be strictly prohibited and will be limited to authorised personnel and those persons who have made prior arrangements with St Helena Port Control.
The public are thanked in advance for their patience and co-operation.
SHG
16 October 2025
St Helena Airport has experienced an email spoofing incident. Fraudulent emails have been sent appearing to come from airport staff members Scott Stander, CNS and IT Specialist or Gwyneth Howell, CEO and Accountable Manager.
If you receive any email from these names that seems suspicious and resembles the image below:
- Do not open the email.
- Do not click on any links.
- Do not download any attachments.
Please delete the email immediately and, if applicable, report it to your IT Department or line manager.
We are actively investigating this issue and implementing additional security measures to prevent further incidents.
Thank you for your vigilance and cooperation.
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Latest index value and inflation rates for Q3 2025
The latest estimate of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) has been released by the St Helena Statistics Office, for the third quarter of 2025 (Q3 2025). The CPI has been measured at 104.8, an increase of 1.2% on the previous quarter (Q2 2025) and a 4.8% increase compared to a year ago (Q3 2024). This annual inflation rate of 4.8% is a drop in the rate by 1.5 percentage points compared to the rate measured in Q2 2025, which was 6.3%.
Price changes over the last year
All broad groups of items in the Index saw their prices rise, on average, compared to a year ago, apart from the Clothing category. The highest average annual increase was in Household Energy (10.2%), the result of changes to the electricity tariff implemented on 1 July 2025. There was an average annual increase in Food prices of 6.9%, which is similar to the level of annual food price inflation measured in Q2, which included the increase in the price of bread and meat in Q4 2024. Transport prices also increased on average by 6.2%, with increases in items that represent the cost of passenger road transport. The annual rate of price inflation for Communications was previously measured at 18.4% in Q2, but this is now zero because it has been more that a year since the revised tariffs for land line telephones and mobile phones took effect.
Price changes over the last quarter
The quarterly change in the CPI was 1.2%, comparing Q3 2025 to Q2 2025. All categories experienced average increases since the last quarter, apart from Miscellaneous Goods and Services (-1.4%). Household Energy and Housing saw the largest increase between the quarters, a result of the changes to the tariffs for both water and electricity introduced at the beginning of Q3 2025 by Connect St Helena Ltd. Alcohol and Tobacco (1.3%) and Household Goods and Services (1.2%) also went up on average, due to changes in the price of tobacco-based products, and increases in the minimum wage respectively.
Price changes in both the UK and South Africa have a strong impact on prices on St Helena, since the majority of goods imported are purchased in those two countries. In the UK, the annual price inflation rate (using the Consumer Price Index) was 3.8% for August 2025, unchanged from July. In South Africa, the Consumer Price Index was 3.3% for August, down from 3.5% in July 2025. This year, between Q3 2024 and Q3 2025, price changes in locally-provided services has also had a significant impact on the overall inflation rate, including changes in electricity and water prices, and increases to the minimum wage. In this quarter, it is notable that previous changes to the prices of telecommunication services are no longer applying upward pressure on the annual inflation rate, since it is now a full year since the changes were made.
Methodology
Rebasing the Index
The Index was rebased in the third quarter of 2024, following the 2023 Household Expenditure Survey (HES) and subsequent analysis by the Statistics Office. The HES reviewed the composition of the average ‘shopping basket’ of goods and services purchased by households on St Helena, to make sure it reflects current spending habits. The Statistics Office has also reviewed the items that are used to represent each category of spending in the basket, to make sure they are also up to date and relevant. The rebased Index includes 205 categories of expenditure, within nine broader groupings; these broader groupings are unchanged from the previous Index. Within the broad groupings, the detailed categories of expenditure have been adjusted slightly to better align with international guidelines, and in particular they now only include expenditure related to household consumption, and not all expenditures. This has also made a change to the terminology necessary: the Index has been renamed the Consumer Price Index (CPI), rather than the Retail Price Index (RPI).
What is price inflation and how is it measured?
Price inflation is the change in the average prices of goods and services over time. The rate of price inflation is calculated from the change in the CPI, which is the official measure of the average change in the prices of goods and services paid by consumers. The CPI is estimated each quarter, i.e. once every three months, and the rate of price inflation is usually quoted on an annual basis; that is, comparing price changes over a 12-month period. Prices and the CPI tend to go up, but they can occasionally go down – which is known as price deflation.
The CPI is a statistical measure of the change in consumer prices on St Helena; an increase in the CPI means that, on average, prices have gone up since the last time they were measured, and a decrease in the CPI means that, on average, prices have fallen. The annual change in the CPI is called the annual inflation rate, and is the usual measure of the change in prices in an economy. The CPI is an average measure: if it goes up, it does not mean that all prices have gone up, and similarly, if it goes down, it does not mean that all prices have fallen.
Why do we measure inflation?
An accurate measure of price inflation helps understand the extent and nature of the impact of price changes on the government, businesses, households and individuals. Inflation rates are often used in budgeting and accounting processes so that costs can be adjusted for the effect of price changes.
How is the CPI calculated?
The basis for the CPI is the average weekly cost of goods and services purchased by households on St Helena for consumption, sometimes called the CPI ‘shopping basket’. Items which households purchase more of, such as food, have the biggest share of the CPI basket. The current CPI uses a basket from the latest Household Expenditure Survey in 2023; prices representing the groups of items in the basket are collected every quarter, and the price of the total basket is compared to the price in the baseline period, the third quarter of 2024. By convention, the value of the basket in the baseline period is scaled to 100, and the CPI values are quoted in relation to that baseline. For example, a CPI value of 120 means that average prices have increased by 20 per cent compared to those recorded in the baseline period.
Composition of average household weekly expenditure (Q3 2024 CPI ‘Shopping Basket’)
What happens when items are not available?
If an item of the ‘basket’ is not available then either the previous price will be carried forward from the previous quarter, or a suitable substitute item will be identified and an adjustment calculation made. Care is taken to ensure that this substitute item represents the item category and that it does not introduce error to the measurement of the CPI. An important principle is that price changes should reflect actual price increases and decreases, and not changes in the quality of items.
Where can I get the data?
For detailed tables of the CPI and annual inflation rates from 1994 onwards, please visit: https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/st-helena/statistics/the-economy and download the ‘inflation’ data file. Other datasets, bulletins and reports are also available on our website at www.sainthelena.gov.sh/statistics.
Have more questions or comments?
Please get in touch. We are Neil Fantom, Statistical Commissioner, Kelly Clingham and Justine Joshua, Senior Statistical Assistants and Courtney O’Dean, Statistics Assistant. You can find us in person at the Statistics Office on the top floor of the Post Office, Jamestown. You can also contact us by telephone on our direct line through 22138. If calling from overseas, the international dialling code for St Helena is +290. Our general office e-mail address is statistics@sainthelena.gov.sh, or you can email team members directly (the format is firstname.lastname@sainthelena.gov.sh).
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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In keeping with the Chief Minister and Ministers’ commitment to openness and transparency, St Helena Government is pleased to announce that the top lines and agenda of Executive Council meetings will be published following each meeting.
These top lines will offer a broad overview of the key matters discussed and the outcomes reached, ensuring the public remains informed and engaged with the business of Government. Items which are sensitive and/or contain personal information will be marked as such on the agenda and depending on the subject matter, might not be referred to in the top lines.
Today, as a result of a report of a missing person, the Royal St Helena Police (RSHP) activated its missing person procedures, together with its partner agencies. During the course of our initial inquiries, RSHP issued an appeal to the public seeking any information of the last known whereabouts of Mr Greg Coleman. The RSHP would like to thank the public for their kind assistance in relation to Greg Coleman and no further assistance is required at this time.
We would like to thank all of our partner agencies who assisted us with this matter.