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The Tourist Office would like to advise the public that their office will be closed today, Wednesday, 24 September from 13:30 – 16:00, for staff training.
Normal operations will resume on Thursday, 25 September from 08:30.
The Tourist Office would like to apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and the public are thanked in advance for their understanding and cooperation.
SHG
24 September 2025
St Helena Government (SHG) are pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Andrew Duncan as the new Attorney General (AG).
Mr Duncan will arrive on the island this weekend and will be officially sworn into office on Thursday 2 October 2025.
SHG wishes to express its thanks to Mr Andrew Dawson for his services as the interim Attorney General.
#StHelena #AttorneyGeneral
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Effective Thursday, 18 September 2025, all Port Control, Customs and Immigration services will operate from the new cargo management facility at Rupert’s and will no longer be available from the Customs House in Jamestown.
The Customs and Immigration sections will merge into one department and will be contactable by telephone on (+290) 22287 or by email at cienquiries@sainthelena.gov.sh.
Port Control will be contactable by telephone on (+ 290) 22750, on-call by mobile on(+290) 61827, via email at port.control@sainthelena.gov.sh and on VHF radio Channel 14.
What you need to know:
Package Collection: All packages will be collected from Liberation House (pictured below) in Rupert’s. Signage for the building will follow. For questions about your parcels, please contact your freight forwarder or consolidator in the first instance.
Pre-arrival Payments: To avoid delays, we encourage customers to email their waybills and invoices to cienquiries@sainthelena.gov.sh. You may also pay duty for arriving packages at the Post and Customer Service Centre or the Bank of St Helena before collecting from the Rupert’s cargo management facility.
Operating Hours: Current opening times will remain the same i.e.
Mondays and Fridays – Drop in from 09:00 to 15:00 (no appointment necessary)
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday – by appointment only (Call 22287 to book an appointment in advance)
The new Customs and Immigration department will be reviewing these hours to ensure they continue to meet the needs of the public and stakeholders. Any changes will be announced in due course.
During the relocation process and during cargo operations, there will be restricted access from the main security gate, which is adjacent to Liberation House, through to the jetty. Cargo operations are carried out from the time the ship arrives, through to the ship’s departure and includes distribution and collection of cargo by merchants, freight forwarders and consolidators. Appropriate safety and security arrangements will be in place. There will be different levels of security applied according to the nature of operations at that time and the parties involved.
Dates, times and levels of restricted access will be communicated to the public and stakeholders as is the normal procedure.
Photo
The blue warehouse building in the foreground is named ‘Liberation House’, with parking available to the public collecting goods
Chief Minister Rebecca Cairns-Wicks today announced the Ministers she has selected and the Public Service Portfolios allocated to them. They are:
- Safety, Security and Home Affairs Portfolio – Councillor Gillian Brooks
- Education, Skills and Employment Portfolio – Councillor Andrew Turner
- Environment, Natural Resources and Planning Portfolio and Economic Development Portfolio – Councillor Karl Thrower
- Health and Social Care Portfolio – Councillor Martin Henry
The Chief Minister will have responsibility for the Treasury and for Central Support Services.
The Chief Minister has recommended to the Governor that he makes these appointments. Pursuant to the Constitution the Governor will now formally make the appointments and Portfolio allocations.
Each Minister will exercise general direction and policy control over departments assigned to them subject to the policies of Government.
Chief Minister Rebecca Cairn-Wicks commented:
“I would like to extend my gratitude and congratulations to the new Ministers in taking on their new roles. We know that there are challenges ahead, but together as a team we will be ready to face them.
The team has been chosen with deep consideration and care.
Our priorities are clear: to listen, to work openly, and to take forward the policies and decisions that will help move the island forwards and build a strong and sustainable future for St Helena.
I have every confidence that the Ministerial team will bring energy, dedication, and integrity to their roles. We will be accountable to the public, guided by the values of fairness, transparency, and service. Our commitment is to put people first and to work together for the good of the island.
I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank Honourable Members of Legislative Council for the generosity of your time, consideration and support as I step into the role of Chief Minister. I am heartened by discussion and debate and the commitment to working together, facilitating good communication and transparency in the decision-making process and I am committed to work with you in this way.”
The Chief Minister, four Ministers and the Attorney General form the Executive Council. The Executive Council with the Governor are the highest decision making body of the St Helena Government.
#StHelena #ChiefMinister #Ministers
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The public and all wharf stakeholders are advised that the Port of Jamestown will be closed from 06:00 on Thursday 18 September 2025 for the movement of containers and will reopen as soon as operations are completed. This is in preparation for the next call of the MV Karoline.
Port users are asked not to cause any vehicular obstruction during this time as it will make the operation of the heavy equipment difficult or impossible.
Any inconvenience is regretted and the public and port users are thanked in advance for their patience and understanding
SHG
17 September 2025
The Marine Section will be closed to the public from 08:30 to 16:00 on Thursday, 18 September 2025. This is due to staff conducting essential field work.
We will resume normal business hours at 08:30 on Friday, 19 September 2025. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
The MT Ardberg is scheduled to arrive in St Helena on Wednesday, 17 September 2025 at 18:00, where it will anchor in James Bay. The vessel will berth alongside Rupert’s Jetty on Tuesday, 23 September 2025, and bunkering operations will commence as soon as clearance has been completed.
The public are therefore advised that the whole of Lower Rupert’s, including the beach area, will be closed from 06:00 on Tuesday, 23 September 2025, until all bunkering operations are completed.
These areas will be strictly prohibited, with access limited only to those who have made prior arrangements with St Helena Port Control.
Boat owners and operators are further advised that Rupert’s Bay will also be closed due to the floating pipeline.
The public are thanked in advance for their patience and co-operation.
SHG
16 September 2025
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
www.facebook.com/StHelenaGovt/
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.