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HE Governor Dr Philip Rushbrook hosted a reception at Plantation House on Wednesday, 6 October 2021, to celebrate a wide range of achievements throughout the last year.

In his speech to awardees, HE Governor said:

“Personally I am hugely impressed with St Helena. It never ceases to amaze me how many people, in their own time and their own way, choose to try and improve their academic or professional standing or have achieved things that are worthy of recognition. So each and every one of you here tonight that is going to be honoured with this event, you should take personal congratulations on what you’ve achieved. It is building up the skills base for the Island, something that is going to have long term benefit for all of us.”

During the reception, the Governor awarded Mr Geoffrey Benjamin a British Empire Medal (BEM). Geoffrey was awarded the BEM for his contribution to the development of biomedical testing services on-Island, which are a crucial part of the Island’s COVID-19 protection measures.

HE Governor also awarded an Act of Bravery Award and certificate to Alan Thomas, Damien Stevens, Yordie Constantine, Christopher Wade, Rhys Francis, Jason Lawrence, Matthew Benjamin and Christian Phillips of the St Helena Fire & Rescue Service, and Joe Hollins, Kenneth Henry and Rico Williams of the Veterinary Section for performing an act of bravery on 31 December 2020 by being instrumental in the difficult rescue of a dog whose life was in peril after falling onto a cliff ledge.

Recognition was given to staff from the Health and Social Care Portfolio for significant academic achievements. June Constantine, Anna Thomas, Samantha Thomas, and Sarah Newman had all achieved a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Nursing Studies. Louisa Plato achieved her BSc in Adult Nursing Studies.  Alexia Lawrence achieved a BSc in Biomedical Science and was also Recipient of the President of the Institute of Biomedical Scientists Prize for outstanding achievement in a Biomedical Science Honours Degree as well as the Recipient of the Kingston University Dean’s Prizes for consistent good performance and for the best performance on the degree. Charmaine Thomas achieved a Diploma in Dental Therapy and Dental Hygiene. Debbie Leo Thomas achieved a BSc in Integrated Health and Social Care. 

Congratulations are extended to all awardees!

  • Geoffrey Benjamin and HE Governor
  • Staff of the Health & Social Care Portfolio
  • Staff of the St Helena Fire & Rescue Service and Veterinary Section

#StHelena #PlantationHouse #StaffSuccess

SHG
12 October 2021

The Roads Section has recently repainted the box junction (see photo attached) on the road adjacent to the entrance of Ladder Hill Fort.

The box junction is a yellow box filled with criss-crossed yellow lines painted on the road and is a traffic control measure designed to prevent congestion at junctions. The box junction allows easier access for Emergency Services, particularly the St Helena Fire & Rescue Service, and will maintain the correct distance between vehicles to allow motorists to turn at the junction safely and avoid congestion.

The public is reminded of the following advice when approaching this box junction:

#StHelena #BoxJunction #AltogetherSafer

SHG
11 October 2021

Recently a number of questions have been asked about St Helena Airport (HLE) and air access to the Island in general. Over the last three weeks, St Helena Government’s (SHG) Sustainable Development Civil Aviation Team has provided answers to the frequently asked questions. This week’s final topic is:

Johannesburg is still the best hub for Airlink to operate from

In the short term, flights should operate to Johannesburg as this is continental Africa’s largest hub airport (21.6m passengers handled in 2019 compared to 10.9m at Cape Town); has greater onward connectivity by other airline partners; and is expected to return to normality before Cape Town.

Many European and Gulf airlines have cut back on frequencies to Cape Town during the pandemic and this will continue until the market picks up. Meanwhile Johannesburg, being also the commercial centre, benefits from more airlines operating there and is expected to recover more quickly because it is less reliant on pure Visiting Friends and Family and tourism traffic.

In the longer term, the optimal schedule to deliver sustainable year-round tourism should be:

A direct flight to London is not financially viable

In the short / medium term, flights from London would have a negative effect on the financial viability of the current Airlink schedule (when it restarts), caused by the rerouting of passengers by-passing the South African flight.

In 2019, 20% of the non-Saint tourist market originated from South Africa. If these travellers needed to fly to London to get to St Helena rather than take a direct flight to Johannesburg, they would lose the opportunity for dual-centre holidays.

In a post-pandemic world, we need to make it as easy as possible for travellers to arrive here – which means using Airlink.

Ticket prices for the South Africa route would be lower than a UK route, on a total journey basis from Europe to St Helena return.

There would not be enough year-round demand to fill an aircraft with a decent flight schedule (weekly) with the UK, meaning the service would lose money. The UK outbound demand is very seasonal with much lower demand in UK summer months – even less cost effective for a large aircraft such as the B757. Meanwhile, the smaller and lower-cost Airlink operation from South Africa has a much lower ‘breakeven point’, i.e. becomes profitable and self-sustaining with a weekly service. This means in the medium term, government subsidies should no longer be required to support the route. 

A UK service would incur additional refuelling and crew costs. A service from London would need a transit stop (e.g. Accra) in both directions for fuel, with additional challenges in dealing with crew flying-time limitations. (Titan needs to carry a spare pilot crew – which adds to the flying costs).

Weather would also be an issue – for London flights, the forecast would need to be compiled a day earlier compared to flights originating from Southern Africa. Flight postponements (for the London service) may be at an airport (such as Accra) where the airline has no base or contractual relationship with suppliers, including maintenance organisations. In the event of a technical problem developing, passengers might need to overnight in Accra, which would be complicated and costly.

To sum up, in the short to medium term (and whilst St Helena builds itself up as a tourist destination), a UK-St Helena-UK route would not be economically viable for any aircraft operator unless it was heavily subsidised at a cost to SHG far greater than the Airlink subsidy. On average, it is around four times more expensive to operate a return flight from London compared to Johannesburg. This means passenger ticket prices would have to increase to cover the increased costs.

Ascension Island cannot be used to support a UK route

Under an agreement with HM Government, Ascension Island’s airfield is controlled by the United States military and is generally off-limits to commercial aircraft traffic. 

St Helena currently benefits from a clause in this agreement that allows for a limited number of commercial domestic flights between Ascension and St Helena; however, this took many years to negotiate with the United States and is likely to prove difficult to change.

The lack of facilities to accommodate a diverted/grounded civil aircraft, coupled with a reluctance to accommodate civil aircraft, means Ascension is only useful from a diversionary/emergency perspective if there is a weather (or other) issue at HLE but not in any other case.

It is essential that we create a suitable and economically sustainable foundation for the rebuild of the air service with our contracted air service partner, Airlink

During the 2002-2004 SARS outbreak, travel was unsafe but the global economy didn’t flat line.

During the 2008 financial crisis, money was tight but flying was not a health risk.

In the 110 years since the dawn of commercial flights, these blows have never been dealt in tandem – until COVID-19 struck.

Thousands of aircraft remain grounded; in Europe, as of September 2021, flight numbers were only at 40% of pre-pandemic levels.

Airlines, tourism bodies and economists all agree that, despite the rollout of the vaccines, global passenger volumes will not return to pre-COVID levels until at least 2025. This will inevitably have a detrimental impact on St Helena’s tourism development and the viability of travel arrangements to and from the Island.

#StHelena #Aviation #StHelenaAirport #FAQs

https://www.facebook.com/StHelenaGovt/

SHG
11 October 2021

Works are progressing on the Port Control Customs and Biosecurity (PCB) Main Container Yard in Lower Ruperts .  AMD Engineering Contractors have completed the setting out of the site and excavation has commenced.

Materials testing is also underway.

The Container Freight Station (CFS) contract which is being carried out by Isaacs Contactors is also progressing.

Setting out of the site is being finalised and excavation will commence shortly.

A site office has been established in Lower Ruperts within the Garden Wall area. 

Site Supervisor, Paul Loosely, is on-site and can be contacted on tel: 25482 if members of the public have any immediate queries.

#StHelena #EDIP #RupertsWharfCargoHandlingFacility

https://www.facebook.com/StHelenaGovt/

SHG
8 October 2021

There have been a few incidents concerning parking near the General Hospital following the closure of Side Path Road on Monday, 27 September 2021.

It is disappointing to report that vehicles are now regularly parking in front of the barriers and no-parking signs. Drivers are reminded to respect the new no-parking signs and barriers that have been erected, as well as the existing yellow lines.  

Apart from trying to minimise general traffic congestion around the Hospital during the closure of Side Path Road, it is essential that this area is kept clear for the passage of emergency vehicles, particularly ambulances.  For those drivers who are currently ignoring the no-parking signs, please take a moment to consider that it might be you or a family member who might be in desperate need of an ambulance.  Please help us to help you.

Site Supervisor, Chris Williams, is on site and can be contacted on tel: 67424 if members of the public have any immediate queries in relation to the Side Path Road Project.

SHG
8 October 2021

The public is advised that the Immigration Office at Coleman House will be closed on Tuesday, 12October 2021.

During this closure, all urgent queries can be communicated to the on-duty Police Controller, at Police Headquarters, on tel: 22626.

Normal opening hours will resume from Wednesday, 13October 2021.

The public is thanked for your understanding during this time.

SHG
8 October 2021

Executive Council (ExCo) has this week approved the following Regulations to underpin the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 2021, which was passed by Legislative Council in January 2021, and will be brought into force shortly: 

The Merchant Shipping Ordinance and accompanying Regulations will provide a framework, within our local law, for the modern regulation of merchant shipping.

Members noted that the upcoming audit of the UK Government (between 14 and 28 October) by the International Maritime Organisation will also cover compliance in the UK Overseas Territories to the extent that the Overseas Territories have international obligations extended to them. For St Helena that will include compliance with three of the six core III Code conventions:

It was recognised that these Regulations seek to deliver the requirements of these three international conventions into our domestic legislation.

Members agreed that the Regulations supported the principal ordinance and provides for safety of life at sea. It is a credit to St Helena that we are complying with UK Regulations and are supporting the UK Government in honouring their obligations.

Executive Council thanked those involved in putting together the Regulations which is an impressive piece of work and has brought us to a point where we can meet the obligations and requirements.

#StHelena #ExCo #MerchantShipping

https://www.facebook.com/StHelenaGovt/

SHG
8 October 2021

Are you interested in protecting your computer systems and networks from information disclosure, theft or damage to your hardware, software or electronic data? If yes, then come along to a Cyber Security presentation at the Museum of St Helena at 7pm on Monday, 11 October 2021.

The presentation and Q&A session will be delivered by visiting UK Government Cyber Security Specialist, Wes Lewis, and will be based around the following topics:

If you require any additional information about Monday’s presentation, then please contact SHG’s IT Section Manager, Jeremy Roberts, via: jeremy.roberts@sainthelena.gov.sh or CSSF Programme Manager, Samantha Cherrett, via: samantha.cherrett@fcdo.gov.uk

SHG
8 October 2021

http://www.sainthelena.gov.sh

Click here for infographic

One week into the programme and works are progressing well. Hillside excavation is progressing with approximately 50% complete. Excavation of the existing road pavements are also progressing and is approximately 5% complete.

SHG

5 October 2021