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The Adult Social Care Team would like to advise the public that they have relocated their offices from the Post Office in Jamestown to the former ESH offices at the Ladder Hill, Business Park.
The team can now be contacted via telephone number 22920.
SHG
29 July 2021
For the second quarter of 2021 the Retail Price Index has been measured at 107.5 (Chart 1). This is an increase of 1.2% from three months ago, when the Index stood at 106.3. It is also an increase of 0.7% from a year ago, when the RPI was 106.8. This means that the annual inflation rate is 0.7%, comparing prices in the second quarter of 2021 to the same time period in 2020.
Chart 1. St Helena Retail Price Index Q2 2014 to Q2 2021 (Q1 2018=100)
Notable increases in prices over the year include items in the alcohol and tobacco category and the Miscellaneous Goods and Services category. Notable decreases in annual prices included the price of fuel; petrol fell from £1.35 to £1.28 per litre, and diesel from £1.37 to £1.35 a litre.
The Index uses 203 representative items to measure price changes in nine different categories of household spending. Since a year ago, 57 items increased in price, 45 items decreased in price, and the price of 101 items remained unchanged. However, in the shorter term, looking at price changes in the last three months, 46 items in the RPI increased in price and only 15 items fell in price; this is reflected in the upward movement in the index in Q2 2021 compared to Q1.
The full Statistical Bulletin can be found on the St Helena Government website here: https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/st-helena/statistics/statistics-reports-and-publications/ detailed data can be accessed in Excel format from the ‘Inflation’ file at: https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/st-helena/statistics/
#StHelena #Statistics #Prices #Inflation #Economy #StatsNews
https://www.facebook.com/StHelenaGovt/
SHG
29 July 2021
- St Helena Weekly Police Report Issued
- Week commencing Monday, 19 July, to Sunday, 25 July 2021
- Total of 52 reports were dealt with, resulting in three arrests
During the period of Monday, 19 July, to Sunday, 25 July 2021, St Helena Police dealt with a total of 52 reports resulting in three arrests.
One person was arrested for theft and is now on bail with conditions.
One person was arrested for burglary and possession of cannabis and was charged to appear before the Court.
One person was arrested for criminal damage and harassment, they have been charged and bailed to appear before the Magistrate’s Court.
Other reports included Road Traffic offences, a Theft, Criminal Damage and a Civil Dispute – all of which are under investigation. Other reports of an Assault, Road Traffic offences, Domestic incident, Drunk in a public place and missing from home were all dealt with by officers.
This week Police carried out a number of Community Engagements as well as serving summons and court letters and assisting with funerals.
St Helena Police thank the community and partnering agencies for their continued support and assistance in keeping the Island safe.
Until next time, have a good week and stay safe!
#StHelena #PoliceReport #AltogetherSafer
https://www.facebook.com/StHelenaGovt/
SHG
29 July 2021
The following is a public announcement from the Education, Skills & Employment Portfolio:
The Public Library will be closed from 2pm on Friday, 30 July 2021. The Library will reopen as normal at 10am on Saturday, 31 July 2021.
The public is thanked in advance for their continued support.
SHG
28 July 2021
St Helena Government (SHG) announced additional charter flights for August, September and December 2021 on 16 July.
SHG is now pleased to offer a 25% discount on the flight scheduled to operate on 21 and 22 August for all new bookings as well as for those passengers who have previously requested seats on the flights operating on 9 and 12 August and 6 and 8 September but who may now decide to travel on the 21 and 22 August flight. The offer is for the London to St Helena and return flight.
This discount means that a return ticket from London to St Helena is £1,425 or £713 one way for the 21 and 22 August flight.
Bookings for the flight on 21 August are open until 6 August. It is not anticipated that this flight will have any payload restrictions and therefore a full baggage allowance along with any requests for excess baggage can be accommodated.
The detailed schedule for this flight is below:
| Date | Flight No | Departure Time | Departure Airport | Arrival Airport | Arrival Time |
| 21AUG21 | ZT0531 | 0115 Local | London Stansted STN | Accra ACC | 0715 Local |
| 21AUG21 | ZT0531 | 0800 Local | Accra ACC | St Helena HLE | 1210 Local |
| 22AUG21 | ZT0532 | 0900 Local | St Helena HLE | Accra ACC | 1300 Local |
| 22AUG21 | ZT0532 | 1345 Local | Accra ACC | London Stansted STN | 2155 Local |
Bookings
Bookings are on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. Some seats will be held back e.g. for urgent medical travellers.
To improve the passenger booking process for these flights, SHG has now partnered with the Shipping & Travel Department of Solomon & Company (St Helena) Plc who will take on full responsibility for the customer booking process.
From today onwards, travel requests should be submitted to the Solomons Travel team via email: flight.reservations@solomons.co.sh, telephone: (+290) 22523 or visit in person at the Shipping & Travel Department, the Malabar, Jamestown, between the hours of 8am and 3pm, Mondays to Fridays.
Solomons will also be proactively contacting those passengers who have already sent in their flight booking forms to confirm receipt and any deposit payment.
For those based on Ascension Island, or wishing to travel to or from Ascension Island, please continue to contact the Shipping and Travel Office via email: flight.bookings@ascension.gov.ac.
Please note that SHG reserves the right to change dates of travel without notice even after payment has been received.
Customers wishing to book commercial or government airfreight for carriage on these flights are advised to use an appropriate freight forwarding agent to make the necessary arrangements.
Reminder of all the Titan flights currently timetabled*:
*Days of operation subject to weather conditions at St Helena Airport.
#StHelena #FlightsUpdate #TitanAirways #CharterFlights
https://www.facebook.com/StHelenaGovt/
SHG
28 July 2021
St Helena Government (SHG) continues to plan for the future, this includes maintaining an effective air service for travel to and from the Island.
Recently it was announced that, due to increased demand, three additional charter flights had been added to the schedule during peak travel periods.
To improve the passenger booking process for all charter flights, SHG has partnered with the Shipping & Travel Department of Solomon & Company (St Helena) Plc. Solomons will now take on full responsibility for the customer booking process, this will include flight booking requests, cargo, confirming flight arrangements and processing ticket deposits and payments.
SHG’s Head of Civil Aviation, Mark Souter, said:
“We are very happy to have Solomons working with us on the Titan Airways charter flights booking process. This is an area where they have prior experience having undertaken a similar role with Airlink and passengers will benefit from an improved and focussed service.”
Solomons added:
“We are very pleased to be partnered with SHG in supporting these vital travel links to and from St Helena and look forward to once again assisting passengers with their travel arrangements.”
Titan flight schedule for August 2021 onwards
The flight schedule for the Titan Airways Charter flights can be found at the following link: https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/coronavirus-covid-19/travel-tourism/
Travel Requests
Travel requests for these flights can be made immediately with availability of both inbound and outbound seats being assigned on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. Some seats will be held back e.g. for urgent medical travellers.
From today onwards, travel requests should be submitted to the Solomons Travel team via email: flight.reservations@solomons.co.sh, telephone: (+290) 22523 or visit in person at the Shipping & Travel Department, the Malabar, Jamestown, between the hours of 8am and 3pm, Mondays to Fridays.
Note to Editors
Titan Airways is a specialist in Air Charter Travel and is based at London’s Stansted Airport. As the charterer, SHG is responsible for allocating seats on the flights which are not available for general sale.
Solomons is based on St Helena Island in the South Atlantic Ocean. Solomon & Company (St Helena) Plc has deep links to St Helena, establishing it as an integral part of Island life. It operates in a range of sectors on St Helena which include travel, shipping, retail and wholesale, insurance, production, services and the property sector.
#StHelena #FlightsUpdate #TitanAirways #CharterFlights
https://www.facebook.com/StHelenaGovt/
SHG
28 July 2021
During the formal Legislative Council meeting on Friday, 30 July 2021, The Fisheries Bill 2021, will be discussed. If the Bill is passed by Council, it will replace the St Helena Fishery Limits Ordinance of 1977.
At the start of the Blue Belt Programme on St Helena and the setting of fisheries management priorities, it was identified that it was necessary to reform St Helena’s fisheries law in a number of areas to improve the regulation of fishing and related activities within St Helena’s fisheries limits.
The health of our oceans is becoming an increasing concern, and people are more aware of their impact and ecological footprint than ever before. The Fisheries Bill, 2021, is informed by St Helena’s fisheries management and fishing licensing policy and provides a framework for modern regulation of fishing and related activities within St Helena’s fisheries limits. The Bill supports and promotes St Helena’s responsible management of its valuable marine resources to preserve these for future generations.
Portfolio Director for Environment, Natural Resources & Planning, Darren Duncan said:
“I am extremely pleased we have been able to present a Bill that assists us to better regulate St Helena’s fisheries as part of delivering an improved regulatory framework for our Marine Protected Area. It underpins new policy we have sought to embed as part of reforms for fisheries management, licensing and fishing activities and provides the necessary enforcement powers to protect our fishery resources to manage their long-term sustainability for the benefit of all users and interest groups both now and in the future.
“Thanks are extended to all who have played a part in the Bill reaching this stage of the legislative process and enabled dedicated resources to this particular legislative work stream.”
St Helena has a long tradition of sustainable fishing using ‘one-by-one methods’ – the only tuna fishing methods that are internationally considered to be environmentally responsible, truly sustainable, and based on generations of tradition.
In 2016, St Helena Government, the then St Helena Fisheries Corporation and local fishers partnered with the International Pole and Line Foundation (IPNLF) to establish a one-by-one only tuna fishing zone out to 200nm, shielding a vast ocean area from harmful fishing activities and providing valuable protection for our low-impact and socially responsible fishery.
This partnership has been working to ensure that policies are adopted and implemented to ban all destructive fishing gear and strengthen monitoring, and surveillance and enforcement activities to prevent illegal fishing. The project also establishes best-practice for the traceability of fish catch, enhances quality of fish catch, and strengthens data recording systems.
The Fisheries Bill, 2021, is a result of the aspirations of a range of fisheries stakeholders to support responsible fishing and it aims to greatly benefit St Helena in the long term.
If the Bill is passed, St Helena’s new legislation will explicitly only allow the use of one-by-one tuna fishing gear and methods in its waters. This will not only support future market opportunities supplying responsibly harvested St Helena tuna to high value markets, it will also help meet consumers’ growing demand for transparency and their desire to only purchase ethically and responsibly sourced seafood. By responsibly managing our fisheries, broader ecosystems will also be protected from the damage caused by destructive fishing gear, preventing ghost fishing, habitat damage, and pollution.
#StHelena #IPNLF #BlueBelt #SustainableFisheries #OnebyOne #ChooseYourTuna #ReimagineTuna
https://www.facebook.com/StHelenaGovt/
SHG
28 July 2021
The Governor’s Office welcomes the news that the amendments to the Constitution of St Helena for a Ministerial government, as endorsed by Legislative Council, has completed its approval process in the UK. The amendments are planned to come into effect after the forthcoming St Helena general election before the new Legislative Council meets for the first time.
The Privy Council met last week to consider the Order in Council to amend the Constitution and the Order was made at that meeting. Today, 28 July, that Order in Council was laid before Parliament in London which is the final step in the process in the UK. The next step will be for a Proclamation to be gazetted on St Helena specifying the date on which the amendments will come into effect.
HE Governor Rushbrook commented:
“This is an historic moment for St Helena and a great opportunity for a next elected government. Today marks the culmination of over 18 months of detailed examination and debate across the community on how we want to govern ourselves in the future.
“Back in 2019, Professor Sarkin identified the public wanted clearer individual responsibility for making political decisions, greater political accountability for delivering services and reforms, and a governance system that progressed its business more swiftly. The change to a Ministerial system provides the opportunity for the next elected government to achieve all three.”
The St Helena Government administration and Governor’s Office will continue its work to prepare for a Ministerial government. A programme of planning and preparatory work has been underway for the last two months. Progress has been reported on recently in three published updates. Attention will now turn to formal Legislative Council on Friday, 30 July, to consider a Bill amending the current Ordinance that fixes the remuneration and allowances for Legislative Council in anticipation of the new Ministerial system. Legislative Council will also consider updated rules and procedures for Council to meet the change to the new Ministerial system. A draft new Ministerial Code for use by Ministers in Executive Council is also nearing completion and will be considered by the next Legislative Council after the general election. Training for newly elected Councillors immediately after the general election will be put in place to give them the best start possible working under a Ministerial system.
Explanatory information on the Ministerial system was published in a booklet before the consultative poll in March. A copy can be found at: https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/documents/Governance-Reform-Consultative-Poll-Information-Booklet
Governor’s Office, St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
28 July 2021
Niza Yon of Half Tree Hollow has recently achieved a Law LLB (Hons) Degree following three years of study at the University of Brighton.
Niza explained:
“I was taught a variety of different aspects to give me a good range of knowledge in law. In each year of study, I did six modules which taught a different specialist aspect of the law.
“In my first year I did public law, law of torts, legal structures and ethics, law in practice, criminal justice and theory and business planning. This was followed in my second year with criminal law, contract law, EU law, intellectual property law, law in action: MOOT and law of organisations. In my final year I studied equity and trusts, land law, family law and commercial law. I also carried out a legal research project and volunteered at the Brighton University Legal Clinic.”
Niza’s studies were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic as the course moved completely online and students worked from home. As a result, Niza wasn’t able to meet a lot of her tutors face-to-face, but instead via video calls. This included adapting to meeting clients over a video call during her time at the Legal Clinic.
Niza commented:
“It was a huge struggle for most students to adapt to this style of learning especially during lockdown when no one could really leave their homes. However, Brighton University provided us with a lot of support and most of my tutors made themselves available to help us with any questions or issues we had, so I felt very supported by the University and with my course.”
Niza will graduate in February 2022 and remain in the UK until then to gain further practical experience to enhance her legal career.
Niza concluded:
“I’m incredibly proud that I’ve got a degree especially considering what’s happened over the past year and a half and I consider it a massive achievement that would not have been possible without the support and encouragement of my friends and family both at home and here in the UK.”
Head of Lifelong Learning on St Helena, Angela Benjamin, commented:
“The Education, Skills & Employment Portfolio would like to congratulate Niza on this great achievement. This qualification will be of great benefit to St Helena upon Niza’s return to the Island. We look forward to her applying this knowledge and sharing skills she has learnt during her three-year study at University.”
Congratulations are extended to Niza!
SHG
28 July 2021
The decision to arrest someone is never taken lightly. The individual’s fundamental right to freedom and liberty is being taken away and therefore has to be justified. When an individual is brought into police custody they have certain rights and entitlements which include free and independent legal advice, the right to tell someone they have been arrested and a right to read all the codes of practice about how they must be treated and what the police have to follow.
Additionally, if a person arrested is a vulnerable adult with physical or mental difficulties which affects communication or understanding, or a child, then an appropriate adult is required to help support the individual and take an interest in their wellbeing.
All of this is covered by the Police and Criminal Evidence Ordinance which is available on the St Helena Government website: https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/documents/Police-Criminal-Evidence-Ord-Updated-010621.
The law is always being reviewed and updated to ensure that it meets the needs of the public. In June 2021 amendments were made to strengthen the protection of victims, witnesses and the public through the granting of powers for the Police to place conditions on those who have been released from the Police Station on bail whilst inquiries are ongoing. Conditions could include not to contact a victim or witness to prevent them from being intimidated or encouraged to drop the case, not to enter licenced premises, to remain at home overnight to prevent further crimes being committed, especially useful if the investigation relates to public disorder involving alcohol.
Breaching these conditions is serious and could lead to prosecution or having to remain in custody overnight until the next available court hearing, which is any day other than a Sunday, Good Friday or Christmas Day. The investigating officer must satisfy the custody officer that keeping this person in custody overnight is necessary.
Changing the law is always a balancing act and the welfare of those under investigation is always a concern for the Police especially if investigations are likely to go on for some time. The stress and uncertainty of what might happen can and does impact the mental health and wellbeing of individuals on Police bail. The June 2021 amendments have taken this into account and now place time limits on how long a person can be on bail before being charged. There is now a requirement for the Police to apply to the Magistrates Court for any extension past three months with an absolute limit that the Court can grant of up to 12 months.
St Helena Police welcome the changes which we see as serving the public’s best interest in protecting our victims of crime whilst ensuring that matters are investigated and where appropriate brought before the courts as promptly and effectively as possible.
SHG
28 July 2021