Latest Posts

The Education and Employment Directorate would like to advise that formal notification has been received from all UK Examination Boards that due to the current COVID-19 pandemic all examinations for May/June 2020 have been cancelled.

Guidance on how students will be assessed has yet to be received from the relevant Examination Boards. Once this is received then all students will be made aware of the procedures. In the interim period, all studies at Prince Andrew School will continue as normal.

SHG
27 March 2020

Catchfence above upper Bulk Fuel Installation

This week, CAN France commenced drilling for a 90m fence on the east side of upper Rupert’s Valley.

Catchfences above Maldivia Road

As part of the year-long design phase, Fairhurst created a series of rockfall models along Maldivia Road using their knowledge of rockfall behaviour on St Helena combined with geological mapping. These models consider the size of the potential rockfall, the runout zone, the location of receptors (person, property, road etc), and the probability and level of damage. These rockfall catchfences have been designed to provide a significant risk reduction to Upper Jamestown. CAN France has commenced drilling for these fences, working from Estcourt Gardens back down the Valley.

Rockfall netting above Rupert’s Wharf

A geo-hazard assessment by Fairhurst identified the potential for small to moderate sized rocks to fall from the vertical cliff above the access road. The road will be protected with draped hexagonal netting which safely channels fallen rocks to the base of the netting. CAN France has installed the top anchors for this netting. Bottom anchors will be drilled using a tele-handler in a few weeks’ time.

The hazard assessment also identified the potential for rockfall from the large crags on Mundens Hill to reach the Wharf access road. The rock sizes are within the capacity of Spider netting, which is the diamond shaped netting already in place above James Wharf. CAN France has started drilling the top anchors for this netting, which will continue for a couple of weeks.

Rockfall netting on Access (Haul) Road

CAN France completed installation of the anchors for the hexagonal netting on the Access Road a week early. The netting will be installed in April/May. Another partial lane closure will be needed for this phase.

Rock trap at Rupert’s Wharf

CAN France is looking for old tyres of any size to use in the rock trap at the Wharf. If you have any spare, please provide your name, phone number and number of spare tyres to Contracts Manager, Arthur Bourret, via email: abourret@can.fr.

Any questions on the Project can be directed to: catherine.inglis@fairhurst.co.uk.

#StHelena #RockfallProtection #AltogetherSafer

SHG/CAN France/Fairhurst

27 March 2020

The three-week lockdown in South Africa starting tonight has resulted in Airlink flights being suspended for at least three weeks.

Airlink has advised that the earliest date the next scheduled flight will arrive on St Helena and travel onwards to Ascension is Saturday, 18 April 2020. This date is not guaranteed and could change if the South African restrictions are extended.  We recommend you regularly review the Airlink website for updates and booking and refund arrangements.

The reality, at this present time, is there are no confirmed scheduled commercial flights to/from South Africa with Airlink.  We are dependent on the lockdown measures being taken in South Africa coming to an end. If anybody is concerned about departing or returning to St Helena please contact Jane Roberts in the Tourist Office on tel: 22158 or email: jane.roberts@tourism.co.sh and register your details.

The Tourist Office is identifying people who need to travel to/from St Helena so that they can be contacted once flight arrangements are confirmed.  The Governor’s Office will inform the Tourist Office when any flight options become available. The Tourist Office will send out email updates to registered people as new information becomes available.

The Tourist Office is not able to engage with your airline, insurance company or booking agent on your behalf.  You should go direct to these organisations to make bookings or get refunds.

SHG

26 March 2020

Parents and guardians of school-aged children are advised that all schools on St Helena will reopen on Monday, 30 March 2020.

This follows a short period of closure to reduce the spread and effect of a current influenza virus being experienced on-Island. 

Given the difficulty of practicing ‘social distancing’ in any school environment, parents and guardians are asked to note the following precautionary measures to continue to minimise the spread of influenza:

Parents and guardians are thanked for their support in helping to minimise the spread of influenza on-Island. This is not to be confused with the Coronavirus (Covid-19), of which there are no suspected cases on-Island to date.

#StHelena #Education #Schools

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

SHG
26 March 2020

FRIDAY, 27 MARCH 2020

A formal meeting of Legislative Council will take place tomorrow, Friday 27 March 2020, at 10am in the Council Chamber. This is the first sitting of the fifteenth meeting of Legislative Council and will be broadcast live via SAMS Radio 1. The meeting is also open to members of the public who wish to attend.

The Order Paper includes seven Sessional Papers. There will also be four Motions relating to the Pensions (Amendment) Bill, 2020, the Criminal Justice (Fixed Penalties) Bill, 2020, the Consumer Protection (Control of Sales During Limited Supply) Bill, 2020, and a request from the Financial Secretary in accordance with and subject to Section 102 of the Constitution, for the House to authorise the withdrawal of moneys from the Consolidated Fund in order to meet expenditure necessary to continue the services or projects of SHG in the financial year, commencing on 1 April 2020.

A copy of the Order Paper, which also includes six Questions and their written responses, will shortly be available on the SHG Website at: https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/st-helena/government/legislative-council/order-papers/

#StHelena #LegislativeCouncil #FormalLegCo #OrderPaper

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

SHG
26 March 2020

THEFT AT PENSPEN’S TEMPORARY AIRPORT FUEL SITE

St Helena Police are currently investigating a theft which occurred at Penspen’s Temporary Airport Fuel Site (formerly known as Tank 6), situated on Wainwright Way on the Access (Haul) Road, which occurred between Tuesday, 21 January, and  Monday, 24 February 2020.

As a result of this theft, a 10-tonne Hydraulic Bench Press was removed from a container at this location along with two bags of terry towel rags and one and a half boxes of blue paper hand towels.

Any information on this incident, regardless of how minor it may seem, can be provided in the strictest of confidence to St Helena Police via telephone: 22626 or email the investigating officer Police Constable, T-Jay Coleman, via email: t-jay.coleman@sainthelena.gov.sh or mark.morrison@sainthelena.gov.sh. Alternatively you can speak to a Police Officer of your choice.

SHG
26 March 2020

http://www.sainthelena.gov.sh

Coronavirus-Graphic

St Helena is still in the Prevent Stage and keeping St Helena safe is our priority. There are no suspected cases of COVID-19 on the Island.

Yesterday, Chairman of the Public Health Committee, Councillor Derek Thomas, announced the following further measures to try and prevent the virus from reaching St Helena:

The three-week lockdown in South Africa from Thursday, 26 March, has implications for St Helena and will affect the weekly scheduled flight to the Island. Current indications are that the earliest the next scheduled flight will arrive at St Helena is on Saturday, 18 April 2020, however this is subject to change.

We understand that this is a difficult time for travellers especially those in South Africa needing to get back to the Island. We have several medical referrals and carers currently in Pretoria who will be affected by the travel ban and we are in the process of putting in place arrangements for both our patients and carers to ensure that they are looked after.

We cannot guarantee the schedule of future commercial flights to and from St Helena. If anybody is concerned (Saints /tourists/ contractors) about getting back to their home country or if there are people wanting to return to St Helena please contact Jane Roberts on tel: 22158 or email: jane.roberts@tourism.co.sh.

We are pleased to advise that the MV Helena is now berthed in Cape Town and is currently undergoing cargo operations. The vessel will depart Cape Town tomorrow, Thursday 26 March, and is estimated to arrive at St Helena on Thursday, 2 April.

Self-Isolation – why is it so important?

Following Saturday’s flight (21 March), 37 passengers have been asked to self-isolate for 14 days as per the new directives of SHG which were agreed on 16 March by the Incident Executive Group (IEG).

All passengers have been informed and issued with a letter explaining the conditions of self-isolation.

Self-isolation is a legal requirement and means – the separation of a person from any other person in such a manner as to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the following locations:

If you fail to comply with the requirements of the regulations then you may be detained and placed in isolation.

We would like to stress that this social responsibility should be taken seriously – to keep the virus off the Island we all need to work together. Members of the public who have been instructed to self-isolate should therefore comply. Anyone aware of someone who is breaking their self-isolation should inform the Hospital or Police Headquarters immediately.

What is the difference between self-isolation and quarantine?

Quarantine is different from self-isolation as it provides a higher level of monitoring where those quarantined are not only physically separated from the community, but closely monitored to ensure they do not have contact with others. Quarantine means a higher level of control.

Information about COVID-19

COVID-19 is a respiratory virus which spreads primarily through contact with an infected person, normally generated through coughs or sneezes or through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose. Infection with COVID-19 can cause mild symptoms similar to other flu-like viruses, for example a runny nose, sore throat, cough and fever.

If you become ill with any of these symptoms do not go to the Hospital. Instead call the hospital for advice on the dedicated phone number: 25707

Self-isolate at home and await advice from Hospital staff.

Prevention

Keeping up-to-date

We wish to reassure you that at this time there are no suspected cases of COVID-19 on the Island.

Please tune into the radio on a daily basis, look out for our regular news releases and Social Media updates, watch the promo TV channel and visit our ‘live’

Question and Answer page on the SHG website: https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/coronavirus-COVID-19-live-qa/.

Anyone with concerns on a particular issue relating to COVID-19 that is not already covered in the Q&A should contact COVID-19 Communications Officer, Kimberley Peters, via email: kimberley.peters@sainthelena.gov.sh or tel: 22470.

#StHelena #Coronavirus #COVID-19 #AltogtherHealthier

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

SHG
25 March 2020



Over the last week, St Helena’s water consumption levels have fluctuated. There were three days where water consumption was below 1000 cubic metres and four days where consumption rates were above the target level.

Stored water volume Island-wide is currently at 47.8% (55,240 cubic metres) while in Red Hill it is 26%(16, 884 cubic metres). However, if water consumption levels remain above 1000 cubic metres, our stored water volume will quickly decline. It is therefore very important that we keep our water use to essential needs only.

Please use water responsibly, including when washing hands.

Remember, we are currently under an Island-wide hosepipe ban. If you see anyone using water irresponsibly or notice a burst pipe or leak, then please inform Connect Saint Helena immediately.

Every drop counts, every action counts – Everyone must save every drop of water possible.

#StHelena #WaterShortage #EveryDropCounts

St Helena Resilience Forum

25 March 2020

Deputy Head of Prince Andrew School, Isabel Andrews, Prince Andrew School Teacher, Craig Peters, and Teaching Assistant at St Paul’s Primary, Roberta Thomas, are the latest teachers to have achieved the Cambridge International Certificate in Teaching and Learning. 

All Cambridge Professional Development Qualifications at Certificate Award Level are placed on the Higher Education Qualifications Framework (HEQF) at Level 4. This means that the academic and skill demands are equivalent to a first year university standard. 

Isabel said: “Having been in the teaching profession for quite a while, updating professional qualifications through courses like this can be very rewarding.  It allows you to reflect on and consolidate your thinking around what is best practice in teaching and learning, and therefore help to meet desired outcomes in the classroom.”

Roberta, who achieved her pass with distinction, said: “The level 4 teaching and learning course was definitely a challenging and very interesting one. I certainly was not looking to pass with a distinction. I am very proud of my achievement. I would like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to the Teacher Trainers, Garry Cameron and Frazer Stone, and my mentor, Stacey Benjamin, for their guidance throughout this course. Also a big thank you to my family who also supported me and gave me the much needed encouragement to complete the course.”

All three teachers were supported on the course by Teacher Training Advisor, Frazer Stone.

Frazer said: “All three candidates have done exceptionally well, completing the Cambridge Level 4 Certificate in Teaching and Learning. They have faced setbacks along the way, but through professionalism and perseverance they have achieved the qualification. Feedback from the assessments highlighted how all candidates had demonstrated excellent application of the educational theories, in particular, Roberta whom was awarded the distinction level for her submission. I am very proud of all the candidates and hopefully this is only the start, in terms of future studies.”

#StHelena #Education #AltogetherBetterForChildren&YoungPeople

SHG
25 March 2020

Every year the Minimum Wage is reviewed by the Employment Rights Committee with the view to ensure that low income workers are protected from poverty. The Committee considers inflation, the state of the economy and views on the rates expressed through public consultation when recommending a rate. As a result of the review, and agreement by Executive Council, this year there will be an increase of 5p to the Minimum Wage with effect from 3 April 2020.

The Minimum Wage will increase to:

St Helena’s Minimum Wage first came into place in June 2013 and at the time was £2.30 per hour for adults. The Minimum Wage has increased by 38% since inception, which is larger than inflation whereby there has been a 21% increase in prices since 2013.

From 3 April 2020, adult full time minimum wage workers will receive a weekly salary of £111.30 assuming a 35 hour work week. This is 20% higher than the most recent statistic of St Helena’s Poverty Line measured by the Minimum Income Standard, which is £91.80 per week. Therefore the Minimum Wage continues to protect workers from poverty.

From 3 April 2020, adult full time minimum wage workers will receive an annual salary of £5,788. This is a difference of 30% compared to the most recent statistic of median gross employee income which is £8,410.

The Minimum Wage on St Helena should not be compared to the Minimum Wage in other countries because the price and consumption of goods and services such as food and clothing, transport, heating, utilities, education, healthcare, insurance, socialising and taxation differs greatly between countries.

#StHelena #MinimumWage #AltogetherWealthier #SEDP

SHG

25 March 2020