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The Jamestown Swimming Pool will re-open to the public from today, Monday 13 January 2019.

The Environmental Health Section has advised that water balance test results are now within acceptable parameters and the pool water is visually clear. The Health Directorate is satisfied with these results and has made the decision to re-open the pool to the public. 

The Pool Operator, as well as the Environmental Health Section, will closely monitor the pool water upon re-opening. Should the water balance fall outside the acceptable parameters and/or poor water visibility occurs (e.g. cloudiness) then it will become necessary to close the pool again in the interest of public safety.

#StHelena #JamestownSwimmingPool

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SHG
13 January 2020

The Statistics Office has today released new estimates of average gross incomes from employment for the 2018/19 financial year, including slight revisions to the estimates for previous years. The estimated median annual before-tax income fell to £8,410. Although this is a decrease of just under 1% compared to the previous year, between 2017/18 and 2018/19 prices rose on average by 4.1% and when this is taken into account the ‘real’ level of wages fell by 4.8%.

The number of people above the income tax threshold from earnings from employment also fell, from 1,591 in 2017/18 to 1,448 in 2018/19. Less tax-payers and lower average incomes will tend to reduce tax revenues, which will have a knock-on impact on the services that Government can provide. A larger working age and tax paying population on St Helena will be more conducive to an increase in economic activity and social prosperity – the 2020 Labour Market Strategy warns of the risks of a smaller working age population and provides measures to reduce the negative impacts on the economy, Government revenues and public service provision.

The estimates are derived from records maintained by the Income Tax Office using methodology consistent with previous releases; this year an improvement has been made to better eliminate part-year incomes from the analysis. Estimates measure gross before-tax incomes (wages) of persons in regular employment on St Helena, reported through the Pay-As-You-Earn system. They exclude company and self-employment incomes, incomes of Technical Cooperation Officers, investment income, and other sources of income such as benefits or the Basic Island Pension. They also exclude part-time and part-year incomes, as far as they can be identified. All annual estimates are rounded to the nearest £10.

More detailed statistics on incomes, including the differences between lower and higher paid employees, and the differences in incomes between men and women, are available in the latest Statistical Bulletin No. 1 for 2020 here:

https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/documents/Stats-Bulletin-1-2020-Wages

A data file (Incomes) is available at: http://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/statistics/

#StHelena #StatsNews #Wages

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SHG
13 January 2020

The following is a Public Announcement from Port Control:

The public is advised that the Jamestown Wharf will be closed to all members of the public on Tuesday, 14, Wednesday, 15, Thursday, 16, and Friday, 17 January 2020, due to the arrival of the MV Helena and subsequent cargo operations.

Access to the Jamestown Wharf will be strictly prohibited and is limited only to those who have made prior arrangements with Port Control.

The whole of Lower Rupert’s, including the beach area, will also be closed to the public whilst the ship is in port.

It is anticipated that the MV Helena will remain alongside the Jetty at Rupert’s until all cargo operations have been completed.

The public should also note that the fuel tanker Stolt Strength will be visiting the Island on Thursday, 16 January, and it is likely that access to Lower Rupert’s, including the beach area, will be restricted for the weekend, 18-19 January 2020.

SHG
10 January 2020

The St Helena Community College’s (SHCC) annual Lifelong Learning Awards Ceremony took place at the College Hall on Wednesday, 8 January 2020.

The ceremony was opened with a welcome speech from Assistant Director of Lifelong Learning Services, Angela Benjamin.

Angela said:

“It gives me great pleasure to congratulate all 51 awardees for their success. Learning is not easy and sometimes testing, but the commitment and dedication you have given to your personal development has paid off. Your self-belief and hard work has and will always earn you success.”

Presentations were made by His Excellency, Governor Dr Philip Rushbrook, and the Chair of the Education Committee, Councillor Clint Beard. Awardees received certificates for achieving qualifications in:

Certificates were also presented to those who have completed their Apprenticeship Programme.

  • All Awardees

His Excellency, The Governor, gave a speech following the presentations.

Governor Rushbrook said:

“The awards today are exactly the type of skills and knowledge we need to build up on our Island. Providing the opportunities for learning is the best way we have to ensure the right capabilities are developed within our working population. Capabilities that are needed to provide the services we require and to move forward our economy in innovative ways.

“Those who have now finished here, I urge you to not let this be the end of your personal education and development. In your chosen career and pathway in life there will always be good reasons to increase your professional and personal skills.”

The event concluded with a Vote of Thanks from the Director of Education & Employment, Wendy Benjamin.

Governor Rushbrook’s Closing Remarks from the Ceremony

List of all awardees

#StHelena #SHCC #LifelongLearningAwardsCeremony #CelebratingSuccess

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SHG
10 January 2020

The following is a Public Announcement from the Emergency Planning Department:

The Emergency Planning Department would like to inform the public that a north-westerly swell is forecast for St Helena on Sunday, 12 January 2020.This may result in unsettled sea conditions in James Bay and Rupert’s Bay.

Due care and attention should be taken when swimming in James Bay and Rupert’s Bay during this time.

To avoid damage to vehicles, drivers are asked to take care when parking near the safety rails at the Seafront.

Port Control will be monitoring sea conditions and may restrict access to the Seafront, Wharf and Rupert’s Jetty areas if necessary.

SHG
9 January 2020

Executive Council will meet on Tuesday, 14 January 2020, at 1.30pm, in the Council Chamber, to discuss the following Open Agenda items:

These papers (ExCo Memos) are available online at the following link: http://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/councils/executive-council/.

Members of the public who would like to view hard copies of the ExCo Memos should contact Clerk of Councils, Connie Johnson, at the Castle on tel: 22470 or via email: connie.johnson@sainthelena.gov.sh    

Elected Members serving on Executive Council are Councillors Anthony Green, Lawson Henry, Clint Beard, Derek Thomas and Russell Yon.

Non-voting members of ExCo are Chief Secretary, Susan O’Bey, Financial Secretary, Dax Richards, and Attorney General, Allen Cansick. 

#StHelena #ExCoMeeting

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SHG
9 January 2020

The Social & Community Development Committee (SCDC) welcomed new member Councillor Jeffery Ellick to their monthly meeting on Wednesday, 11 December 2019, and the following items of business were discussed: 

The CEO/Commissioner of the Equality & Human Rights Commission (EHRC), Catherine Turner, presented a proposal to the Committee to amend the Equality & Human Rights Commission Ordinance to allow the Judicial Services Committee to review and recommend Commissioners and other statutory appointees to His Excellency the Governor for appointment to the EHRC. The Committee endorsed the Equality & Human Rights Commission (Amendment) Bill.

The St Helena National Trust (Amendment) Regulations were presented by the St Helena National Trust (SHNT) Director, Tara-Jane Sutcliffe, and was endorsed by the Committee. The amended Regulations will introduce a number of improved governance measures as part of the Trust’s strategic and operational development. The two significant changes include:

The Committee agreed their consultation plan for the Criminal Justice (Fixed Penalty Notice) Bill 2019. Public consultation meetings will commence from today, Thursday 9 January. Fixed Penalty Notices will allow for minor offences to be treated as civil penalties and will avoid a criminal record for the offender.

The Committee was keen to hear the progress and positive movements made over the past year within the Children & Adults Social Care Directorate. Some of the highlights being:

The committee attributed the success and progress of the service to the Director, Tracy Poole-Nandy, and her team, and wished them well for another successful year.

#StHelena #SCDC #MeetingSummary

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SHG
9 January 2020

2019 has officially been recorded as the year with the lowest annual rainfall on St Helena since records began in 1977, with a total of just 286.2mm recorded for the entire year (see chart attached).

This lack of rainfall has contributed to the Island’s current water shortage, which remains serious. Reservoir levels have gradually decreased recently with stored water now at around 35%.

Despite the increase in population on-Island over the busy festive period, water usage, although still higher than 1000 cubic metres, did not reach excessive rates and the public is thanked for their efforts. Regardless, to ensure we preserve our Island’s precious resource, consumption levels must remain as low as possible.

Remember that we are currently under a hosepipe ban following Connect Saint Helena’s enforcement of (CSH) Island-wide water restrictions in June 2019.

CSH has also noticed that those who have been issued exemptions from the water restrictions, mostly for agricultural use, have been exceeding the amount agreed within the exemption. This is not acceptable and those with exemptions must ensure they use water responsibly. Agricultural exemption limits are informed by the Agriculture & Natural Resources Division (ANRD) and exceeding these may hinder being granted further exemptions.

It is everyone’s responsibility to take great care in using our water and consumers are continually urged to reduce consumption wherever possible. St Helena residents, businesses and people who use water for agricultural purposes are also urged to exercise great care and restraint when using water.

In the interim, CSH will continue pumping from Chubb’s Spring and Hutt’s Gate as well as from Fisher’s Valley and Warren’s Gut. The yield from Chubb’s Spring has decreased recently with a current yield of around 60 cubic metres per day as opposed to a period when CSH was extracting around 180 cubic metres daily.

Every drop counts, every action counts – save water now to be safe later

#StHelena #WaterShortage #2019LowestAnnualRainfall #EveryDropCounts

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St Helena Resilience Forum
8 January 2020

The St Helena and Ascension Island Governments are pleased to announce that air freight charges for St Helena fresh produce will be waivered for business-to-business sales for a six-month trial period beginning in February 2020.

This initiative is being undertaken to strengthen trade between the two Islands, provide a more frequent supply of fresh produce to Ascension alongside local production and imports by sea, and contribute to St Helena’s Sustainable Economic Development Plan goal to increase exports.

Waivered air freight charges will apply to all fruit, vegetables and eggs originating from St Helena destined for Ascension but will not apply to produce originating from elsewhere.

All organisations on Ascension Island that currently sponsor the monthly inter-island charter Airlink flight have generously agreed to this waiver.  Following the trial period the waiver will be reviewed to ascertain its success and whether the offering should be continued.

Air freight from St Helena to Ascension may be arranged by contacting the Travel/Shipping Office on St Helena on (00 290) 22523, or by email: freightagent@solomons.co.sh, by no later than midday on the Thursday before the flight is scheduled to depart.

Should businesses on St Helena wish to supply retailers on Ascension they must contact retailers directly. For more information, please contact SHG’s Agronomist, Edward Whitton, on (00 290) 24724, or via email: edward.whitton@sainthelena.gov.sh.

#StHelena #AscensionIsland #AirFreightChargesWaivered #IncreaseExports #SEDP

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SHG/AIG

6 January 2020

The following is a Public Announcement from the Infrastructure & Transport Directorate:

The Highways Authority has given approval for the road from Rosemary Plain to Bluemans Field to be closed from 9am to 3pm on Tuesday, 14, Wednesday, 15, Tuesday, 21, and Wednesday, 22 January 2020.

This closure is to allow the Roads Section to carry out slurry works in this area.

During this closure, only emergency services will be granted access.

The public is thanked in advance for their continued support and understanding.

SHG
6 January 2020