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St Helena is expected to experience unsettled sea conditions from Tuesday 2 April 2024 to Wednesday 3 April 2024 in James Bay and Rupert’s Bay.
The public are asked to take caution when accessing the sea front area in Jamestown. To avoid damage to vehicles, drivers are advised to take care when parking near the safety rails and boat owners should ensure their vessels are securely fixed to their moorings.
The same conditions are expected in Rupert’s Bay and the public are advised to take care in the beach, shears and wharf areas. Port Control will be monitoring sea conditions and may restrict access to the sea front and Jamestown Wharf if conditions worsen.
On Saturday 23 March 2024, HE Governor Nigel Phillips, Chief Minister Julie Thomas and Chief Secretary Susan O’Bey returned to St Helena following an official visit to fellow Overseas Territory, Montserrat.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office facilitated the trip to promote ties between the two Overseas Territories. During their visit, the delegation met with HE Governor Sarah Tucker, Premier Easton Taylor-Farrell, members of Parliament and a wide range of officials and community representatives. These meetings enabled the two Overseas Territories to learn about the challenges and opportunities each island is facing, share approaches on how to address them and to better understand where collaboration between St Helena and Montserrat would be best implemented.
The delegation also attended a variety of events aimed at strengthening the social and cultural links between the two territories. These festivities included the annual flower show and tea party hosted by the Montserrat National Trust, and a tour of the Montserrat Volcano Observatory. A visit to the Plymouth Exclusion Zone was cancelled due to bad weather. On Sunday 17 March, the delegation attended the annual St Patrick’s Day Parade, the culminating event of a 15-day festival, Montserrat’s biggest national festival.
The delegation also took the opportunity to meet with the High Commissioner to Antigua Karen-Mae Hill OBE, en route back to St Helena.
Reflecting on their trip to Montserrat, Chief Minister Julie Thomas commented:
“Concluding a highly successful week in Montserrat, I am pleased to have been able to engage in so many detailed and enlightening discussions and make so many valuable connections with the Montserratian Parliamentary leaders along with their civil service counterparts. These will be critical in further strengthening our ties with the people and government of Montserrat.”
“Discussions on topics of governance, policy and corporate leadership, fiscal policy, outcome framework and programme management of the Montserrat Capital Investment Programme for Resilient Economic Growth (similar to St Helena’s EDIP) will help our Executive Council with future decision-making approaches and best practices. Equally, I know that our counterparts in Montserrat found great value in hearing about the enormous strides that St Helena has made in our blue and green agendas, development in terms of access and the steps we are taking to strengthen our essential infrastructure; areas of which are similar in priority for both islands.”
Photos
#StHelena #Montserrat #OverseasTerritories
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The public are advised that tree felling in the Rupert’s Port and Cargo Facility area will take place on Wednesday 03 April 2024 from 07:00. This exercise will take place between the main yard and the contractor’s site office and laydown area below Hay Town House.
This work is a joint undertaking delivered by the Programme Management Office (PMO) and the Environment, Natural Resources and Planning (ENRP) Portfolio.
The tree to be felled currently hosts a swarm of bees, which will be removed with support from an experienced bee keeper. The public and all users of the areas are advised to take all necessary precautions to protect themselves, others and pets, should there be increased bee activity in the area during the operation.
The main road will not be closed but those accessing lower Rupert’s may experience some delays.
For further information, please contact Site Supervisor Mr Glenn Owen by mobile telephone on 51203.
The public are thanked in advance for their patience and understanding.
#StHelena #Treefelling #Rupert’s
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The Tourist Office will be closed this coming Saturday 30 March 2024. Normal opening hours will resume Tuesday 2 April 2024 08:30 to 16:00.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
The Mv Hondius is due to arrive at St Helena from Tristan da Cunha on Thursday 18 April 2024. Persons expecting to receive potatoes from Tristan are reminded that they will require an import licence.
Licence application forms are available from the Biosecurity Section at Scotland, St Paul’s. Please contact either Nicholas Stevens on email: nicholas.stevens@sainthelena.gov.sh or Julie Balchin on email: julie.balchin@sainthelena.gov.sh or telephone 24724 for enquiries. Applications will close at 15:00 on Friday 5 April 2024. No applications will be accepted after this date.
Applicants are reminded that proof of payment is required before a licence can be issued. A payment of £6 can be made at the Bank of St Helena using account number: 61000003 or at the Post & Customer Services Centre at the Post Office. Please quote ‘Fresh Produce Import Licence’.
SHG
27 March 2024
Following notification from the Home Office in the UK, the following British passport fee increases will take effect from 11 April 2024.
| Current Fee | Increased Fee | |
| Adult 34-page standard passport | £104.50 | £112.50 |
| Child 34-page standard passport (where the applicant is under 16 years of age). | £71.50 | £77.00 |
HM Customs will be closed from 12:00 on Wednesday 27March 2024.
Normal opening hours will resume on Thursday 28 March 2024 between 09:00 and 15:00.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
SHG
26 March 2024
The Highways Authority has given approval for the road from the junction at Stitches Ridge to Wranghams, Sandy Bay, to be closed between 09:00 and 15:00 on Tuesday 26March 2024 and Tuesday 2 April 2024. These closures are to enable the Roads Section to clear vegetation from the road side.
Road closure and diversion signs will be in place and, as normal, emergency services will be granted access.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause, and thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation.
SHG
20 March 2024
Maundy Thursday falls this year on Thursday 28 March 2024. It is St Helena tradition to spend this time fishing at various locations around the island.
To help ensure that we all stay safe the Sea Rescue Service offers the following safety advice.
If you’re planning a fishing trip, please inform family members and friends of your intended location and time of return. It is also advisable to consider taking the following items with you:
- VHF radio, mobile phone or other means of communication
- Life jacket
- Any prescription medication
- Adequate food and water
- Suitable clothing for the weather conditions, including hi-vis clothing
- First aid kit
- Adequate lighting
Please do not fish alone.
The Sea Rescue Service teams will be patrolling the various fishing areas around the island throughout Maundy Thursday night. If any assistance is required, you can call for help on VHF Channel 16, which will be monitored at all times by the Emergency Services Call Centre (call sign ‘St Helena Radio’).
The teams can also be signalled by flashing or waving a light and, as usual, will still be contactable in an emergency via telephone number 999.
The tides on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are as follows:
Maundy Thursday
High tide: 04:20 – 0.85m above chart datum
Low tide: 10:28 – 0.11m above chart datum
High tide: 16:42 – 0.86m above chart datum
Low tide: 22:54 – 0.15m above chart datum
Good Friday
High tide: 04:54 – 0.80m above chart datum
Low tide: 11:02 – 0.15m above chart datum
High tide: 17:15 – 0.81m above chart datum
Low tide: 23:29 – 0.18m above chart datum
The Sea Rescue Service wish everyone a safe and happy Easter.
SHG
19 March 2024
Following the visit by the FCDO Financial Aid Mission delegation in December 2023, discussions have been ongoing between the St Helena Government and the UK Government regarding the level of funding to be provided to St Helena for the 2024-2025 financial year. Ministers, officials and FCDO colleagues have worked hard to develop the planning for next year, and to present the evidence for a settlement in the context of a challenging economic situation in the UK.
We had anticipated that a settlement would be confirmed by end of February 2024, providing adequate time to prepare and present the Budget for 2024/25 within Legislative Council rules, and ahead of the beginning of the 2024-2025 financial year in April.
However, we are yet to receive confirmation of the 2024/25 financial aid settlement. This means that we cannot finalise the Budget for 2024/25 in order to present it to Legislative Council as planned on 25 March 2024.
Instead, a rollover budget will now be sought. Minister for Treasury and Economic Development, Mark Brooks, will table a motion at Legislative Council which seeks to empower the Financial Secretary to withdraw funds from the Consolidated Fund. This will allow public services to continue until such time that the Appropriation Bill is approved by Legislative Council.
The draft Budget 2024/25 will be published once the financial aid settlement from the UK Government has been confirmed.
#StHelena #Budget24
SHG
19 March 2024