Latest Posts
The Statistical Office have released new estimates of the size of St Helena’s economy for 2021/22. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for 2021/22 is estimated to have been £39.0 million, 1.7% lower than 2020/21 when price inflation is taken into account.
Table 1. Estimates of Gross Domestic Product, 2015/16 to 2021/22, £ million
| 15/16 | 16/17 | 17/18 | 18/19 | 19/20 | 20/21 | 21/22 | |
| Current market prices | 41.6 | 38.8 | 36.3 | 38.2 | 37.8 | 39.2 | 39.0 |
| Constant 21/22 market prices | .. | .. | 38.7 | 39.8 | 38.7 | 39.6 | 39.0 |
| Annual GDP growth rate | .. | .. | .. | 2.9% | -2.6% | 2.3% | -1.7% |
When calculated on a per capita basis (the average per person), 2021/22 GDP is estimated to have been £8,850, a small increase of 0.6% after adjusting for price inflation.
Table 2. Estimates of Gross Domestic Product per capita, 2015/16 to 2021/22
| 15/16 | 16/17 | 17/18 | 18/19 | 19/20 | 20/21 | 21/22 | |
| GDP per capita (£, current) | 8,960 | 8,570 | 7,930 | 8,190 | 8,330 | 8,690 | 8,850 |
| GDP per capita (£, constant 21/22 prices) | .. | .. | 8,440 | 8,520 | 8,540 | 8,800 | 8,850 |
| Annual GDP per capita growth rate | .. | .. | .. | 0.9% | 0.2% | 3.0% | 0.6% |
| Estimate of total on-island population | 4,639 | 4,528 | 4,601 | 4,693 | 4,563 | 4,527 | 4,422 |
| GDP per capita ($, current) | 13,510 | 11,200 | 10,530 | 10,760 | 10,620 | 11,370 | 12,100 |
Full details are contained in the fifth Statistical Bulletin of 2023, including estimates of Value Added by sector, and Gross National Income (a measure of the economic activity of St Helena’s residents).
The full bulletin can be found online at: www.sainthelena.gov.sh/2023/statistics/statistical-bulletin-5-2023-gross-domestic-product
#StHelena #Statistics #GDP #AltogetherWealthier
The following is a public announcement from Port Control:
Boat owners are advised that as from Saturday 1 July 2023 all boats used within the Port of Jamestown and Ruperts will need to be registered with the St Helena Port Control.
In order to register Boat Owners can come to the Port Control Office & collect the necessary forms or contact the Deputy Harbour Master via email through: Nicholas.Crowie@sainthelena.gov.sh or is available for download via www.sainthelena.gov.sh/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Boat-Licence-Registration-Formx.
This will not only update the Boats Register but will further implement the safe movement, berthing and mooring of such vessels under section eight of the Ports Ordinance 2016.
Port Control would therefore wish to thank boat owners in advance for their cooperation.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of World Environment Day, having been established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972, with the first one then held a year later in 1973.
Celebrated annually on 5 June, this year’s World Environment Day theme will focus on ‘Solutions to Plastic Pollution’ under the campaign #beatplasticpollution. Awareness of the impacts of plastic pollution is growing worldwide and this year’s theme is a reminder that people’s actions on plastic pollution matters.
Plastic pollution is a global issue, considered one of the biggest problems threatening biodiversity in coastal and marine ecosystems, and especially so for islands. It generates environmental, economic and social impacts as well as impacts for human health. Contrary to some perceptions, plastics do not have a defined decomposition time. They never fully degrade in the environment, which means whether it’s in the ocean or landfill, they keep breaking down into smaller pieces before ultimately becoming microplastics (plastics smaller than 5 mm).
Here on St Helena we recognise the growing issues that are caused by plastic pollution and are working on solutions to address this.
Recycling
Waste Management Services (WMS) have recently introduced recycling initiatives across the Island, such as the Public Recycling Facility (PRF) located out at Horse Point Landfill Site, and the Materials Recycling Facility (MRF), both of which are now operational. Contributing to the operation at the MRF, communal recycling hubs have been located at a number of districts. These contain bins for members of the public to dispose of plastics, glass and cans. These are collected and taken to Horse Point Landfill Site where they are emptied and sorted into their different waste streams, before being compacted and baled.
In August 2022 the first bale of plastic waste was produced. Astonishingly, it took 42 wheelie bins full of mixed plastic recovered from the PRF to do this first bale. The more plastics that are recycled, the less end up in our environment, so we strongly encourage everyone to recycle where they can.
South Atlantic Plastics Project
St Helena is also a part of the ‘’South Atlantic Plastics Project: Ascension and Saint Helena’’ funded by the Darwin Initiative. As part of this project, SHG and the St Helena National Trust are working alongside the Zoological Society of London and the Ascension Island Government.
This three year project is focused on research and monitoring, education and awareness, Saints-led intervention ideas and creating a network with other UK Overseas Territories on how to address plastic pollution.
Our main goals are to understand the distribution of sites where litter tends to accumulate, especially plastic, and the impacts this has on our wildlife. Whilst we are already recycling some of the plastic that is imported to the Island, it would be much better to reduce our reliance on plastic in the first place.
By 2025, we’re therefore aiming to reduce single-use plastic consumption on the Island by at least 30%. Increasing awareness of plastic litter and contributing to environmental education on the Island will also be a key area of focus. We want to increase the community’s knowledge regarding the impacts of plastic and how plastic pollution is everyone’s concern, as it impacts tourism, fisheries, human health, biodiversity and ultimately our economy.
The project is currently consulting with the local community in order to understand how much of a problem plastic poses on the Island. We can then all collaboratively think about the best solutions, intervention ideas and affordable options to replace single-use plastic items we currently import and use on St Helena.
The results of this project will be contribute to achieving St Helena’s key priorities, such as the Altogether Healthier and Altogether Greener elements of St Helena Government’s Vision and Strategic Plan 2022-2025, along with delivering St Helena’s Marine Management Plan 2023-2027.
Photos
#WorldEnvironmentDay #BeatPlasticPollution #AltogetherGreener #AltogetherHealthier
On 1 July 2023, the Minimum Wage will increase. It will rise from £3.37 per hour to £3.65 per hour for an adult aged 18 and above, and from £2.42 per hour to £2.70 per hour for those aged 16 and 17 years old.
This increase is in line with the Minimum Wage Policy of 2021. This policy sets out the principles for establishing a longer-term path to a more ambitious Minimum Wage, benefitting workers and providing adequate time for businesses to plan and adapt. The Minimum Wage Policy is available on the SHG website at www.sainthelena.gov.sh/government/public-information/.
The proposed increases in the Minimum Wage between 2022 and 2025 are detailed below.
| FY | Proposed Hourly Increase | Hourly Minimum Wage (18+) | Hourly Minimum Wage (16-17) |
| 2022/23 | £0.12 | £3.37 | £2.42 |
| 2023/24 | £0.28 | £3.65 | £2.70 |
| 2024/25 | £0.35 | £4.00 | £3.05 |
The above schedule for increases was informed by the Minimum Income Standard (MIS) work of 2020. The MIS is the income level needed for a minimum socially acceptable standard of living that provides more than what is just needed for survival. It supports social participation and recognises that choice is important, but also that choice cannot be unlimited.
This identified a MIS of £3.84 per hour per adult for a family with two adults and two children living in Government Landlord Housing and running an old car. It also identified rates of up to £4.99 per hour per adult, for single adult and two adult families with a mortgage.
Although a target Minimum Wage level and timetable were published in 2021, when determining whether to increase the Minimum Wage, consideration is also given to the cost of living pressures on both employees and employers. The Minimum Wage Policy recognises that there is a limit to the size of increases that businesses can absorb in a single year, whilst at the same time establishing a clear pathway for raising the minimum income level in St Helena. The target Minimum Wage level for 2024/25 was therefore set at £4.00 per hour. This will be reviewed by SHG later this year.
The changes being introduced in July are the latest in a long line of increases. Overall, the Minimum Wage has increased by 58.6% since it was introduced in 2013.
| Financial Year | Minimum Wage Rate | % Increase in Minimum Wage | Annual Inflation |
| 2013/14 | £2.30 | N/A | 2.10% |
| 2014/15 | £2.30 | 0% | 1.80% |
| 2015/16 | £2.60 | 13.04% | 2.60% |
| 2016/17 | £2.60 | 0% | 5.10% |
| 2017/18 | £2.95 | 13.46% | 3.80% |
| 2018/19 | £3.05 | 3.39% | 3.30% |
| 2019/20 | £3.13 | 2.62% | 1.10% |
| 2020/21 | £3.18 | 1.60% | 1.30% |
| 2021/22 | £3.25 | 2.20% | 4.60% |
| 2022/23 | £3.37 | 3.69% | 4.61% |
| 2023/24 | £3.65 | 8.31% | N/A |
| Total Increase | £1.35 | 63% |
In total, the new 2023-24 Minimum Wage is equivalent to an increase of £546.00 per year when compared to the 2022/23 Minimum Wage for someone working a full-time, 37.5 hour week.
| Financial Year | Hourly wage | Weekly 37.5 Hours | Monthly | Annual Before Tax | Annual After Tax |
| 2023/24 | £3.65 | £136.88 | £593.13 | £7,117.50 | £7,086.95 |
| Compared to | |||||
| 2022/23 | £3.37 | £126.38 | £547.63 | £6,571.50 | N/A |
Employers are legally required to pay at least the minimum hourly rate of £3.65 per hour for an adult aged 18 years and over, and £2.70 per hour for someone aged 16 or 17 years old. It is the responsibility of all employers to ensure they are compliant with the provisions of the changes when they come into effect.
#StHelena #MinimumWage #AltogetherWealthier
The Maria Da Pas is scheduled to arrive at St Helena on Sunday 4 June 2023 from Ascension Island and will dock alongside Ruperts Jetty on Monday 5 June 2023, and commence cargo operations.
The public is therefore advised that the Jamestown Wharf and the whole of lower Ruperts, including the beach area, will be closed to the public from 6 am on Monday 5 June until Cargo Operations are completed and the vessel has departed. These areas will be strictly prohibited and are limited only to those who have been granted authorisation by Port Control.
Boat owners and operators are advised that mooring on the ‘span’ mooring rope near the landing steps at the Jamestown Wharf is prohibited for the duration of cargo operations.
HM Customs would like also to advise the public that the issuing cargo from Ascension Island will take place on the wharf from Monday 5 June to Wednesday 7 June 2023.
During this time, the Wharf will be closed to all other cargo operations which include merchants, Richard James International Ltd, MS Atlantic Ltd, Zedcore etc.
Normal cargo operations will resume on Thursday 08 June 2023.
The public is thanked in advance for their patience and cooperation.
Between Sunday 21 May and Friday 26 May, technicians from Telecom Egypt’s sub-contractual deployment team undertook final commissioning works for the installation and integration of the Equiano fibre-optic cable Submarine Line Terminal Equipment (SLTE). The SLTE connects the cable landing station to the wider Equiano network, allowing the transfer of data through the cable between St Helena and the rest of the world.
Following completion of the commissioning works last week, the SLTE has been rigorously tested and has now been confirmed to be working as intended, meaning it is now live.
The local commissioning of the SLTE was identified as a key goal for this Government in its SHG Strategy and Vision 2023-2025, and is the culmination of 3½ years’ work between SHG and local and international partners to deliver the Cable Landing Station project.
This is another key step addressing the significant connectivity challenges the Island currently faces. Work is now underway for the design, build and transfer of a local on-Island fibre optic network by SHG’s delivery partners Maestro. This will deliver super-fast broadband directly to homes and businesses, over a brand-new publicly owned network.
Once complete, the provision of faster, more reliable and stable internet connectivity will provide additional opportunities for private sector development, cloud-based technologies, distance learning, and telemedicine, amongst others.
On the commissioning works, Minister for Treasury, Infrastructure and Sustainable Development Mark Brooks said:
“This Government has committed to ending the effective digital poverty and exclusion that people in St Helena currently face due to our isolation, and this is another significant landmark in making that a reality. I commend the hard work of SHG officials and the Telecom Egypt teams that have got us to this stage. We are now working to make sure we can all take advantage of the opportunities the cable will bring as soon as possible.”
Notes to Editor
The SLTE, which is the foundation of global submarine cable data transmission, will be capable of delivering large-capacity, high-performance and high-reliability data transmission across the Equiano cable using space-division multiplexing (SDM) technology. The Equiano cable will deliver approximately 20 times more network capacity than the last subsea cable built to serve the West Coast of Africa.
Photos
#StHelena #IsolationConnected #AltogetherWealthier #Equiano #FibreOptic
Please be advised that the monthly scheduled testing of the public warning system will take place on Tuesday 06 June between 12:00 and 12:30.
The public warning system is tested on the first Tuesday of each month. The testing tone is the dinner music from the RMS St Helena, and lasts for approximately 11 seconds.
The test is conducted on all three broadcast units in Jamestown and Rupert’s, and is done to ensure that the various components of the system are functioning correctly.
Further guidance on the emergency warning broadcast system, including what different sounds mean and the action you should take when you hear these, will be issued in due course.
The public is advised that from today, Wednesday 31 May 2023, the section of the walkway from the top of the Arch towards the Museum, in Jamestown, will be closed to all pedestrians until further notice.
This will allow the Building Maintenance team to carry out repairs to the stone wall on the New Horizons building. The area will be closed for approximately 5 weeks.
The public is thanked in advance for their understanding and cooperation.
On Saturday 20 May 2023, Chief Minister Julie Thomas returned to St Helena following three weeks overseas in the UK.
During that time the Chief Minister attended a number of events associated with the Coronation of King Charles III as well as the Joint Ministerial Council (JMC).
The JMC is the highest forum for political dialogue and consultation between the UK and the Overseas Territories (OTs), and takes place annually in London. During this year’s meeting, representatives discussed law enforcement, economic and financial resilience, environment and climate change, healthcare and maritime strategy.
The Chief Minister also raised the issues of financing for OT students attending university in the UK, and the need to uplift pension payments in line with inflation for Saints who have worked in the UK and then returned to St Helena. The UK Government committed to collaboratively developing a new strategy on the OTs, and to ensuring that each UK Government department will have an assigned Minister responsible for that department’s relationship with the OTs.
Furthermore, the Chief Minister also had bilateral meetings with a number of UK Government ministers, Shadow Ministers, Parliamentarians and partner organisations.
Reflecting on her trip to the UK, Chief Minister Julie Thomas said:
“During the last three weeks, I have had an incredibly busy schedule but am delighted to have been able to pack so much into so little time. It was an honour and a privilege to represent St Helena at the King’s Coronation and on the world stage.”
“During JMC I listened intently to the challenges and successes of our fellow OTs on a number of issues of common interest, making a number of key interventions to discuss and highlight our own in return. I was proud to be able to champion all of the excellent work underway in St Helena with our Green and Blue Agenda, and noted how important financial and technical support from the UK is in being able to deliver on this, and many of our other work streams. Our partners and colleagues were particularly impressed with the skills and abilities on show locally in being able to deliver such ambitious programs for St Helena that will result in preserving and restoring our unique species and habitats, and just as importantly our future water security.”
“I now look forward to having a dedicated Minster in each of the UK Government departments committed to working with the OTs. This will significantly improve our access to expert skills and knowledge, and improve the understanding of the St Helena’s unique circumstances.”
“I was particularly pleased that the UK Government has committed to resolving the current issues that have seen St Helenians treated differently, despite being British nationals. This includes the current difficulties around OT student finance and pensions. If these can be resolved, it will clearly demonstrate that the UK is committed to the OTs and their rightful place in the UK family.”
Photos
#StHelena #JMC2023 #Coronation
Smokefree St Helena, Waste Management Services and the St Helena National Trust are hosting a joint campaign between 31 May – 8 June 2023, to raise awareness for:
- World No Tobacco Day, Wednesday 31 May: “Grow Food Not Tobacco”
- World Environment Day, Monday 5June: “Solutions to plastic pollution”
- World Oceans Day, Thursday 8 June: “Revitalization, collective action for our ocean”
The 2023 campaign will bring together components from each of the lead organisations to focus on Cigarette pollution – Health and Environmental impacts on St Helena. The aim of this campaign is to create awareness of how tobacco use harms and endangers our health, our environment and our wildlife, and to encourage the community to think about how they dispose of their use cigarette filters.
HEALTH IMPACTS OF TOBACCO
Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of death and illness in the world today, which is why stopping smoking is the single best thing you can do for your health.
Two-thirds of all preventable deaths and treatable deaths on the Island in the last 20 years were from cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancers, with smoking being a contributing risk factor to all of these diseases.
Smoking does not only affect smokers, it affects others around them. People who breathe in second hand smoke are at the same risk for illnesses as smokers, including lung cancer and heart disease. It’s not only humans affected by second-hand smoke either. Our pets suffer as well, with cats and dogs are more likely to develop cancer when regularly exposed to it.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF TOBACCO
Cigarette filters are the single most littered item both here in St Helena and worldwide. Cigarette filters are small and tend to go unnoticed, but they are littering our streets, land and sea. Cigarette filters can take 10 years to breakdown, and even then they will never fully biodegrade. They may look like cotton but they are made using a microplastic called Cellulose Acetate.
Each cigarette filter contains 15,000 microplastic fibres and can shred these at 100 micro plastics fibres per day, polluting our water, soil and ocean. A lot of the harmful chemicals that are found in cigarettes can also be found in the filters because they filter the smoke and hold onto larger particles.
A recent study found that two-thirds of cigarette filters will be discarded as litter. This could mean:
*732 of St Helena residents (2021 census) reported as a smoker
*7320 cigarettes are smoked a day (based on 10 per day)
If two-thirds of these (4880 filters a day) are discarded as litter in one year, 1,781,200 cigarette filters per year could be polluting our environment and oceans
Cigarette filters are considered to be hazardous waste, poisoning our marine environments and wildlife, damaging habitats, landscapes and our ecosystem in the process. The ideal solution is to stop smoking altogether, but smokers are also responsible for properly disposing of their cigarette butts in appropriate waste bins.
SMOKEFREE ST HELENA
Stopping smoking isn’t easy, but it is much easier with the right support. Smokefree St Helena provides an evidence-based programme of support, with sessions delivered by trained stop smoking practitioners.
The Smokefree St Helena programme is made up of two core components: behavioural support and stop smoking medications. It is through this combination that smokers have the best chance of quitting. The programme provides weekly support sessions, where clients can discuss how they are getting on, difficulties they may be having and receive advice, encouragement and medication from their practitioner.
For more information about the Smokefree St Helena service, please contact them directly by email through smokefree@sainthelena.gov.sh or by telephone at 25863.
CAMPAIGN EVENTS
A number of events have been organised to raise awareness and support the various pieces of campaign work underway.
- The St Helena National Trust and SHG Waste Management Services are routinely carrying out litter pick-ups from local hotspots.
- The campaign team will be on St FM Radio station on Wednesday 31 May from 9am. A stall will be located at the Canister from 10am to 1pm to promote awareness and showcase displays demonstrating the harmful effects of tobacco. Smokefree will also be there, talking about the service and offering an opportunity to sign up to the service.
- School students are participating in a poster design competition, following their Life Studies lessons learning about the harm of tobacco. Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.
- A Community clean-up project is on the way. The goal will be to bring volunteers together to clean and improve public spaces. If you are interested in being a part of this change, please speak to your elected district representative.
On the various campaigns underway, Minister for Health and Social Care Martin Henry said:
“The impacts of smoking goes way beyond that of our personal health, impacting on others and our environment. Working together to support those who want to quit smoking, stop our future generations from ever starting and keeping our environment pristine and protected is vital.”
And Environmental Risk Management Terri Clingham commented:
‘The battle against cigarette litter on St Helena can only be won if smokers join the fight on the right side. There are plenty of smokers who don’t litter their cigarettes but unfortunately, there is still a minority that does. If you are a smoker who does litter, we hope that you will learn about the impact of your actions and break the habit’.
If you would like more information about the individual campaigns please visit:
www.who.int/campaigns/world-no-tobacco-day/2023
www.worldenvironmentday.global
www.un.org/en/observances/oceans-day
Photos
#WorldNoTobaccoDay #WorldOceansDay #WorldEnvironmentDay