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The repatriation charter flight from the UK, operated by Titan Airways utilising their Boeing 757-200 aircraft, will arrive at St Helena Airport on Tuesday, 28 July 2020, following an overnight stop at Ascension Island. Weather permitting, the estimated time of arrival at St Helena is 1pm local time.
While passenger numbers are subject to change an indicative number at this time is approximately 40 passengers arriving from the UK, five from Ascension Island and six passengers from Ascension transiting to the UK.
All passengers arriving on the flight must undergo the 14-day compulsory quarantine requirement and will be transported directly from the Airport to their quarantine accommodation. Transit passengers and aircraft crew overnighting on the Island will also undergo quarantine until their departure the following day.
Quarantine Arrangements
- All passengers required to undertake 14-days of quarantine will be accommodated at the Bradley’s Camp Quarantine Facility
- Transit passengers from Ascension Island will also be accommodated at Bradley’s Camp for the overnight stay
- As Ascension Island is currently COVID-19 free, Ascension Island passengers including transit passengers will have been segregated from the UK passengers on board the flight and will similarly be segregated and kept at maximum distance from UK passengers while staying at Bradley’s Camp
- Food delivery, waste disposal and other services at Bradley’s Camp will be kept separate for the Ascension and UK passengers.
The 10 crew members of the Aircraft under regulatory requirements must have a minimum standard of overnight accommodation and cannot stay at Bradley’s Camp as the Camp is not regarded by Titan Airways as suitable accommodation for the crew. It has therefore been decided that the Mantis Hotel will be used to accommodate the overnight crew.
A complete risk assessment and infection control review of the Mantis Hotel has been carried out by the Health Directorate. Crew members will be required to quarantine overnight in the Mantis Hotel. This means they will remain in the Hotel overnight, they will be monitored and they will not mix with the community. Mitigation measures include crew members wearing face masks during transport to and from the Mantis, maintaining zero contact with support staff at the Hotel and keeping the recommended physical distancing.
Following the departure of the crew the Hotel will be sealed and rooms will be left for 72 hours before cleaning.
The flight will return to the UK via Accra on Wednesday, 29 July, departing the Island at 8am local time. Approximately 100 passengers will be on the outbound flight.
Chairman of the Public Health Committee Councillor Derek Thomas and Director of Health, Ted Rayment, will talk through these arrangements via local radio tomorrow, Friday 24 July 2020, at the following times:
SAMS Radio 1 – 9am
St FM – 9.45am.
#StHelena #RepatriationCharterFlight #QuarantineArrangements
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SHG
23 July 2020
TUESDAY, 28 JULY 2020
- Executive Council will meet on Tuesday, 28 July
- The Public Access to Government Information Bill will be discussed on the Open Agenda
- ExCo Memos are available to view on the SHG Website
Executive Council will meet on Tuesday, 28 July 2020, at 9.30am, in the Council Chamber, to discuss the following item on the Open Agenda:
- Public Access to Government Information Bill (ExCo Memo 53/2020)
This paper (ExCo Memo) is 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 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 Cruyff Buckley.
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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https://twitter.com/StHelenaGovt
SHG
23 July 2020
HE Governor Dr Philip Rushbrook hosted a reception at Plantation House, to recognise those involved in the Rockfall Protection Project 2020 and health and housekeeping personnel who helped prepare Bradley’s Camp Quarantine Facility, on Friday, 17 July 2020.
In HE’s opening remarks, Governor Rushbrook thanked the CAN France team and Fairhurst for their impressive and efficient work over the past six months and thanked the 26 St Helena contractors who were also essential to the successful conclusion of the Rockfall Project.
Governor Rushbrook said:
“Their work has achieved major improvements for the Island. First, they made the residents of the valleys of Jamestown and Rupert’s safer. Second, the protection work at the Jetty was essential to progress the economic opportunities of St Helena from the future completion of the remaining port facilities at Rupert’s.”
He went on to thank the medical staff who worked intensively during the preparation of the medical side of the Bradley’s Quarantine Facility. Then, congratulated the housekeeping team on their vital work to make the site spotless before the first arrivals as well as setting up the well-regarded client care arrangements for those requiring quarantine. Governor Rushbrook recognised that, although Easter time was some time ago, this reception was an opportunity to recognise those involved for pulling out all of the stops and getting our quarantine arrangements operational before the arrival of the first charter flight.
HE concluded his opening remarks by asking the CAN France team and Fairhurst and the medical and housekeeping teams to take pride in what they have achieved and this reception was to show the appreciation of the Island.
#StHelena #PlantationHouse #AltogetherSafer
SHG
23 July 2020
St Helena Government’s (SHG) Corporate Policy and Planning Unit has today released St Helena’s Sustainable Economic Development Plan (SEDP) end-of-year progress report for 2019-20. The full end-of-year report can be found on the Public Information, Reports and Policies page of the SHG website: https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/government/public-information/.
Since the mid-year report published in November 2019, key Report headlines include:
- To date, we have successfully kept the Island COVID-19 free. New Coronavirus testing services were developed, supplies were received and the quarantine, isolation and medical facilities at Bradley’s were developed in an incredible six weeks, all significant achievements given the limited resources available
- Standard and Poor’s (S&P) awarded St Helena an investment grade credit rating of BBB- this year
- SHG estimates the Rockfall Protection Project added £255,000 – £273,000 to St Helena’s economic activity over the course of the six-month project
- A contract was signed in December 2019 with Google for a branching unit on the Equiano cable to deliver superfast broadband to St Helena
- The New Earth Station Licencing Policy was agreed, laying the groundwork for a new revenue stream made possible through the fibre optic cable
- In December 2019, SHG endorsed a new Labour Market Strategy that is intended to meet the needs of St Helena today while also providing a strong foundation on which to build the economy of tomorrow
- A preferred bidder for fish processing on St Helena was announced in January 2020. The proposal is to set up a Co-Operative amongst local fishers and operate the processing facility without operating subsidy
- Air freight charges for St Helena fresh produce were waivered for business-to-business sales for a trial period beginning in February 2020
- The Gibraltar International Bank started offering international banking facilities to residents on St Helena
- The Minimum Income Standard was updated to reflect inflationary increases in prices, and the Basic Island Pension and Income Related Benefits increased as a result.
Here is an infographic which illustrates some of the latest economic data.
Notes to Editors
St Helena’s SEDP 2018-2028 was endorsed by Executive Council in May 2018. In order to ensure that the SEDP continues to be effective, six-monthly reviews of the actions were planned alongside yearly updates of the indicator data.
The SEDP vision is to achieve development which is economically, environmentally and socially sustainable and the actions outlined within the SEDP intend to address barriers to achievement.
#StHelena #SEDP #EconomicDevelopment
SHG
23 July 2020
New Tobacco Control Legislation for St Helena was approved by Legislative Council at their Formal Meeting on Tuesday, 30 June 2020. The Legislation will come into force once the supporting Regulations are finalised and approved by Executive Council (ExCo). A communications programme highlighting the changes in Legislation will be delivered to the public, including the dates the Legislation will come into effect in the coming months.
St Helena, with support from Public Health England (PHE), has taken a comprehensive approach to tackling smoking on-Island. The new Legislation includes a range of measures which will help to protect the community from second-hand smoke and make tobacco less attractive, affordable and accessible for minors. In the last two years, smoking prevalence has fallen on-Island and the new Legislation will protect future generations from the harms of tobacco.
The Tobacco Control Legislation:
- Prohibits any kind of advertising and marketing of tobacco
- Stops sellers from breaking up cigarette packs and selling ‘single’ cigarettes, making it difficult for young people to start smoking and help others to stop smoking
- Requires sellers of tobacco to request ID to prove that young people are aged over 18 years
- Prohibits smoking in any vehicles with children aged under 18 present, to protect young people from second-hand smoke
- Restricts the availability of e-cigarettes – certain types will be prohibited, and promotion will be prohibited.
Any person who wishes to import by any means and sell tobacco or related products must also be registered and all tobacco must be sourced from the UK or South Africa. No individual may import tobacco or any related products. This will allow for secondary legislation in the next two years to ensure that all tobacco sold is in plain packs, without attractive branding and with large graphic health warnings.
Chairman of the Public Health Committee, Councillor Derek Thomas, said:
“Based on World Health Organization (WHO) research, smoking is the world’s leading cause of premature death, disability and the loss of ‘healthy life years’. On St Helena, ‘Non-Communicable Diseases’ which include heart attacks, strokes, type two diabetes, lung and kidney disease, and cancer, are the most common causes of people losing their health and quality of life earlier than they should. The number of smokers in our community is higher than elsewhere and it is especially high amongst our young adults.”
As part of the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund, PHE has been supporting the UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs) to strengthen their compliance with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The FCTC includes policy and regulatory measures to tackle the supply and demand of tobacco and stronger implementation has been associated with reductions in smoking prevalence. PHE works on full implementation of FCTC in UKOTs by support with policy and legislative briefings and conducting face to face capacity building workshops.
#StHelena #HealthDirectorate #AltogetherHealthier
SHG/PHE
22 July 2020
WEDNESDAY, 8 JULY 2020
- SCDC urges Children & Adults Social Care to finalise contingency plans in respect of care facilities and COVID-19 preparedness
- Preliminary plans to review the Better Life Allowance
- Information Bill proposed in 2018 to be discontinued and replaced to provide for the disclosure of information held by SHG
- Revised Policy for Disabled Facilities Grants
The monthly meeting of the Social & Community Development Committee (SCDC) took place on Wednesday, 8 July 2020.
The Committee urged the Children & Adults Social Care Directorate (CASC) to finalise contingency plans in respect of the various care facilities and other care arrangements for vulnerable persons in relation to COVID-19 preparedness. The Director will update her Risk Register to take account of COVID-19 and ensure it encompasses all areas of risks.
Preliminary plans were discussed to assist the Director of CASC to begin a review of the Better Life Allowance.
The Information Bill, originally proposed in 2018, will be discontinued and replaced by a Bill which will provide for the disclosure of information held by St Helena Government and matters related thereto. This Bill, which proposes to put the current Public Access to SHG Information Code of Practice (‘the Code’) onto a statutory basis, will be debated in due course by Legislative Council.
A proposed revised Policy for Disabled Facilities Grants was discussed and will now be updated and published. The main purpose of Disabled Facilities Grants is to provide essential adaptations to allow children and adults with disabilities better and safer freedom of movement into and around their home and to access essential facilities within it.
Work by the sub-committee on an initial examination of the Elections Ordinance will be completed soon and will be discussed by the Committee next month.
A work plan for the review of the Minimum Income Standard (MIS) basket will be briefly deferred to allow this to be taken forward as a priority by the new Social Policy Planner whose appointment is expected soon.
#StHelena #SCDC #MeetingSummary
SHG
20 July 2020
St Helena Government has today published a Rockfall Protection Project: Local Economic Impacts report following an analysis of the economic impacts of the six-month Rockfall Protection Project by CAN France and Fairhurst. This report is available on the Public Information, Reports and Policies page of the SHG website: https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/government/public-information/
In July 2019, Executive Council approved works to install rockfall protection measures in Rupert’s Valley and Upper Jamestown. As this was the first project approved under the Economic Development Investment Programme (EDIP), there was significant public interest in how a project staffed primarily by international contractors would benefit St Helena.
In order to gain a better understanding of the benefits of this specific project and to provide evidence to evaluate future projects requiring support from international contractors, SHG undertook an analysis of local spending associated with the rockfall protection works.
Based on this analysis, SHG estimates the Project resulted in:
- Over a quarter million pounds injected into the local economy over the six months of the project (roughly £90 per day per contractor – similar to the amount spent by a person visiting St Helena to see friends or relatives, according to the Tourism Survey)
- Employment of 26 local workers
- Contribution to SHG revenues from duty paid on cigarettes, alcohol, fuel and other imported products
- 41% of the £187,000 project-level spending contributed to Tourism Providers (accommodation and car hire).
Notes to Editors
The Rockall Projection Project is part of the ‘Altogether Safer’ goal in the Ten Year Plan; a project approved under the EDIP. The analysis illustrates the positive impact on the local economy, contributing to local goods and services. A significant portion of the quarter million pounds supported Tourism Providers currently facing challenges from COVID-19 impacts due to lack of tourists. The data obtained in the analysis suggest the average daily spending associated with this Project is similar to that of long-stay leisure visitors. Therefore, the Rockfall Protection Project can be used as a comparable example in decision-making regarding future projects requiring specialised expertise from international contractors.
#StHelena #RockfallProtectionProject #EconomicImpacts
SHG
20 July 2020
The repatriation charter flight from the UK, operated by Titan Airways utilising their Boeing 757-200 aircraft, will arrive at St Helena Airport on Tuesday, 28 July 2020, following an overnight stop at Ascension Island. Weather permitting, the estimated time of arrival at St Helena is 1pm local time. The flight will overnight on St Helena before returning to the UK via Accra on Wednesday, 29 July, departing the Island at 8am local time.
The flight schedule is as follows:
| Date | Flight No | Departure Time | Departure Airport | Arrival Airport | Arrival Time |
| 27JUL20 | ZT6891 | 0735 UTC 0835 Local | London Stansted EGSS / STN | Gran Canaria GCLP / LPA | 1200 UTC 1300 Local |
| 27JUL20 | ZT6891 | 1300 UTC 1400 Local | Gran Canaria GCLP / LPA | Ascension Island FHAW / ASI | 1830 UTC 1830 Local |
| 28JUL20 | ZT6892 | 1050 UTC 1050 Local | Ascension Island FHAW / ASI | St Helena FHSH / HLE | 1300 UTC 1300 Local |
| 29JUL20 | ZT6893 | 0800 UTC 0800 Local | St Helena FHSH / HLE | Accra DGAA / ACC | 1135 UTC 1135 Local |
| 29JUL20 | ZT6894 | 1235 UTC 1235 Local | Accra DGAA / ACC | London Stansted EGSS / STN | 1930 UTC 2030 Local |
The cost of the flight ticket from the UK to St Helena is £950.00. The same price will be charged for the flight from St Helena to the UK.
Persons who have been offered a seat on the flight have now been contacted by the Tourist Office. An information pack is on its way to each person. Persons requiring further details should contact Christina Plato at the Tourist Office via email: christina.plato@tourism.co.sh or on tel. +290 22158.
Whilst it has been possible to accommodate the majority of travel requests on the repatriation flight, we are aware that names continue to be added to the travel request list. If you are one of the persons who has been offered a seat on the flight, please confirm your booking with the Tourist Office at the earliest opportunity. If you are contemplating declining to travel on the flight, your seat can then be made available to someone else. Should seats become available, these will be offered to those who have pre-registered on the travel request list. If you have pre-registered, you will be contacted directly should a seat become available.
The public is reminded that St Helena Airport remains closed to visitors and non-travellers. Passengers arriving on the repatriation flight will be transported directly from the Airport to commence their 14 days of compulsory quarantine. Likewise only departing passengers will be permitted to enter the Airport. Those transporting passengers to the Airport will be asked to drop them off and then leave the Airport premises.
SHG continues to investigate options for further charter flights. If you have a requirement to travel over the coming months, please register your interest with Christina Plato at the Tourist Office (see details above).
#StHelena #RepatriationCharterFlight
SHG
17 July 2020
Message from the St Helena Police Service
It is the first week into our campaign where we are passionately educating and raising awareness within the community of the implications of drink-driving.
We have been carrying out road safety observations and are pleased to report that moving traffic offences and vehicle defects have been minimal.
We did however arrest one person involved in a road traffic collision where there was an indication that they were over the drink-drive limit. This matter is still being investigated.
In addition, we are capturing the views on drink-driving from different age groups. So far, we have spoken to a small percentage of 11-17 year olds who have said:
- ‘You shouldn’t drink and drive as you could have an accident.’
- ‘You are putting yourself and others at risk.’
- ‘I would feel safer knowing people are not drinking and driving.’
- ‘You could cause injury and pose a risk to elderly people using the roads.’
- ‘You could cause death and bring heartache to our small community.’
There have also been some comments that we are only policing one particular area, but this is not the case. Please be assured that Police Officers will be stationed in different districts at different times, even during the early mornings.
Our aim is not to catch you – but to educate you on the consequences of drinking and driving.
Together we can all keep our community safe!
#StHelena #StHelenaPolice #BoozeItYouLoseIt #DrinkDriveCampaign
https://twitter.com/StHelenaGovt
SHG
17 July 2020
Executive Council has approved a second phase of hardship support effective from 1 July 2020 for local businesses in the hospitality sector impacted by COVID-19. The aim of this support is to keep people in the hospitality sector on-Island in employment.
Recognising that a lower number of visitors typically arrive on St Helena during the winter months, this second phase of hardship support is targeted at tourist accommodation providers, tourism activity providers and restaurants – the sectors most highly impacted by the disruption in scheduled commercial flights.
Due to the evolving situation, SHG will continue to evaluate the impacts of COVID-19 response measures and this Support Package will be reassessed in September 2020.
Each eligible business can make one application. Where several businesses are under the same ownership, or operating out of one building, the funding is limited to one grant.
Hardship Support
Hardship Support is available to owners of companies and sole proprietorships for whom more than half of their annual income is earned in the following sectors:
- Tourist accommodation providers (Note: Tourism Accommodation means premises that are rented out on a short-term basis (i.e. 30 days or less) and is currently unoccupied)
- Tourism activity providers, including both land- and marine-based
- Restaurants (dine-in establishments).
Essential Cost Assistance Grants
Affected businesses can also apply for an Essential Cost Assistance Grant of up to a maximum of £500 towards essential costs for business premises, i.e. rent, utilities, internet costs or business insurance. Businesses in these specific sectors, will need to submit with the application form, the relative invoice or receipt if payment had already been made, for the period July-September 2020, bearing in mind that refunds to businesses need to be undertaken by no later than 30 September 2020.
Full details of both the Hardship Support Package and the Essential Cost Assistance Grants can be found on the SHG website at the following link: https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/government/public-information/
As the Island continues to remain COVID-19 free with no scheduled commercial flights to the Island and the relaxing of physical (social) distancing measures, the previous Extended Sick Leave and Enforced Business Closure Support Schemes from SHG and the Adjustment Scheme from ESH will not be continued.
Notes to Editors:
On 17 March 2020, St Helena Government (SHG) announced measures to prevent COVID-19 from reaching the Island as well as limit the spread of the virus if it was to be confirmed here. Between 30 March and 24 June, enhanced social distancing measures were in place to minimise the risk of Coronavirus to the Island. Recognising the impact these measures would have on the local economy, SHG introduced several support mechanisms to reduce the burden on local businesses, effective through to June 2020.
#StHelena #COVID-19 #BusinessSupport
SHG
16 July 2020