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The Children & Adults Social Care Directorate’s new Assistant Team Manager, Andrew Burt, took up his new role on Monday, 3 June 2019.

Andrew has been appointed on a two-year contract and his main duties include chairing the ‘Children in Need’ meetings, holding a small caseload of specific cases and supporting Team Manager, Adele McMahon.

Director of Children & Adults Social Care, Tracy Poole-Nandy, said:

“We are glad that Andrew has joined our growing Social Work teams on the Island in line with the needs of the service, and welcome him and his wife to St Helena. Andrew will be an asset to the team and his expertise welcomed to help us move forward with our vision for the Directorate.”

Andrew added:

“I am looking forward to the new challenges that I am expecting in working on a remote sub-tropical Island. I have found that despite my new colleagues informing me how cold they feel, I find that 25 °C through the winter is fine by me.”

Andrew qualified as a Social Worker from Portsmouth University in 1999 and, since returning to Scotland from Hampshire, has been employed as a Locum Social Worker throughout Scotland and northern England during the last seven years.

#StHelena #NewAppointment #AssistantTeamManager

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SHG

21 June 2019

Current exceptionally dry weather conditions coupled with a rise in consumption over the last year has resulted in St Helena now experiencing a serious water shortage with below 30 days of raw water level stock available on the Island.

Reservoir levels have been decreasing each week since April when Connect Saint Helena Ltd (CSH) announced a moderate water shortage. This is because we are consuming more water than we are collecting along with the lack of consistent rainfall which is needed to recover the reservoir levels. At the moment the volume of water we have available for the whole Island is equivalent to the capacity of Hutts Gate 2 and Harpers 3 reservoirs which is approximately 30,000 cubic metres.

CSH has this week published an Island-wide legal notice restricting the use of water for essential purposes from Monday, 24 June 2019. Details can be found in this week’s newspapers. It is everyone’s responsibility to take great care in using our precious resource and consumers are urged to reduce consumption wherever possible. At the moment we are consuming around 280,000 litres more than we are collecting from our raw water stocks each day.

St Helena residents, businesses and people who use water for agricultural purposes are also urged to exercise great care and restraint when using water.

CSH’s Chief Executive Officer, Barry Hubbard, explains:

“Water resources on St Helena are becoming less and less viable so we are moving water around the Island to maintain stocks, using water from Fishers Valley and the boreholes to put water into the system.

“Even though we are drawing from all available resources there’s still not enough water to meet demand. Water restrictions will therefore be implemented from Monday but please do not wait until then to limit your consumption, we need to reduce our use now.”

There are other sources of water – tanks, boreholes & springs – but the reservoirs are the most significant and visible, with levels easy to measure. They are also less vulnerable to daily fluctuation.

Regular updates on reservoir levels will be issued to the public.

CSH has been closely monitoring the situation, followed all protocols, and gathered and transferred water where possible – the bottom line is that we can’t control the weather.

CSH will continue to do all it can to sustain available resources and gather and transfer water where possible.

This situation is being taken very seriously by the St Helena Resilience Forum, who will keep the public informed through frequent media updates, together with advice on how to limit your consumption.

If you see anyone using water irresponsibly or notice a burst pipe or leak then please inform CSH immediately.

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

#StHelena #WaterShortage #EveryDropCounts  

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St Helena Resilience Forum

20 June 2019

The following is a Public Announcement from Judicial Services:

His Lordship Chief Justice Charles Ekins Esq will arrive on St Helena on Saturday, 22 June 2019.

The formal opening of the St Helena Supreme Court will take place on Monday, 24 June, at 10am. This Supreme Court session will continue until Friday, 5 July 2019.

SHG
20 June 2019

https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh

A new Head of Planning and Development Control, Ismail Mohammed , arrived on the Island on Saturday, 8 June 2019, to take up his new post in the Environment, Natural Resources & Planning Directorate (ENRPD).

Ismail is contracted for three years and his role is to lead St Helena Government’s (SHG) Planning and Building Control Division. This involves all aspects of development management, decision making and reporting to the Land Development Control Authority, the review of the Land Development Control Plan and preparation of other development plans. He will also supervise the Building Control function and will review the Building Standards Regulations designed to raise standards of new developments on the Island.

Since starting work on 11 June, Ismail has begun to review the current procedures assessing development proposals and the quality of the planning applications that are submitted for planning permission and building consent, as well as how reports are made to the Land Development Control Authority for decision making.

Ismail said:

“The workload in the Planning and Building Control Division is immense and I want to get down to setting out a future work programme in line with business priorities of the Government.

“In a modern and responsive planning and development process, there is a role for the public to influence the future development on the Island and therefore I am keen to ensure that there is local engagement in the future spatial planning and place making process. One of the main assets of the Island is its natural heritage and environment and the challenge is how we all work together to ensure that we provide opportunities for future development, promoting economic growth and prosperity for the Islanders whilst protecting and enhancing the natural environment and heritage and also improving accessibility.”

Acting Director of ENRPD, Darren Duncan, added:

“We are pleased to have Ismail join the Directorate’s Planning and Building Control Division. Ismail comes with an array of planning and development knowledge and experience that will stand him in good stead to develop and improve the planning and building control services the Division provides for its clients.  He joins a small and dedicated team providing important services to the community on behalf of the Government.”

Ismail is very positive about his role and about St Helena. He concluded:

“I am very proud and honoured to be offered this position on St Helena. In the short time I have been on the Island I already feel at home in my new environment. I have a very positive outlook to life and I bring that into my work. I have been made to feel at home by my new colleagues and the local people and I am looking forward to making a positive impact in the future prosperity of the Island.”

Ismail is a chartered town planner and a corporate member of the Royal Town Planning Institute. He has over 30 years’ experience in planning and development that has covered all aspects of planning including development control, strategic and spatial planning, conservation of the historic and natural environment, urban design, regeneration and most importantly implementation and delivery. Ismail has worked for a number of local planning authorities in England and has vast experience of dealing with local planning issues and in the delivery quality planning service. His last position was with Buckinghamshire County Council as Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Manager, where he was responsible for preparing the Buckinghamshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan.

#StHelena #NewAppointment

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SHG

20 June 2019

The St Helena Health Directorate has been made aware by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office that a multi-agency investigation is being carried out into cases of Listeria infection in the UK.

The Listeria outbreak is linked to the pre-packed sandwiches made from ready-to-eat meat manufactured from the company North Country Cooked Meats.

The Environmental Health Section has contacted the relevant importer on St Helena who sources products originating from North Country Cooked Meats. The importer has been advised to retain their North Country branded products i.e. canned pork roll and chopped pork, until further investigations have been completed in the UK.

Updates will be provided when further information is received.

#StHelena #Listeria #AltogetherHealthier 

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SHG

20 June 2019

Head of the Governor’s Office, Louise MacMorran , departed the Governor’s Office in mid-June following the conclusion of her posting to St Helena. Louise’s key achievement during her time on the Island has been securing over £1m of Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) funding for use on key projects on St Helena including as part of the Conflict, Stability, and Security Fund (CSSF programme). She has also played a crucial role in work to secure the future of the fishing industry on St Helena and has obtained resources to help St Helena Government’s (SHG) immigration team to prepare for the new challenges that come with an airport and easier access to the Island. Most recently, she has been working with Councillors to consider governance reforms to help SHG be best prepared to deliver its future vision.

On her departure, Louise said:

“I am incredibly sad to be leaving St Helena which is a wonderful place full of some really friendly and hard-working people. I am sure though that I will be back in the future. I would just like to pay tribute to the hard work and dedication of the teams at St Helena Government and its entities, and to the staff of the Governor’s Office. I feel a huge amount of progress has been made by the Island since I stepped off the RMS in 2017 and, despite some real challenges, I do see a bright future for the Island.

 “Economic development is happening, if slower than we might like, and it will drive greater prosperity for everyone on St Helena. I would encourage the people of St Helena to share your views and your hopes for the future with your government. Even if you may not always feel it is the case, I know officials and Councillors are listening and want to help deliver your vision for the Island, and to make life better for everyone. Most of all I’d like to see from everyone a belief in a bright future and an optimism about getting there, even when times are tough and it feels as if you’ll never make it. During my time on-Island I have witnessed St Helenians achieving incredible things and being hugely resourceful. I know you have the spirit and determination to get to where you want to be, if you have the belief. I know you can make the rest of the world believe too.

 “I would also like to thank all those on Ascension and Tristan da Cunha who are tackling different and complex challenges. I know you too are doing your best to make things better. Whilst I sadly didn’t get to visit Tristan I was privileged to act as Administrator for three months on Ascension. During this time I saw the hard work going into steering Ascension through a trying period with reduced access due to the damaged runway, so I know how crucial it is that the community works together to support each other through. I wish all three islands the best of luck for the future.”

The role of Head of the Governor’s Office is being covered by FCO Diplomatic Officer, Andrew Sigley, until 6 July. Louise’s substantive successor Greg Gibson will arrive in early August.

 #StHelena #Farewell 

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SHG

19 June 2019

The following is a Public Announcement from the Roads Section:

The Highways Authority has given approval for Field (Rupert’s) Road to be closed from 9am to 3pm on Wednesday, 26, Thursday, 27, and Friday, 28 June 2019.

This closure is to allow the Roads Section to carry out maintenance works on Field Road.

During each closure the diversion route will be via the Airport Access Road and, as normal, only Emergency Services’ vehicles will be granted access.

The Roads Section would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank the public in advance for their continued understanding and cooperation.

SHG
18 June 2019

https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh

 

 

Executive Council met this morning with one substantive item of business on the Open Agenda which was a request to establish a new Special Fund – the Internal Audit Service Trading Special Fund. The Financial Secretary introduced the topic and explained that establishing a Special Fund Trading Account would allow SHG’s Internal Audit function to improve governance arrangements for the provision of Internal Audit services to non-SHG organisations. The creation of the trading account will promote transparency and allow expertise and skills which have been difficult to source on-Island, to be utilised more efficiently, providing much needed assurance to various entities whilst at the same time building on-Island capacity for the future.

A healthy discussion followed where Members debated whether the service would be affordable, especially to the smaller entities, and also whether there would be committee oversight of the setting of tariffs for the service provision. Members were also concerned that the entities would be compelled to use the service.

Members approved the request on the condition that the entities would have a choice in determining whether they wanted to use SHG’s Internal Audit Service and that SHG’s Audit and Risk Committee would have oversight of the fees and charges to be levied for the service. It was also noted that this arrangement, whilst facilitating good governance at a time when the Island’s economy is developing, would be reviewed after a period of two years.

Members also expressed concern regarding the recent incident which took place in Pretoria and were pleased to note that the victims, and indeed all of the patients and their Carers were being supported by MSO including receiving counselling and pastoral support. In the meantime, SHG through the Governor’s Office would be issuing guidance, consistent with that provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for people travelling to South Africa.

ExCo

18 June 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#StHelena #Education #SHCC #OpportunitiesForall #LearningOpportunitiesFair

Executive Council met this morning with one substantive item of business on the Open Agenda which was a request to establish a new Special Fund – the Internal Audit Service Trading Special Fund. The Financial Secretary introduced the topic and explained that establishing a Special Fund Trading Account would allow SHG’s Internal Audit function to improve governance arrangements for the provision of Internal Audit services to non-SHG organisations. The creation of the trading account will promote transparency and allow expertise and skills which have been difficult to source on-Island, to be utilised more efficiently, providing much needed assurance to various entities whilst at the same time building on-Island capacity for the future.

A healthy discussion followed where Members debated whether the service would be affordable, especially to the smaller entities, and also whether there would be committee oversight of the setting of tariffs for the service provision. Members were also concerned that the entities would be compelled to use the service.

Members approved the request on the condition that the entities would have a choice in determining whether they wanted to use SHG’s Internal Audit Service and that SHG’s Audit and Risk Committee would have oversight of the fees and charges to be levied for the service. It was also noted that this arrangement, whilst facilitating good governance at a time when the Island’s economy is developing, would be reviewed after a period of two years.

Members also expressed concern regarding the recent incident which took place in Pretoria and were pleased to note that the victims, and indeed all of the patients and their Carers were being supported by MSO including receiving counselling and pastoral support. In the meantime, SHG through the Governor’s Office would be issuing guidance, consistent with that provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for people travelling to South Africa.

ExCo

18 June 2019