In December 2022 Side Path reopened to vehicular traffic following significant rehabilitation works. Since this time further minor works have been ongoing. SHG is pleased to confirm that of these, works to The Brow drainage, designed to protect Napoleon Street, have now been completed. Sealing of construction joints remains ongoing and will be completed as the weather permits.
The remaining length of concrete road pavement at the top of Side Path will be constructed at the same time as wider Side Path/Field Road junction improvements, under the Field Road rehabilitation elements of the R2 Project.
Field Road
The tender evaluation process for the Field Road elements of the R2 Project is now completed and a preferred contractor has been identified. SHG anticipates signing a construction contract in July, with construction commencing soon after.
Once construction commences, Field Road will be closed to all vehicular and pedestrian traffic, including emergency vehicles, until the works are completed. The detailed construction programme will be part of the contractual negotiations with the preferred contractor, but SHG anticipates a total construction period of approximately nine months.
A further notice will be issued once the Field Road closure date can be confirmed.
SHG 04 July 2023
In November 2022, SHG announced St Helena would receive funding from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s bespoke 2022/2023: Improving Essential Equipment in Overseas Territories programme.
St Helena spent £1,735,482 on purchasing equipment of critical importance to the Island, in areas including health care, emergency services, port operations, road maintenance and the airport. The purpose is to improve the resilience and well-being of our community.
Focus on Health and Social Care
£778,316 was spent on equipment for Health and Social Care. Eight devices in total were ordered. Three have arrived and SHG will be installing and testing the equipment before it can be put into use.
These new tools will allow medical staff to better manage illnesses on-Island and reduce the need for off-Island referrals. Doing so will improve the turnaround time for assessments and results, delivering better and more timely care to patients, without needing them to travel abroad.
The infographic below provides further details and updates on how these funds have been used for St Helena:
Further details and updates on the equipment procured by St Helena Airport, the Safety Security and Home Affairs Portfolio and the Treasury, Infrastructure and Development Portfolio will be provided in due course.
#StHelena #FCDO #ImprovingEssentialInfrastructure
Pride month is marked every year in June across the world. It is a vibrant and inclusive celebration which honours the LGBTQ+ community, its history, its achievements and its ongoing fight for equality.
This international annual event is a powerful reminder of the importance of acceptance, diversity and love. It brings together individuals, organisations and communities in defence of the rights of LGBTQ+ people and in celebration of progress towards a more inclusive society.
During this year’s International Pride Month, the rainbow flag has been proudly flown at Plantation House and the Police Station. The Rainbow Pride Flag features all the colours of the rainbow, and is widely recognised as the symbol of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT+) communities. Other variations also include a chevron of black and brown stripes to represent people of colour, and blue, pink and white for transgender people.
The St Helena Government is proud to support the LGBTQ+ community and, just as it is for every person within our community, is committed to upholding their rights. The St Helena Constitution protects individuals from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and since 1 January 2017, same-sex marriage has been recognised throughout the territory.
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#StHelena #PrideMonth #RainbowFlag#LGBTQ+
Following yesterday’s tabling of the Appropriation Bill 2023 in the Legislative Council and the delivery of the budget speech by Minister for Treasury, Infrastructure and Sustainable Development, Mark Brooks, the Budget Book 2023/24 has now been published online.
The Budget Book, formally titled Estimates of Recurrent and Capital Expenditure and Revenue 2023/24, covers the government’s forecasted revenue and expenditure for the 2023/24 financial year.
It covers how much money the government expects to receive and how it intends to spend this. It also explains the assumptions and methodologies applied where the government has costed policy decisions.
Within it, you will find details about overall government finances as well as portfolio-specific finances.
#StHelena #Budget2023 #AltogetherWealthier
Works are nearing completion on the construction of the Port Control, Customs and Biosecurity (PCB) Main Container Yard, and the erection of the two new steel frame buildings in Lower Rupert’s.
Isaac’s Contractors have completed approximately 75% of the PCB Main Yard, 95% of the erection of the new steel frame PCB Building, and 40% of the erection of the new steel frame Container Freight Station (CFS) Building. These contracts are programmed to be completed in August 2023 in readiness for the contract for the internal fit-out of the buildings to be undertaken.
For more information on these projects and/or other ongoing or planned Economic Development Investment Programme (EDIP) projects, members of the public are encouraged to attend the quarterly EDIP information meetings. The next round of public meetings are due to be held in July 2023, and specific dates and times for these will be published shortly.
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#StHelena #EDIP #AltogetherWealthier
Earlier today, Wednesday 28 June, Minister for Treasury, Infrastructure and Sustainable Development, Mark Brooks, announced the signing of a lease between SHG and OneWeb. The announcement was made during Minister Brook’s 2023/24 budget speech to the Legislative Council.
The lease will allow OneWeb to develop an earth station at Horse Point, in the area designated for St Helena’s Space Park. OneWeb will now be working with their local agent, Sure South Atlantic, to develop and build the earth station.
The establishment of the earth station is closely aligned with SHG’s key strategic policy goals, including the Satellite Ground Station Policy, Sustainable Economic Development Plan 2018-29, the Ten-Year Plan 2017-27, the Investment Policy and Strategy and the Digital Strategy.
The development of the earth station represents a significant economic opportunity to the Island through the creation of financial opportunities throughout the lifespan of the development. It will generate direct income for the government through the lease and licencing arrangements, money that can be invested back into delivering public services and improving living standards for all, as well as offsetting the costs associated with running the Island’s fibre cable link. It will also make a contribution to wider Island economy through construction, maintenance and operational activities throughout its lifespan, whilst at the same time creating job opportunities for the local population.
By locating an earth station on St Helena, OneWeb will be able to interconnect their satellite network to the world’s fibre network, via the Island’s cable landing station. All associated traffic will be transmitted off-Island through Google’s Equiano subsea cable.
The implementation of this critical and key facility will improve telecoms coverage across the southernmost remote parts of the South Atlantic Ocean via OneWeb’s platform. This will contribute to closing the digital divide within the South Atlantic Ocean, including Tristan da Cunha and Ascension, and will improve travel experience and safety of navigation for aircraft and vessels. Maritime and aviation safety will also be greatly enhanced following the establishment of the gateway.
On the signing of the lease, Minister Brooks said:
“This is the first realisation of SHG’s Satellite Ground Station Policy, published back in 2020, and is the first of what we hope will be many such firms that choose to come to St Helena to do business. This shows that taking a strategic approach to issues and making sure that appropriate structures are in place for the private sector to build on, our enabling environment, does deliver results in the long run. OneWeb will now be working with their local agent to complete the build of the station and begin operations.”
Notes to Editors
A ground station is a terminal that allows extraplanetary communication with satellites or space craft. Earth Stations are viewed as a collection of equipment installed on the earth’s surface that enables communications over one or more satellites. Earth stations consist of a reflector antenna (or parabolic dish), a feed system to send and receive the RF carrier, data handling equipment and mechanical tracking equipment to keep the satellite within the antenna’s data send/receive area.
OneWeb’s proposed earth station will allow telecommunication with spacecraft including, OneWeb’s constellation of more than 600 plus Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, which aims to provide global broadband coverage.
The Minister for Treasury, Infrastructure and Sustainable Development, Mark Brooks, today, Wednesday 28 June 2023, delivered the 2023/24 budget speech for St Helena to the Legislative Council. A copy of the budget speech is available online at www.sainthelena.gov.sh/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Budget-Speech-2023-24
In his opening remarks, Minister Brooks said:
“This budget continues to support our Vision, published in March last year, but also takes into account the realities of the changing economic and operational environment resulting from yet another year of continuing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and ongoing global inflationary pressures.”
“At the heart of our vision is our environment, our economy, and our social obligations. While the government, I feel, is clear on its priorities, in tandem it is important that I highlight the need for a genuine mind-set change. A mind-set change by SHG, its leaders, the civil service, and indeed the general population. We believe we need to focus on what makes St Helena attractive, what truly makes us great and unique, and use these characteristics to grow and develop.”
The budget is presented following agreement of a 4% increase in the Financial Aid settlement from the UK Government when compared to 2022/23, equivalent to an additional £1.27 million. This includes an increase in core financial aid of £1.071 million, £114,000 for airport operations and £500,000 to further develop the tourism industry.
The UK Government continues to provide contingency funding on a call down basis, albeit at a lower level of £1.7 million. This means total available funding from the UK Government of £33.06 million.
In his budget speech, Minister Brooks expressed gratitude to His Majesty’s Government for their continued support to St Helena through Financial Aid.
In concluding his budget speech, Minister Brooks said:
“We speak a lot as an Island, about creating an enabling environment on St Helena. In reality there is still much we need to do across SHG to perform better, be it our procurement systems, HR processes or customer services. We are also well aware of the need to update some of our outdated procedures, policies, and legislation across the board. But the change in mind-set does not just involve the government.”
“The challenges we face demand a united front and a shared commitment to progress. By embracing the strength of collaboration, we can combine our diverse talents, ideas and perspectives to achieve outcomes that surpass our individual capabilities.”
“Each and every one of us must take ownership of our own futures, recognising that our choices, actions, and contributions play a crucial role in shaping the destiny of our Island. It is not enough to simply rely on external forces or wait for others to chart our path.”
The motion to consider the Appropriation Bill 2023 now stands adjourned until Friday 30 June 2023, when the details of the Bill will be debated by Legislative Council.
Allocations for both recurrent and capital expenditure as outlined in the Appropriation Bill 2023 and the Budget Book are as follows:
Pensions and Benefits – £5.7 million
Health and Social Care – £9.1 million
Education, Skills and Employment – £3.6 million
Environment, Natural Resources and Planning – £1.7 million
Treasury, Infrastructure and Sustainable Development, which includes grants and subsidies, centrally managed contracts like the swimming pool and public transport system etc. – £14.1 million
Central Support Service which includes support to Council and the Technical Cooperation Budget – £10.0 million
Safety, Security and Home Affairs – £2.6 million
Attorney General’s Chambers – £105,000, and
Judicial Services – £147,000
#StHelena #Budget23 #AltogetherWealthier
The 2023 Register of Electors has today been published in an Extraordinary Gazette. This Register is effective from 1 July 2023.
Alternatively, hard copies of the Register will be available from the following locations:
Customer Service Centre, Jamestown
Public Library, Jamestown
ENRPP Offices, Scotland
The Office of the Registration Officer, the Castle, Jamestown
#StHelena #RegisterOfElectors
St Helena Primary Schools have entered the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition for a number of years, and this year was no exception. The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition (QCEC) is the oldest school essay competition in the world, established in 1883, and has welcomed winners from across the globe during its many years.
With thousands of young people taking part each year, it is an important way of recognising achievement, giving young people a voice and developing key skills through creative writing.
Each year, participants write on a theme that explores Commonwealth values, promotes an empathetic worldview in the next generation of leaders, and encourages young people to consider new perspectives on the challenges facing the world. Themes include the environment, community, inclusion, the role of young leaders and gender equality.
In 2022, on the occasion of her Platinum Jubilee year, Her Majesty the Queen celebrated 70 years as Head of the Commonwealth. The theme of the competition was ‘Our Commonwealth’, asking candidates to explore the positive impact that dedication and selfless commitment to our Commonwealth can have.
A record 26,322 candidates from across the Commonwealth entered the QCEC, including students from St Helena.
The topics for the junior category were:
Imagine being a grandparent in 2022. Tell your grandchildren a bedtime story about an inspirational person.
What do you think are the best ways for young people to serve the Commonwealth?
Our Commonwealth Community
Write a job description for a superhero needed to solve a problem in your community.
An awards ceremony was held at Plantation House on Tuesday 20 June, presented by Governor Nigel Philips, Head Teacher of St Paul’s Primary School Patricia Williams, teacher Gavie Williams and Director of Education Wendy Benjamin. All successful entries received a Certificate of Participation. In addition, 14 students were awarded bronze medals, six were awarded silver medals and five were awarded gold medals at the ceremony, surrounded by their families, teachers and invited guests.
Head Teacher of St Paul’s Primary School, Patricia Williams, commented:
“The evening went extremely well, thanks to our Governor and Mrs Phillips and the Plantation staff who prepared for the occasion. It was really overwhelming to hear what our young students had to say about our Commonwealth community, considering situations around the world and also creating an application for a superhero to solve a problem in St Helena.”
“Clearly at this age, they are already thinking and seeing the problems we face on the Island and how best to overcome some of them. Their depth of thought and creativity was astounding and there was a lot of food for thought for our audience, which included the Chief Minister who is no doubt working with her team on the same issues. Thanks also go to our teachers who provided stimulus for our students in order for them to achieve these fantastic awards. Well done to all of our students for your inspiring essays and poems.”
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) recognises 25 June each year as Seafarers’ Day. This day is an opportunity to honour the role of seafarers in a global industry that contributes greatly to the movement of supplies and goods around the world.
This year, the IMO celebrates the 50th anniversary of the implementation of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), which requires the prevention of pollution of the marine environment from ships, whether operational or accidental. This year’s campaign, therefore, focuses on the contribution of seafarers to the protection of the marine environment.
Raising awareness of marine pollution is a recurring and important theme here on St Helena. For instance, just recently on World Oceans Day on Thursday 8 June, the Marine Environment Management Plan was published, which heavily featured actions and mitigations around marine pollution.
Over the past year, staff from SHG and other organisations on the Island have also taken part in anti-pollution training, and a Pollution Preparedness and Response Working Group has been formed. This includes representatives from across SHG and has been tasked with developing and implementing plans for dealing with pollution incidents. As seafarers are a key part of the solution to protecting the marine environment, Merril Lawrence, who served on the ex-RMS St Helena, shared his own experience of complying with the MARPOL Convention:
“As Second Engineer on board the RMS St Helena, I was responsible for ensuring compliance with the MARPOL Convention. The MARPOL Convention requires that all movements of fuel, lubricating oil, sludge and bilge water must be accurately recorded in an oil register and retained for inspection. The Convention also stipulates that bilge water containing more than 15 parts per million of oil must not be discharged into the sea.
In practice, an oily water separator is used to separate the oil residues from the bilge water. The water is then pumped overboard through an oil-in-water monitoring system and the oil residues are pumped to a sludge tank which is stored for disposal ashore at an approved waste treatment centre. When the bilge water is discharged, all GPS positions are recorded and the amount of bilge water is discharged into the sea.
I will always remember my first major responsibility, which was to operate and maintain the oil/water separator and pump bilge water overboard in accordance with strict requirements. It was a very frightening experience when I considered the consequences if I discharged oil overboard, or if for some reason the oil/water separator was not maintained in good working order. If this process went wrong, I would be responsible for the environmental damage, the ship would be detained with a hefty fine and I could potentially go to jail. It was at this stage that I really started to appreciate what we have here in St Helena. As a child, I took it all for granted. The sea and the outdoors are unique. After travelling and studying in the UK I realised how special St Helena is. I remember working a lot of overtime on the machinery, maintaining and repairing it, to keep the ship in compliance with MARPOL regulations and able to sail.
Recently, in my current role with Connect St Helena, I attended the Pollution Response and Preparedness training organised by SHG and it brought it all back to what we did during my 18-year career at sea. I’m happy to see the progress we’ve made in marine awareness and pollution prevention on the Island, but it’s also shocking to see the amount of plastic waste washing up on our coastline compared to 10 years ago. I think it’s important that we all understand and help to protect our environment before it’s too late to reverse the damage or effects of marine pollution.”
