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WEDNESDAY, 9 JANUARY 2019

The Social & Community Development Committee (SCDC) held their monthly meeting on Wednesday, 9 January 2019.

Consultation on the proposed Information Bill will remain on hold as the Crown Counsel (Civil), Andrew Radley, reported that discussions with the FCO legal counsel were still in progress concerning the implications on all Overseas Territories’ of General Data Protection Regulation 2018.

Recently appointed Principal Social Worker, Rosalie Brown, had an introductory meeting with the Committee. The Principal Social Worker is a key member of the Safeguarding Directorate’s team. They work closely with the Adult Services Team Manager to lead social work practice with vulnerable adults, people living in residential care and people in the community with social care needs.

Increases in Fees & Charges were agreed. Non-statutory revised Archives Research Fees will be announced administratively. Increases requiring changes to the law, e.g. Registration of a charity and inspection of the Register, Gaming Machine Licences and Liquor Licence Fees will now require Executive Council to approve new Regulations.

A ‘Good Food & Drinks’ promotion initiative, presented on behalf of Safeguarding, by Quality Assurance & Policy Officer, Gavin Thomas, was supported. A key strategy is to adjust the food environment within the Directorate to provide attractive healthy choices.

Updates from the Safeguarding Directorate included:

 The SCDC comprises of voting members Councillors Anthony Green (Chairman), Cyril Leo (Deputy Chairman), Kylie Hercules, Derek Thomas and Gavin Ellick. Both Councillors Derek Thomas and Gavin Ellick were absent from this meeting. Non-voting members are the Director of Safeguarding and the Government Economist, the latter of which was on overseas leave. The Committee Secretary is Nicole Plato.

#StHelena #Social&CommunityDevelopment #SCDC #AllTogetherSafer #AllTogetherHealthier

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SHG
22 January 2019

The following is a Public Announcement from the Environment & Natural Resources Directorate (ENRD):

ENRD would like to advise the public that the Meteorological Site at Bottom Woods will be closed from today, Tuesday 22 January 2019, for approximately 12 weeks. This closure is to allow the safe removal of asbestos from the old Operations building for demolition works to take place.

Once works are complete, interested persons wishing to visit the site can contact Meteorological Station Manager, Lorimar Bennett, on tel: 24422 or 24785 or via email: metoffice.901@helanta.co.sh.

The public is thanked in advance for their understanding and cooperation.

SHG
22 January 2019

https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh

The Highways Authority has given approval for Ladder Hill Road to be closed on Wednesday, 30 January 2019, from 1.30pm to 3pm. This is to enable the Rock Guards to carry out an inspection of the hillside above Ladder Hill Road.

Appropriate signage will be in place and, as normal, only Emergency Services will be granted access.

Persons wishing to travel in and out of Jamestown during this time must travel across country and via Side Path Road or Constitution Hill Road.

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

SHG
22 January 2019

https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh

WEDNESDAY, 16 JANUARY 2019

The monthly meeting of the Education Committee took place on Wednesday, 16 January 2019.

The Committee was introduced to new Advanced Skills Teacher (Mathematics), Steven Powell. Steven, who spent three years on Ascension Island with his parents as a child, expressed his love of teaching and noted particular expertise in behaviour management, developing pupils problem solving skills, and effective use of IT in the classroom. He also has experience setting up and improving intervention programmes for numeracy. Throughout his career, Steven has been responsible for mentoring newly qualified and trainee teachers and was the lead trainer for maths trainees during his previous employment.

French Advisory Teacher, Jennifer Ratcliffe, and Maths Advisory Teacher, Rex Pondsford, updated the Committee on their experiences at Prince Andrew School (PAS) to date. Their report back was positive all round, although both teachers shared some specific suggestions for consideration. These included procuring the GCSE French listening resources that accompany the textbook for the new GCSE French specification, and introducing an acknowledgement of how each student has progressed compared to their baseline on entry to PAS.

PAS Head Teacher, Penelope Bowers, provided members with an overview of the School Behaviour Policy and shared some behavioural challenges experienced during the last school term involving a small number of students. These included verbal and physical bullying, and being disrespectful to members of staff and other students. It was noted that a review of the policy is necessary and any suggested amendments will be presented to the Committee for approval within the first quarter of 2019.

Members were also asked to consider the need for a policy to address student requests for repeating academic milestones. This is for instances where a student could not achieve their full potential due to circumstances beyond their control. The Committee requested the collection of more information in this regard and asked that the matter be tabled for further discussion at the next meeting.

Head of Inclusion, Vyona Young, presented the Committee with an update on inclusion in schools, including the reintegration of pupils on alternate education provision.

#StHelena #EducationCommittee #MeetingSummary

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SHG
22 January 2019

The second consignment of ‘day old’ chickens (chicks) was successfully flown into St Helena on Saturday, 12 January 2019, and are currently under the quarantine process.

Senior Veterinary Officer, Joe Hollins, explains:

“Even at this age, the chicks come vaccinated against a range of diseases administered by spray, but we can never rule out a disease breakdown in South Africa. Hence, by law, the chicks are placed into the Rupert’s Quarantine Station for a period of four weeks where we care for them and observe for any issues.

“At the moment the Veterinary Section is attending three times daily to freshen the drinkers and feeders. Personnel wear dedicated suits and boots and pass through footbaths before entering or leaving. In addition, we have a problem with fowl pox on the Island, transmitted by mosquitos, and cannot vaccinate the chickens until four weeks of age. Hence all windows, doors, vent holes and roof spaces have been either meshed or sealed, and the mesh sprayed with insecticide. The chicks will be vaccinated prior to distribution.”

In a few weeks’ time, providing that the chicks are healthy and thriving, the Agriculture & Natural Resources Division (ANRD) hopes that the chicks will be made available for sale to the public. The chicks are already oversubscribed, but members of the public who are next on the list will be contacted closer to the time of distribution.

The chicks are Dekalb Amberlinks – a white commercial laying hen that comes into lay between 16 and 20 weeks and, if reared and kept well, can produce 340 eggs in one year.

ANRD anticipates a third consignment of 1000 ‘day old’ chicks in the next couple of months.

Notes to Editors

In 2018, ANRD established that there was a shortage and high demand for hen eggs on the Island. To alleviate this problem, ANRD developed a plan to air freight 1000 ‘day old’ chicks in the hope of resupplying the Island with a regular supply of fresh local eggs.

The chicks are procured from a highly biosecure commercial unit that is monitored by the South African Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF). The chicks are specially incubated to hatch out on the Friday before the Saturday flight. They are delivered to OR Tambo International Airport, in Johannesburg, at 3am GMT fresh out of the shell. ‘Day old’ chicks rely on their yolk sacs for food and fluid and can be legally flown around the world for up to 72 hours. The process of clearance with South African Customs and SA Airlink is not simple but is handled expertly by an agent who handles the extensive paperwork.

The first successful consignment of 1000 ‘day old’ chicks was flown into St Helena, via the SA Airlink flight, on Saturday, 29 September 2018. Shortly after their arrival, the chicks were taken to the Quarantine Station in Rupert’s Valley where, by law, they spent four weeks in isolation.

Following the four weeks spent under quarantine, the first batch of chicks, were ready to be sold to the general public at a price of £2.50 each and, since being distributed to the public, ANRD have recently received news that the very first eggs have been laid.

#StHelena #ANRD #DayOldChicks

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 SHG

22 January 2019

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

The following is a Public Announcement from the Police Directorate:

The St Helena Police Service will begin a six-week training course on Monday, 28 January 2019, which will run until Thursday, 7 March 2019.

During the training there will be specific practical scenarios set up to test the skills that officers have learnt throughout the course. To ensure these scenarios are as realistic and detailed as possible, St Helena Police are seeking the help of members of the public to volunteer as role players.

If anyone is interested and willing to assist the St Helena Police by volunteering to help during this and any future training, please contact Learning & Development Sergeant, Mark Coombe, via email: mark.coombe@sainthelena.gov.sh or telephone Police Head Quarters on tel: 22626.

SHG
22 January 2019

https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh

Advanced Skills Teacher (Mathematics), Steven Powell, has recently arrived on St Helena to take up his new post at Prince Andrew School on a two-year contract.

Steven said:

“I’m very excited and honoured to have been given the chance to contribute towards the development of Mathematics education on St Helena. I am determined to do everything in my power to make a real difference to the mathematical education of young people on the Island.”

Steven’s family are from Portsmouth, but until recently, he taught in the City of Peterborough.

As a child, Steven spent three years on Ascension Island.

Steven added:

“I have always remembered the kindness shown to me by the Saints on Ascension Island and how proud they were of their homeland. When I saw this job advertised I jumped at the chance to get to see and live on St Helena myself and cannot think of a better environment to raise my young daughter in.”

Steven has ten years of experience teaching in schools in the UK and has a track record of producing results across the ability spectrum for pupils at GCSE level.

Steven specialises in behaviour management, development of pupil’s problem-solving skills, and the effective use of IT in the classroom, to the point where he was invited to present at the ‘Apple in Education Conference’ in 2015 and 2016.

#StHelena #Education #AdvancedSkillsTeacher

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SHG
21 January 2019

St Helena Police are aware of some drivers parking in the designated disabled persons parking bays in Jamestown without the required permits.

These parking spaces are there for persons who are disabled or have mobility impairments. They must not be used by anyone without a permit.

St Helena Police would also like to remind drivers with the appropriate permits that when parking in a disabled persons parking bay, a ‘blue badge’ must be produced and visible at all times.

A disabled parking permit can be obtained from the Safeguarding Team via tel: 23349 or 25353 or email: Anna.Crowie@sainthelena.gov.sh.

There are both short and long-term permits and an assessment of a person’s disability will be required in order to secure a permit.

SHG
18 January 2019

https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh

Governor Lisa Honan, who has overall responsibility for the Public Service, this morning, Friday 18 January 2019, at 10am, received a petition entitled ‘Keep Doctor Rhys’.

The petition was delivered to Governor Lisa in Her Excellency’s Office at the Castle by three members of the public namely Melvina Fowler, Veronica Augustus and Tania Constantine.

Governor Lisa will issue an official statement shortly.

#StHelena #PublicPetition

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SHG
18 January 2019

‘We must be crazy’ writes Captain Jack Long on his blog and who, along with his wife Carolyn and their friends Becky and Josh, arrived in his Pilatus PC-12 (a single propeller plane) at St Helena Airport at 3.22pm on Thursday, 17 January 2019, on their third trip around the world.

The group has flown the Pilatus PC-12 around the world twice – once in an eastbound direction (2015) and once over a very challenging polar route (2016-2017). This third trip is another variation of a ‘Round the World’ flight – Circumnavigation Westwards – recognised by FAI (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale).

 

St Helena is one of the stops in the ‘grand finale’ of Jack, Carolyn, Becky and Josh’s epic journey before they return to Austin, Texas where they set out from two months ago.

By the end of their trip, the group will have clocked up around 25,000 statute miles, 20 flying days, and visited places such as Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, French Polynesia, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Maldives, Seychelles, Botswana, Angola, St Helena and Brazil.

Jack said:

“I have a particular fascination with remote, out of the way, unusual places, and St Helena has been a place that has fascinated me for a while. Our stop here was for two reasons – logistical, as we crossed the Atlantic so it was either Cape Verde or St Helena and we’ve already done Cape Verde, and also because St Helena and the story of the construction of the Airport and the unique challenges with the wind conditions was especially interesting.”

Governor Lisa Honan who met the group at St Helena Airport on Thursday to welcome them to sunny St Helena added:

“I was delighted to come out and meet with Captain Jack Long who has today made history because he has brought in the first single propeller plane, and he’s also remarkable because he’s on his third circumnavigation of the world.

“I’ve just been out to the apron of the runway and welcomed him and his crew to the Island, Jack Long has a big international following and I hope his followers will see this around the world and it will hopefully spark even more interest in St Helena and what we have to offer.”

Jack, Carolyn, Becky and Josh will leave the Island on Sunday, 20 January, bound for Recife in Brazil. Before they leave, the group are hoping to see more of St Helena’s spectacular scenery and flora and fauna, the Wirebird, Napoleon’s House, Plantation House, and also climb Jacob’s Ladder.

Read more about the group’s adventures here: https://finaltimearound.blogspot.com/2018/11/and-here-we-go-again.html

#StHelena #StHelenaAirport #RoundTheWorld3.0

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 SHG

18 January 2019