The main Scotland Office, including Stores, will close tomorrow, Friday 29 May 2026 at 13:00. This closure is necessary as the power will be switched off for a period of two hours to enable the Electrical Team to carry out essential work in the Generator Room. In addition, spraying services will be undertaken during the afternoon.

Should livestock or forestry services be required during this time, the Livestock Team can be contacted on 26162 and the Forestry Team on 65394.

Normal services will resume on Monday 1 June 2026. 

Members of the public due to receive their first or second Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccination are invited to attend the following sessions:

DistrictDateTime
Longwood (Harford Community Centre)Monday 1 June10:00 – 12:00
Levelwood (Clinic)Tuesday 2 June10:00 – 12:00
Sandybay (Community Centre)Tuesday 2 June13:30 – 15:00
HTH (CCC)Wednesday 3 June10:00 – 12:00
Jamestown Community CentreThursday 4 June10:00 – 14:00
Kingshurst Community CentreTuesday 9 June11:00 – 13:00
Blue Hill Community CentreWednesday 10 June10:00 – 11:30
Guinea Grass Community CentreWednesday 10 June13:00 – 15:00

Important reminder: If attending for your second dose, please ensure that at least 28 days have passed since your first vaccination.

Members of the public are encouraged to attend the session most convenient for them. Vaccination is an important step in protecting yourself and helping to safeguard the wider community.

For individuals who are housebound and unable to attend any of the scheduled sessions, home visits can be arranged with a nurse. Please contact the Health Promotion Team on 25949 to register your request.

The Crown Estates Office wishes to advise the public of a change in approach regarding the use of Crown land.

Historically, some areas of Crown land were used for the temporary storage of excavated soil, gravel and stone and construction materials. Going forward, any such use will require prior approval from Crown Estates, along with the necessary planning permission, regardless of whether it is intended to be temporary. This is to ensure that land is properly managed and protected, and to reduce the likelihood of temporary arrangements becoming permanent.

An immediate concern is the Guns area at Ladder Hill, where materials, including gravel, stone and a container, are currently being stored. Members of the public are therefore requested to remove all materials, spoil and aggregate as soon as possible, and no later than 30th June 2026.

This is particularly important as improvement works are planned for the site, including upgrades to the tennis court and repainting of the Guns. Clearing the surrounding environment is essential to support these works and to enhance the overall appearance of the area.

Access to the area will also be reviewed. Multiple padlocks are currently on the site gates, but future access will be restricted to essential stakeholders only, with controlled key management in place.

The Crown Estates Office appreciates the public’s cooperation in ensuring that the area is cleared promptly and that Crown land is used more responsibly.

For further information, please contact Mike Durnford, Crown Estate Manager, via 22270 or mike.durnford@sainthelena.gov.sh

The Education, Skills and Employment (ESE) Portfolio is offering non-compulsory nursery education for all children between the ages of three and four years.

ESE will be in contact with parents/guardians of those children born on island and who are eligible to enter nursery education in the school year September 2026 – August 2027. This is to offer a place and provide details of school placement and date of admission.

It would be appreciated if parents/guardians of children who were not born on St Helena could submit the following information in writing to the Assistant Director of Schools, Kerry Lawrence, so that an offer of placement can be made:

•The child’s full name and date of birth

•Name and address of parent or guardian

•Telephone number and email address (if applicable)

Once all required information has been received, parents/guardians will be advised of their child’s nursery placement.

All correspondence pertaining to this matter can be sent to the Assistant Director of Schools, Kerry Lawrence, at the Education and Learning Centre, Jamestown, by email to: kerry.lawrence@sainthelena.gov.sh 

The public are advised that the next round of Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccinations for individuals due to receive their first or second dose in Jamestown will take place as follows:

Date: Thursday, 28th May
Time: 11:00 – 14:00
Venue: JTCC

Important reminder: If attending for your second dose, please ensure that at least 28 days have passed since your first vaccination.

Members of the public are encouraged to attend the session most convenient for them. Vaccination is an important step in protecting yourself and helping to safeguard the wider community.

For individuals who are housebound and unable to attend any of the scheduled sessions, home visits can be arranged with a nurse. Please contact the Health Promotion Team on 25949 to register your request.

The MMR vaccine is a safe and effective way to protect against serious illness.The public are advised that the next round of Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccinations for individuals due to receive their first or second dose in Jamestown will take place as follows:

Date: Thursday, 28th May
Time: 11:00 – 14:00
Venue: JTCC

Important reminder: If attending for your second dose, please ensure that at least 28 days have passed since your first vaccination.

Members of the public are encouraged to attend the session most convenient for them. Vaccination is an important step in protecting yourself and helping to safeguard the wider community.

For individuals who are housebound and unable to attend any of the scheduled sessions, home visits can be arranged with a nurse. Please contact the Health Promotion Team on 25949 to register your request.

The MMR vaccine is a safe and effective way to protect against serious illness.

The St Helena Government is pleased to announce that Solomon & Company now expects Jacob’s Ladder to temporarily reopen to pedestrians at 17:00 on Wednesday, 20 May 2026. The ladder will remain open through the long weekend so it can be lit on St Helena’s Day and enjoyed by the public. It will close again at 08:00 on Tuesday, 26 May, and remain closed until mid-June to allow completion of the works.

The lights were funded by Lord Ashcroft under the Jacob’s Ladder Rehabilitation Project. Installation works form part of an FCDO EDIP UK-funded initiative, managed through the Programme Management Office (PMO), representing a significant investment in enhancing one of the island’s most iconic landmarks.

The switching on of Jacob’s Ladder lights on St Helena’s Day is a fitting tribute to the island’s heritage and marks an important milestone for the community.

The public’s patience is appreciated, and thanks are extended to Solomon & Company for their role as contractors in delivering this project.

The St Helena Fire and Rescue Service will be conducting routine fire hydrant inspections across the island starting Monday, 1 June 2026.

These regular inspections are essential to ensure all hydrants remain fully operational and ready for fire protection and emergency responses, keeping our community safe.

The inspections will take place between 10:00 and 15:00 according to the following schedule:

DatesAreas
1 June to 5 JuneJamestown
8 June to 12 JuneHalf Tree Hollow
15 June to 19 JuneLongwood, Alarm Forest and Levelwood
22 June to 26 JuneSt Pauls, Blue Hill and Sandy Bay

During testing, residents in the affected areas may notice temporary water discolouration or a slight drop in water pressure. If your water appears discoloured, simply run your cold tap for a few moments until it clears.

All inspection crews will be clearly identified while carrying out their work.

The St Helena Fire and Rescue Service thanks the public in advance for their cooperation and understanding as we maintain this vital safety infrastructure.

For additional information or queries, please contact the St Helena Fire and Rescue Service on 23344.

The Health and Social Care Portfolio would like to advise the public that the Pharmacy email address has changed.

All prescription queries and related correspondence should now be sent to: pharmacy.prescriptions@sainthelena.gov.sh

The previous Pharmacy email account will be deactivated on 30 May 2026. Please note that an automatic message is currently in place to direct users to the new address; however, messages will not be forwarded.

Customers are kindly asked to update their contact records and use the new email address with immediate effect to avoid any disruption to service.

The public are advised that due to the arrival of the cruise ship Azamara Onward on Tuesday, 19 May 2026, the Jamestown Wharf will be closed to all public access from 06:00.

The Jamestown Wharf will remain closed until the vessel has departed.

Access to the Jamestown Wharf will be strictly prohibited and limited only, to persons who have made prior arrangements with Port Control.

Port stakeholders, workers, and maritime users are requested to park all vehicles outside the main security barrier.

Boat owners are also advised that no maintenance work will be permitted on the Wharf during this period.

Port Control thanks the public for their cooperation and understanding during this time.

SHG

14 May 2026

The MV Karoline is scheduled to arrive at James Bay on Wednesday 13 May, at 06:00 hours. Weather permitting, the vessel will berth alongside Rupert’s Jetty.

During this time, Rupert’s Cargo Management Facility, the beach, Jetty, and Rupert’s Bay will be under Security Access Level 3, meaning these areas will be restricted to authorised personnel only.

Access will remain restricted until all cargo operations are completed and the vessel has departed.

Once the vessel departs, Security will reduce to Access Level 2, at which point only the Cargo Management Facility will remain restricted during normal working hours (08:00–17:00).

The beach, Jetty, and Rupert’s Bay will reopen to the public and can be accessed via the public walkway beginning at Liberation House or via the Ferry Service (charges apply).

After working hours, the Security Access Level reduces to Level 1, whereby vehicular access is allowed through the Facility.

St Helena Port Control thanks the public for their cooperation and understanding.