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The St Helena Government wishes to advise port users and the wider public that both cranes at Jamestown Wharf have been taken out of service following a comprehensive inspection that identified mechanical defects and safety concerns.
This precautionary measure has been taken to ensure the safety of employees, customers, and members of the public.
Investigations are currently underway to assess the full extent of the faults and determine the repairs required. As replacement parts may need to be sourced from overseas suppliers, it is not yet possible to provide a timeframe for the restoration of lifting operations at the wharf.
The crane at Rupert’s Jetty remains operational and is able to provide limited lifting capability within that area. However, to ensure safe operations, the jetty must remain clear of vessels, equipment, and other items while cargo handling activities are taking place.
The St Helena Government apologises for any inconvenience this temporary suspension may cause and appreciates the public’s understanding and cooperation. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available and progress is made towards restoring the service
A meeting of the Police and Crime Panel will take place on Wednesday 15 July 2026 from 12:30 to 14:00. This meeting will be held at the Corporate Services Conference Room in The Castle, Jamestown, and will be live streamed via the SHG YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@sthelenagovernment1638. Alternative arrangements are being offered for anyone who is unable to access the room, please contact the Equality & Human Rights Commission.
The agenda will include a Police and Crime Panel report from the Temporary Director of Police and a question and answer (QA) section from the panel. The report summary can be found on the SHG Website at https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/documents/police-and-crime-panel-report-july-2026/.
For more information, please contact the Temporary Director of Police, Julian Pezzani, by telephone on (00290) 22626 or by email through julian.pezzani@sainthelena.gov.sh.
#StHelena #RSHP #PoliceandCrimePanel
Minister for Safety, Security and Home Affairs Gillian Brooks, departed the island on Saturday 11 July to travel to South Africa for personal reasons.
In Minister Brooks’ absence, Councillor Derek Thomas has been assigned ministerial responsibility for the Safety, Security and Home Affairs Portfolio.
Cllr Thomas can be contacted by email through derek.thomas@parliament.sh or by mobile on +290 66907.
#StHelena #ElectedMembers
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Please be advised that the Public Library, Career Access St Helena (CASH) and the St Helena Community College will be closed on Wednesday 15 July 2026. The closure is to facilitate staff training.
Normal operations will resume on Thursday 16 July 2026. We apologise for the inconvenience and thank the public for their understanding.
The St Helena Government is pleased to announce the official opening of the new playgrounds at Half Tree Hollow (HTH) and Longwood Green. A formal opening ceremony will be held at 13:30 tomorrow, Wednesday 8 July 2026, at the Half Tree Hollow playground.
Important Parking and Traffic Information
Due to single-lane access to the HTH playground and strictly limited parking on-site, members of the public and attendees are kindly requested to use the Half Tree Hollow Community Centre car park.
Parking spaces directly at the playground must be kept clear and are strictly reserved for HE the Governor and official vehicles. We appreciate the cooperation of all motorists and attendees in keeping traffic flowing smoothly.
SHG would like to extend its sincere thanks to the HTH Community Centre for their support, as well as the various portfolios, public donors, and overseas organisations whose generous contributions made this project possible, including funding by the FCDO through the UK Government.
All are welcome to join us in celebrating the opening of these fantastic new community spaces.
Please be advised that the Central Support Service, will be closed on Friday 10 July to allow staff to attend their Away Day.
These office closures will include the Legislative Council staff office, the Archives and Communications Hub. For any emergency press matters please call the Castle switchboard 22470
The Castle Switchboard will continue to be staffed until 16:00.
Normal business will resume on Monday, 13 July 2026 at 08:30.
We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused.
The Governor’s Office wishes to inform members of the public that, due to a technical fault with the biometrics enrolment system, they are currently unable to process biometric enrolments for UK visa and British registration applications.
Technical support has been sought to resolve the issue and restore full service as soon as possible. The Governor’s Office sincerely apologises for any inconvenience caused and appreciates customers’ patience during this time.
An update will be provided as soon as the system becomes operational again.
The Health and Social Care Portfolio (HSC) is exploring options to deliver a selective influenza (flu) vaccination campaign later this year. Members of the public are being asked to register their interest to ensure that enough vaccines are ordered ahead of the Northern Hemisphere (e.g. United Kingdom) flu season, which typically peaks in December or January.
Only some groups of people will be eligible to receive the flu vaccine, these include:
- All people aged 65 years or older
- People who are the main carer of an older or disabled person
- People who are living with someone with lowered immunity
- People aged 6 months or older with certain underlying medical conditions
People belonging to one or more of these groups are invited to register their interest in receiving the flu vaccine by completing an online form which can be accessed at the following link – https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/shflu or by scanning the QR code below with a smartphone.
If needed, someone else can complete this online form for you.
Alternatively, you can register your interest by calling the Health Promotion team on 25949 or emailing healthpromotion@sainthelena.gov.sh.
Children and young people aged up to 16 years, pregnant women, people living in a residential or nursing home, and frontline health and social care workers are also invited to receive the flu vaccine. However, these groups do not need to register their interest as enough vaccines will be ordered for everyone in these groups.
It is not yet certain that flu vaccines will be available from the global market. The public will be informed in due course as to whether the campaign will go ahead later this year.
QR Code
About flu
Flu is a common viral illness. Common symptoms include a fever or high temperature, chills, tiredness or weakness, a headache, aches and pains, a dry cough and sore throat, a runny or blocked nose, sneezing, and diarrhoea or tummy pain.
You can catch flu all year round, but it is especially common at certain times of the year. In St Helena, flu is usually more likely to be spread by people arriving from the Southern Hemisphere (e.g. South Africa) in May and June and from the Northern Hemisphere (e.g. the United Kingdom) in December or January.
You can catch flu many times because flu viruses change regularly. Your body won’t have natural resistance to new versions. Flu vaccines are designed to protect you against the current strains of the virus.
Flu often gets better on its own within a few days, but it can become very serious – there was a small number of deaths due to flu infection in St Helena last year.
Certain groups are at greater risk of serious illness – it is important that you receive the flu vaccine if you are advised to do so.
You can prevent the spread of flu by:
- washing your hands regularly with soap and warm water
- cleaning surfaces like your keyboard, telephone and door handles regularly
- use tissues to cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze
- bin used tissues as soon as possible
- stay off work or school until you’re feeling better
You can treat mild cases of flu at home by:
- getting plenty of rest and sleep
- keeping warm
- drinking lots of water to avoid dehydration
- taking paracetamol or ibuprofen to lower your temperature and treat aches and pains
You should seek medical attention if you:
- are more short of breath than usual
- have pain when breathing or coughing
- are feeling confused, dizzy or lightheaded
- are feeling sick and cannot keep food or fluids down
- have a very high or low temperature
- are peeing less than usual – this can be a sign of dehydration
- are coughing up blood
The public are advised that, due to unfavourable wind conditions at High Knoll Fort, the trial launches of Windborne Systems’ weather balloons have not been able to take place.
The trial launch site has been relocated to a more suitable location. Launches will now take place next to the Ladder Hill tennis court between 10:00 and 17:00, Tuesday 30 June through Friday 3 July 2026.
Members of the public who still need to receive their first Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccination, or who are due for their second dose, are encouraged to attend one of the below clinic sessions.
These clinics represent the last opportunity for anyone yet to receive their first dose to complete the two-dose MMR vaccination schedule. This is because the stock of vaccines received for this campaign expire in September 2026 and the two doses must be given at least 28 days apart.
| District | Date | Time |
| Longwood (Harford Community Centre) | Monday 6 July | 10:00 – 11:00 |
| Levelwood (Clinic) | Monday 6 July | 12:00 – 13:30 |
| HTH (Community Care Complex – CCC) | Wednesday 8 July | 10:00 – 11:30 |
| Jamestown Community Centre | Thursday 9 July | 10:00 – 11:30 |
These clinics will be repeated in August to allow completion of the two-dose schedule.
Important reminder: If attending for your second MMR vaccination, 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. Please bring a list of your current medications.
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.
