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UPDATE

Further to the press release issued on 19 July 2016 about a lack of accommodation on Ascension in September, Acting Administrator Judith Brown has this afternoon advised SHG that there is no longer a problem at the Obsidian Hotel – as the recent block booking of 30 rooms has been cancelled from Thursday 1 until Thursday 22 September 2016.  

Potential travellers are therefore free to contact the Obsidian Hotel should they require accommodation during this period.

This is particularly relevant to the call of the RMS St Helena on Sunday 18 September 2016.

Travellers are reminded that they need to have confirmed accommodation arranged on Ascension Island before they will be issued with an Entry Permit.

SHG

28 July 2016

 

 

 

 

 

All primary schools will be soon hosting their annual Open Days. This is an opportunity to see the school in action and to view children’s work.

Opening times will be as follows:

Harford Primary School               Thursday 4 August 2016              12.00 – 5.30pm

St Paul’s Primary School             Friday 5 August 2016                    12.00 – 5.30pm

Pilling Primary School                  Monday 8 August 2016                 11.30am – 6.00pm

All are welcome.

SHG

28 July 2016

UPDATE ON ACTIONS

Work continues to mitigate the challenges of wind shear at St Helena Airport. Safety remains paramount.

The Governor continues to chair weekly meetings of her senior technical and planning staff in order to understand the issues, make decisions, ensure the public are properly informed in a timely manner, and push forward all areas of work.  These meetings began as soon as the issue of wind shear became apparent, and they continue. Councillors are represented at these meetings.

In terms of the northern and southern approach (Runways 20 and 02 respectively) we now have more than five months of weather data, plus reports of the experience of each of the nine flights that have so far operated various approaches into the Airport. Another aircraft is due to arrive tomorrow.

We are also installing more specialised equipment at the runway to monitor weather conditions and are employing computer and physical modelling to build a stronger picture of the conditions under which we will be asking aircraft to operate. All of this is building up a body of evidence.

Intensive work continues to consider an interim aircraft solution into the southern approach (Runway 02). A key issue here will be the level and frequency of tail wind speeds, given the constraints these can place on aircraft performance. We are gathering more data on both wind patterns and speeds to facilitate these considerations.  Longer term solutions for using the northern approach (Runway 20) are receiving the same attention.

Meanwhile, medevac flights and smaller aircraft continue to operate at St Helena Airport, and the RMS extension is providing certainty of access for St Helenians.

SHG

26 July 2016

A meeting of Executive Council commenced at 09.30hrs today with five items on the Open Agenda. This included four Development Applications and an amendment to the Civil Aviation Regulations which were approved and enacted last month.

Mrs Riana DeWet, Planning Officer, was in attendance for the Development Applications items.

With regard to two of the applications – the disassembling and relocation of a steel building and the application for outline Development Permission for phases 2, 3 and 4 for extension to the solar farm – Members requested further information to enable them to make a fully informed decision. These applications will therefore be referred back to Council next month.

The third application related to the development of the existing Bradleys Camp into letting accommodation with ancillary buildings and recreational facilities.  Whilst the Land Development Control Authority had recommended that full Development Permission be granted subject to several conditions, the applicant presented to Council certain difficulties that his company would face if those conditions were applied.  Members were keen for this much needed development to go ahead and requested that the Planning Officer work with the applicant to address these concerns, with a view to the application being brought back to Council next month.

Council also approved the application for full Development Permission to construct a raw water reservoir in the Hutts Gate area, subject to various conditions recommended by the Land Development Control Authority.

Turning now to the amendment to the Civil Aviation (Investigation of Air Accidents & Incidents) Regulations 2016, Council approved the proposed amendment which removed the provision for offences and penalties, as this is already provided for in the Civil Aviation Act 1982 (Overseas Territories) Order 2001.

In the Closed Session and under matters arising from the previous meeting, Members requested that publicity be given to the Capital Programme and progress made to date.

ExCo

26 July 2016

 

 

Nominations Leaflet Bye-Election 2016

UPCOMING PROGRAMME

The public is advised that, weather permitting, the Roads Section will be resurfacing Main Street, Jamestown, on the following days from 7am to 4pm:

 Resurfacing works will take place from the Canister to the Arch. Diversion signs and traffic management will be in place and car parks in these areas will be unavailable.

The Roads Section thanks the public in advance for their understanding and cooperation.

SHG

25 July 2016

 

 

WEDNESDAY 27 JULY 2016

The public is advised that the St Helena Archives will be closed on Wednesday 27 July 2016 due to staff participating in staff development activities.

Normal opening hours will resume from 8.30am on Thursday 28 July 2016.

The Archives staff apologise for any inconvenience caused.

SHG

25 July 2016

 

As part of the ongoing improvement of the capability of the St Helena Police Service, firearms training is planned for early 2017 to enhance the firearms skills of individual Police Officers. Firearms are not routinely carried by Police Officers on St Helena and this will not change – so the public will not notice any difference once the training is completed.

As part of this overall capability, a number of Officers have also been trained in the use of the Taser. These will not be routinely carried by Officers on St Helena and authority to carry and use a Taser can only be given by a Senior Police Officer.

Whilst it is important that Police Officers have the right capability to best protect our community in any circumstances, I do not envisage many deployments of the Taser. This is due to the low crime rate and low level of threat to Officers in general.

Essentially, the Taser training is part of the overall development of a firearms capability which is required as part of the security arrangements for the Airport, as well as dealing with all eventualities on St Helena. The introduction of the Taser does not result from any specific threat.

Note to Editors:

Chief Inspector Riley is available to provide further information as required.

Trevor Botting

Chief of Police

22 July 2016

 

 

PHASE 2 – CONSULTATION COMPLETE

The participation phase of the Ten Year Plan has now been completed and SHG would like to thank all those who responded and attended meetings – your involvement has helped to shape the document and provided actions for Government and the Island over the coming years.

The draft Ten Year Plan will now go out for formal consultation before being finalised in September this year.

You can view the draft document on the SHG website at https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/documents/Draft-10-Year-Plan-updated-20072016. Hard copies are also available from Andrea Mittens at the Castle who can be contacted on telephone: 22470 or by email: andrea.mittens@sainthelena.gov.sh.

All submissions should be made to Andrea by no later than 4pm on Monday 29 August 2016.

The key priority areas for St Helena detailed in the draft Ten Year Plan are Altogether Healthier, Greener, Safer, Wealthier and Better for Children & Young People.

SHG

22 July 2016

 

JULY TO SEPTEMBER 2016

Governor Lisa Phillips departs St Helena on Sunday 31 July 2016, via Cape Town, for a short period of business and leave in the UK.  Returning to St Helena, the Governor will travel via Ascension – arriving there on Thursday 25 August 2016 for her first official visit to the Territory.  The Governor will depart Ascension on Monday 29 August, arriving at St Helena on Thursday 1 September 2016.

During the Governor’s absence, Deputy Governor Sean Burns – who returns to St Helena on Saturday 23 July following a period of leave – will become Acting Governor until Governor Phillips arrives at Ascension Island on Thursday 25 August.

Chief Secretary Roy Burke departs St Helena for Ascension Island on Monday 25 July 2016 and returns to the Island after a period of business and leave on Tuesday 4 October 2016.  During his absence from St Helena, Assistant Chief Secretary Gillian Francis will be sworn in as Acting Chief Secretary.

Attorney General Angelo Berbotto also departs St Helena on UK business and leave on Monday 25 July 2016, via Ascension Island.  On his departure from Ascension Island on Friday 29 July, Crown Counsel Aine Hurley will be sworn in as Acting Attorney General.  Returning to St Helena via Ascension Island (arriving there on Thursday 25 August), Angelo will re-assume his substantive role on arrival at Ascension.  He will arrive at St Helena on Thursday 1 September 2016.

Chief of Police Trevor Botting will depart St Helena on Monday 25 July and return on Wednesday 2 November 2016.  This trip is primarily business-focused as the Chief of Police is undertaking a review of Policing across the Territory. Trevor will spend 10 days on Ascension Island, working with his team and meeting AIG, the community and stakeholders as part of the review. He will also be visiting Tristan da Cunha to meet with the local community and Police Officers working on Tristan. In Trevor’s absence, Chief Inspector Steve Riley will be acting Chief of Police.

SHG

21 July 2016