Latest Posts
A formal meeting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will take place on Monday, 3 October 2016, in the Council Chamber.
Members of the public and interested persons are invited to attend the meeting, which will also be broadcast live on SAMS Radio 1.
Programme of Business
|
Time |
Monday 3 October 2016 |
|
09.00 – 09.45 |
St Helena Government – SHG 2013/14 and 2014/15 Annual Financial Statements and Management Letters
|
|
09.45 – 10.15 |
St Helena Government – Managing Grants and Subsidies
|
|
10.15 – 10.45 |
Recess |
|
10.45 – 11.30 |
St Helena Government – National Audit Office Report on St Helena Airport
|
|
11.30 – 12.30 |
St Helena Government – Statements of Expenditure in Excess
|
SHG
27 September 2016
CEO of the St Helena Equality & Human Rights Commission, Catherine Turner, returned to the Island on Wednesday 21 September 2016, having attended the first Overseas Territories (OTs) Human Rights Conference for OT Human Rights Commissions and practitioners.
The conference was held in the historic surroundings of Lancaster House, London, from 12 -14 September 2016, and Catherine’s attendance at the conference was funded by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO).
Facilitated by Human Rights & Child Safeguarding Policy Officer OTD, Camisha Bridgeman (FCO), and Deputy Director of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, Dr David Russell, the conference included sessions aimed at identifying the status of human rights in the OTs and considering what measures can be taken to develop and strengthen access to those rights. Other sessions included developing human rights education, the rights of women and girls, prisoner rights, disability concerns, and extending further rights to the territories, among numerous other topics.
Catherine commented:
“I had the privilege to work with a passionate and committed group of Human Rights Commission Leaders, UK Legal Advisers and Government Officials from other British Overseas Territories.
“I also had the opportunity to promote St Helena to many people who have never been to the Island before.”
The conference closed with an agreement to establish a support network to enable Human Rights Officers to work together and share knowledge, which will assist in providing better quality advice and information.
The interaction with the FCO gave Catherine a clear insight into the role of the Commission in developing and establishing human rights, to reach the goal of everyone in the OTs having the same rights as our fellow British citizens in the UK.
Catherine concluded:
“The most positive thing about the conference was discovering how far ahead of the other territories we are in many aspects of human rights, including being one of the few to have an established and independent Equality & Human Rights Commission.”
SHG
27 September 2016
Six St Helenian trained nurses will today, Monday 26 September 2016, embark on a BSc (Hons) Nursing Degree with Derby University in the UK. Nurses undertaking the Degree are Annabel Clifford, Donna Clingham, Jayne Adams-Duncan, Latoya Williams, Robyn Bennett and Sue-Ellen Henry (see photo attached).
The course will be studied via distance learning and the nurses are able to select the course content from modules including, Care of the Surgical Patient, Asthma, Diabetes, Leadership & Management in Health & Social Care, Minor Injuries, Advance Concepts in Palliative Care, Infection Control, and Partnerships in Dementia Care.
Hospital Nursing Officer, Lisa Rhodes, said:
“The nurses are showing great commitment for taking on this challenge. Nursing has changed dramatically across the world in the last few years. It is a professional qualification with great responsibility. Nursing requires practical and academic skills.
“The last two years have been an intense period of practical knowledge and skills training. This course will provide them with the academic ability and critical thinking required to complement their practical knowledge. This will enable them to progress as nurses in their careers.
“These nurses have come a long way and have had to adjust and upskill rapidly as healthcare provision on the Island has been modernised. We have introduced nurse-led roles to give the nurses more autonomy.”
All nurses are both nervous and excited but are hoping that, by undertaking this Degree, they will gain more experience and knowledge which they can input into their daily roles.
The course is expected to run for 18 months. Once completed, Annabel, Donna, Jayne, Latoya, Robyn and Sue-Ellen will be able to access Post-Graduate education which will further enhance specialist knowledge and roles.
SHG
26 September 2016
WEDNESDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2016
The public is advised that Ladder Hill Road will be closed on Wednesday 28 September 2016 for approximately one hour, between 2pm and 3pm.
This short closure will enable the Roads Section to repair a large depression on one of the narrow bends above Shy Road. Once completed, the road will be reopened to vehicles and pedestrians.
Persons wishing to travel out of Jamestown during this closure can do so via Side Path Road, and those travelling into Jamestown will need to travel via St Paul’s, Gordon’s Post and Side Path Road.
The public is thanked for their continued cooperation.
SHG
26 September 2016
PUBLIC CONSULTATION – REMINDER
The public is reminded that the final draft of the Rupert’s Valley Development Plan (RVDP) is currently out for public consultation until Friday, 7 October 2016.
The draft Plan affects anyone living or working in Rupert’s, and any person with a legal interest in affected land, or commercial or personal interest in the future of freight operations serving St Helena. It is important to build as much consensus as possible about the future of Rupert’s Valley, and your participation in plan preparation is important.
The final draft Plan may be examined in Jamestown – at the Office of the Chief Planning Officer, Essex House, the Customer Services Centre and the Public Library – or at Tommy Benjamin’s shop in Rupert’s. It is also available on the SHG website under the Public Consultation section of the Publications page: https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/publications/ *
Any person wishing to make any comments with regard to any of the proposals contained in the final draft Plan may do so before Friday, 7 October 2016. Written representations must be sent to the Chief Planning Officer at the following address:
Chief Planning Officer
Planning and Building Division
Essex House
Jamestown
STHL 1ZZ
* Direct link – https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/documents/Final-Ruperts-LPD-May-3-2016-Finalised-and-ready-for-public-consultation
SHG
26 September 2016
FRIDAY 23 SEPTEMBER 2016
An emergency aero-medical evacuation from St Helena Airport will take place today, Friday 23 September 2016, when a Hawker 800 aircraft arriving from Walvis Bay, Namibia, will collect an adult needing emergency medical care.
This flight is due to arrive at approximately 13.00hrs St Helena time (weather permitting), departing at around 14.00hrs local time for Cape Town – where the flight is scheduled to arrive this evening at approximately 20.00hrs South African time.
SHG
23 September 2016
In a reception at Plantation House today, HE Governor Lisa Phillips presented personnel from the St Helena Fire & Rescue Service, St Helena Rock Guards, and the St Helena Airport Rescue & Firefighting Service, with accredited certification for successfully passing an intense technical rope rescue/access course.
26 staff passed the course with a 100% pass rate.
The training was delivered by Neal Pickersgill and Andy Barker of Technical Rescue Training UK Ltd, and comprised of three different levels of training, including a separate programme for seven personnel who also passed as Supervisors.
This training was a requirement under the Airport accreditation, due to the Island’s difficult terrain, but was also an opportunity to up skill personnel for search and rescue of missing persons which may occur elsewhere on-Island or on the shoreline.
The training will continue on St Helena, carried out by the newly qualified Supervisors. Technical Rescue Training UK Ltd will reassess the training programme every three years.
Acting Chief of Police, Steve Riley, commented:
“The rope rescue course is a vital part of Airport accreditation. Although St Helena does not yet have commercial aircraft, the Airport is indeed open and is used by charter and medevac flights. The skills gained on this course are instrumental for ensuring that these flights continue to operate safely.
“St Helena now has a cadre of 26 personnel from the St Helena Fire & Rescue and Airport Rescue & Firefighting Services, and the Rock Guards, who can rescue missing people from areas on St Helena that are not accessible from either the sea or by conventional means on land.
“I would like to thank Andy and Neal for delivering the course and also Ian Johnson who organised the logistics. The commitment shown by the personnel who underwent this training will now be matched by the Police, and Environment & Natural Resources Directorates, in that we will provide the equipment and the time to train, and thus enhance the skills you have gained.
“I would like to thank everyone for their hard work and dedication. You have made St Helena a safer place for the Saints and all those who visit this beautiful Island.”
Two photos are attached to this release.
SHG
21 September 2016
UPDATE
Further to the press release issued on 28 July 2016, the public is advised that Constitution Road – from the turning at Barnes Road junction to the junction at Chubb’s Spring – remains closed to pedestrians and vehicles, until further notice.
Work continues on rebuilding the collapsed retaining wall, and as work progresses the public will be informed of a likely date when the road will be reopened.
Residents in the area can still access their properties from the Bus Shelter (Corner Wall) to Barnes Road turning and Chubb’s Spring, as well as via New Bridge Road.
The public is thanked for their continued patience during this time.
SHG
21 September 2016
Executive Council met today with just one item on the Open Agenda. This was a Development Application and Council was therefore effectively sitting as the Planning Authority.
The Development Application related to a previous application that was made in 2013 for the Rupert’s Wharf development which included the road that links the wharf to the main access road in Rupert’s. Council noted that a planning condition had been imposed in 2013 to ensure appropriate standards of access to the wharf and continued availability of the Shears area for commercial fishing.
At today’s meeting Council considered the proposed design for the road and the associated challenges which include the protection of the heritage retaining wall. The ultimate outcome was to have a road that would accommodate double lane traffic but this would involve the removal of part of the wall. Following lengthy discussion, Council approved the application subject to various conditions which include requirements for a construction method statement for the demolition of a section of the existing wall to accommodate the increased road width. The wall will then be reconstructed and the original stone will be preserved and reused for this purpose.
Council was not however able to discharge the planning condition that was imposed when the application was approved in 2013 and requested that further work be undertaken by the Rupert’s Development Working Group with a view to ensuring that the full length of the retaining wall is strengthened in anticipation of the heavy traffic that will be used when the wharf is fully operational.
In the Closed Session, Members were provided with an update on the Bottom Woods Comprehensive Development Area (CDA) and noted that the invitation for tender for works would be issued shortly. Works on the Half Tree Hollow CDA was also being progressed with the contractor.
The meeting closed at 1.20pm.
ExCo
20 September 2016