news items

SHG Release: Work on the new car parking to the rear of the Museum is almost complete, and work will now start on the pavements in Main Street. The traditional kerb stonework will be lifted and reset and the concrete pavement surface will be replaced with paving slabs.

News: US Republican Congressman F. Jim Sensenbrenner will visit the Falkland Islands for 6 days from February 20.

Newspaper Appeal, page 1: The Anthony Nolan Register is appealing on behalf of a female patient from St Helena at Southampton General Hospital who urgently needs a bone marrow transplant in the hope of finding a match. Volunteers from St Helena are requested to register their name on the Anthony Nolan Register.

Web Site: Jon Tonks' photos of St Helena, Ascension, Tristan da Cunha and the Falkland Islands.

Web Site: Update on this year's Wirebird nesting season in three main breeding areas. Some 80-92% of all nests are attacked, probably by rats. Fledglings are also at the mercy of local populations of feral cats.

Blog: Description of life as a vet on St Helena, with special reference to Jonathan's problems. He is stated to be blind and unable to smell, so his grazing is rather random, and his efforts to feed are therefore disproportionately large compared to his companion tortoises. His age is estimated as 180 compared with life expectancy of 150.

Sundry SHG Releases: Councillor Gunnell has returned from the first International Parliamentary Conference on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and TB-HIV AIDS Summit in London/Cathy Hopkins' report from the 21st Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth/Details of how National Conservation Areas will impact on the public/An explanation of SHG's draft Land Disposal Policy.

Blog: Details of a pair of Napoleon's silk stockings, given to Joseph Archambault when he left St Helena in 1816.

Blog: details of Sarah Govett. Cornish-born in 1863, she met and fell in love with a musician. He enlisted into the Royal Artillery in Devonport, was initially posted to Plymouth citadel in 1881, but then posted to St Helena. In 1888, she worked her passage to St Helena. Because of the absence of quarters for unmarried women, she had to marry him within 24 hours to avoid being returned to the ship.

News: The Falkland Islands are reported as seeking to have their own passports, following the example set in Gibraltar.

You Tube: A magnitude 5.0 earthquake occurred 107 miles ENE from Ascension (782 miles NW from St Helena) on Sunday February 12.

News: The Chilean government have refuted news reports that they have banned flights to the Falkland Islands.

News: A report by oil and gas analysts at Edison Investment Research suggests that if all four oil prospects in Falklands waters were drilled, the potential tax revenue could potentially reach a little under $180bn. At present, the Falklands’ main industry is fishing, generating only $23m a year. Another $16m in tax receipts a year is sourced from all other industries. The report cautions that the recent political posturing by Argentina may prove a major barrier in securing the investment needed to produce the oil.

Blog: There has been a lack of support in campaigning to improve St Helena's broadband.

UTube Video: Tackling minefields in the Falklands.

An Argentinian academic has claimed the renewed military focus on South Atlantic islands is really centered on oil, minerals and controlling the strategic route to the mineral wealth of Antarctica.

SHG Releases: Enforcement of ban on smoking in public places starts in September 2012.

A team from the Department for International Development is on Island to discuss, with SHG, budgets and economic growth for St Helena.

Description of National Conservation Areas (NCAs) - a range of sites that represent the very best of St. Helena’s landscapes, plants, animals, landforms and heritage.

Press Release: Almost a year after the bulk carrier, MS Oliva, ran aground on 16 March last year with the loss of 1,500 tons of crude oil, initial results of a survey show that usual numbers of breeding Northern Rockhopper Penguins were present on Inaccessible Island last September.

News: Dr Gerard Bulger describes Tristan da Cunha and the challenges of his work as the only GP on the main island.

News: The Venezuelan president has pledged that his armed forces would fight alongside Argentina against Britain in any future conflict over the Falkland Islands.

Guardian Article: Provides a historical background to the present dispute between the UK and Argentina about ownership of the Falklands, including claims in the past by Spain, France, Argentina and Britain; a settlement created by Argentina being destroyed by the US in 1832 and reoccupied by Britain in 1833.

News: The Ministry of Defence have declined to comment about reports that Britain is sending a nuclear submarine to patrol the seas off the Falkland Islands. This story appears to have originated in the Daily Mail and is now being widely quoted by other media.

Parliament: The British Government state they plan to spend £189 million over the next three years defending British Forces on the South Atlantic Islands.

Newspaper Report: Argentina has threatened to halt the weekly flight operated by a Chilean-owned airline between Punta Arenas and Port Stanley. If enforced, the only air link to the Falklands would be the military flight from Brize Norton via Ascension.

Blog: Description of Madame Colin, wife of one of the former curators of the French Properties on St Helena.

SHG Release: Interview with Julian Morris, Chief Executive for Economic Development.

SHG Release: Chief Public Relations Officer appointed from the UK on a one-year contract to undertke the job and train up a Saint to take over the duties in a year's time.

SHG Release: Results of a visitor survey by St Helena Tourism from Visitors arriving on the the Seabourn Quest and Silver Whisper cruise ships.

SHG Release: A Disaster Management Exercise based on the scenario of a marine accident (collision and fire on two tender boats ferrying passengers from a cruise ship in James Bay to the wharf steps) was held on Friday 27th January.

SHG Release: Explanation of the Land Development Control Plan.

News: HMS Dauntless, the first of the Royal Navy's powerful new Type 45 air defence destroyers, is to be deployed off the coast of the Falklands Islands.

News: The Foreign Office have ruled out bringing in a UK law to ensure the Falkland Islands' right to remain British because the right of peoples to self-determination is already enshrined in Article 1.2 of the United Nations Charter and the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, as well as the Falklands' own constitution. This statement was made following a speech by Tory MP Guy Opperman that legislation was needed to show support for the "unambiguous right to self-determination" by The Falklands and other UK territories such as Anguilla, St Helena and Pitcairn.

Advert: Advertisement placed for an island doctor to work at Tristan da Cunha, salary not stated.

Film Youtube film of spearfishing at Ascension - not for the squeamish.

Blog: Successful visit by the cruise ship Seaborne Quest to St Helena.

Blog: Review of the book "The Emperor's Last Campaign" by Emilio Ocampo, including reflections on St Helena, Napoleon's exile, and English attitudes towards him.

You Tube: Film of landing at Wideawake Airport, Ascension

SHG Release: Update on land reforms including the protection and enhancement of specific areas with unique flora, fauna, natural landscapes or built heritage; making the best use of Crown-owned land and buildings; ensuring residents can access affordable housing, that there is enough of it in the right areas, and that it is suitable for the long-term needs of the Island as a whole.

Defra Release: Publication of paper summarising the environmental objectives for Overseas Territories including the St Helena National Trust and on other diverse subjects. 

EU Release: The EU are hosting a meeting of representatives from up to 25 overseas territories such as St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha that have constitutional ties with the UK, Denmark, France and the Netherlands. OCTs are said to benefit from EU benefits such as trade, sustainable development and regional cooperation.

News: SHG have placed an advertisement for a 5-year fixed term contract for a Chief Magistrate at a salary of £68,000 pa + Benefits. 

News: The US Government have published their official position regarding the dispute between the UK and Argentina over the Falkland Islands. The US state they recognise the de facto UK administration of the islands but take no position regarding sovereignty.

News: SHG have announced changes to the pension arrangements of staff who joined the service before 1 April 2010. These include increasing the normal retirement age from 60 to 65 over a ten year period starting in 2014 and reducing the rate at which pension is earned by 33% from 1/600th of total salary earned for each month of service to 1/800th.

News: Update by SHG on progress made to reform immigration, land, economic development and institutional arrangements.

News:  David Cmeron has accused Argentina with colonialism over the Falkland Islands because of their refusal to accept that the islanders have a right of self-determination. 

Blog: Update on the use of plastic decoys to attract breeding Frigate Birds to Ascension.

News: The chairman of the British Overseas Territories All Party Parliamentary Group has argued that the 21 territories should be given a much larger voice in Parliament. There have been no debates about the Territories in the past decade, whereas he has argued there should be at least one a year.

News:  German researchers will invstigate the mechanism for the geological formation of the Tristan da Cunha archipelago.  Classic hot plume theory suggests the islands were formed from a hotspot. However, Tristan da Cunha cannot be clearly identified as a hotspot.  Another possibility is that it may have been a result of the opening up of the South Atlantic.

SHG News: Members of the public will in future be allowed to attend Land Planning and Development Control Board meetings and speak to support or object to planning applications.

News: The British Foreign Office have published details of the five-year agreement enacted on 8 September 2008 between the UK and US Governments regarding civil aircraft access to Wideawake Airfield on Ascension Island. It is presumed a new agreement must be put in place by September 2013.

SHG Policy Documents: Two key documents have been issued. A ten-year Economic Development Plan outlines the measures needed to achieve the target of attracting 30,000 high-spending tourists per annum to St Helena. A draft Sustainable Development Plan provides a ten-year strategy to improve standards of living at St Helena and sets out priorities over the next three years.  SHG have also published a Press Release inviting comment on these plans. 

News: An earthquake (magnitude 5.1) was today recorded at 11:38:48 AM GMT on the Mid Atlantic Ridge at a depth of 6 miles, located 422 miles south of Ascension and 587 miles WNW of St Helena.

News: A new and very accurate measurement of Argon isotopic contents in rocks with a sensitively calibrated mass spectrometer now allows the age of eruptions of young volcanoes such as Tristan da Cunha to be determined very accurately, thereby enabling a determination of how frequently eruptions have occurred in the past and the likelihood of similar events occurring in the future. 

SHG press releases:  A message from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association International Executive Committee sent to SHG before Christmas.  The CPA state their priority is to strengthen parliamentary democracy and to understand the pressures and priorities that exist in small States, Islands and communities.  Also, SHG have created a new Environmental Management Directorate headed by Tara Pelembe. 

Are you a Saint living overseas? If you would you like to find out about the many opportunities arising from the construction of an airport on St Helena, please take a few minutes to complete a short survey by clicking this link.

News:  Three letters regarding the new conflict between the UK and Argentina over the sovereignty of the Falkland islands have been published in The Guardian.

Friends of St Helena are very pleased to announce that Bob Russell, MP for Colchester, has been given a knighthood in the New Years Honours list for his work in the public service. Bob Russell has for many years championed the cause for St Helena in the House of Commons. Full details are given in a government press release.

News: Article in The Economist carries a review of the recent tension between Argentina and the UK over the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands, warning that if oil is found in economic quantities tension between the two countries is likely to escalate.

Blog: In which a newly-arrived yachtsman gives his impressions of Ascension Island

News: David Cameron has promised the Falklands Islands he will defend their sovereignty in a supportive Christmas message, amid growing tensions with Argentina - see report

News: Letter arguing that Britan can no longer guarantee the Falklands’ security

Web Site: An article argues with a straight face that, since the British governments asserts there is "no right of abode" on Ascension, everyone should be ordered off and then the island be used to house terrorists and extremists who could be given farming equipment to survive, with the military barracks being used as living quarters.  It is not clear from the article what would happen to US facilities or where the prisoners would find soil and water to grow their crops.

Web Site: A historic NASA booklet that was published in 1970 has been posted on the internet. This describes the American manned space vehicle tracking station at Devil's Ashpit, Ascension

News: In Paris, Michel Dancoisne Martineau has received a prize for his new book He has also been appointed a Chevelier (Knight) of The Ordre National du Merite (National Order of Merit) in recognition of his work in promoting the French Properties on St Helena.

News:  Notification that the wording "St Helena and its Dependencies” will be replaced by the words “St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha” in two Acts

News:  Daily Mail article arguing that it is inconceivable that hostilities will break out again over the Falkland Islands.

News: The South American trading bloc Mercosur have announced a ban on fishing boats flying the Falkland Islands flag and British military vessels using ports in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. The ban  does not include British-flagged civilian ships supplying the islands. Britain has condemned the move. Argentina specifically objects to plans by British oil explorer Rockhopper to develop the Sea Lion well, the first oil discovery in the islands. 

News: Article suggesting the cash-strapped British Government's decision to build the new St Helena Airport can be directly linked to Argentina and Uruguay's blockade of shipping from their countries to the Falklands. The new airport will provide a direct link between South Africa and the Falklands.

Blog: Details of the visit to St Helena and Ascension Sir Joseph Hooker and his identification of unique endemic plants on those islands. He categorised 45 unique species at St Helena and noted that many belonged to unique genera and had no obvious close relatives in Africa or South America. He stated: ‘The botany of St. Helena is thus most interesting; it resembles none other in the peculiarity of its indigenous vegetation, in the great rarity of the plants of other countries, or in the number of species that have actually disappeared within the memory of living men.’

Scientific Paper: Describes the proposed eradication of rats and mice on Tristan da Cunha and Gough island, the decisions for which were taken on the basis of detailed discussions with the island community.

St Helena (with Ascension and Tristan da Cunha) will receive €16.63 million (approximately £15 million) from the European Development Fund over the next four years.  This will be for improvements to roads on St Helena and Ascension; harbour/wharf development on St Helena and Tristan da Cunha and infrastructure upgrades on Tristan da Cunha  - press release.

A survey shows that the cost of living in St Helena is very high compared to other places.  The island is ranked 148 overall out of 950 places (rank 1 is most expensive: rank 950 is least expensive).  

Less than a week after his arrival as St Helena's new governor, Mr Mark Capes announced the Department for International Development has concluded all preconditions to build an airport on the island have been met.  Accordingly, a new £201.5 million contract has been agreed with Basil Read (Pty) Limited to design and build an airport at St Helena. The contract includes a shared risk contingency of £10 million and £35.1 million for ten years of operation.  The airport is scheduled for completion in 2015.  If projected targets are met, tourist numbers will eventually rise from present levels of about 900 per annum to 30,000.

The momentous announcement by the St Helena Government (prefaced by the UK government's original policy statement in July 2010) can be read below, together with several news media stories:

• St Helena Government Press Release
• St Helena Independent
  
• St Helena Guardian
• Basil Read (Pty) Limited Press Release
• The Press Association
• BBC News
• Department for International Development Press Release
• Foreign Office Press Release
• The Guardian 
• UPI.COM (perceived as an upgrade of Falkland defences)
• United Press International (strategic implications for Falklands)
• The Daily Mirror 
• Airport World Online 
• Business Day 

The following decisions were taken by members of the Executive Committee:

1. A vote was taken to welcome Lisa Hopkins and John Pinfold onto the Committee as co-opted members.
2. The date for the next Annual General Meeting  has been provisionally set as Saturday the 19th May 2012.  Two possible venues are being explored.  Full details will be posted in due course.
3. The cover price of St Helena Connection will be increased from £2.50 to £3.00.  The Society posts copies of St Helena Connection to a number of people who are not full members and a decision was made to increase the fee for this as follows:  From £6 to £7.50 per annum for UK subscribers; from £10 to £12 for overseas subscribers.  The increases will take effect when these subscribers next make their annual payment in January 2012.
   
4. A decision was made to move the subscription system from a fixed year (start of June through to the end of May the following year) to a movable year.  For members this has the benefit that members will henceforth always enjoy a full 12-month subscription period.  This new policy is effective for all subscriptions paid after the 4th August 2011.
5. Members who are late in paying their subscription will be given two months leeway before their details are removed from the database.
   
6. It was agreed to significantly enhance the web site by the addition of new areas, each of which will be designed to provide new information about St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha.  The benefits of moving from the www.fosh.org.uk  to a domain name that better describes our interest will also be examined.
   

At the Annual General Meeting, held at Kenwood House, a vote was taken by members to raise the cost of annual subscriptions as follows:

• UK Members:  From £15 to £20.
• St Helena Members:  Unchanged at £10.
• All Other Overseas Members:  From £25 to £30.
• Life Members, wherever they live:  Unchanged at £300.
  

These increases will take immediate effect for all new members.  For existing members, the increase takes effect in a year's time, i.e. for the year commencing 1st June 2012.

The meeting heard presentations of the accounts (Vicky Beale), membership and web site (Ian Bruce), Wirebird (Colin Fox) and St Helena Connection (Ian Mathieson).  Following on from the presentation about the new web site, partially  aimed at boosting membership levels, a discussion ensued of other ways to achieve this end.

After the meeting, and subject to a confirmatory vote by the existing Committee, two new members were co-opted onto the Committee - Lisa Hopkins and John Pinfold. 

Friends of St Helena have launched their new web site.  This features a members-only section accessible by subscribers for the year starting 1st June 2011 after they enter their user name and password.  The launch was announced several weeks ahead of schedule so as to allow members the opportunity to examine it before discussions at the AGM at Kenwood House on the 21st May.

Several sections of the site are still being developed, including the introduction of a new Paypal payment facility, slightly delayed as a result of some technical issues.  

1. To recommend at the next AGM that the membership subscription fee for all members other than those living at St Helena be increased by £5 from the start of our new year on the 1st June 2011.  This increase would be affective immediately for new members, existing members only paying an increased fee from the 1st June 2012.
2. To drop the existing £25 joint UK membership category (two members at the same address).   Only one person in a household now needs to be a member for their partner to attend our meetings.
3. As an additional step towards simplifying the membership subscription structure, the long-standing practice of sending our magazines to recipients who are not full members will be reviewed.
4. With the aim of improving efficiencies, that the Membership Secretary will in future maintain the membership database and receive all payments.
5. Because the Membership Secretary controls the database, that official should also undertake all postal distribution of magazines or communications to members.
   
6. To launch a new web site with an updated presentation, a members-only area, an automated Paypal payment facility and a centralised membership database.
   

High Knoll is currently closed after two sections of wall collapsed and the appeal aims to raise funds to get the much-loved fort restored and open full-time for islanders and visitors. National Trust Director Jamie Roberts hopes that the Friends donation will inspire others to support the appeal. “With no local Government resources available for built heritage we have to attract funding from overseas. The Friends of St Helena have set a wonderful example which we hope others who love St Helena and its heritage will follow.”

Vice Chairman Edward Baldwin says “High Knoll Fort is the largest and most visible of St Helena’s endangered buildings. If together we can raise the funds to repair it, that will bode well for the future of other equally important but less visible structures. The preservation of St Helena’s historic houses and military buildings is vital for the economic future of the Island.”