First Jet Touch-Down

Est. 2005
VOLUME XI ISSUE 20, 15 th APRIL 2016, PRICE £1
An independent newspaper in association with Saint FM and St Helena Online
First Jet Touch-Down
Part of St Helena’s Soul
Up For Sale
Consulate Get Go-Ahead for
Another Improvement
The Circus is Coming to Town
Vince Thompson
‘Self-sufficiency and
Responsibility’ at Ebony View
Andrew Turner

FIRST JET AIRCRAFT TO
LAND AT ST HELENA
AIRPORT
A Bombardier Challenger 300 business jet landed at St Helena
Airport yesterday, Sunday 10 April 2016, at around 11.20am
- the first ever jet aircraft to land at St Helena Airport (HLE).
Pictures - Bruce Salt
The business jet was chartered by Air Safety Support International
(ASSI) to bring its team of five personnel to St Helena
to assess St Helena Airport.
The flight departed from Lanseria Airport in Johannesburg on
Sunday morning, calling at Walvis Bay, Namibia, for refueling
and a weather update.
On board the aircraft were three pilots and eight passengers
connected to the Airport project - including DFID Airport
Project Manager, Nigel Kirby, and Certification Manager, Alan
Shaw. The ASSI team will be led by Senior Aerodrome Inspector,
Justin Rothwell, who first visited St Helena last year.
From today, Monday 11 April 2016, the ASSI team will undertake
its key on-site audit as part of the certification process.
The Bombardier jet will conduct several flights during
the visit for Air Traffic Control and other purposes.
It is expected that the aircraft will depart St Helena on Friday
15 April 2016, at around 08.30hrs.
The ASSI team will return to the UK, prior to issuing their
formal response regarding certification of St Helena Airport.
SHG
11 April 2016
The Circus is Coming to Town - Vince Thompson
The airport opening, the royal visit, the first flights to and from
Prosperous Bay Plain, all these things have raised increasing
interest in St Helena over the past year; a level of interest
never before shown in this small island. My guess is we have
not seen anything yet. If the airport gets the immediate blessing
of Air Safety Support International [ASSI] we could see
Comair sending in their ‘implementation’ flight very soon after.
Aboard that aircraft will be passengers as well as crew
and maybe among them will be Erik Venter the Chief Executive
Officer for Comair or some other high flying Comair executives.
After that all sorts of people arrive thick and fast.
Apart from Prince Edward and his support group arriving here,
over the two days 20 th and 21 st May there will be three TV
crews from Britain’s main TV organisations, two from France
and one from South Africa, together with other smaller media
companies; and that is what is confirmed at present, more
will added to that number in the five weeks to St Helena Day.
In addition there will be journalists representing a multitude of
newspapers, magazines and news agencies. Yet more
honourables and notables will join them when the first Atlantic
Star charter flight touched down on 23 rd May.
Jostling for a seat on a plane to St Helena are various Lords
of the Realm, MPs, ex-MPs, a delegation from the Commonwealth
Parliamentary Association, possibly a rock star or two
who made their names with the Kinks, Abba, Hot Chocolate
and several other top line groups and without doubt several
more prominent people who have not been mentioned in emails
I’ve received which have been whizzing back and forth over
the past week.
Will this be the scene as the world’s press fight for a photo
of Prince Edward?
For those I am aware of I have been emphasising the importance
of booking everything in advance. If taxis are not booked
you may not get where you want to go, if evening meals at
restaurants are not booked you may go hungry, tours around
the Island could be missed without a bit of advanced planning.
Hopefully the second half of May will be a busy time for
many people in the tourist trade; more bookings, extra staff
brought in and more money changing hands. The busiest
time looks like being from Monday 23 rd May, after Atlantic
Star have brought in their passengers through to Saturday
28 th May when Comair start to take passengers back to Johannesburg.
The Island could very well be buzzing as TV
crews and journalists run around checking what the Lords
with their Ladies, other Big Whigs and the Great and the
Good are up to while they are visiting St Helena. Surely they
will keep an eye on the rock stars as well.
The St Helena Independent Volume XI, Issue 20, Friday 15 th April 2016 2

‘Self-sufficiency and Responsibility’ at Ebony View
Andrew Turner
You may remember a while ago I wrote a short piece about
the opening of the replacement for the old Sundale facility,
Ebony view.
Recently I had the opportunity to go out to Ebony View and
see how things have progressed since my last visit.
From the moment I got out of the car the differences were
clear. When I was first at Ebony View the residents had only
just moved out of Sundale and were still adjusting to the new
life that the Ebony View facility offered. However even then
the new lifestyle was clearly having a positive effect. The residents
seemed so much happier than before.
Since then there have been many new initiatives and activities
that have been put in place to improve the lives of the
people who live at Ebony View.
For example on the day I visited they had just come back
from swimming, which I’m told happens three days a week.
There is also a small garden that people are using to grow
their own food and, perhaps in the future, place it on sale in
the market.
These are great steps forward in the care for the people of
POLICE CHARGES
On 8 April 2016, a 36 year old local man from Ladder Hill was
charged with one count of rape. He was released on bail to
appear before St Helena Magistrates Court on Thursday 28
April 2016.
On 11 April 2016, a 25 year old local man from Longwood was
charged with failing to comply with his notification obligations
under the 2003 Sexual Offences Act. He was released on
bail to appear before St Helena Magistrates Court on Thursday
21 April 2016.
Also on 11 April 2016, a 51 year old local man from Jamestown
was charged with failing to comply with his notification
obligations under the 2003 Sexual Offences Act. He was
released on bail to appear before St Helena Magistrates Court
on Thursday 21 April 2016.
Trevor Botting
Chief of Police
14 April 2016
Ebony View. The schemes encourage independent living; selfsufficiency
and responsibility that help these people integrate
into a normal life.
The other activity that has gained a fair bit of attention in recent
weeks is “Happy Hearts,” a social event every other
Wednesday where residents are taken out to various locations
around the island. For example there have been parties
and dances at the Rock Club and White Horse that have proved
very successful. The “Happy Hearts” group is proving to be a
great way of getting the Ebony View residents to socialise
and particularly helps those with communication difficulties.
All in all Safeguarding gets a fair number of criticisms for its
adult care but, here particularly, it’s easy to see the vast improvements
that have occurred over the last year or so. The
people now housed in Ebony View have gone from the near
prison-like conditions of Sundale to this new life, one that
focuses on independence. Instead of being hidden away from
society they are now being encouraged to go out and socialise.
All you need to do to see how much these changes have
improved the life of the residents is to talk to them. Go to the
next Happy Hearts club and you’ll know how it got its name.
Final Farewell to a Good
Friend
Paul Laban contacted The Independent this week to say one
of his dogs the Springer, Millie, had died. Millie was one of
Paul’s specially trained ‘sniffer dogs’, used by HM Customs
to search for drugs.
Paul wrote, ‘Just to confirm with you, Millie died at 07.30hrs
on Monday 11th April, at the age of 11.3 yrs, after being diagnosed
with stomach cancer.
She had spent all her working life first in UK, then here in St.
Helena with police and customs as a narcotics search dog.
Her last job was helping Jessica O’Bey pass her assessment
as a qualified customs narcotics search handler.
Millie was with me from a 3 month old pup, and proved to be
an outstanding all round dog, she will be sorely missed. I
would like to thank the Veterinary Section of ANRD, especially
Kerry and Ken; also Mike Durnford and his crew at the
Environmental Management Division.
The St Helena Independent Volume XI, Issue 20, Friday 15 th April 2016 3

Tel: [+290] 22327
Email: independent@helanta.co.sh
http: www.saint.fm
The team from Air Safety Support International
[ASSI] leave today. The public
announcement on whether the airport is
fit for purpose will be made sometime
after they get back to the UK. It’s very
likely those on the Island who have been
working closely with ASSI since last
Monday will have a very good idea
whether or not the airport has now got
its long awaited accreditation but for the
rest of us it is a question of waiting until
they want to tells us. Comair are to run
their first implementation flight on Monday
18 th April and then it’s a month’s
wait for the jamboree starting with Prince
Edward arriving on the 20 th May, St
Helena Day, Airport opening on 21 st May,
Comair’s first flight and Atlantic Star’s
first flight arriving on 23 rd May. It will all
suddenly get just a bit busy.
Over the past week there has been a
different attitude developing about the
airport and airline flights. All sorts of
plans have been made by all sorts of
people, all of them focussed on the last
twelve days in May. Once ASSI give
the word the plans will immediately turning
into bookings and firm commitments
and people of all sorts will descend upon
us – literally.
Apart from that, news from official
sources this week grinds on about the
usual things; exco report, constituency
meetings, safeguarding and a police report.
Out of all the usual stuff the exco
report rises head and shoulders above
the rest because for the first time for a
very long time it was actually interesting.
This is also a little surprising as all
the discussion at this week’s exco was
behind closed doors. Information in the
reports on closed agenda items is often
very brief and uninformative.
Press releases from official sources are
always welcome but it is a very rare
event when one of them can be described
as a ‘good read’. Comair have
started issuing press releases; unfortunately
they are boring enough at the
moment to send you to sleep. Simple
reason is they have little to tell us.
Comair was announced as the preferred
bidder for the St Helena air service exactly
thirteen months ago. The timings
for the flights between Johannesburg and
St Helena have been repeated often but
the fares where announced for the first
time just this week. Again, we are waiting
for ASSI to tell us everything is fine
and then I expect Comair to press the
button and the race will be on to fill the
seats on their St Helena service. It will
be interesting to watch how they react
to a ‘Yes’ vote from ASSI.
Inside this edition of the Independent you
will find we have searched far and wide
for the news, as always. We do this of
course to provide you with a good read
for the weekend. Let’s hope we are right.
Vince
Your
Opinion
Counts
Dear Sir,
It’s a great shame that Julian Cairns-
Wicks is no longer with us to react to
the Comair announcement on airfares
to the mainland. The indicated cost
range [580-680 Pounds return] is entirely
consistent with forecasts received
since 2002 from aviation economists,
Shelco, Atkins, Kelly & Robinson and
countless other pro-tourism consultants
who compared the speed and efficiency
of air travel with the obsolete and financially
crushing alternative of operating
a subsidised passenger ship doing
around 15 knots, with 60 salaried crew
to be paid for. Despite this, in the
knockabout melee of misinformation
that was the anti-airport campaign, dear
old Julian stuck resolutely to his oftenpublished
contention that Saints would
be effectively marooned here, unable to
afford the air ticket prices to the rest of
the world, which he claimed would be
4000-5000 pounds each.
Yours sincerely
Jamestown reader
ST HELENA MAGISTRATES’
COURT
12th April 2016
HEATHER GEORGE (52) of Levelwood
pleaded guilty to using or threatening
unlawful violence and was found guilty
after trial of assault. Ms George, a first
offender, was fined £280.00 with costs
of £50.00.
FINANCIAL SECRETARY
COLIN OWEN TO LEAVE
ST HELENA IN JULY
Colin Owen, St Helena’s Financial Secretary,
is to leave St Helena with his family
on Sunday 10 July 2016. Subject to
terms and conditions being agreed he
will take up the position of Financial
Secretary for the Government of
Montserrat.
Further information will follow nearer the
time of his departure.
SHG
8 April 2016
Here’s A Joke
No dictionary has ever been able to
satisfactorily define the difference
between “complete” and “finished.”
However, during a recent linguistic conference,
held in London , England ,
and attended by some of the best linguists
in the world, Samsundar
Balgobin, a Guyanese linguist, was the
presenter when he was asked to make
that very distinction.
The question put to him by a colleague
in the erudite audience was this:
“Some say there is no difference between
‘complete’ and ‘finished.’
Please explain the difference in a way
that is easy to understand.”
Mr. Balgobin’s response:
“When you marry the right woman, you
are ‘complete.’ If you marry the
wrong woman, you are ‘finished.’ And,
if the right one catches you with the
wrong one, you are ‘completely finished.’
When the right one is finally done with
your sorry ass, you are “finished
completely”.
Contributed
The St Helena Independent Volume XI, Issue 20, Friday 15 th April 2016 4

A Funny Thing
Happened ….
Vince Thompson
Consulate Get Go-Ahead for Another Improvement
Last week the Consulate Hotel was given development permission
for a range of improvements at the back of the hotel.
Some months ago a separate application was permitted for a
facelift at the front of the Consulate, adding another balcony
and generally improving the appearance of the hotel and Main
Street itself.
Fastjest is a new airline, only four years old but is already
operating in several African countries. Surprising for me is
that O.R.Tambo International Airport is Africa’s best airport in
this year’s awards. In fact, O.R.Tambo has won this ward
every year since 2007. Before that Cape Town International
Airport was regularly voted Africa’s best.
Africa’s Leading Conservation Company and Africa’s Responsible
Tourism Award both went to a Johannesburg based tourism
company called ‘andBeyond’. Only a quick look is needed
at what that company offers to see they serve only the luxury
end of the tourism market and only those with big wallets
need look any further.
andBeyond, together with other travel companies like them
have an emphasis on conservation and responsible tourism.
They havebecome very popular in recent years and St Helena
is well positioned to win some of this tourism market once
we have a few things such as tourism accommodation sorted
out.
Computer graphic indicating changes to the courtyard area
and the old ballroom
The plans recently approved include a large and useful space
currently used for storage being converted into a guest lounge
with a balcony overlooking the tiered gardens at the rear. Large
areas will be re-roofed with photo-voltaic solar panels added
to augment the power supply. Certain drainage systems will
be improved at the same time. The dining room will be used
for lunches and dinners only, breakfast will be served in a
newly created room where the old ballroom was. Additional
kitchen and catering facilities are to be added to improve the
overall service offered to hotel guests. The alterations and
improvements will not affect the existing lounges and coffee
shop.
World Travel Awards 2016
As St Helena comes ever closer to joining the rest of the
travel and tourism world it’s not a bad idea to check now and
then what the rest of the world travel and tourism world is
doing. I mentioned a few weeks back that Oberoi Hotels,
part of the Shelco consortium, had won the World Travel Award
every year since 2012 as the world’s leading hotel brand.
The awards for this year are just starting to be announced; as
well as getting an award as the world’s best, there are also
awards for being the best in Europe or the Caribbean, Central
America and so on. The awards for the best in Africa have
just been announced and some of them make interesting
reading.
Mantis Collection, who is involved in the hotel on Main Street
won the Africa’s Leading Boutique Hotel Brand award.
Comair’s low cost airline, Kulula, won the award for being
Africa’s best in 2014 but this year they were beaten by fastjet.
Another set of awards are organised by the World Travel and
Tourism Council [WTTC] whose members are the chief executives
of some of the large travel and tourism companies.
They too have just announced their travel and tourism awards
for 2016; it must be this time of year when they all do it. With
the WTTC there are just five awards, two of them are the
Environment Award and the Community Award. A third one is
the People Award and another is the Innovation Award. Travel
and tourism is becoming very aware it must show a responsible
face and show that attempts are being made to protect
the environment instead of just developing hotels and leisure
facilities all over it. Tourism companies are also expected to
add value to the communities they affect when plans for further
development rise from the ground. There are a growing
number of travel companies and organisation who take these
responsibilities seriously.
The winner of the 2016 Environment Award is the Botswana
Rhino Conservation Project by Wilderness Safaris, Botswana.
In 1992 a survey counted just 19 white rhinos with black rhinos
classified as locally extinct. The Botswana government
decided to take action by mobilising both their military and
their environmentalists to combat illegal hunting and create
protected rhino areas.
A travel company called Wilderness Safaris teamed up with
the Botswana government and they worked together on a
pan to increase the rhino population. Despite the continued
activities of illegal hunters the white rhino population is starting
to increase. Wilderness Safaris had financed much of
the conservation this project
Continued on
NEXT PAGE
The St Helena Independent Volume XI, Issue 20, Friday 15 th April 2016 5

A Funny Thing
Happened ….
Vince Thompson
The black rhino had been hunted to extinction so rhinos of the
right subspecies had to be imported to start a repopulation
programme. It started with two bulls and two cows in 2003and
very slowly numbers began to increase. By last year the
organised mass migration of black rhino from South Africa
and Zimbabwe to Botswana was completed. Botswana now
has a black rhino population and attention has turned to combating
illegal hunters and monitoring the rhinos to make sure
they are in a sustainable environment and reproduce in sufficient
numbers.
The WTTC Community Award went to a community organisation
in Mexico which has promoted hiking and biking trails for
tourists within their area. The community claims they live in
‘a stunning natural area, considered by the World Wildlife Fund
as a unique destination in the world for its biological richness’.
So far 100km of trails have been marked out and they
say that ‘Since then we have continued working,
professionalising our services and creating travel experiences
with everyone that visits us, without forgetting our culture preservation
and our natural resources, which are the ones that
give life to the project.’
This is all good ecotourism stuff and whether it’s the environment
or the community it seems the big boys with the big
bucks are either taking a back seat or not much involved in
any way. As is often the way. I tried making comparisons
with the Mexican community project and us here in St Helena.
As with the Mexican community, Sierra Norte, St Helena is
described by the World Wildlife Fund as a remote island of
global importance for its unique biodiversity. As with the Mexicans
we can claim St Helena is ‘a stunning natural area’ and
very probably more so. So the usual question is unavoidable;
if they can do it, why can’t we do it. Walking and hiking are
not the biggest money-spinners in the world but every tourist
needs a bed and needs to eat. Walking and hiking are already
promoted as part of the range of reasons why people
should come to St Helena, we have Post Box Walks and
many other walking routes in addition to them. Winning awards
is very valuable free publicity and those of us who work in
travel and tourism should think how we can get nominated for
some of these awards because there is a better than evens
chance St Helena can win one or two of them.
Simon the Gallant Cat
Last week I wrote a piece about the Dickin Medal which is an
award for bravery shown by animals. Most awards have been
to dogs used to sniff out explosives during war and to WW2
messenger pigeons. One cat has been awarded the Dickin
Medal and I said that is another story. This is that story.
The Royal Navy, in their dubious wisdom, have not allowed
cats on their ships since 1975 on hygiene grounds. For the
last 40 years rats and mice have roamed Her Majesty’s Ships
without fear or foreboding that a hungry cat is just around the
corner and ready to snap up another kill. Back in the 1940s
most things were more straightforward and more things could
be explained very simply; I mention this because today nothing
seems straightforward and even the most detailed explanations
can still leave people completely mystified when some
new plan or project is launched. Anyway, in 1948 Simon the
Cat was smuggled aboard HMS Amethyst to become the
ship rat-catcher. As it happened the captain was a cat lover
and did not mind Simon doing what he liked doing most –
catching rats. The captain knew how hard Simon worked
because many of the cat’s trophies were presented to him.
Simon had plenty of carers
Not long after joining the Royal Navy Simon found himself in
the thick of battle. HMS Amethyst was getting the worst of it
as it sailed up the Yangtse River as the Chinese Communists
fired their heavy artillery from the riverbank. Simon was
asleep on the Captain’s bed when a shell blew a fifteen foot
hole in a nearby bulkhead. Simon caught shrapnel in his
back and legs, was badly burned and thrown to the deck
where he crawled away to lick his wounds or pass out. Hunger
and thirst persuaded Simon to leave his hiding place when
the artillery fire relented. He was eventually found and fed
and watered. The Medical Officer cleaned him and stitched
him up but Simon was not expected to survive.
Simon did recover slowly and returned to his feline duties
despite still looking the worse for wear. In fact Simon’s help
was needed more than ever; the ship’s stores were running
low, rats were eating and contaminating precious food supplies
as well as invading living quarters. Simon had a big job
to do despite his injuries. Simon regularly caught rates everyday
and raised the morale of the crew as the HMS Amethyst
lay marooned on the bank of the Yangtse River with
the communist forces refusing to let the ship move. Eventually
Simon the Cat came face to face with a particularly large,
bold and vicious rat which was well known to the crew who
had named it Mao Tse Tung. As Simon was still weak from
the shell blast the crew had not wanted the cat to come face
to face with the infamous rat – but he did. Simon sprang first
and killed the rat outright. After two months laid up on the
bank of the Yangtse the captain decided the only option was
to make a dash for freedom through enemy fire. The dash
was successful and HMS Amethyst survived enemy fire and
made open sea. Shortly afterwards the ordeal the ships’
company had endured was recognised with presentations and
the crew awarded Able Seacat Simon the Amethyst campaign
ribbon. As news spread of the Yangtse Incident the
crew were hailed as heroes and the part played by Simon the
The St Helena Independent Volume XI, Issue 20, Friday 15 th April 2016 6

IN MEMORY OF”SIMON”SERVED
IN H.M.S. AMETHYST
MAY 1948 — SEPTEMBER 1949
AWARDED DICKIN MEDAL
AUGUST 1949
DIED 28TH NOVEMBER
1949.THROUGHOUT THE
YANGTZE INCIDENT HIS BEHAV-
IOUR WAS OF THE HIGHEST
ORDER
Just Typical
A Funny Thing
Happened ….
Vince Thompson
Cat was among the many stories told. Able Seacat Simon
was recommended by the Armed Forces Mascot Club for the
Dickin Medal, the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross.
The suggestion gained widespread support and it was decided
Simon should be presented with the medal on 10 th August
1949; the first and so far only cat to be awarded the
Dickin Medal. The medal presentation was never made to
Simon personally. HMS Amethyst sailed for Plymouth, arriving
in the middle of winter. Simon suffered a high temperature
and acute enteritis from which he never recovered. Simon
died on 28 November 1949 and the Dickin Medal presentation
had been set for 11 th December. The view was that Simon
would have survived the illness if his heart had not been weakened
by the shelling on the Yangtse River. Simon is buried in
the PDSA animal cemetery near Ilford, Essex and was buried
with naval honours.
This is another story which has nothing to do directly with St
Helena but it is an example of something which is too often
said everywhere by the spenders of public money. A prison
inspectors report about conditions in Wormwood Scrubs HM
Prison describes the prison as rat infested with some inmates
living in fear, too scared to leave their cells due to threats of
violence from other prisoners. The squalor is heavily criticised
and the Prison Reform Trust points out the government
had announced plans to close old and inadequate gaols but
so far only one of them has been confirmed as facing closure.
A UK government representative said in their defence that
£1.3 billion was being ‘invested’ to transform the prison estate.
When will the big spenders learn that it is not how much
that is spent, it is what is done with the money. It is results
that count not the amount of money thrown at a problem.
Look After the Pennies
I know many other people complain about this but I probably
complain more than most. Whenever I use a pay phone the
10p I put in the coin slot drops straight down into the rejected
coin tray. Others have said exactly the same and added, ‘but
it will take a 20p coin’. Why should I or anyone else be forced
to use a 20p coin when a 10p coin is all that is needed?
boxes I had used where this problem occurred. I had already
explained it was a general problem and suggested
that maybe the new shiny 10p coins were a slightly different
weight compared to the older ones which still worked – if
you are lucky enough to have one in your pocket. No mention
was made of the general problem or the reason for it.
I replied to the email giving three pay phones I had recently
tried to use with no success using 10p coins. There are
several others but I don’t go around recording the locations
of all the phone boxes Sure have not got around to fixing. So
far I have had no reply to my second email, no apology for
the widespread malfunction of pay phones, no explanation
for the fault and no indication when Sure will get this irritating
problem fixed. In normal circumstances it can reasonably
be expected that the company responsible will issue a notice
on radio and in newspapers making the public aware of
the problem, apologising for the fault , explaining why it has
occurred, when it will be fixed and offering a facility for a 10p
refund if a 20p coin has to be needlessly used. The lack of
customer service displayed on some occasions is nothing
less than horrifying.
Unfortunately Sure are not alone. I remember the British
Post office used to send postage stamps to the value of the
coins lost in pay phones if you phoned the operator and
reported the fault. I say used to, because these days in the
UK pay phones are left as vandalised wrecks until the hooligans
have demolished them completely.
INVITATION FOR EXPRESSIONS OF
INTEREST FOR A
GROUNDS MAINTENANCE/
HANDYMAN
The Education & Employment Directorate is seeking
expressions of interest from suitably experienced persons
to provide a grounds maintenance service for
Pilling and Harford Primary Schools.
Interested persons must have some experience in
maintaining grounds and gardens, etc and are expected
to have their own equipment to provide the
service.
For further details and a job specification, interested
persons should contact Mrs. Wendy Benjamin, Assistant
Director (Schools), on telephone 22607 or
24719.
Interested persons may submit their proposal for this
work in writing to Mrs. Shirley Wahler, Director at the
Education Learning Centre by no later than 4pm on
Wednesday 25 April 2016.
Mrs. Shirley Wahler
Director of Education & Employment
11 April 2016
This week I finally got around to emailing Sure and asking
them what the problem was and when do they expect to get it
fixed. The reply I received merely asked me which phone
The St Helena Independent Volume XI, Issue 20, Friday 15 th April 2016 7

Comments Page
Welcome to the Straight Talk comments
page, this week we talked about the
farming industry on St Helena, how do
we make it an attractive vocation for
young people, how to incentivise those
who are already farmers and how do we
make it a priority for the island thereby
increasing production, variety, quality
and quantity for local people and visitors
alike
Comments via email:
1. Another interesting topic this
week - always listening while I’m working!!!!
It would be nice to see ESH utilise
their money wisely by investing in
someone who has taken simple farming
to become profitable e.g. Hugh
Fearnley-Whittingstall. Hugh was a
London chef who was tired of the rat
race and decided to make a life in Dorset,
UK and started his well know business/TV
series River cottage. Hugh
wanted to prove that you don’t have to
be rich or be a celebrity to live of the
Fat of the Land and to be more sustainable.
I can imagine that if Hugh was to
visit our Island he would be most devastated
to see that we have such Lush
pastures and surround by the sea and
we don’t make the most of i.e. am making
a few suggestions based on the River
Cottage TV series as to how we could
improve our farming. Sadly at this point
in time I am not practicing what I preach
as I have very little time to do any of the
following suggestions, however, it would
be lovely to see a few of the idea’s starting
by the community in the future. Land
share & Allotments - If there are people
with land suitable for farming and allotments
which they no longer have use
for it, offer the land to those who can
utilize it. This could be one person, one
family or a few families working together.
This could become quality social and
family time and of course making new
friends and enjoying the outcome of
fresh fruit and veg. Children might enjoy
being outdoors this type of environment
instead of playing with the electronic
games and sitting in front of the
TV. Longwood Avenue - An example can
be along Longwood Avenue main road
where plants use to be planted, why not
plant herbs or even carrots and leeks.
It doesn’t matter who plant them but the
community could go along and pick fresh
parsley when needed, pull up a carrot
etc.... However this does mean that all
need to be thoughtful and look after initiatives
like this and don’t abuse or vandalize
the plots. Schools - I am not sure
if the schools doing gardening as part
of the curriculum, but it would be nice for
our young children to do some gardening,
they could sell their produce in the
community and this will educate them
from an early age where fruit and veg
comes from and the importance of fresh
produce and how it could become a viable
business for when they are older.
Sunday Markets - Should people/families
do start growing their own fruit and
veg and is too much for their own use;
they can make their money back to expenses
by going to market. You will be
selling the product yourself cutting out
the middle man therefore the products
will become cheaper to sell. Early Sunday
morning markets on St Helena would
be lovely. Basically Hugh’ idea is: IF YOU
HAVE LAND GROW ON IT!!!!!
2. Solomon’s garden land at Sandy
Bay is loaded with white wood? Why
aren’t they taking care of their land and
being productive?
3. There are some people who have
leased plots in Longwood, they don’t
work the Land, but they won’t hand it
back, because they don’t want anyone
else to have it. They’d rather just pay
the lease.
4. It is important to note that development
of farming should be sustainable.
In the UK farmers are provided with financial
incentives to employ sustainable/
green practices. Furthermore farmers
may also be compensated for improving
the land for wildlife. Some examples include
planting of hedgerows for habitat
creation, provision of biological corridors
for migration and crop rotation. All these
things encourage protection of the environment
to the benefit of farmers.
5. If only every household could grow
something just for themselves, you only
need a few tyres, and some good soil.
Grow a few cabbage and some carrots,
just veg you use every day. Also having
4 chickens and just throw in all your
house scraps, will give a household
enough eggs.
6. Why don’t the people who own
land lease it to the younger people for a
fee? They would be making something
and from their land and those who want
to farm can then do so.
Via telephone:
1. The only way to encourage young
farmers is to do something about the
price of water, 50 years ago we never
paid for water, we used tap water, vegetable
prices increase because we need
to pay for the water
2. Currently there about 20 plots
used for sheep farming that is why farming
is so hard because no land is available
3. I would like to see more production
of eggs and people should go into
that production
4. A lot of young people in the
Longwood area are looking for land but
was told that no land is available yet
land was handed over to one man in that
area
5. Years ago a person living in Napoleon’s
street kept chickens, goats and
a cow in the back yard! The food came
from killing the goat and cow, they used
to be watered and fed at 5am in the
morning!
6. Saints have come from nothing
– not used to machinery- let them uses
what are used to, they get on better
7. Back in the day people in town
used to keep chickens in their backyard
and feed them from leftovers (the food
that causes maggots in bins!) We
should re-look at the policy that abolished
animal keeping in town up to New
Bridge
8. I think we need an increase in
honey production, it’s not only good for
cooking but very good for one’s health
9. Farming was once subsidised on
the island, is it still?
10. People don’t want to get into
farming because it’s hazard and you
have to deal with all the chemicals, the
crops can end up getting bitten, people
get fed up and just go on to doing other
stuff
11. When we were young we picked
fruit of trees, young people today have
so much ‘style’ they don’t want to pick
the fruit they’d rather wait for the ship!
12. No one is interested in farming
that’s why there’s no local potatoes and
they cost more than imported ones,
sadly kids aren’t interested in farming
Straight Talk aims to deal with the heart
of the matter if it matters to the community
then it matters to us. Join
Tammy Williams, Andrew Turner and Liz
Johnson-Idan every Wednesday on
Straight Talk at 9.30am on 93.1, 95.1
and 106.7
The St Helena Independent Volume XI, Issue 20, Friday 15 th April 2016 8

Who deserves some credit?
A Special INDEPENDENT Report on the Airport Originators
Throughout all the build-up to Airport Opening Day, nothing
has been heard from DFID or the SHG Press Office as to the
identity of their invited VIP contingent, aside from HRH Prince
Edward, whose contribution to the St Helena Airport will be
briefly made on 21 st May when the ribbon is cut. The recurring
problem of a lack of continuity in the ranks of SHG officials
almost certainly means that the present incumbents in control
at the Castle and at DFID will have no idea as to who
really deserves credit for the reality of the Airport being implemented
as a political decision. These people in some cases
ignited the torch for St Helena aviation more than 25 years
ago, and others kept it burning with no little difficulty during
the many years of delay and obstruction initiated by the UK
Labour Government and endorsed by failed Prime Minister
Gordon Brown in particular. Now that the project is complete
and a physical reality, it is right that those who fought, canvassed
and argued for it in the political arena –against overwhelming
odds- should be remembered and honoured with a
seat on the VIP plane and on the Opening Ceremony dais, no
less than the principals of Basil Read and the Saints who
filled Dry Gut. Without the efforts of these political airport
supporters, those responsible for the excellent job of practical
implementation would never have been enabled to turn
the first shovelful of earth.
Nominations for this VIP category are as follows:
Adrian Green – SHG Government Economist 2003-6. Strong
advocate of air access who supported Governor Michael
Clancy throughout the Atkins Report perod (2004/5) leading
to the 2005 DFID ‘commitment’ to go ahead with the scheme
on a tendered basis
Mark Lancaster MP - Visited the island in 2009 –during ‘the
Pause’ as a special envoy of the Shadow DFID Minister. His
positive report-back in favour of immediate airport implementation
was accepted by the Shadow Minister Andrew Mitchell
and the project was prioritised for action straight after the
2010 UK election which Labour duly lost.
Andrew Mitchell MP – Secretary of State for DFID in the 2010
Coalition administration. He rescued St Helena’s airport plans
from storage, recalled Nigel Kirby from other duties and –
against the advice of skeptical DFID civil servants- insisted
that the air access programme should go ahead and the necessary
funding be found.
Lord (William) Hague – Foreign & Commonwealth Secretary
in the 2010 Coalition administration. Strongly supported
Andrew Mitchell’s position on air access in the British Cabinet,
and made the St Helena Airport the centrepiece of a new
policy document on reviving the role of the UK Overseas Territories.
John Siraut - SHG Government Economist 1998-2001 and
aviation advocate, responsible for procuring DFID’s first airport
‘desk study’ by Alexander Gibb & Partners following the
catastrophic breakdown of the RMS in 1999.
David Parsons – co-founder [with Joe Terry] of Shelco in 1999.
In 2000, Parsons and a Shelco technical team approached
SHG with the first viable Airport scheme following an extensive
survey funded by the private sector and support from
Lord Iveagh
Tom Crowards – SHG Government Economist 2001-3, responsible
for organising the SHG referendum in February 2002,
and for leading SHG’s own ‘Yes’ campaign which was successful
with a 71% approval
Sir Nigel Thompson – Deputy Chairman of Arup Engineers
and Chairman of Shelco from 2002. Led the airport campaign
among sympathetic UK politicians which took the issue to a
higher level of prominence. Organised a further technical airport
feasibility survey by a 16-man Shelco/Arup engineering
team in 2002 at a cost of half a million pounds
Lord (Nigel) Jones – Visited St Helena in a CPA delegation
and became a strong Parliamentary advocate of air access
with numerous spoken contributions over the past 16 years.
Sir Bob Russell – Former MP who toured the island in 1999
and thereafter became the principal spokesman and contributor
on St Helena issues in the House of Commons. Argued tirelessly
with various DFID Ministers in favour of air access for
12 years until it was granted.
Governor Andrew Gurr – Fought a politically difficult campaign
against the ‘Pause’ and the negative attitude of the UK Labour
Government who in 2009 recommended a further delay
of 5 years before any decision should be taken on RMS replacement.
This option was overwhelmingly rejected by the
public in a canvassed ‘referendum’ with only 1% support.
Contributed
The Queen Mary Store
has a vacancy for an Office assistant,
this new post will include varied office
duties & the use of the new on line customs
entry system Asycuda. Competence
in the use of computers is an advantage.
Starting Weekly pay based on £572.00
per month (£6,864.00 per annum)
Letters of interest should be sent to The
Queen Mary Store addressed ‘Job application’
The St Helena Independent Volume XI, Issue 20, Friday 15 th April 2016 9

More things to make
you go hmmn…
Having television is a fairly new experience
for me, I like to catch up with the international
news and there are some films and programmes
I really enjoy but -you knew there
was a but coming – why so many channels
with almost the same things?
I only get a chance to watch in the evenings so can’t
say what is on during the day but how many gold/diamond
prospector series do we need. The same with car
programmes and is it really necessary to have 7 sports channels?
To add to my frustration there are endless adverts for
things I would like to see on channels we can’t get showing
drama series or BBC Earth. Is it impossible to swap a couple
of sports channels for one of these and maybe a music one
as well. I wouldn’t want to stereotype anyone but there does
seem to be a lot of channels showing the sort of things men
want to see and only a few more general family viewing. The
children’s channels are aimed at older children, something
for pre-school and young children would be good.
And then there are the endless repeats, I do not want to see
Riddick or Gone Girl again, showing 2 series of Strictly at the
same time is just confusing and repeating a series almost as
soon as it finishes is annoying. Each week I collect a copy of
the programme guide and search hopefully for something to
look forward to but by the time I get to the listings for Monday
I have usually given up hope. Even if I might like it the lack of
any information beyond the title doesn’t help.
So if you are reading this at Sure SA can you please review
the package for St Helena and think about the viewers here a
little more so we can all find something we would like to see
and not just the sports fans and petrolheads.
With so much gong on it is a lot to take in and communication
is so important to keep everyone involved. The
odd press release or advert is not enough to keep the
people informed, we need more and we need answers
and I am not just talking about the airport here.
The implementation of recommendations
following the Wass Report has been going
on for some time now with no visible
change or communication only the leaving
of a number of senior officials who may
or may not have been held responsible. I
hope not of course but at the same time
I would hate to see anyone be able to
walk away leaving the workers to take
the flack or have no-one being accountable.
This sort of thing has happened too many times
before all over the world for us to trust that it couldn’t happen
here and sweeping everything under the carpet is what got us
into this problem in the first place.
A quote from John F Kennedy to the people of America way
back in the 1960’s seems to sum up my thinking here. If the
policy and decision makers on St Helena are too afraid to
trust the people to make good choices for the island future
then surely that is a failing on their behalf not ours and they
need to step up and explain in terms we understand why we
should trust them.
“We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant
facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies, and competitive
values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people
judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation
that is afraid of its people.”
[Remarks on the 20th Anniversary of the Voice of America;
Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, February 26,
1962]”
¯ John F. Kennedy
The airport is a step closer following the arrival of the jet last
weekend. It sort of sneaked up on us through the clouds and
then the weather decided to show the ASSI team all the difficulties
flying in to St Helena could offer so at least we now
know they are aware of the wind and fog that is likely to
happen. Over the next few days we will hear their decision
and fingers crossed it will be favourable and if not we will have
that plan B we talked about in place pretty quick.
The news from Comair on fares and timetables is reassuring
and so now we know how much and when we can travel or
expect visitors. All good to know. We now need to see what
sea freight charges will be in a way we can understand. How
will animals be transported in the future, not just pets but
farm animals to ensure the gene pool is viable. And why is it
so quiet on the Ascension links? Nothing from Comair on
that part of the flight yet and no idea on the cost of sea passages
either. As always we are given a bit of information and
are left with so much unanswered. Please can the powers
stop treating us all like small children and tell us what is
going on. We are old enough to make decisions and understand
things don’t always pan out the way we hope.
The St Helena Independent Volume XI, Issue 20, Friday 15 th April 2016 10

EXCO REPORT - TUESDAY 12 APRIL 2016
All items today were considered under the Closed Agenda.
The first item was a report from Rob Bryson, the Head of
Housing and Property, on the Comprehensive Development
Area (CDA) at Bottom Woods. Members were conscious of
the considerable public interest in the Bottom woods CDA
and indeed in the issue of land and housing generally. Members
welcomed the progress report, which included details of
the forthcoming invitation to tender to complete design and
enabling work - which it was anticipated could be completed
on-Island. Funding for part of the works has been identified
and the matter is currently with Procurement.
Expressions of Interest are also being prepared for the construction
of new Government Landlord homes (GLH) on the
Bottom Woods CDA. Councillors were keen to ensure that
these projects were managed together to ensure there is a
consistent approach to development and the provision of land,
plus affordable and social housing. In addition, a further site
has been identified in Half Tree Hollow that may be suitable
for the construction of two or more GLH apartment buildings,
Expressions of Interest are also being prepared for this, on a
design and build basis.
Members then considered a paper on aviation fuel. It was
agreed that the selling price for aviation fuel should be set at
£1 per litre and that there should be a fuel surcharge applied
to air ticket prices. It was noted that the cost of providing fuel
would reduce over time once there were regular and increased
flight operations to and from the Airport. It was also noted
that work is being undertaken to encourage airlines to use
the Airport for technical stops.
The mid-level return ticket price indicated by Comair between
St Helena and Johannesburg - based on the proposed aviation
fuel price and including taxes - will be around £680. This,
it was noted, is considerably cheaper than the current cheapest
RMS return fare to Cape Town. Cheaper return air fares
from Comair will also be available, with prices ranging from
about £580. A press release from Comair will follow later today.
Members were keen to keep this matter under review and to
encourage any actions which would reduce the cost of fuel
for air services. It was recommended that there should be a
review before the end of 2016 to ensure that there was no
impact on fuel prices on the Island generally.
ExCo then considered the outstanding matter of the planning
application for Broad Bottom, which was a Closed Agenda
item because there was a ‘matter arising’ from the previous
meeting. It was noted that this application had been thoroughly
interrogated and all objections taken into account.
Following discussions with the Chief Planning Officer and the
Attorney General, ExCo was pleased to be able to report that
full Development Permission is now granted, subject to a
number of strict conditions. It was hoped that this development
could now move quickly to commencement of construction
and early completion to support the development of the
Island’s economy.
Under ‘Any Other Business’ the Acting Governor advised ExCo
that the Bank Holiday in Lieu of St Helena Day would
now fall on Friday 20 May 2016. This would enable the
St Helena Day celebrations to take place on that Friday
and for the Airport opening ceremony to take place on
Saturday 21 May. Further information about the opening
ceremony will be issued shortly.
The Acting Governor also advised Members that arrangements
for the Royal visit were well in hand - as were arrangements
for the arrival of the new Governor (arriving on 26 April) - with
further details to be provided as soon as possible.
The Acting Governor welcomed the ASSI team to St Helena
and all Members wished them well in the hope and expectation
of a successful outcome.
ExCo
12 April 2016
HEALTH & SAFEGUARDING DIRECTORATE’S MENTAL HEALTH TEAM
The Mental Health Section consisting of members from both
the Health & Safeguarding Directorate is expanding its team,
which in the past has consisted of one Community Psychiatric
Nurse who managed the entire service.
Now on-Island, there are three experienced Community Psychiatric
Nurses - a Child & Adolescent Mental Health Specialist
and a Mental Health Social Worker, plus a Visiting Psychiatrist
who provides the team with clinical consultation.
Natalie Waghorn, Mental Health Team Lead, said:
“We work with people with a range of mental health problems
- from supporting people with their emotional well-being, depression,
bi-polar disorder, anxiety - to those who experience
psychoses, hearing voices, or substance misuse.
“We will all know someone who is or has experienced problems
over the course of their life with their mental health or
emotional well-being. We’re here to support those people
through some of these difficulties. But we are very much an
‘opt-in’ service unless the risk to self or others is very high - in
which case we work closely with community services and the
Hospital.
“The Mental Health Team has also been part of the sexual
health awareness initiative
on St Helena - looking
at emotional wellbeing
in the context of
relationships.”
A wide range of services
are offered on-Island,
ranging from alcohol
detox, talking therapy, ADHD clinics, depot injections, input
to schools and provision for prisoners to have better access
to mental and physical healthcare.
The Mental Health Team will also soon be rolling out specialist
training in mental health awareness and will be implementing
the Mental Health & Capacity Ordinance later this year for
allied healthcare professionals.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and the team are
working on health promotion to highlight awareness across
the Island - from speaking to schools to the Community Care
Complex residents, plus hosting a stall at the Canister.
If you want to find out more about the Mental Health Team,
please contact St John’s Villa on tel: 22593.
SHG
8 April 2016
The St Helena Independent Volume XI, Issue 20, Friday 15 th April 2016 11

BRITISH AIRWAYS (OPERATED BY COMAIR)
READY TO SERVE THE SAINTS
St Helena residents are by now well aware that the new St
Helena Airport will open soon and that, for the first time, the
Island will be linked to the rest of the world by air - but may be
less familiar with the airline which will serve the route. That’s
about to change.
The first airline to fly scheduled flights to St Helena will be
British Airways (operated by Comair). The Airline’s CEO, Erik
Venter, says: “We’re proud to have been selected to provide
an airline service to the St Helena. This is an important addition
to our existing routes in South Africa, sub-Saharan Africa
and the Indian Ocean islands.”
Venter adds that the flight will depart Johannesburg’s O.R.
Tambo International Airport (JNB) at 08.30 (GMT+2) each Saturday
and land on St Helena (HLE) at 11.30 (GMT). The same
aircraft will depart the Island later the same day, at 12.30 (GMT)
and is scheduled to land back in Johannesburg at 18.30
(GMT+2). Owing to the flight schedule, Saints will be able to
connect seamlessly with London Heathrow via British Airways’
twice-daily flight from Johannesburg, as well as on to numerous
other worldwide destinations.
When travelling with British Airways (operated by Comair),
Saints will have a choice between two cabins, Club (business
class) and Traveller (economy class). Club (business class)
offers the highest standards of comfort and excellence that
customers have come to expect from British Airways. This
includes access to the Special Services Team at O.R. Tambo
International Airport (JNB), great meals and a selection of awardwinning
wines - enjoyed in the comfort of a separate cabin with
extra legroom. Saints travelling in Traveller (economy class)
can sit back and relax whilst being served complimentary refreshments,
by the professional friendly crew.
A return flight between St Helena and O.R. Tambo International
Airport will start from £583, all inclusive, in Traveller
(economy class) and from £943, all inclusive, when travelling
in Club (business class).
Venter adds: “We’re delighted to partner with the British and St
Helena Governments, Enterprise St Helena and the St Helena
Airport. Following a rigorous selection process, we’re eager to
start serving the new route as soon as all regulatory and compliance
requirements have been met.”
Comair was established in South Africa in 1946 and this year
celebrates 70 years of operation. It is considered to be the
only airline to have achieved operating profits every year since
inception. This year also marks the 20th anniversary of Comair’s
British Airways franchise partnership.
The British Airways brand brings with it a rich heritage of stylish
travel, a reputation for service excellence and the Executive
Club, a globally-recognised frequent flyer programme.
As franchise partner of British Airways and a member of the
oneworld alliance, Comair offers convenient connections to
the international route network and serves local customers with
the same high standards.
Currently, British Airways (operated by Comair) operates over
400 flights per week within southern Africa. Destinations include
Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth,
Harare, Livingstone, Victoria Falls, Windhoek and Mauritius.
In February 2016, the airline took delivery of a new Boeing
737-800 as part of the airline’s ongoing fleet upgrade, enabling
it to operate South Africa’s most modern and efficient fleet.
Comair is investing R3.5 billion to replace its current fleet of
737-300 and 737-400 aircraft. The fifth and newest acquisition
in this programme, designated ZS-ZWG, is a Boeing 737-800
New Generation, which has been fitted with split-scimitar
winglets. These are curved, vertical wingtip extensions that
reduce drag and provide lift, cutting fuel consumption and lowering
the aircraft’s carbon footprint.
The aircraft is also the most advanced in the Comair fleet,
with ETOPS (Extended-range Twin-engine Operational Performance
Standards), to extend its operating range.
Venter concludes: “The acquisition of this aircraft is a strong
indicator of our confidence in the region’s leisure and business
travel, and that’s borne out by IATA (the International
Air Travel Association). Its recent statistics show that in November
2015, African airlines enjoyed their fifth consecutive
month of growth.”
Mobile Banking April 2016
Bank of St Helena would like to advise the public that
Mobile Banking will take place as of Thursday,
21 April 2016 in the following areas:
ANRD, Scotland – Thursday, 21 April,
09.30– 12:30pm
H.T.H Supermarket - Monday, 25 April,
09.30 - 13:00pm
Longwood Supermarket - Friday, 29 April,
09.30 - 14:30pm
Save yourself the trip into Jamestown, have all your bills paid, make a
withdrawal or a deposit, request the balance of your account, set up
your standing order or submit your remittance requests.
Statement Prints are also available
All of this and much more from your nearest
H e a d O f f i c e : M a r k e t S t r e e t · J a m e s t o w n · S t . H e l e n a · S o u t h A t l a n t i c · S T H L 1 Z Z
Tel: +290 22390 · Fax: +290 22553 · e-mail: info@sainthelenabank.com · web: www.sainthelenabank.com
Established and regulated in St. Helena under the Financial Services Ordinance, 2008 the Company Ordinance, 2004 and the Company Regulations, 2004
The St Helena Independent Volume XI, Issue 20, Friday 15 th April 2016 12

OFFICIAL OPENING OF ST HELENA AIRPORT
Save the Date - SATURDAY 21 MAY 2016
The historic opening of St Helena Airport is planned for the
morning of Saturday 21 May 2016, starting at around 10.30am
- St Helena’s National Day. It will be marked by a public
ceremony at the Airport, with Royal guest HRH The Prince
Edward, Earl of Wessex, in attendance.
All members of the public are invited to attend this special
event and special transport arrangements will be in place (further
details to follow).
Under ‘Any Other Business’ in ExCo today, the Acting Governor
advised that the Bank Holiday in Lieu of St Helena’s
Day would now fall on Friday 20 May 2016. This would
enable the St Helena Day celebrations to take place on
that Friday and for the Airport opening ceremony to take
place on the Saturday, 21 May.
Organised by SHG, ESH, New Horizons & Basil Read - and
subject, of course, to prior certification of St Helena Airport -
the official opening ceremony at the Airport will last for about
an hour and a half. Key elements will include:
· The event will take place in the morning in front of the
Airport Terminal main entrance
· Shuttle Buses to and from the Airport will be provided
from designated pick-up and drop-off points, with fur
ther details to follow
· Private vehicles will be allowed limited access to
certain parking areas to meet shuttle buses
· The ceremony will include a Blessing, attendance by
the Governor, St Helenians and HRH The Prince Edward,
Earl of Wessex. There will be short speeches - as well
as music from the Combined Band and a march-past
of the Island’s Uniformed Contingents
Preparations for the Airport Opening ceremony are ongoing
and further details will follow in due course.
HRH The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, will embark on a
Royal programme of visits as soon as he arrives at St Helena
on Friday 20 May 2016. This programme will very much focus
on community engagement and once agreed, details to the
public will follow.
Win VIP Tickets to the Official Airport Opening Ceremony
The Great St Helenian Take-off competition is currently running
on the SHG Facebook page: www.facebook.com/
StHelenaGovt, offering overseas Saints and anyone abroad
with a strong connection to St Helena a chance to win VIP
tickets to the Official Airport Opening Ceremony at the Airport
site on St Helena.
There are five pairs of complimentary tickets to be won, including
return travel to and from St Helena.
Competition details are available on the SHG Facebook page
and mobile phone users can access the same via: http://
woobox.com/qvk2fq/h2p2nu.
Entrants will need to provide their full name and contact details.
Entrants will also be asked to answer four questions -
these answers will not be judged but will help us to further
promote the competition and post interesting content about
how our entrants are connected to St Helena.
Names will be automatically entered into a prize draw and
winners will be randomly selected by a special computer application
and notified that they have won a seat on the official
opening flight, including free connecting flight to and from
London Heathrow and Johannesburg, departing on Thursday
19 May.
All competition entrants must agree to the competition rules,
including winners taking part in any reasonable promotional
events during and after the official opening of St Helena Airport.
The competition will run until 4pm on Saturday 30 April 2016.
A full copy of the terms and conditions can be found on the
SHG Facebook page and can also be downloaded from the
SHG website http://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/publications/
SHG, 12 April 2016
COUNCILLORS’ CONSTITUENCY MEETINGS IN APRIL & MAY
Reminder
Councillors will be holding a series of Constituency Meetings during April and May 2016. Topics for discussion will be
Chairpersons’ Updates and Constituency Issues.
Each meeting will be chaired by a Councillor (see below), with five other Members in attendance.
All meetings will start at 7.30pm. The schedule for the upcoming meetings is as follows:
Date Venue Chairperson
Monday, 18 April Kingshurst Community Centre Councillor Isaac
Wednesday, 20 April Blue Hill Community Centre Councillor Ellick
Monday, 25 April HTH Community Centre Councillor George
Wednesday, 27 April Harford Community Centre Councillor Duncan
Monday, 2 May St Michael’s Church, Rupert’s Councillor Essex
Wednesday, 4 May Sandy Bay Community Centre Councillor Ward Pearce
Monday, 9 May St Mary’s Church, The Briars Councillor Scipio-O’Dean
Tuesday, 17 May Jamestown Community Centre Councillor Thomas
Wednesday, 18 May Silver Hill Bar Councillor Dollery
SHG, 12 April 2016
The St Helena Independent Volume XI, Issue 20, Friday 15 th April 2016 13

PRESS RELEASE
Notification of Interest Rate Changes
EFFECTIVE 1 July 2016
Bank of St Helena Ltd advises its customers that with effect from 1 July 2016, the following
rates of interest will apply:
• Current Accounts 0.1%
• Savings/Deposit Accounts 0.6%
• Child Bond Accounts 3.5%
• New Life Accounts 2.5%
Customers will note that for the first time Current Accounts and Savings/Deposit Accounts will
attract different rates of interest. Current Accounts are accounts that allows customers to
undertake their day-to-day banking transactions ie: paying bills, making withdrawals, deposits
and any other banking transactions. Savings/Deposit Accounts are accounts designed to
encourage customers to save, hence rewarding with a higher interest rate.
For further information about the various Bank Accounts, interest rate changes and how this
might affect you please feel free to contact the Bank in person or on telephone (+290) 22390
or email us at info@sainthelenabank.com .
Rosemary J Bargo
Managing Director
Head Office: Market Street · Jamestown · St. Helena · South Atlantic · STHL 1ZZ
Tel: +290 22390 · Fax: +290 22553 · e-mail: info@sainthelenabank.com · web: www.sainthelenabank.com
Established and regulated in St. Helena under the Financial Services Ordinance, 2008, the Company Ordinance, 2004 and the Company Regulations, 2004.
The St Helena Independent Volume XI, Issue 20, Friday 15 th April 2016 14

PRESS RELEASE
St Helena Line to Withdraw RMS St Helena from Service and
Seeks Buyer for Vessel
St Helena Line has announced today (11th April, 2016) that it
is to withdraw the Passenger Cargo Royal Mail Ship St Helena
from service in July 2016 and has appointed London ship broker
CW Kellock & Co Ltd to handle her sale.
Operated by St Helena Line Ltd (SHL) on behalf of the St
Helena Government (SHG), she has been part of the Island’s
history for over quarter of a century and provided the sole
regular means of access to the Island, a remote UK Overseas
Territory located 1200 miles off the West coast of Africa
in the South Atlantic.
The ship was built in the UK in 1990 specifically for the St
Helena route. At 6,767 gross tonnes, she can accommodate
156 passengers in 56 cabins, together with a cargo capacity
of 3750 cbm bale, and 92 teu (of which 17 reefer). She is
staffed by 56 officers and crew.
She is one of only four ships left in the world which has the
right to carry the Royal Mail Ship (RMS) prefix.
She currently operates out of Cape Town calling at both St
Helena and Ascension Island on a regular schedule.
Her withdrawal is set to follow shortly after the opening of the
first Airport on St Helena. Due to officially open on May 21st
2016, the new Airport will handle the bulk of passenger movements
to and from the Island.
The RMS St Helena is now embarked on the final part of her
programme and in the coming weeks will call at Tristan da
Cunha and then make a farewell voyage north to the UK where
she will visit the Port of London and be moored alongside
HMS Belfast off Tower Pier from 7th to 10th June 2016.
SHL has appointed the highly experienced London ship brokers
CW Kellock & Co Ltd (Part of the Eggar Forrester Group),
to handle the sale and it is hoped that a buyer can be found to
continue to operate the vessel elsewhere in the world.
Commenting on the sale process and her withdrawal from
service, SHL’s Chairman, Matt Young said, “The RMS St
Helena has played a vital role in sustaining St Helena’s population
and, for the past 26 years has been the sole means of
regular access to the Island.
“Her combined passenger accommodation and cargo design
makes her well suited to a range of different trading options
and we are confident that she can continue to play an important
operational role elsewhere in the world”.
Further details on RMS St Helena can be found on www.rmsst-helena.com
Prospective purchasers should contact
CW Kellock & Co Ltd: Paul Willcox – Tel +44 207 4481395.
Email: Kellock@eggarforrester.com
The vessel is currently in service and regularly inspectable at
Cape Town, South Africa, where scheduled to call on 12-14th
April and 4-7th May. The vessel will also be visiting London 5-
14th June. The vessel is expected to be ready for delivery to
buyers in Cape Town during July/August 2016.
Further details about the RMS St Helena
- UK flag
- Built 1990 A&P Appledore, UK.
- 3130 dwt on 6.016m draft.
- 105m loa, 19.2m beam.
- Class: Lloyds Register. Special and drydock surveys passed
2015.
- 6,767 gross tonnes.
- Accommodation: 156 passengers in 56 cabins, 56 officers
and crew.
- Dining salon. Lounge. Sun lounge. Swimming pool. Gymnasium.
Stabilisers. Air conditioning.
- Cargo capacity 3750 cbm bale. 92 teu (of which 17 reefer).
- 2 holds, 2 hatches. Cranes 2/30 Derricks 2/10.
- Main engines: 2 x Mirrlees KMR6MK3. 8880BHP.
- Service speed 14knts IFO180- 19MT per day MDO 2MT per
day
VACANCY
SCHOOL SECRETARY
The Education & Employment Directorate has vacancy for a School
Secretary to work at Pilling Primary School.
The successful person will be responsible to the Headteacher of the
School for providing clerical support to teaching staff and assistance in
running the school office.
Applicants must have GCSE in Math’s and English at grade C or above
or equivalent and be proficient in Microsoft applications (word, excel,
outlook and Publisher).
The ideal candidate must be self motivated, highly organised and have
good interpersonal skills.
Salary for the post is at Grade A.3 commencing at £5,771 pa.
For further details and a full job description for this post, interested
persons should contact Miss Elaine Benjamin, Headteacher, Education
& Employment Directorate on telephone number 22540 or email
(Headpps@helanta.co.sh)
Application forms are available from the Education & Employment Directorate
and Corporate Human Resources and should be completed and
submitted with satisfactory references, through Directors where applicable,
to the Human Resources & Administration Manager at the Education
Learning Centre or e-mail hram@education.gov.sh by no later
than 4pm on Friday 22 April 2016.
SHG positively accepts applications from all members of the community
regardless of race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or
belief, and will consider all applications on the basis of merit, in accordance
with the person specification. All disabled applicants meeting the
minimum criteria listed in the job profile will be guaranteed an interview.
Mrs. Shirley Wahler
Director of Education & Employment
8 April 2016
The St Helena Independent Volume XI, Issue 20, Friday 15 th April 2016 15

Press Release
ESH Representatives, John Haran and Adam Kossowski
Two of Enterprise St Helena’s overseas representatives will be arriving here next week if the anticipated Comair
implementation flight goes ahead. During their visit to the island they will
meet with key stake holders and their ESH colleagues and they will have the
opportunity to familiarise themselves with both the island and the main growth
areas resulting from air access.
John Haran is the ESH Business Development Director in the UK. In this role,
John is focused on building relationships with potential investors and
promoting St Helena as a location for tourism and infrastructure projects. John
works closely with the St Helena UK office to increase awareness of business
opportunities that exist on the island.
John Haran
Recently, John was Chief Executive Officer of a local pharmaceutical company,
presiding over a 40% increase in its revenue and its eventual successful sale to a US buyer. He holds an MBA from
the University of Ulster and currently sits on the council of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and
Industry.
John is the owner and co-founder of HMC Global, which is a sales company that
improves client’s sales performance by providing staff to win new business or
management to transform existing teams. HMC Global is headquartered in
Belfast with offices and staff in London, Brussels, Shanghai and New York.
Clients include public and private sector organisations.
Adam Kossowski is the St Helena Island Commercial Advisor. Adam has
represented St Helena as a territory on behalf of SHG and SHDA since 2001.
From there, he took part in key investment and commercial activities, as well as
representative duties at official functions on behalf of SHG to help support
opportunities for the economic development of St Helena. Terms he covered
then included facilitating relationships with key individuals and organisations Adam Kossowski
internationally, creating and reviewing possible strategic links for investment, maintaining media relations about
commercial and other opportunities on the island, retaining diplomatic links, and sourcing commercial
connections with select partners. Adam is now employed by Enterprise St Helena to identify, advise, support,
facilitate and target potential international investment interests and other key role players in achieving the
economic sustainability objectives of the island. In addition to this, he engages and manages relations with senior
connections in international business, trade and Government on
behalf of ESH and SHG.
The Economic Development Group | Head Office | ESH Business Park | Ladder Hill
Tel: +290 22920 | Fax: +290 22166 | Email: info@esh.co.sh
The St Helena Independent Volume XI, Issue 20, Friday 15 th April 2016 16

The Directors of Atlantic Star Airlines are hosting two
informal events for Saints and other interested
persons in the UK as follows:
Date: Saturday, 16th April 2016
Time: 1.30pm - 4pm
Venue: Peter Jones, TOP FLOOR restaurant, 6th Floor,
Kings Road, Sloane Square, London, SW1W 8EL
Atlantic Star Representative: Aiden Walsh
Date: Saturday 23rd April 2016
Time: 1.30pm - 4pm
Venue: Great Western Hotel, 73 Station Road, Swindon,
SN1 1DH
Atlantic Star Representative: Richard Brown
Drop by for a chat on one of the above dates and time and find out
about our Priority Club for the flight leaving the UK on 22nd May,
further flight schedules and much more.
We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible.
www.atlanticstarairlines.com
The St Helena Independent Volume XI, Issue 20, Friday 15 th April 2016 17

The Rose & Crown, Jamestown (T: 22427)
The Hive, Jamestown (T: 22427)
Maisies Hardware, Longwood (T: 24462)
Longwood Supermarket (T: 24679)
E-mail: sales@roseandcrown.sh
Website: www.roseandcrown.sh
We all dread grocery shopping. You can never find a park near
the shop you need and end up logging bags of heavy groceries
up and down the town.
Rose & Crown has got you covered. We’re trialling a FREE
delivery service to help with those bulky items that are just
‘Too Heavy To Carry’.
As a trial, we will be offering this service to our customers
towards the end of each month.
How does this work?
1.You can browse and select products at any of our outlets and we’ll bag them and deliver
them on the specified day for your district or
2.You send us your shopping list and we’ll do the rest.
What districts do we deliver to for FREE?
For April, we will deliver to the following districts on these days:
APRIL 2016 DELIVERY DATE DISTRICT
TUESDAY 19 APRIL JAMESTOWN & BRIARS
WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL
HTH & ST PAULS
THURSDAY 21 APRIL ALARM FOREST & LONGWOOD
Orders must be placed by noon the day before your delivery.
What products are available for delivery?
Total purchases with a minimum value of £50 are eligible for free
delivery. This can include anything from your grocery list. Though,
we are unable to include chilled or frozen goods at this time.
How can you sign up?
Call us on 22427 or email sales@roseandcrown.sh and we’ll set
up an account for you. Terms and Conditions apply.
Rose & Crown Limited—always with you in mind
The St Helena Independent Volume XI, Issue 20, Friday 15 th April 2016 18

Contact Support Centre Operator
Sure is looking to recruit a dynamic and proacve candidate to join our Retail, Markeng and
Customer Services team, in providing quality customer service to our customers. The vacancy
exists in the Contact Support Centre at the Briars as a Contact Support Centre Operator.
ESSENTIAL:
Good communicaon skills – must be able to deal eecvely with both customers and
members of sta
Adaptability – must be prepared to undertake shi work on a regular basis
Ability to operate as part of a team and independently
Experience in a customer service role
Computer Literate
Markeng experience would be advantageous
Join us and you will enjoy some of the many benefits that Sure provides, such as:
Incenve Bonus Scheme
Annual leave and Sick leave entlements
Entlement to join the Internaonal Rerement Benefit Plan
Maternity/Paternity Leave
Starng salary for the post is £6,240.00 per annum
Further informaon regarding the responsibilies of the post may be discussed with Ashton
Yon, Contact Support Centre Supervisor on Tel no: +290 22023. Applicaon forms and a copy
of the Job Descripon are available from Shara Robinson, Human Resources and
Administraon Manager at Bishops Rooms on Tel no: +290 22800 or email:
HR-Admin.Manager@sure.co.sh
Applicaons should be submied to Human Resources and Administraon Manager, Sure
South Atlanc Limited, Bishops Rooms, Jamestown by 4pm on Wednesday 20
April 2016.
The St Helena Independent Volume XI, Issue 20, Friday 15 th April 2016 19

Pat’s Enterprises
Ruperts Bay has always been a part of our lives. Whether camping, fishing or having a great weekend; we all
have a great memory there. A new venture has been opened in Ruperts by Pat Williams who will be adding to
the memories at Ruperts by making shopping and food accessibility easier for all with his new business.
Pat was running a clutch and brake bonding business but always planned to expand his enterprise to include
the facilies he felt Ruperts was missing.
The development of this business was a phased project that started with the tuck shop which provides hot
food, drinks and other supplies. The development of a bar and restaurant with a seang area will follow later in
the year.
Pat has been working with Enterprise St Helena on this new venture and has been supported with funding
towards equipment such as a cooler, ice machine, Panini grill, chip scule and food warmers.
Pat is overwhelmed by the opening of his new private business, and is hoping it fills the need Ruperts has for
these types of services. He said: “Pat’s Enterprises is the first purpose built shop for the general public in the
Ruperts area in light of the development of the Airport, and the increase business related to this. With the
support of Enterprise St Helena to help with purchasing equipment, my business has been able to successfully
open. Without the Support of my Family and ESH this would never have happened.”
If you have a business idea or are an exisng business
and need some assistance, please do not hesitate to contact a
member of the Business Development Team on
telephone 22920 or email
Business Start-up cara.joshua@esh.co.sh
Exisng Businesses Jusne.sim@esh.co.sh
The St Helena Independent Volume XI, Issue 20, Friday 15 th April 2016 20

VACANCY
Human Resources & Customer Services Manager
Salary : £13,302 - £15,426 pa
(depending on qualifications & experience)
Bank of St Helena Ltd is seeking to recruit a Human Resources & Customer Services
Manager who has the right mix of skills and experience to support its Human Resources &
Customer Services function.
The Bank is seeking an individual who is committed to attaining high levels of customer
services, building strong working relationships and promoting acultureoflearning and
development. The successful candidate should have excellent organisational,
communication and interpersonal skills, be customer service focused and committed to
personal and professional development; have at least two years proven work experience in
a management role, preferably in a Human Resources and or Customer Services
environment. Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (CIPD) certification, at
Associate level or above is ideal.
This new post is diverse and challenging, presenting a great opportunity for a dedicated,
dynamic individual ready to take up the challenge.
For further information about the post please contact Joey George, Human Resources &
Customer Services Officer on telephone (+290) 22102 or email:
human.resources@sainthelenabank.com
An application form and a job profile is available upon request from the Bank. Completed
application forms should be addressed to Joey George, Human Resources & Customer
Services Officer, Market Street, Jamestown or email to
human.resources@sainthelenabank.com
Closing date for applications is Monday, 25 April 2016
The St Helena Independent Volume XI, Issue 20, Friday 15 th April 2016 21

A position of Assistant MEP Team Leader will become available in July 2016 with the Ascension Island
Government. We are seeking to recruit a qualified, experienced and highly motivated person with a willingness
to demonstrate a high level of commitment to the job including out-of-hours work when necessary.
The principal duties of the post are:
Ascension Island Government
VACANCY – ASSISTANT MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL
& PLUMBING (MEP) TEAM LEADER
•
•
•
•
•
To assist and support the MEP Team Leader with operating an effective and efficient Team comprising
of a multi-skilled work force.
To lead the Team during the absence of the Team Leader.
To carry out a trade position within the Team, i.e. electrical or mechanical/plumbing.
To carry out stevedore duties as a core function.
To participate in an on-call roster outside normal working hours.
The successful candidate must:
• Hold a qualification in at least one of the following (or the equivalent practical experience) Electrical
Engineering, Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Plumbing installation work to a level equivalent to NVQ
level 2/3.
• Have at least 3 years’ experience as a Tradesman, with a sound practical knowledge of Mechanical and
Electrical work and familiarisation with the current standards of compliance.
• Have working knowledge of Health & Safety at Work.
• Have good leadership and management skills.
• Be computer literate.
• Haveanalytical and problem solving skills.
• Hold a clean, valid driver's licence of Classes A and B.
• Have interpersonal skills to establish confident and effective relationship with colleagues, and
customers.
A competitive salary will be paid. The successful candidate will also receive: rent free accommodation, utility
allowances, mid-tour passage/flight, a gratuity on completion of 2 year contract, free medical and primary
dental treatment and generous baggage allowances. The post is offered as either accompanied or single status
and an appropriate food allowance will be paid.
Further information about the post is available from the Repairs and Maintenance (MEP) Team Leader on
telephone number (+247) 66138 or email patrick.brooks@ascension.gov.ac .
Application forms and a copy of the Job Description are available from AIG’s Human Resources – Tel: (247)
67000 ext 132 or email patsy.moyce@ascension.gov.ac . Completed applications should be returned to the
aforementioned email address or fax number (247) 66816 by no later than Friday 15 th April 2016*.
Administration Building
Georgetown
Ascension Island
Alan H Nicholls
Director of Human Resources
*The closing date for applications for this post has been extended to Wednesday 27 April 2016
The St Helena Independent Volume XI, Issue 20, Friday 15 th April 2016 22

ASCENSION ISLAND GOVERNMENT
VACANCY – CIVIL & GROUNDS MAINTENANCE OPERATIVE
_______________
The Ascension Island Government is seeking to recruit a suitably qualified and experienced person to fill a
position of Civil and Grounds Maintenance Operative. The post is with the Roads Construction and
Maintenance Team of the Operations Directorate of AIG and reports directly to the Roads Construction and
Maintenance Team Leader.
The main duties of the post are:
•
•
•
To actively assist the Team Leader in maintaining a robust road network on Ascension by carrying
out construction, repairs and maintenance requirements.
To carry out routine and extensive grounds keeping and maintenance on all AIG grounds and
facilities.
To carry out minor repairs and maintenance on equipment used in grounds maintenance.
The successful candidate must:
•
•
•
•
•
Have at least one year of reasonable experience in roads construction and maintenance.
Have some knowledge of grounds maintenance, associated equipment and landscaping.
Have a careful, methodical and accurate approach to work.
Be physically fit and like outdoor work.
Have a strong awareness of safety issues.
In addition to having the ability to undertake the range of duties set out above, the successful applicant will
also be required to carry out stevedore duties. The ability to drive and operate road construction
equipment would be an advantage. Possession of a clean valid driving licence for vehicles of classes A, B &
C is also desirable.
The post is offered as single status and salary will depend upon qualifications and experience. The
successful candidate will also receive: a food allowance, rent free accommodation, utility allowances, midtour
passage/flight, a gratuity on completion of 2 year contract, free medical and primary dental treatment
and generous baggage allowances.
For further details on the duties of the post, please contact Patrick Phillips, Roads Construction and
Maintenance Team Leader, on telephone number (247) 66138 or email him at
patrick.phillips@ascension.gov.ac.
Application forms and a job description are available from AIG’s Human Resources in Georgetown by
telephoning (247) 67000 extension 132 or by e-mailing: patsy.moyce@ascension.gov.ac Completed forms
should be returned to the HR Executive Officer at the aforementioned email address or fax number (247)
66152 by no later than Friday 29 th April 2016.
Administration Office
Georgetown
Ascension Island
Alan H Nicholls
Director of Human Resources
The St Helena Independent Volume XI, Issue 20, Friday 15 th April 2016 23

Vacancy – Customer service Assistant – Falkland Islands
We are looking for an individual who are passionate about customer service,
through providing an excellent level of service to our customers. Assist your
establishment team to achieve its targets and to continuously deliver and maintain
excellent standards through all aspects of our business.
Job Description:
• Serving and dealing with customers in a courteous, friendly and helpful manner.
• Actively promoting NAAFI products by offering advice to customers and acting
on their comments and suggestions in order to increase sales and our brand
image.
• Take payment for goods and food using a variety of methods.
• The preparation and serving of food and drinks in line with HACCP.
• Replenishment and checking of stock to meet legal standards.
• Maintain the cleanliness, hygiene and safety of our premises.
• Assist your colleagues in completing your establishments daily, weekly and
monthly tasks as directed by your supervisor / manager.
• To maintain the highest levels of personal hygiene, appearance and conduct.
• Responsible for ensuring H&S standards are met, including, but not limited to,
manual handling.
• To undertake any reasonable request within the scope and grade of the role.
Offer of employment will be subject to medical and dental clearance, a criminal
background check and a 3 month probation period.
For further information on terms & conditions, interested persons should
contact Miss Delemarie Hopkins, on e-mail dhopkins@naafi.co.uk or
telephone 0050076460.
The St Helena Independent Volume XI, Issue 20, Friday 15 th April 2016 24

•
•
Expressions of Interest
Pilot Project — Glass Recycling Initiative
With a an esmated 110 tonnes of glass boles being deposited into the Landfill in 2013 - 2014, the potenal for
glass recycling on St Helena is significant.
Enterprise St Helena is seeking formal expressions of interest from pares who would be interested in developing a
pilot project to establish a local business enterprise or as an expansion of an exisng enty which focuses on
producing glass products for retail to the local and
tourism markets, from recycled boles and jars.
A formal expression of interest should be submied
in wring to Jusne Sim, Business Development
Coordinator, Enterprise St Helena, by no later than
Friday, 22nd April 2016.
For further informaon please contact Robert Midwinter, Director of
Enterprise, Enterprise St Helena on telephone 22920 or email:
Robert.midwinter@esh.co.sh
The Economic Development Group | Head Oce | ESH Business Park | Ladder Hill
Tel: +290 22920 | Fax: +290 22166 | Email: info@esh.co.sh
The St Helena Independent Volume XI, Issue 20, Friday 15 th April 2016 25

For further information,
including the Company’s
attractive benefits package,
please contact
Priscilla Henry
Supervisor, HTH Fuel Station
on telephone number: 23170
Application forms may be collected
from Solomons Reception Desk, in
the Main Office Building, Jamestown
or alternatively an electronic copy
can be requested via e-mail
address: hradmin@solomons.co.sh
and should be completed and
returned to Nicola Essex, Human
Resources Manager,
Solomons Office, Jamestown,
By 22 April 2016
Solomon & Company (St Helena) Plc
Fuel Attendant
has a vacancy for a
Within the Half Tree Hollow Fuel Station
Job Outline
To assist with the day-to-day operations of the Half Tree Hollow Fuel Station ensuring maximum
performance and quality service is delivered on a safe, consistent and timely basis.
Interested Persons should ideally:
Have good Customer Service skills
Be computer literate
Have Cash Handling experience
Have Health & Safety awareness when handling substances hazardous to health
Salary for the post will be £525.89 per month, (£6310.00 per annum).
For further information,
ion,
including the Company’s
attractive benefits package,
please contact
Priscilla Joshua,
Internal Auditor
on telephone number: 22076
or via email address:
internalauditor@solomons.co.sh
Application forms may be
collected from Solomons
Reception Desk, in the Main Office
Building, Jamestown or
alternatively an electronic copy
can be requested via e-mail
address: hradmin@solomons.co.sh
and should be completed and
returned to Nicola Essex, Human
Resources Manager,
Solomons Office, Jamestown,
By 27 April 2016
Solomon & Company (St Helena) Plc
has a vacancy for an
Internal Audit Assistant
Within the Internal Audit Department
Job Outline
To be responsible for the timely execution of risk-based internal audits
in accordance with the annual audit plan.
Interested Persons Should:
Have knowledge of computerised accounting/audit record keeping systems
Have the ability to gather, analyse and evaluate facts and prepare and present concise oral and
written reports
Ideally have Grade C or above in Maths, English & Accounting
Desirably have at least 2 years of financial experience, through accounting/auditing
Be willing to work towards an Internal Audit Certification
Salary will start at £634.99 per month, £7,619.88 per annum
The St Helena Independent Volume XI, Issue 20, Friday 15 th April 2016 26

Expressions of Interest for the installation of external lighting at High Knoll Fort
Subject to planning approval, High Knoll Fort is to be fitted with 20 LED Wall Washer units to enhance its iconic
presence at night.
Enterprise St. Helena (ESH) is now seeking expressions of interest from local contractors, to enable the LED Wall
Washer units to be fitted correctly and require the expertise of the following:
Surveyor:
Constructor:
Electrician:
To determine the location and height of the LED wall washers.
To build concrete housings to be masked with stone for the LED Wall Washers to be fixed.
To connect the Wall Washers in a series and to connect to the national grid.
Expressions of interest should be received by ESH in writing or by email by 1200 hours (GMT) on Friday 29th April
2016 to merrill.joshua@esh.co.sh OR handed in to the reception at Enterprise St Helena Office.
For further information please contact Merrill Joshua, Project Manager
TEL: 22920 | 51230 or email merrill.joshua@esh.co.sh
The Economic Development Group | Head Office | ESH Business Park | Ladder Hill
Tel: +290 22920 | Fax: +290 22166 | Email: info@esh.co.sh
The St Helena Independent Volume XI, Issue 20, Friday 15 th April 2016 27

“You may have caught an infection,
Please come in for a check up”
Contact Community Health on 23563 or come to
the lab for screening at your convenience
Get tested for Sexually Transmitted Infections
(STI)
The St Helena Independent Volume XI, Issue 20, Friday 15 th April 2016 28

SHAPE Executive Director (Manager)
SHAPE is looking to appoint an exceptional individual who is able to build and develop the
organisation at an exciting time in the Island’s history.
As Executive Director you will manage all aspects of SHAPE’s social and business objectives.
Reporting directly to the Board you will work with staff to fulfil SHAPE’s social enterprise obligations;
that is to provide opportunities for adults with disabilities and other disadvantaged groups in order
for them to maximise their independence.
Qualifications and Experience The successful candidate will
•
•
•
•
•
•
be a good communicator with strong leadership skills – recent management experience is
essential and ideally you will hold a management qualification
be able demonstrate a sound background in managing a successful business – ideally holding
a business qualification
have previous experience of working with disabled people and will hold or be willing to
obtain clearance from the Disclosure and Barring Service
have a flexible, ‘can do’ approach to the role
have experience of dealing with a range of people and organisations across the public and
private sectors
hold a clean driving licence
Salary and Benefits:
• Salary 12000 - £14000
• The opportunity to join the Pension scheme following a period of probation
This is an excellent career opportunity to develop skills in a number of areas and make a real
difference to a developing social enterprise that has a proven commitment for over 10 years to
supporting disabled people, whilst actively producing locally produced, handmade crafts.
All working patterns considered including job share.
Alternatively, have you considered developing your career by accessing opportunities and
experiences your current role does not offer?
Ask your employer if they are willing to consider releasing you on a period of secondment.
All Interested candidates can send a letter of application and an up to date CV to:
Sarah Dalton Administration Officer,
Email: assistantmanagerSHAPE@helanta.co.sh
Applications must be received by no later than close of play on Friday 22nd April 2016.
For further information contact - Miss Lolly Young Vice Chair Board of Directors on telephone
number 22607.
The St Helena Independent Volume XI, Issue 20, Friday 15 th April 2016 29

We are seeking energetic and community-minded
applicants to be based at Guinea Grass community
Centre.
Job specification:
• Management of Community Grant Funding
• Capacity building and enabling
• Organising and running workshops
• Building links with Government, Education,
Safeguarding & Stakeholders
• Representing CDO on various committees
• Advocacy
• Outreaching to non-governmental community
groups and charities
• Management of bookings at Guinea Grass
Community Centre
• Record keeping on database
Skills required:
• Enthusiasm and initiative
• Self-motivation
• Good written and verbal communication
VACANCY BUILDING CONTROL MANAGER
ENRD (Planning and Building Division) invites applications for the role of Building Control Manager to administer
the Building Control Ordinance 2013 and related Regulations. The successful candidate will likely already
be working in the building sector or statutory building regulation and looking to develop a career in a
responsibleposition with a high public profile.
The Building Control Manager will ensure that applications for Building Regulation Approval are processed in
accordance with the Ordinance and ensure that all eligible building design and construction complies with
Island Building Standards and is carried out in a competentwork-manlike manner in order toprotect building
occupiers and the wider public.
Candidates should have a degree or an equivalent professional qualification in construction management,
building surveying, civil or structural engineering, architecture or a related field. A sound understanding of
construction practice and building regulations and practical experience ofbuilding standards applicable to England,
South Africa or another British Overseas Territory would be highly beneficialfor this position.A commitment
to raising standards, challenging unsafe construction practice and adherence to the principles of public
service is expected. The ability to relate well to applicants, design professionals, construction trades and
internal customersand also provide clear advice both verbally and in writing and by drawing is a prerequisite.
Salary for the post is at Local Grade E which is £14,138 - £17,673 per annum depending upon candidate
experience and qualification. For further details regarding this post, please contact Mr Martin Hannah, Head
of Planning and Development Control; on telephone number+290 22270 ore-mail: martin.hannah@enrd.gov.sh
An application form and Job Profile is available from the Human Resources Manager, Miss Karen Thomas,
Environment and Natural Resources Directorate, EssexHouse, Jamestown.Completed application forms should
be submitted to the HumanResources Manager, ENRD, Essex House or e-mailkaren-thomas@enrd.gov.sh
by no later than Friday 29 April 2016.
Martin Hannah MRTPI
Head of Planning and Development Control
12 April 2016
St Helena
Community Development Organisation
Vacanc
acancy for Community Development elopment Officer
• Computer literate with good I.T skills
• Sound mathematical skills / experience
• Experience of working across NGO,
government and public sectors
• Ability to write and present strategic plans
• Own transportation
• Willingness to work some weekends / bank
holidays as necessary
The salary for this position will be £13 – 15,000 per
annum depending on qualifications and experience. The
job will commence at the beginning of June. Call 22791
for full job specification or further details.
Please send C.V and covering letter to: SHCDO, c/o
Human Rights commission office, PWD yard,
Jamestown by 29 th April.
The St Helena Independent Volume XI, Issue 20, Friday 15 th April 2016 30

In commemoration of 225 Years
of business in St Helena Island,
we invite you to view our
‘Solomons through the Ages’ Exhibition
on display in the Museum of St Helena
Entrance is Free. Donations to the Museum are welcome.
Museum Opening Hours:
Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays – 10am-4pm
Saturdays – 10am-12noon
TIP OF THE WEEK…
The St Helena Independent Volume XI, Issue 20, Friday 15 th April 2016 31

Friday 22 nd April & Saturday 23 rd April 2016
3 Course Meal for £15.50
Table Reservations are Essential – Book Early to Avoid Disappointment
You can book by contacting us on
Telephone Number: 25555 or Email: bluelantern@helanta.co.sh
STARTER
Local Tuna Nicoise Salad
OR
Mexican Vegetable Soup with Tortilla Chips
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MAIN
Thai Red Chicken Curry
Lamb Tikka Masala
Hot and Spicy Beef Curry
All served with Rice, Poppadoms and Seasonal Vegetables
OR
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DESSERT
A choice of two homemade desserts
OR
Ice Cream
Please be advised that no alternative dishes will be available; however, dietary requirements can
be catered for on prior request
The St Helena Independent Volume XI, Issue 20, Friday 15 th April 2016 32

Moment De Memoire
A commemoraon of the death of Napoléon Bonaparte will be held on Sunday, 01 May
2016, at
12:00 at Napoléon’s Tomb.
You are warmly welcomed to aend this ceremony.
If you would like to parcipate in the ceremony and lay a wreath then please contact the
Tourist Oce.
Since 2011 St Helena has held a ceremony of commemoraon of Napoléon’s death. Whilst
St Helena normally holds the commemoraon on the actual anniversary of his death, 05
May 1821, this year it is being held on the weekend closest to the date.
Longwood House will be open to the public free of charge from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.
For further informaon please contact Chrisna Stroud on 22158 or
chrisna.stroud@tourism.co.sh
The Economic Development Group | Head Oce | ESH Business Park | Ladder Hill
Tel: +290 22920 | Fax: +290 22166 | Email: info@esh.co.sh
The St Helena Independent Volume XI, Issue 20, Friday 15 th April 2016 33

World’s Largest Fish and One Tiny Island: Studying Whale Sharks on
St. Helena Island
The report in National Geographic magazine from the Georgia Aquarium
St. Helena has only recently come to
scientific attention, not only as an important
habitat for whale sharks, but as
part of the United Kingdom Overseas
Territories, a group of islands that is home
to more than 90% of the UK’s biodiversity
assets. With the help of the Darwin Initiative,
Georgia Aquarium’s partners in
the St. Helena Government, Mote Marine
Laboratory, and the Marine
Megafauna Foundation, we are so excited
and proud to help study our flagship
species in this beautiful and breathtaking
location.
Georgia Aquarium is the only aquarium
in the western hemisphere to display
these elusive creatures and having them
in this setting is an incredible research
opportunity to complement our field research
with studies of their growth, behaviour,
health, and genetics. This helps
us improve our interpretation of their behaviour
seen in the natural setting, but
there are still many tantalizing questions
about whale sharks that we hope to answer.
We travelled to St. Helena once before,
in December of 2014, and we ventured
back again in December of 2015. We
started these expeditions because we
think St. Helena may play a vital role as
a mating ground for whale sharks. The
whale sharks of St Helena are an even
split of adult males and females, which
is different from the other places where
whale sharks gather in numbers, where
juvenile males dominate. This 50/50 mix
of adults is incredibly important, because
mating behaviours have never been documented
in this species. Our main goal
of the 2015-2016 expedition was to characterise
these gentle giants in St. Helena,
how they use the island habitats, and
where they go when they leave, and of
course to stay ever vigilant for signs of
mating behaviour. So how do we do all
that?
We used a variety of techniques including
computer-aided photographic identification,
laser callipers to measure their
size (and they can get big, over 35ft
long), and several different types of tracking
tags to help us figure out where they
come from and where they go. We also
worked with local “Saints” to install an
acoustic array, which is a network of
underwater hydrophones around the is-
land that listens for
tags we put on
whale sharks and
other species. Over
the weeks we spent
in St. Helena we
tagged over 30 whale
sharks and photographed
dozens
more – all these are
collected to assist in
our understanding of
where they go, how
they grow, how they
reproduce, and how
St. Helena fits into a
global population picture
for this species,
which the International
Union for the
Conservation of Nature
lists as “Vulnerable”.
Another incredibly
satisfying aspect of the expedition to St.
Helena was working alongside some of
our fantastic research partners. We work
with members of the Marine Section of
the St. Helena Government, and Mexican
NGO Ch’ooj Ajail AC, in addition to
Georgia Aquarium team members and
other partners from the Marine Megafauna
Foundation and Mote Marine Laboratory
who couldn’t join us but materially supported
our efforts. It was a demanding
scientific agenda, but working with this
talented crew made for a great trip. If you
can measure the success of an expedition
in the amount of data you generate,
then we were certainly successful.
We’ve since returned from St. Helena and
unpacked our gear and washed the salt
out of everything, including our ears. What
lies ahead is a daunting task of compiling
all the data we’ve collected, including
terabytes of video and photo data and
thousands of laser measurements, so we
can begin looking for the answers to the
questions we’ve been asking. We still
have not documented mating behaviours,
but we continue to learn more about their
migratory patterns through the tagging
studies and to identify new whale sharks
through the Wildbook global database of
whale shark sightings. With whale
sharks, though, the more answers you
try to find, the more questions you end
up raising! It’s an incredibly exciting time
Whale Shark photographed in St Helena waters
to be studying this extraordinary species,
especially in such a special location,
and you can join in the excitement.
Some of the animals we tagged automatically
tweet out their locations in real
time, and you can follow along on Twitter
@Wheres_Domino, and at
whalesharkwatch.org. We continue to
learn and discover things about this
magnificent species and I know there
will be even more things to uncover. Anyone
who says there isn’t amazing stuff
still to discover in nature hasn’t put their
head underwater lately, especially in
places like St Helena.
Dr Alistair Dove, Director Research
and Conservation, Georgia Aquarium
- 11 th April 2016
For Sale
A SILVER 2 DOOR ZETEC
FORD FEISTA CAR IN
EXCELLENT CONDITION.
Interested persons can
contact Barry Clarke of New
Ground on Tel No 24952
anytime ofter 19.00 hrs.
The St Helena Independent Volume XI, Issue 20, Friday 15 th April 2016 34

Are you interested?
TRAINING
Spanish for Absolute Beginners
Starting Date Tuesday, 3 May 2016
Time
Duration
Venue
5pm-6:30pm
10 Weeks
ELC Hall
Closing Date Tuesday, 26 April 2016
VACANCIES
LEMP FIELD SUPERVISOR
LEMP DRIVER / FIELD WORKER
FOR SALE BY TENDER
Solomon & Company (St Helena) Plc has for “sale by tender”
the following vehicles.
Ford Escort Hatchback
Formerly registered as 1605
Damaged as a result of a road traffic accident and can only be
used for spare parts
Toyota Surf
Formerly registered as 3890
Damaged as a result of a road traffic accident and can only be
used for spare parts
Ford Fiesta
Formerly registered as 2664
Damaged as a result of a road traffic accident
Offers no less than £800 will be considered
Viewing has been set for Monday 18 April 2016 at 10am and
persons interested in viewing should, in the first instance,
contact Solomon’s Insurance Office on telephone number
22860.
Offers should be made in writing to the Tender Board Secretary,
clearly stating the registration number on the envelope and
placed in the Company’s Tender Box in their Main Office Foyer
by no later than 4pm on Friday 22 April 2016.
14 April 2016
The Air Access Office (AAO) is recruiting staff to assist in the
delivery of the Airport Project’s Landscape and Ecology Mitigation
Programme (LEMP). If you are interested in the conservation
of St Helena’s unique habitats and want to contribute to the biggest
conservation project on the Island, one of these roles might
just be for you.
LEMP Field Supervisor
Starting at Grade C4 (£9,904 per annum)
The post holder will lead on practical habitat restoration activities
and provide line management of conservation workers.
Contract duration – March 2018 with the potential to renew
LEMP Driver / Field Worker
Starting at Grade B1 (£6,722 per annum)
The post holder will be in possession of a class J4 license and
provide transport support to the field supervisors. When not driving
general field duties will be undertaken.
Contract duration – March 2018 with the potential to renew
For further details regarding this post, interested persons should
contact Paul Cherrett, LEMP Team Leader on telephone number
22721 (e-mail paul.cherrett@sainthelena.gov.sh)
Application forms and job descriptions which are available from
the Air Access Office, 1 st Floor, Post Office, Jamestown should be
completed and submitted to Tessa Roberts, Head of Project
Support, or email tessa.roberts@sainthelena.gov.sh by no later
than 4pm on Friday, 29 th April 2016.
The St Helena Independent Volume XI, Issue 20, Friday 15 th April 2016 35

St Helena Cricket Association T20 Week 5
Last weekend saw the conclusion of the T20 group games.
The first game of the weekend saw Levelwood Allstars defeat
Jamestown Barracudas to finished top of group1. Allstars
batted first and post a score of 152 for the loss of 8 wickets in
their 20 overs. Darrell Leo topped scored with 32; Ross Henry
made 28 and Gareth Johnson made 25.
Andrew Yon took 1 wicket for 11 runs from 4 overs; Damien
O’Bey 2/32 from 4 overs, David George 2/30 from 3 overs,
Carlyn Yon 1/22 from 4 overs and Jason Thomas 1/22 from 2
overs.
In reply the Barracudas were bowled out for 97 in 17 overs.
Gavin Barlow topped scored with 21 and Jason George made
16.
Gareth Johnson took 3 wickets for 11 runs from 4 overs; Greg
Coleman 2/9 from 3 overs, Sanjay Clingham 2/19 from 3 overs,
Jordan Yon 1/27 from 3 overs and Tyler Scipio 2/8 from 2
overs.
Gareth Johnson picked up 3 performance points; Darrell Leo
2 and Greg Coleman 1.
The second game on Saturday saw Levelwood Rebels post a
good score of 221 for the loss of 7 wickets in their match
against Jamestown Zodiacs. Brooklyn Fowler toped scored
with 64; Delroy leo made 55 and Ralph Knipe 20
Cryuff Buckley took 3 wickets for 24 runs from 2 overs; Liam
Adams 3/44 from 4 overs and Gibby Young 1/61 from 4 overs.
In reply the Zodiacs posted a respectable score of 162 for the
loss of 5 wickets. Dax Richards scored 59 and Christian
George scored an unbeaten 54
Brooklyn Fowler took 2 wickets for 18 runs; Delroy Leo 1/24
from 4 overs and Brendan Leo 1/18 from 3 overs.
Brooklyn Fowler picked up 3 performance points; Christian
George 2 and Delroy Leo 1
The first game on Sunday saw the two Western team play
each other. Warriors batted first and scored 149 for the loss
of 8 wickets. Rico Williams topped scored with 66 and Paul
Crowie made 15. Callum Ellick took 2 wickets for 14 runs
from 4 overs; Shane Williams 2/44 from 4 overs, Antonio Green
1/21 from 4 overs and Luke Bennett 1/26 from 4 overs
In reply the Mustangs were bowled out for 85 in 20 overs.
Antonio Green toped scored with 24 and Faron Thomas made
20
Jordi Henry took 3 wickets for 20 runs from 4 overs; Paul
Crowie 2/6 from 3 overs, Simon Henry 2/15 from 4 overs,
Denny Leo 2/23 from 4 overs, Gavin Ellick 1/9 from 3 overs
and Anelka Leo 1/18 from 2 overs
The final match saw St Matthew’s Lion defeat the Sandy Bay
Pirates with just 3 balls to spare to finished top of group 2.
Pirates batted first and scored 177 all out in 19.1 overs. Lynton
Fowler topped scored with 49; Ryan Belgrove made 28 and
Ian Williams 20.
Scott Crowie took 4 wickets for 34 runs from 4 overs; Sean
Lee Thomas 1/41 from 4 overs, Kalen Crowie 2/26 from 4
overs and Scott Henry 2/38 from 3.1 overs
In reply the Lions reached the winning total scoring 181 for
the loss of 3 wickets (3 run outs) in 19.3 overs. Scott Crowie
topped scored with an unbeaten 77; Phillip Stroud made 37
not out and Nick Stevens 28.
Scott Crowie picked up 3 performance points; Lynton Fowler
2 and Phillip Stroud 1.
Fixtures:
Saturday 16 th April T20 semi finals
10am: Levelwood Allstars v Sandy Bay Pirates
1pm: St Matthews Lion’s v Jamestown Barracudas
Sunday 17 th April 1pm: T20 Final
Golf Report Week Ending
10 th April 2016
Two competitions were played over the weekend as scheduled,
on Saturday 9 th April there was an 18 hole Par three
competition where 8 players took part, in the runner up spot
was Brian (Billy J) Fowler on 65 but on his own with a very
good 62 was Gerald (Whistler) George. Three players holed
out in two to share the ball pool namely Helena Stevens, Tony
Green and Lawson Henry.
On Sunday 10 th April 12 players took part in a Medalford competition
where 9 holes of medal play was played on front 9
and 9 holes stableford over the back 9, the net score from the
medal round is then subtracted from the number of Stableford
points to determine the winner.
Norman Thomas had a very good 16 taking the top spot and
in runner up was Lawson Henry on 18. Norman was the only
player to holed out in two and did it in style as he had two
two’s. Norman play to a handicap of 11 and Lawson 5.
Congratulations to all the winners, competitions for this coming
weekend is on Saturday 16 th April there will be an 18 hole
stroke play and on Sunday 17 th April the ever popular two
team Texas Scramble Stableford (choose your own partner).
Please sign up by 6pm on Friday 15 th for the Saturday match
and by 6pm on Saturday for the Sunday game. Please note
the Texas Scramble will be a shot gun start at 12.00 hrs.
Have a good week stay safe and keep swinging!
DHL – St Helena Express Ltd
Is looking to recruit a full time Manager,
for the office in Jamestown.
This role requires a person with the ability to
manage the office independently.
Applicants must be computer literate and
experienced in customer service and administration.
Managerial experience is desirable. Training
will be given with DHL systems and practices.
For more information contact Gay Marr on
23800 or gay.marr@helanta.co.sh
The St Helena Independent Volume XI, Issue 20, Friday 15 th April 2016 36

VOLLEYBALL LEAGUE RESULTS
Sunday, 10 April 2016
Saint Setterz vs Ballsy Ladies
(26 - 28) (25 – 9) (10 – 15)
LOM: Helena Lochen
Good Volley Ms Molly vs Serve-ivors
(25 – 12) (11 - 25) (8 – 15)
LOM: Shara Robinson
VOLLEYBALL LEAGUE FIXTURES
Sunday, 17 April 2016
2:00pm Ballsy Ladies vs Good Volley Ms Molly (Ref: VD &
SS)
2:30pm Volley Diggers vs Saint Setterz (Ref: BL & GVMM)
Organiser: Ballsy Ladies
District Volleyball
Interested teams please contact Clare Harris on
clare.d.harris@gmail.com by Friday, 6 th May 2016.
BROWNIES AND LEADERS GO
DOWN TO THE WOODS AGAIN
AND ARE SURE OF A BIG SURPRISE!
… and that surprise was … no, not to join a teddy bears’
picnic nor scamper about with woodland folk, but to see many
of the 108 gumwood and ebony trees they had planted on
Saturday, 23 rd January of this year, standing strong and growing
well amongst the succulent creeper and bigger, older endemic
trees. How good was that to see them boldly making
their way into the world, all because of the fine efforts of young
people – our Brownies! We thank Robert for taking care of
them and making sure they are watered and tended on a
regular basis for us and the community to enjoy.
So how does this tree planting all happen? Well, the Brownie
Wood January tree-planting event and Saturday, 2 nd April’s
one, are supported by the St Helena National Trust and come
under the Community Forests Project (CFP), which is funded
through the Darwin Initiative. From the SHNT’s website we
learn that:
‘The Darwin Initiative funded project “Creating Community
Forests to Enhance Biodiversity and Provide Educational
Activities” started in October 2013 with the objectives
to establish community forests at Blue Point, High Peak,
and the Millennium Forest. The aim is for these sites to be
financially and environmentally sustainable with strong community
involvement to ensure their guardianship for generations
to come.’
Of course such projects cannot develop and grow without the
effort and commitment of people. Staff working under CFP at
the moment are:
Martina Peters – Forests School Officer
Brianna Yon – Millennium Forest Nursery Officer
Rebecca Cairns-Wicks – Project Manager
Marayka Henry – Apprentice
JAMESTOWN COMMUNITY CENTRE
SKITTLES SEASON – 2016
Skittles resumed at the Centre after the Easter break of two
weeks.
LEAGUE RESULTS:- Week 4
4th. April
Parttimers - 528 Beat Guys & Dolls - 516
WH Score Patricia Essex - 56
Denny Leo - 66 MH Score Neil Joshua - 72
WH Spare Sally Hickling - 15
Nigel Thomas - 14 MH Spare Neil Joshua – 15
Charlie Young - 15
6th. April
Never Readys - 515 Beat Rug Ratz - 434
Ann Andrews - 69 WH Score Ellen-Rose Piek - 44
Damien Benjamin - 71 MH Score Clayton Yon - 60
Shandy Osborne - 16 WH Spare
Martin Buckley - 16 MH Spare Clayton Ton - 15
Fixtures - Week 6:
18 Apr: Guys & Dolls v Crusaders
20 Apr: Alcometers v Rug Ratz
Note to ALL CAPTAINS:
The fixtures for 23rd. and 25th. May were mistakes as the
same matches were scheduled for earlier. These fixtures will
be void and there will not be any skittles during that week.
Cynthia Llas – Project coordinator
Sue Halfacre – Visiting volunteer
Martina, Brianna and Cynthia were our organisers and supporters
last week, and because we had gone to Millennium
Forest on Volunteers Saturday, there were, of course, volunteers
from that group who came and planted trees on this
occasion in Brownie Wood. Thankyou volunteers, and with
your help we managed to plant 138 gumwoods. Cynthia told
us, ‘The CFP has had plenty of visiting volunteers coming
and helping them from overseas over the 3 years, which has
been really helpful.’
Besides planting trees to grow Brownie Wood, the Brownies
and Volunteers also learnt how to pot baby seedlings in readiness
for the Nursery.
After tidying and getting cleaned up, everyone enjoyed some
nice refreshing drink and delicious plo, clambered wearily into
cars and bus and made their way home after a good morning’s
job well done. Thankyou everyone for sharing your community
spirit, teamwork and friendship. The Brownies will be
back soon to continue this exciting venture.
Contributed by Betty Joshua
PRO, Girlguiding St Helena
The St Helena Independent Volume XI, Issue 20, Friday 15 th April 2016 37

NOTICE OF MEETING
Mr Gert Buitendag will be arriving on island on Monday 18th April 2016. Gert is a
representative of Aveng Grinaker- LTA Construction who is visiting the island in
order to finalise a contract and will be specifically interested in reviewing the on
Island availability of plant and equipment, material and skills.
Gert is interested in meeting with local businesses and individuals from the construction
industry and you are invited to attend a meeting on Monday 18th April at
16.00hrs at No 3 Main Street. Mr Graham Vass of Mantis will also be in attendance
at this meeting. This will be an opportunity for your business to talk with Gert and
Graham to find out more about their companies’ requirements.
If you have any questions or require any further information then please feel free to
contact Cara Joshua, Business Start-up Co-ordinator at Enterprise St Helena on
telephone number 22920 or via email cara.joshua@esh.co.sh
VACANCY FOR A HIGHER LEVEL TEACHING ASSISTANT
The Education & Employment Directorate is seeking to employ suitable persons to fill the posts of
Higher Level Teaching Assistants within the Primary Sector of the Directorate.
The purpose of the post is to provide assistance to the class teacher by supporting teaching and
learning in the school/classroom environment. In addition, they will be responsible for teaching 25%
of the school teaching timetable independently, and will plan, prepare and deliver lessons and
assess, record and report on development, progress and attainment of pupils
Applicants must be in possession of a GCSE in English and Math’s at Grade C or above and have
at least two years’ experience of working as a Teaching Assistant. The ideal candidate must be self
motivated, have good interpersonal skills and have a passion for working with children.
Salary payable is Grade TA3, commencing at £7,851 per annum but is dependent upon
qualifications and/or experience.
For further details regarding this post, interested persons should contact Mrs. Wendy Benjamin,
Assistant director Schools on telephone number 22607 or e-mail
wendy.benjamin@education.gov.sh
A full job description can be obtained from the Administration Officer at the Education Learning on
email administration@education.gov.sh
Application forms which are available from Education & Employment Directorate and Corporate
Human Resources should be completed and submitted, through Directors where applicable, to the
Administration Officer at the Education Learning Centre or e-mail administration@education.gov.sh
by no later than 4pm on Wednesday 22 April, 2016.
SHG positively accepts applications from all members of the community regardless of race, gender,
disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, and will consider all applications on the basis of
merit, in accordance with the person specification. All disabled applicants meeting the minimum
criteria listed in the job profile will be guaranteed an interview.
Mrs. Shirley Wahler
Director of Education & Employment 8 April 2016
The St Helena Independent Volume XI, Issue 20, Friday 15 th April 2016 38

BEACON LIGHTING IN HONOUR OF
HM QUEEN ELIZABETH II
St Helena will once again join more than 200 Beacon locations in uniting the nation in common
celebration of HM Queen Elizabeth II’s 90th Birthday - following the lighting of the Principal Beacon in
London by Her Majesty The Queen.
On St Helena, the special gas fuelled Beacon produced for The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in June
2012, with a unique burner head in the shape of a diamond, will be lit by the Hon Speaker, Eric
Benjamin, in the Mule Yard on Thursday 21 April 2016 at 7.30pm. This year the event, in conjunction
with Corporate Services, is being organised by the Girl Guiding Association on St Helena.
The event will open at 7pm with an orchestral piece, followed by prayers, poems,greetings,quotes
and songs presented by the Girl Guiding Association and the reading of Prince Charles’ message
by Acting Governor, Sean Burns. HM Queen Elizabeth II will be honoured in celebratory fashion by
those in attendance singing ‘Happy Birthday’ and highlighting this remarkable milestone of HM The
Queen’s life.
Refreshments and stalls will be available following the official ceremony.
SHG
12 April 2016
Thank You
St. Matthew’s and St. Marks Ladies Guild
convey sincere thanks to everyone who
supported their Easter coffee morning.
Net proceeds amounted to £232.
SHAPE Staff & Trainees would like to
express our heartfelt thanks for your
kind donations:
Rose & Crown, Island Images, Chris
Bargo, Basil Read, Benji’s Cleaning
Services, Delia Huxtable, Sylvia Jonas,
Edith & Nigel Dollery, Linda Twyling,
Ann & Campbell Buckley and
Olive Bagley
Thank you for your continued support.
Notice is hereby given that the AGM
of the
St Helena Art & Crafts Association
will take place on Wednesday 4 th
May 2016 in the Museum of St
Helena - Guest speaker Mrs Aine
O’Keeffe – 7.30pm.
Coming shortly to the A&C Centre
will be a new range of T and Polo
Shirts designed by Neale Francis.
End of RMS Era souvenirs including
Limited edition prints of the painting
showing the Southampton Castle,
and the old and “new” RMS St
Helena on sale now.
The St Helena Independent Volume XI, Issue 20, Friday 15 th April 2016 39

2000 Land Rover Freelander
for sale
First sensible offer accepted
Call Stuart Moors on 23255 or email
moors@helanta.co.sh
K C C
D
Rewind
Funk, Soul, Motown & Party
FOR SALE
Puma 110 Land Rover Defender with 7 seats
and blue in colour.
Registration Number 4514
Also a Land Rover TD590 Defender with 6
Seats and red in colour.
Fitted with CD, DVD and alloy wheels.
Registration Number 609.
If your interested in either of these vehicles call
Paul on 23044.
Friday 22 nd April Open from 6:30pm
Skittles Singles Knockout
Friday 29 th April Open from 6:30pm
Six Hand Euchre Night
Register your team with Denny 23704 or Charlie
22644 by 27 th April
*******************
Meetings for St Pauls Constituents
7:30pm Monday 18 April Constituency Meeting
8pm Tuesday 19 April St Helena Day Float
*******************
6pm Tuesdays Zumba
5:15pm Wednesdays In Your Hands Exercise Class
The St Helena Independent Volume XI, Issue 20, Friday 15 th April 2016 40