Might Sure's Monopoly Soon Be Ending?
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www.sams.sh THE South Atlantic Media Services, Ltd. Vol. 8,SENTINEL Issue 41 - Price: £1 “serving St Helena and her community worldwide” Thursday 16 January 2020 Might Sure’s monopoly soon be ending? Contract being signed for Ascension Island runway reconstruction 51 people achieve Senior diplomat Jamestown qualifications makes first visit to swimming pool through SHCC St Helena reopens Local wages now as Private consultation for low as in 2014/15 150 more log homes 2 www.sams.sh Thursday 16 January 2020 | THE SENTINEL THE SENTINEL | Thursday 16 January 2020 www.sams.sh 3 OPINION YOUR LETTERS ST HELENA NEWS THE be building on the huge investment commitment, dedication and loyalty Majesty the Queen: “I pray that the relevant recorded public statements CONSTITUENT into air access with enthusiasm, to constituents to bring about change blessings of the Almighty God will questioning my loyalty, commitment SENTINEL Saints are disillusioned, demoralised for the better are challenging. Over rest upon your counsels.” and dedication as an elected The following letter was written on and leaving St Helena to better the first two years of our tenure, representative called into question behalf of the people of St Helena. themselves. elected members have focused With kind regards my integrity in serving the people of COMMENT It is hoped that the recent attention on a new direction at Cyril Leo St Helena. Therefore, the people who , SAMS Cyril (Ferdie) Gunnell 1st January 2020, financial aid commitment from the council level. The shift to work in the made the public statements were very best interests of the island and “I don’t disagree with everything in UK government to an Economic encouraged to take them through the this report, just most of it!” Dear Rt Hon Mitchell, Development Investment Programme maximise successful outcomes will proper formal channels. If the people This was the reaction some years ago will soon help reverse the negative be realised by the wider community THE who made the public statements now to a budget proposed by a team from Following the recent general impacts imposed by the absence of as we continue to make progress. CONSTITUENT choose not to take them through the London for Grant-in-Aid (assistance election in the United Kingdom, it was capital programme funding over the However, creditable progress will proper formal channels for address, to local tax revenue). The councillor pleasing to see you re-elected once last three years. be reliant on sustained adequate then maybe, just maybe, you should (quoted above) then spelled out why again as the Member of Parliament However, it is a huge concern that financial aid and support from the Dear Electorate, question your own conscience and the Grant-in-Aid was inadequate, and for Sutton Coldfield. I take this after DFID, being fully aware of both United Kingdom. The level of funding integrity. this was well-supported round the and progress will help determine the Following the last public meeting, Council Chamber table. opportunity to congratulate you on the difficulty and the importance of Public meetings and constituency behalf of the people of St Helena who attracting Saints back to St Helena, level of incentive and inspiration that facilitated by Unified Saints, for meetings will be crucial to achieving Councillors knew there was nothing constituents and their elected department heads could have done to value your continued support for the made a special effort to do so leading will have a positive impact on the successful social and economic further reduce their bid for running the island as a serving MP. up to air access, but then cut off wider community. If the incentive representatives, elected members outcomes as the island moves government services, and councillors On December 19th I was fortunate capital programme funding to St and inspiration is sufficient and held a Debrief during an Informal forward. Tendencies to subject therefore were not prepared to give to see you interviewed on TV by the Helena after building the airport. there is clear evidence of sustained Legislative Council meeting on elected representatives to public way to inadequate Grant-in-Aid. In BBC Hardtalk host Stephen Sackur. The refusal to provide financial aid social and economic improvements Friday, 10th January. The Speaker humiliation distracts from the core the end, their stance paid off and the Your deliberations were engaging. in the form of capital programme throughout the community then was informed that some Councillors substance of meetings that the Grant-in-Aid requested was met. Following the interview, I reflected funding, for some three years, Saints will be encouraged to return were “hostile” to the public during majority of those who make a special Over the years there have been home (again) and contribute to the the public meeting. As such, I many examples where councillors on matters relating to St Helena that is irresponsible to say the least. effort to attend wants to focus on. you and I discussed in the UK during Consequently, a British Overseas development of St Helena. However, consider this a serious accusation At the end of the meeting I thanked pulling together have brought about DFID must fully understand that that must be addressed accordingly. improvements for the people they the 2017 Westminster Seminar and Territory that is heavily reliant on those attendees for their passionate represent. Some ExCo Members have also on your 2018 visit to St Helena financial aid from the United Kingdom the United Kingdom cannot provide The purpose of the public meeting input. I believe that mature passion stood down rather than simply going and the inspiration you conveyed for development was always going to assistance for St Helena to advance was for elected representatives for progress from Saints is required along with a decision they didn’t during your meeting with all elected gradually have to face the increasing and then fail to provide sustained to respond to the statements & to help decide the future of St Helena. approve of. representatives. challenges of social and economic adequate financial aid and thereby questions recorded in the minutes As a part of the wider world, St It wasn’t important, years back, In the interests of taking full stagnation and disintegration. The undermine the progress achieved. of a public meeting held by Unified Helena, with its makeup of negatives which council was responsible for advantage of every opportunity to UK government in effect failed to Consequently, socially and Saints on Thursday 12th December. and positives, has the potential to any one improvement made. This obtain assistance and support from capitalise on its £300m investment economically such short-sighted Councillors were asked to be open excel way beyond its size. probably was because councillors actions will once again force the and honest. felt it was down to timing or a within the House of Commons for the in St Helena for ongoing social There were other recorded people of St Helena, I would like to and economic development of the island to stumble to a standstill and I personally took the decision to statements and questions I change in circumstances that made speak on the recorded statements improvements possible. Nothing in bring the following to your attention: island’s community. eventually slide backwards. This was prepared to respond to St Helena happens overnight. Quite St Helena now has air access but it To help me provide you with a clearer irresponsible decision-making by questioning the loyalty, commitment but unfortunately time did not probably, some scheme being put is most unfortunate that the people understanding of my concerns and DFID must be addressed, and local and dedication of elected allow. However, another round in place by “this council” won’t of St Helena are still struggling to aspirations, particularly in relation to elected representatives must be representatives serving on Council. of constituency meetings will materialise until the “next council.” contend with social and economic convincing DFID to allocate adequate allowed more realistic and practical Reference was made to the Code of begin soon, and constituents are That is the way it is. stagnation. Whereas the people of St future budgetary aid for St Helena, I autonomy in determining the affairs Conduct for Members of Legislative encouraged to attend. So why draw attention to any of this? Helena, along with sustained support have attached three documents. and the future of St Helena. Council, and attendees were told In the interests of awareness and Well, I could be wrong, but it does seem Albeit individually or collectively, that any complaints by members of to me from comments made that some from the United Kingdom, should The elected representatives’ preparing for the crucial next stage I believe the voices and efforts the public alleging that the conduct of the St Helena Political Governance councillors actually believe nothing of local Elected members are far of a Member is in breach of this useful happened before their time. Review, can I recommend that in Councillors’ competency and ability too weak to carry our message to Code, must be made in writing and addition to familiarising oneself levels are being heavily scrutinised, the UK Government for serious addressed to the Speaker. with the current Constitution, you and why shouldn’t it be that way? I consideration. Therefore, I trust you It is difficult to know if the may want to obtain a copy of the have said this before but increasingly, will kindly carry the concerns and following is representative of all ‘St Helena Government Corporate members of the public are concerned aspirations to the UK Government on 2,145 registered electors, however, as Governance, Guidance to public with knowing what their councillors behalf of the people of St Helena.