Rushbrook to Succeed Lisa Honan As Governor
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www.sams.sh THE South Atlantic Media Services, Ltd. Vol. 7,SENTINEL Issue 36 - Price: £1 “serving St Helena and her community worldwide” Thursday 06 December 2018 Rushbrook to Succeed Lisa Honan as Governor ... page 4 ... pages 12-13 Team St Helena out STEVENS FAMILYJuicy BUTCHERS Joints ’s on the Atlantic Est 1930 ... page 8 Also Inside... A Look Inside Report on Two Flights a Sports Stevens’ Family HM Prison Week for ‘Peak Coverage is Butchery Released Period’ Back ... pages 9-10 ... page 3 ... page 4 ... pages 32-36 2 www.sams.sh Thursday 06 December 2018 | THE SENTINEL THE SENTINEL | Thursday 06 December 2018 www.sams.sh 3 OPINION YOUR LETTERS ST HELENA NEWS Edith and Nigel Dollery and Moma to the cancellation of the Basil Read Dottie will not be sending local Contract on St.Helena: SENTINEL Christmas cards this year, 2018, but 1. How many individuals, previously Report on HM Prison, will make a donation to a local caring employed by Basil Read, are now organisation. They wish everyone directly employed by the St Helena they know on the island a merry Government, on either a temporary COMMENT or full time basis, as a direct result Donna Crowie, SAMS Christmas and a happy New Year. Jamestown, Released of the cancellation of the Basil Read Contract by the St.Helena Emma Weaver, SAMS Oh my word, it’s December 6th Thank You Government? use in the 1850s. Over 150 years and equal opportunities are not already. And it’s a special day in our 2. How many Contractors, household today, as it’s my baby The family of the late Jenneth “[...] it remains my view that the later, the nearly 200-year-old prison provided); inadequate toilet facilities Williams, affectionately known to previously under sub-contract girl’s birthday (well not so much a to Basil Read, are now directly or existing prison is insecure, unsafe, remains in use. The prison does and meeting points; and conflicting baby anymore). So happy 4th birthday us as Jenny who passed away on the and breaches human rights legislation not conform to modern standards, duties of Police Officers and Prison Hayley Mae xxx. indirectly contracted to the St.Helena 3rd November would like to express Government? (recently enshrined into the Island’s and the cells have been a continual Guards. December, December – with just 19 their sincere thanks and gratitude Constitution) and is consequently problem.” There was however one main days away from Christmas Day. I bet 3. Can DFID please provide the to the staff of the Princess Royal actual total costs incurred to date, not fit for purpose. I believe that The report then outlines why congratulatory finding within the people are start to mark off their St Community Care Centre for their care Saint Helena Government is highly Helena check lists now: and the estimated costs to be the Human Rights Commission report: Christmas cards sent to family and and attention to her in her last years. incurred in the future, by DFID and vulnerable to legal challenge by any launched the inquiry into the prison: “The Commission found that friends abroad; decorations up; lights Thanks are also extended to Fr Clive the St Helena Government which are of the prison’s occupants or their The reasoning was the three OTPA the staff, staff-prisoner relations, up; windows cleaned; new curtains and Fr Jack for the funeral service, wholly attributed to the cancellation representatives, and that the cost reports, and the 50+ accounts from medical service and basic education bought and ready to put up; freezers Mrs Joy George the Organist, Lt. of the Basil Read Airport Contract by of a successful challenge would be prisoners and their families, which all met or exceeded the standards stocked up; etc. Coral Yon for reading the Lesson and the St.Helena Government? significant.” all detailed why the interior of the defined by United Nations Standard And I must say it’s beginning to look Eulogy, Roy and his Team, Davina The UK Government in response This excerpt is from a 2010 report on prison building raises human rights Minimum Rules for Prisons and the at lot like Christmas on the island too. and Colin for the beautiful wreaths, stated that I should write to the Her Majesty’s Prison in Jamestown. issues. human rights instruments extended It was great this week to see the first Solomon and Company for their St Helena Government to obtain a This and two other reports (written “The physical condition of the to St Helena. The Commission has of the two flights per week that are support and also to Saint FM and formal response to the questions in 2009 and 2015), all by the Overseas cells for adult male prisoners is nothing but respect and regard planned for St Helena on the Saturdays SAMS Radio for the announcements. I raised (which of course I did) Territories Prison Advisor (OTPA), unacceptable,” reads the 2009 OTPA for how the people involved have and Tuesdays of the festive season. but since the 7th November I have Families will be reunited with their Thank you to everyone who received little attention/action over report. “There are 3 cells, each one created such success in very difficult generously gave flowers and sent nothing – not even the courtesy of an the years. able to hold up to 4 prisoners, but the surroundings.” loved ones who have been off-island, acknowledgement from the St.Helena and for those people out there who messages of condolences either by But in March, those three reports – cells have no sanitation facilities and card or telephone and attended her Government that my request for as well as over 50 personal accounts don’t want to spend Christmas on the information had been received. no windows. Fresh air and natural Recommendations island, I am not sure how many spaces funeral. from prisoners and their families light is negligible and I do not The 38 recommendations are listed are left for the 50% discount but that I can only assume from the May she Rest in Peace until we meet deafening silence, that the St.Helena during the 2017/18 financial year – consider that the accommodation next within the report. could be a nice little getaway. again. spurred the St Helena Human Rights would withstand a challenge under Eighteen of the recommendations The MV Helena on Wednesday arrived Government and their Senior Management Team has something to Commission to launch an inquiry into Article 3 of the Human Rights Act (which include the transfer of back for her final voyage before human rights abuses at HM Prison. Christmas. On this call she will be off hide, are simply too embarrassed to 1998. (Article 7 of our Constitution). Emergency Overnight Contact to Ascension Island and will return Dear Editor, respond, or potentially worst of all, And on Monday, after the eight- I believe that the cells need quickly from prison staff to the police, and to St Helena again on the 18th of On 7th November I wrote to the cannot answer the questions because month inquiry, the Commission to be taken out of use or significant increased fire drills) are listed as ‘high December – ooh, which is on a Tuesday UK Government asking them, under they do not know the answers ! released the final document – a 122- changes made to them to make them priority’ and are to be completed just like the extra flight. Now I wonder the Freedom of Information Act, to Whatever the reasons, their silence page report on “the Conditions of habitable.” by June 1, 2019. Twelve of these what will happen there, will there be respond to three simple questions. only adds more certainty to the Detention at Her Majesty’s Prison, After reading and hearing high-priority recommendations are any hold ups with both a flight and the The questions were these: charges of incompetence within DFID Jamestown.” such reports, the Human Rights assigned to the Police Directorate; MV Helena coming in on the same day? Re: St Helena Airport and the St.Helena Government on The report details 47 main findings Commission had a “statutory four are assigned to the Prison We will just have to wait and see. Can the UK Government please this matter. and 38 recommendations. obligation” to launch an inquiry into Manager; one is assigned to the This is my last comment for the year, confirm the following which relates Richard Lewis In general, it says that although the prison. Prison Project Board; and one is so I would like to take this opportunity to wish each and everyone one of you a relevant parties had all seen the assigned to the Health Directorate. very merry Christmas and a happy and Prison Advisor reports and had Findings Seven of the recommendations are healthy New Year. been given expert advice on how to The majority of the 47 main findings listed as ‘medium priority’ to be improve the prison, little has been of the report relate to fire safety: completed by Dec. 1, 2019. And for anyone wanting to done over the years; and the inquiry “St Helena Government and its Five of the recommendations are to found that: Senior Officials have demonstrably be complete within two years; and send good wishes to family “Many aspects of the prison known since 2009 that the prison eight recommendations have been and friends on the island via building fail to meet the standards is a serious risk to life due to the given for the new prison that may The Sentinel - don’t forget set by the United Nations Standard realistic danger of fire,” reads the soon be built to replace HM Prison.