THE South Atlantic Media Services, Ltd. www.sams.sh Vol. 6,SENTINEL Issue 18 - Price: £1 “serving St Helena and her community worldwide” Thursday 03 August 2017 Rebecca Lawrence becomes fi rst St Helenian veterinary doctor “As a Saint, I hope this proves that what we have at home is enough for people to achieve high standards,” she said. “If you don’t think too much of yourself, and are willing to make sacrifi ces and put in the work, then I think St Helena is a great place to come from.” ... page 13 Bahamas Team Returns Schools Open Days Rosie... page Bargo 13 talks about A look back at car ... page 30-32 her new cocktail bar history on St Helena ... page 5 ... page 14 First Formal Legislative Council Meeting ... page 4 2 www.sams.sh Thursday 03 August 2017 | THE SENTINEL ST HELENA SNIPPETS Photo 2: The usual way to get large cargo from Snapshots the RMS onto the wharf. Photo by Emma Weaver. of the week News bites from this work week Emma Weaver, SAMS Monday, July 31 Pilling Open Day: (see page 30) Digital Strategy Draft public consultation meeting: 7pm in the Jamestown Community Centre worsen.” Public Library Closes Temporarily: “The The RMS fi nally departed St Helena, head- Public Library in Jamestown will be closed Tuesday, August 1 ed to Ascension, at 18:05 with 54 passengers temporarily from Wednesday, 2 August 2017, Rainbow of St James Bay: See Photo 1. A (who had boarded at noon) and 56 crew on- to allow renovation works to take place. It is rainbow arched over the yachts in St James board. The estimated time of arrival at Ascen- anticipated that works will take several weeks Bay, mirroring the curve of the cliff by West sion Island is 7:00am Friday, August 4. to complete, and updates will be provided as Rocks. Minimum Wage Increase: See Photo 3. The works progress. Harford Open Day: (see page 31) St Helena Minimum Wage increase, which Members of the public who would like to RMS gets delayed due to sea conditions: was announced in May 2017, came into effect. borrow extra books during this temporary clo- See Photo 2. The Minimum Wage increased from £2.60 to sure are welcome to do so before Wednesday, “St Helena is currently experiencing a sig- £2.95 per hour for all employees aged 18 and 2 August.” nifi cant south south-westerly swell that is fore- older. The increase for employees aged 16 and cast to last throughout this week, running into 17 was from £1.65 to £2.00 per hour. Thursday, August 3 the weekend,” a press release said. “The pub- Pilling year 6 students, who are about to lic is asked to use caution when accessing the Wednesday, August 2 move up to Prince Andrew, talk and play Sea Front area. To avoid damage to vehicles, music live on SAMS Radio 1 from 10am to drivers are also asked to take care when park- First formal LegCo of new council is broadcast live on SAMS Radio 1, starting noon: This will be rebroadcast Sunday, Au- ing near the safety rails. The same conditions gust 6 at 1pm. are expected in Rupert’s Bay and the public is at 10am: (see page 4) advised to take care in the Beach, Shears and Land Development Control Authority Wharf areas. Port Control will be monitoring monthly meeting takes place: 9am at the Friday, August 4 sea conditions and may restrict access to the ELC Celebration of Achievement takes place Sea Front and Jamestown Wharf if conditions St Pauls Open Day: (See page 32) at Prince Andrew School: (see next week’s paper) Photo 3: £2.95 is the new adult-worker minimum wage. £2.00 is the new minimum wage for workers aged 16 and 17. Photo by Mic- kail Harris. Photo 1: A rainbow arches over the yachts in St James Bay, mirroring the curve of the cliff by West Rocks.. Photo by Emma Weaver. THE SENTINEL | Thursday 03 August 2017 www.sams.sh 3 ST HELENA SNIPPETS Keeping Up with the Councillors As the 12 new council members have now sworn their oaths and started their four-year terms, it is important to remember the goals they had during their campaigns. Therefore, for each of the next six weeks we will look back at some of the goals listed by two councillors in their campaigns for the 2017 General Election, and the ideas they had for the island’s future. For the fi rst week, we have two members of the former council who were re-elected; Law- son Henry and Derek Thomas. Andrew Turner, SAMS changes in regards to these issues. It may hope it does for the benefi t of the island. mean more hotels coming to the island. Signifi cant investment has been placed in We have to be ready for that change. But the health service and I wouldn’t want to importantly, even though the British Gov- see the health service going backwards. I ernment signed off on the airport to say want to see the service is maintained and that it was the best way to bring an econo- moved forward. my to the island, St Helena is never going to be a place that can take mass tourism. Q: What community issues are you That is why it is important that we strike looking to solve? those balances, because if we don’t, we will be lost amongst that. A: I’m very mindful of the elderly. Gov- ernment’s intention is that the elderly should stay in their homes for as long as possible. You often get requests from el- derly folks who are on the basic island pension and some cases on Income Re- lated Benefi ts, and they need essential works done to their premises. With very limited funding, this has always been dif- fi cult to achieve. I am pleased to say that the outgoing council has committed to a Lawson Henry budget increase to support the elderly in terms of home adaptations and general support. That will add value to the elderly. Q: Ideally what would you like to see I am hoping if I am re-elected I can push the budget spent on? for a change to the Income Related Ben- efi ts system. The issue is that benefi ts are A: We have some “big ticket” items com- granted on the household and recipients ing up. We have a wharf in Ruperts that is are not paid as individuals. So if you are not operational. The closer we get to air- receiving benefi ts and someone in the access, it means the closer we get to the house subsequently works, then the ben- RMS going offl ine. And that wharf will efi ts are taken away and the person who is need to become operational. Sadly, when Derek Thomas working is expected to keep the individu- we had approval for this year’s budget it al. In my view, that is not right. only included 1.4 million for capital ex- Q: What responsibilities does the in- penditure. That was a roll-over from what coming council have in regards to the Q: In What sectors do you believe the we spent on the previous year’s budget. health sector? island could most quickly and easily achieve economic growth? Q: What changes do you see in the is- A: The incoming council will have to A: Obviously to achieve economic lands future, and how will you balance decide on priorities. It is important to es- growth we are hoping that we get regu- these with the island’s heritage and cul- tablish priorities in line with the island’s lar tourists. That would bring economic ture? strategies, because with the limited fund- growth because in most cases they would ing it is going to be diffi cult to spread the be staying for about a week or probably A: With regular commercial fl ights there money around. As a result of the last coun- two as opposed to tourist ships now who are going to be more people coming to the cil deciding on health as a top priority, only stay for the day. Once we get air ac- island. Those people will want goods and there have been some signifi cant achieve- cess, I’m hopeful that we can attract some services and there will be opportunities ments in the health sector. There is still a form of inward investors, who have money for Saints to provide these goods and ser- way to go and further achievements need to spend; that will generate the economy. vices. I think with more people, they will to be made, but that very much depends require different things and there will be on health continuing to be a priority; I 4 www.sams.sh Thursday 03 August 2017 | THE SENTINEL OPINION ST HELENA SNIPPETS SENTINEL And So It Begins... COMMENT First Formal Legislative Council Meeting Mic-kail Harris, SAMS This is currently my fi fth week work- ing at SAMS, and so far it has been a blast. I never had so much fun before. In fact I have been sick for the fi rst and third week, and yet I still turned up and never missed a single day (even on Saturdays, when I don’t actually work but I go into the studio Andrew Turner, SAMS of President from the Governor. to record my ‘A dose of Dubstep’ show).