ACCESS FEASIBILITY STUDY: TERMS OF REFERENCE RELEASED

As readers will be aware, the feasibility study into future access options for St Helena is underway. Atkins Management Consultants (Atkins) began work in May, and a number of their specialist staff has already been to the island.

Their recommendations are expected to inform key decisions on future access arrangements, which hopefully will be taken by around the end of this year.

The work so far has involved the direct participation of Saints in St Helena, Ascension Island, The Falkland Islands and Cape Town. This consultation will extend shortly to the large St Helenian community in the UK, where Atkins are planning a series of meetings later this month in locations around the country.

We are now able to inform the public that the ‘Terms of Reference’ for the Feasibility Study into Access Options for St Helena are available for anyone who would be interested in seeing them.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with ‘Terms of Reference’, it is a document used by SHG/DFID to give a brief, overall scope of work that is expected to be undertaken by another party (in this case, Atkins).  The other party must ensure that the tasks are covered and the overall scope and objectives are achieved.

The Terms of Reference for the feasibility study includes a brief outline of:

• The Background
• Purpose of the work
• Outputs expected
• Scope of work
• Main tasks

A copy of the Terms of Reference will be placed in the Public Library but individual copies can be obtained from me, Sharon Wainwright, by either emailing [email protected] or by telephoning 2477. Also, as always, I am available to answer any questions or help in any way I can.

It is hoped that many Saints will take advantage of the release of this document to further familiarise themselves with the detail of this current study.

Sharon Wainwright

Project Coordinator

Queen Victoria’s book casket

On Thursday 22^nd July at 1230, HE the Governor will be presenting a Book Casket complete with books to the Museum. 

These Historical items were a gift from Queen Victoria to the St Helena Library.  The Casket contains 7 books, some of which are signed by the Queen. These books clearly state the Queen’s undying love for her husband Prince Albert who died in 1861 of Typhoid fever. After his death the Queen mourned obsessively and went into seclusion until her Golden Jubilee in 1887.

Included in this collection is a bible signed by G.J Price, extracts from the Queen’s journal entitled ‘life in the highlands’ and other books by the Queen such as, The early years of the Prince Consort and The Prince Consort “Albert”.

As these items have such an interesting past, Governor Hollamby decided that they would not receive the attention they deserve if they remained in his office; therefore the Museum would be the most appropriate place for them. Invited guests and the public can witness Governor Hollamby presenting the Casket and books to the Museum where they will be displayed for all to see.

Public Relations/Information Office

Office of the Chief Secretary

14^th  July 2004

Kate McCleery – Visiting Legal Adviser.

Kate McCleery a Legal Adviser for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office arrived on the RMS on Sunday evening.  Ms McCleery has been responsible for drafting the new constitution, together with Ian Hendry who visited the Island last year.

Ms McCleery will be conducting workshops with Members of Leg Co and Heads of Department on the meaning and implications of the draft Constitution including and the draft Human Rights Chapter.  The first of these workshops took place on Tuesday morning when discussions focussed on ‘partnership values’ and the role of the Governor.

The public will be included in these discussions via workshops and media interviews. As part of this process, meetings will be held with as many people as possible including the Public Service, SHDA, The Bank of St Helena, the Private Sector and non Government Organisations. Everyone is welcome to a public workshop at 7:30pm on Monday 19^th July, at the Consulate Hotel.

The youth of the Island will not be left out, as Ms Mc Cleery will also be meeting and holding discussions with the New Horizons Youth Group.

Ms Mc Cleery will depart St Helena on the 27^th July, hopefully leaving behind a clear picture of what is to be expected of the new Constitution.  After her visit, a further draft of the Constitution will be produced, taking account of local comments.  It is hoped that the new Constitution will come into force in July 2005.

Public Relations/Information Office

Office of the Chief Secretary

14^th  July 2004

The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme – a scheme worth saving.

The Duke of Edinburgh introduced his award scheme in 1956 to encourage young people from the age of 14 – 25 to develop qualities such as maturity and responsibility.  The scheme now operates in over 50 countries one of which is St Helena.

The scheme is a programme of activities, which encourages young people to develop skills, experience adventure and feel the reward of achievement. There are four sections of activities, which are:

Service – providing service to others, Police, Firemen etc.  Expedition – to encourage a spirit of adventure, walking, camping etc. Skills – developing personal interests and social and practical skills and Physical Recreation – improving/mastering a sport or physical activity.

Leonora Pitcairn a UK visiting Education Adviser, made the suggestion to start the scheme on the Island, and Sir Thomas Oates, the Governor of St Helena at the time, was very keen to see this happen.  As a result, the Governor in office will always be invited to be the President of the Award Scheme, here on St Helena.

St Helena has been operating the scheme since 1973 and has seen over 300 participants gain awards in Bronze, Silver or Gold. The first activities started in early 1974, therefore the first participants in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme on St Helena could well be nearing 50 years old.  Some of these participants used the scheme as a stepping-stone, and actually embarked on careers they were introduced to via the scheme.

 As the scheme approaches its Annual General Meeting on the 26^th of this month at the New Horizons Centre, the Chairperson, Joan P Flagg has informed us that regrettably, it will lose three significant committee members who have been volunteering their much appreciated expertise for a number of years. Daphne Francis, who has been the Treasurer since the scheme started, along with the Liaison Officer from Prince Andrew School, Dawn Thomas and the Secretary Dorothy Fagan will all be standing down from their respective positions.  With this in mind the scheme wishes to recruit new committee members - committed adults who could volunteer management and administration skills and who have a genuine interest in the development of the young people of the Island. If you are one of these people, do come forward; the committee would be delighted to hear from you.

Although the scheme is operated on a voluntary basis the committee members and instructors who give up their valuable time feel that they are rewarded by the satisfaction of knowing that they have helped a good number of young people develop and mature whilst contributing in some small way to the community.

Public Relations/Information Officer

Office of the Chief Secretary

14^th  July 2004