| SAINT HELENA Ascension, Saint Helena, Tristan Da Cunha, Nightingale and Gough Islands (Overseas territory of the United Kingdom) Joined United Nations: 24 October 1945 Human Rights as assured by their constitution Click here Updated 09/30/10 |
| CAPITAL |
| POPULATION |
| CHIEF OF STATE |
| SELECTION PROCESS |
Jamestown
7,637
note: only Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha islands are inhabited (July
2010 est.)
note: only Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha islands are inhabited (July
2010 est.)
Andrew Gurr
Governor and Commander in Chief since
11 November 2007
Governor and Commander in Chief since
11 November 2007
The monarch is hereditary
Next scheduled election: None
Next scheduled election: None
HEAD OF GOVERNMENT
SELECTION PROCESS
Governor is appointed by the monarch
Next scheduled election: None
Next scheduled election: None
| DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS |
| ETHNIC GROUPS |
African descent 50%, white 25%, Chinese 25%
| RELIGIONS |
Anglican (majority), Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic
| GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE |
Overseas territory of the UK with 1 administrative area and 2 dependencies; Legal system is English common law and statutes,
supplemented by local statutes
Executive: The monarch is hereditary; governor is appointed by the monarch
Legislative: Unicameral Legislative Council (16 seats, including the speaker, three ex officio and 12 elected members; members
are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 4 November 2009 (next to be held in 2013)
Judicial: Magistrate's Court; Supreme Court; Court of Appeal
supplemented by local statutes
Executive: The monarch is hereditary; governor is appointed by the monarch
Legislative: Unicameral Legislative Council (16 seats, including the speaker, three ex officio and 12 elected members; members
are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 4 November 2009 (next to be held in 2013)
Judicial: Magistrate's Court; Supreme Court; Court of Appeal
| LANGUAGES |
English
| BRIEF HISTORY |
The island was discovered on May 21, 1502 by the Portuguese navigator João da Nova, on his voyage home from India, and he
named it "Saint Helena". The Portuguese found it uninhabited, with an abundance of trees and fresh water. They imported livestock
(mainly goats), fruit trees and vegetables, built a chapel and one or two houses, and left their sick there to be taken home, if they
recovered, by the next ship, but they formed no permanent settlement. The Portuguese kept the location of the island a secret. They
wanted to keep this strategically-placed watering place to themselves. Its first known permanent resident was Portuguese, Fernão
Lopez who had turned traitor in India and had been mutilated by order of Albuquerque, the Governor of Goa. Fernando Lopes
preferred being marooned to returning to Portugal in his maimed condition, and lived on Saint Helena from 1513. By royal
command Lopez did visit Portugal some time later, but returned to Saint Helena, where he died in 1530. When the island was
discovered, it was covered with unique (indigenous) vegetation, including many tropical trees. The island's interior must have been a
dense tropical forest but the coastal areas were probably quite green as well. The modern landscape is very different, with a lot of
naked rock in the lower areas, and a high interior that is green—but mainly of imported vegetation. The dramatic change in
landscape must be contributed to the introduction of goats and the introduction of new vegetation. In 1584 two Japanese
ambassadors to Rome landed at the island. The first Englishman known to have visited it was Thomas Cavendish, who touched
there in June 1588 during his voyage round the world. Another English seaman, Captain Kendall, visited Saint Helena in 1591, and
in 1593 Sir James Lancaster stopped at the island on his way home from the East. In 1603 Lancaster again visited Saint Helena on
his return from the first voyage equipped by the British East India Company. From about 1600 the island was well known by
captains from Portugal, England, France and the United Provinces. The island was used for collecting food and as a rendez-vous
point but at homebound voyages from Asia only: during outbound voyages the ships sailed hundreds of kilometres west of Saint
Helena. Sometimes ships waited near the island, when their captains were hoping to pirate hostile richly-loaded ships. For example,
the Italian merchant Fransesco Carletti, sailing on board a Portuguese ship, was robbed of his valuable possessions by Dutch (or
more precise, Zeeuws) mariners in 1602 [1 in his autobiography entitled My voyage around the world: The chronicles of a 16th
Century Florentine Merchant and his story is confirmed in Dutch archives]. After about 1610 the Portuguese seem to have given up
calling at the island, which appears to have been occupied by the Dutch in about 1645. The Dutch occupation was temporary and
ceased in 1651, the year before they founded Cape Town. The British East India Company appropriated the island immediately
after the departure of the Dutch, and they were confirmed in possession by a clause in their charter of 1661. The company built a
fort (1658), named "Jamestown" after the Duke of York (later James II), and established a garrison on the island. In 1673 the
Dutch succeeded in obtaining possession, but were ejected after a few months' occupation. Since that date St Helena has been in
the undisturbed possession of Great Britain, though in 1706, two ships anchored off Jamestown were carried off by the French. In
1673 the Dutch had been expelled by the forces of the Crown, but by a new charter granted in December 1673 the East India
Company were declared the true and absolute lords and proprietors of the island. At this time nearly half the inhabitants were negro
slaves. In 1810 the company began the importation of Chinese from their factory at Canton, China. During the company's rule the
island prospered, thousands of homeward-bound vessels anchored in the roadstead every year, staying for considerable periods,
refitting and revictualling. Large sums of money were thus expended in the island, where wealthy merchants and officials had their
residence. The plantations were worked by the slaves, who were subjected to very barbarous laws until 1792, when a new code of
regulations ensured their humane treatment and prohibited the importation of any new slaves. Later it was enacted that all children of
slaves born on or after Christmas Day 1818 should be free, and between 1826 and 1836 all slaves were manumitted. Among the
governors appointed by the company to rule at Saint Helena was one of the Huguenot refugees, Captain Stephen Poirier (1697 -
1707), who attempted unsuccessfully to introduce the cultivation of the grape vine. A later governor (1741-1742) was Robert
Jenkins of "War of Jenkins' Ear" fame. William Dampier visited the island twice, in 1691 and 1701; Halley's Mount commemorates
the visit paid by the astronomer Edmund Halley in 1676 - 1678 - the first of a number of scientific men who pursued their studies on
the island.In 1815 the British government selected Saint Helena as the place of detention of Napoleon Bonaparte. He was brought
to the island in October 1815 and lodged at Longwood, where he died in May 1821. During this period the island was strongly
garrisoned by regular troops, and the governor, Sir Hudson Lowe, was selected by the Crown. In fact, the island was heavily
overpopulated with thousands of soldiers and dozens of VIPs, including some French aristocratic families belonging to Napoleon's
household and many British officers with their families. Much of the island's food had to be imported as fish became scarce. Many
soldiers died on the island as result of poor sanitary conditions. Foreign ships became less welcome. After Napoleon's death the
thousands of temporary visitors were soon withdrawn. The East India Company resumed full control of Saint Helena and life
returned to the pre-1815 standards - apart from the gradual emancipation of the slaves. As a result of an act passed in the British
Parliament in 1833, on April 22, 1834 the rule of the East India Company was discontinued and Saint Helena became a British
Crown colony. As a port of call the island continued to enjoy a fair measure of prosperity until about 1870. For example, around
the 1840s and 1850s the island was an important basis for the suppression of the illegal slave trade. From about 1870 the number
of vessels visiting Jamestown went sharply down, depriving the islanders of their principal means of subsistence. When steamers
began to replace sailing vessels and when the Suez Canal opened (in 1869) fewer ships passed the island, while of those that still
passed, the majority were so well supplied that they found it unnecessary to call. The withdrawal in 1906 of the small garrison,
hitherto maintained by the imperial government, was another cause of depression. Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo, son of the Zulu king
Cetshwayo, was imprisoned at St Helena from 1890 to 1897. During the Second Boer War (1899–1902), the British military,
fearing that Boer prisoners of war might be freed by sympathisers in South Africa, detained around 5,000 POWs on the island. As
a port of call on the long route to the Cape Colonies and India, the Island enjoyed an increased prosperity, until the construction of
the Suez Canal reduced the need for long voyages via the Cape of Good Hope. During World War II, Ascension Island was leased
to the United States, where a large airbase was constructed. After World War II, the prosperity of the Island and its dependencies
decreased. A visit by the Duke of Edinburgh to Ascension, Saint Helena and Tristan da Cunha for a time raised the profile of the
islands. In April 2005 the British Government announced plans to construct an airport on Saint Helena to bolster the Island's
economy, and reduce the dependence on boats to supply the Island. The Airport is currently expected to be open in 2012, though
no firm date has yet been announced. At that time the Royal Mail ship is expected to cease operations.
Source: Wikipedia: History of Saint Helena
named it "Saint Helena". The Portuguese found it uninhabited, with an abundance of trees and fresh water. They imported livestock
(mainly goats), fruit trees and vegetables, built a chapel and one or two houses, and left their sick there to be taken home, if they
recovered, by the next ship, but they formed no permanent settlement. The Portuguese kept the location of the island a secret. They
wanted to keep this strategically-placed watering place to themselves. Its first known permanent resident was Portuguese, Fernão
Lopez who had turned traitor in India and had been mutilated by order of Albuquerque, the Governor of Goa. Fernando Lopes
preferred being marooned to returning to Portugal in his maimed condition, and lived on Saint Helena from 1513. By royal
command Lopez did visit Portugal some time later, but returned to Saint Helena, where he died in 1530. When the island was
discovered, it was covered with unique (indigenous) vegetation, including many tropical trees. The island's interior must have been a
dense tropical forest but the coastal areas were probably quite green as well. The modern landscape is very different, with a lot of
naked rock in the lower areas, and a high interior that is green—but mainly of imported vegetation. The dramatic change in
landscape must be contributed to the introduction of goats and the introduction of new vegetation. In 1584 two Japanese
ambassadors to Rome landed at the island. The first Englishman known to have visited it was Thomas Cavendish, who touched
there in June 1588 during his voyage round the world. Another English seaman, Captain Kendall, visited Saint Helena in 1591, and
in 1593 Sir James Lancaster stopped at the island on his way home from the East. In 1603 Lancaster again visited Saint Helena on
his return from the first voyage equipped by the British East India Company. From about 1600 the island was well known by
captains from Portugal, England, France and the United Provinces. The island was used for collecting food and as a rendez-vous
point but at homebound voyages from Asia only: during outbound voyages the ships sailed hundreds of kilometres west of Saint
Helena. Sometimes ships waited near the island, when their captains were hoping to pirate hostile richly-loaded ships. For example,
the Italian merchant Fransesco Carletti, sailing on board a Portuguese ship, was robbed of his valuable possessions by Dutch (or
more precise, Zeeuws) mariners in 1602 [1 in his autobiography entitled My voyage around the world: The chronicles of a 16th
Century Florentine Merchant and his story is confirmed in Dutch archives]. After about 1610 the Portuguese seem to have given up
calling at the island, which appears to have been occupied by the Dutch in about 1645. The Dutch occupation was temporary and
ceased in 1651, the year before they founded Cape Town. The British East India Company appropriated the island immediately
after the departure of the Dutch, and they were confirmed in possession by a clause in their charter of 1661. The company built a
fort (1658), named "Jamestown" after the Duke of York (later James II), and established a garrison on the island. In 1673 the
Dutch succeeded in obtaining possession, but were ejected after a few months' occupation. Since that date St Helena has been in
the undisturbed possession of Great Britain, though in 1706, two ships anchored off Jamestown were carried off by the French. In
1673 the Dutch had been expelled by the forces of the Crown, but by a new charter granted in December 1673 the East India
Company were declared the true and absolute lords and proprietors of the island. At this time nearly half the inhabitants were negro
slaves. In 1810 the company began the importation of Chinese from their factory at Canton, China. During the company's rule the
island prospered, thousands of homeward-bound vessels anchored in the roadstead every year, staying for considerable periods,
refitting and revictualling. Large sums of money were thus expended in the island, where wealthy merchants and officials had their
residence. The plantations were worked by the slaves, who were subjected to very barbarous laws until 1792, when a new code of
regulations ensured their humane treatment and prohibited the importation of any new slaves. Later it was enacted that all children of
slaves born on or after Christmas Day 1818 should be free, and between 1826 and 1836 all slaves were manumitted. Among the
governors appointed by the company to rule at Saint Helena was one of the Huguenot refugees, Captain Stephen Poirier (1697 -
1707), who attempted unsuccessfully to introduce the cultivation of the grape vine. A later governor (1741-1742) was Robert
Jenkins of "War of Jenkins' Ear" fame. William Dampier visited the island twice, in 1691 and 1701; Halley's Mount commemorates
the visit paid by the astronomer Edmund Halley in 1676 - 1678 - the first of a number of scientific men who pursued their studies on
the island.In 1815 the British government selected Saint Helena as the place of detention of Napoleon Bonaparte. He was brought
to the island in October 1815 and lodged at Longwood, where he died in May 1821. During this period the island was strongly
garrisoned by regular troops, and the governor, Sir Hudson Lowe, was selected by the Crown. In fact, the island was heavily
overpopulated with thousands of soldiers and dozens of VIPs, including some French aristocratic families belonging to Napoleon's
household and many British officers with their families. Much of the island's food had to be imported as fish became scarce. Many
soldiers died on the island as result of poor sanitary conditions. Foreign ships became less welcome. After Napoleon's death the
thousands of temporary visitors were soon withdrawn. The East India Company resumed full control of Saint Helena and life
returned to the pre-1815 standards - apart from the gradual emancipation of the slaves. As a result of an act passed in the British
Parliament in 1833, on April 22, 1834 the rule of the East India Company was discontinued and Saint Helena became a British
Crown colony. As a port of call the island continued to enjoy a fair measure of prosperity until about 1870. For example, around
the 1840s and 1850s the island was an important basis for the suppression of the illegal slave trade. From about 1870 the number
of vessels visiting Jamestown went sharply down, depriving the islanders of their principal means of subsistence. When steamers
began to replace sailing vessels and when the Suez Canal opened (in 1869) fewer ships passed the island, while of those that still
passed, the majority were so well supplied that they found it unnecessary to call. The withdrawal in 1906 of the small garrison,
hitherto maintained by the imperial government, was another cause of depression. Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo, son of the Zulu king
Cetshwayo, was imprisoned at St Helena from 1890 to 1897. During the Second Boer War (1899–1902), the British military,
fearing that Boer prisoners of war might be freed by sympathisers in South Africa, detained around 5,000 POWs on the island. As
a port of call on the long route to the Cape Colonies and India, the Island enjoyed an increased prosperity, until the construction of
the Suez Canal reduced the need for long voyages via the Cape of Good Hope. During World War II, Ascension Island was leased
to the United States, where a large airbase was constructed. After World War II, the prosperity of the Island and its dependencies
decreased. A visit by the Duke of Edinburgh to Ascension, Saint Helena and Tristan da Cunha for a time raised the profile of the
islands. In April 2005 the British Government announced plans to construct an airport on Saint Helena to bolster the Island's
economy, and reduce the dependence on boats to supply the Island. The Airport is currently expected to be open in 2012, though
no firm date has yet been announced. At that time the Royal Mail ship is expected to cease operations.
Source: Wikipedia: History of Saint Helena
| ECONOMIC OVERVIEW |
The economy depends largely on financial assistance from the UK, which amounted to about $27 million in FY06/07 or more than
twice the level of annual budgetary revenues. The local population earns income from fishing, raising livestock, and sales of
handicrafts. Because there are few jobs, 25% of the work force has left to seek employment on Ascension Island, on the Falklands,
and in the UK.
Source: CIA World Factbook (select Saint Helena)
twice the level of annual budgetary revenues. The local population earns income from fishing, raising livestock, and sales of
handicrafts. Because there are few jobs, 25% of the work force has left to seek employment on Ascension Island, on the Falklands,
and in the UK.
Source: CIA World Factbook (select Saint Helena)
| POLITICAL CLIMATE |
Politics of Saint Helena takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic dependency, whereby the
Governor is the head of government. Saint Helena, an island in the southern Atlantic Ocean, is an internally self-governing overseas
territory of the United Kingdom. It has had a constitution since 1 January 1989. Executive power is exercised by the government.
Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Legislative Council. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and
the legislature. Military defence is the responsibility of the United Kingdom.
Saint Helena has two dependencies: Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha. These territories have their own political structures
with Administrators under the Governor of Saint Helena.
The Executive Council consists of the governor, two ex officio officers, and six elected members of the Legislative Council. The
monarch is hereditary; the governor is appointed by the monarch.
The Legislative Council has 15 members, 12 members elected for a four year term by popular vote and 3 members ex officio.
According to the Saint Helena Herald, at the last elections, June 2005, only non-partisans have been elected. In June 2001 the
turnout was 44 %. Saint Helena does not have active political parties. The Saint Helena Labour Party and Saint Helena Progressive
Party existed until 1976.
Source: Wikipedia: Politics of Saint Helena
Governor is the head of government. Saint Helena, an island in the southern Atlantic Ocean, is an internally self-governing overseas
territory of the United Kingdom. It has had a constitution since 1 January 1989. Executive power is exercised by the government.
Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Legislative Council. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and
the legislature. Military defence is the responsibility of the United Kingdom.
Saint Helena has two dependencies: Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha. These territories have their own political structures
with Administrators under the Governor of Saint Helena.
The Executive Council consists of the governor, two ex officio officers, and six elected members of the Legislative Council. The
monarch is hereditary; the governor is appointed by the monarch.
The Legislative Council has 15 members, 12 members elected for a four year term by popular vote and 3 members ex officio.
According to the Saint Helena Herald, at the last elections, June 2005, only non-partisans have been elected. In June 2001 the
turnout was 44 %. Saint Helena does not have active political parties. The Saint Helena Labour Party and Saint Helena Progressive
Party existed until 1976.
Source: Wikipedia: Politics of Saint Helena
| INTERNATIONAL DISPUTES |
None reported.
| REFUGEES AND INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDPS) |
None reported.
| ILLICIT DRUGS |
None reported.
| HUMAN RIGHTS STATEMENTS, ANALYSIS AND CRITIQUES |
09-22-10
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE 2012 DIVERSITY IMMIGRANT VISA PROGRAM (DV-2012)
The congressionally mandated Diversity Immigrant Visa Program is administered on an annual basis by the Department of State and
conducted under the terms of Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Section 131 of the Immigration Act of 1990
(Pub. L. 101-649) amended INA 203 and provides for a class of immigrants known as “diversity immigrants.” Section 203(c) of the
INA provides a maximum of 55,000 Diversity Visas (DVs) each fiscal year to be made available to persons from countries with low
rates of immigration to the United States. For fiscal year 2012, 50,000 DVs will be available.
Natives of the following European countries are not eligible for this year’s diversity program: Great Britain (United Kingdom) and Poland.
Great Britain (United Kingdom) includes the following dependent areas: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands,
Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn, St. Helena, and Turks and Caicos Islands. Note that for purposes of the diversity
program only, Northern Ireland is treated separately; Northern Ireland does qualify and is listed among the qualifying areas.
Click here to read more »
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE 2012 DIVERSITY IMMIGRANT VISA PROGRAM (DV-2012)
The congressionally mandated Diversity Immigrant Visa Program is administered on an annual basis by the Department of State and
conducted under the terms of Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Section 131 of the Immigration Act of 1990
(Pub. L. 101-649) amended INA 203 and provides for a class of immigrants known as “diversity immigrants.” Section 203(c) of the
INA provides a maximum of 55,000 Diversity Visas (DVs) each fiscal year to be made available to persons from countries with low
rates of immigration to the United States. For fiscal year 2012, 50,000 DVs will be available.
Natives of the following European countries are not eligible for this year’s diversity program: Great Britain (United Kingdom) and Poland.
Great Britain (United Kingdom) includes the following dependent areas: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands,
Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn, St. Helena, and Turks and Caicos Islands. Note that for purposes of the diversity
program only, Northern Ireland is treated separately; Northern Ireland does qualify and is listed among the qualifying areas.
Click here to read more »
02 September 2010
UNITED KINGDOM OVERSEAS TERRITORIES AND CROWN DEPENDENCIES
SUMMARY REPORTS
ST HELENA AND its DEPENDENCIES
(Ascension and Tristan da Cunha)
PART I: ST HELENA
CHAPTER I: GENERAL MEASURES OF IMPLEMENTATION
1. There are no specific human rights institutions or committees in St Helena. However by virtue of The Queen and The Attorney
General (ex parte Philip Lake) {Case No SC M 2/01} The Human Rights Act 1998 applies in St Helena. Work is to be undertaken to
enact a local Human Rights Act in the near future.
2. The Convention was ratified by the United Kingdom with a number of reservations in respect of itself and the dependent
territories. When submitting our initial report in 1998 the view was taken that it would be premature to withdraw these reservations made
by the United Kingdom in respect of St Helena. We are not aware of any change in circumstances that would warrant the withdrawal of
these reservations.
3. Protection of children and young persons is specifically provided for under The Children and Young Persons Ordinance (CAP
83) which defines a child as a person under the age of sixteen years and a young person as a person who is between sixteen and
eighteen years of age and The Child Care Ordinance (CAP 82) which defines a child as a person who has not attained eighteen years of
age.
4. It is believed that the above measures substantially bring St Helena into conformity with the principles and provisions of the
Convention but no further Ordinances have been enacted specifically to meet the provisions of the Convention since the last report.
5. As stated above the Human Rights Act 1998 provisions apply in St Helena and therefore such remedies as are available under that
Act are available to children. No monitoring of the implementation of the Convention is undertaken as such. No separate dedicated
national human rights institution exists on St Helena.
6. The multi-agency Child Protection Working Group (CPWG) posted a CRC charter in schools. Promotion has taken place through
child protection presentations to classes of children and a limited adult audience. The Social Work Division’s (SWD) endeavour is to use
the media services, presentations, opportunities during public meetings and leaflet publication to make the principles and provisions of the
convention widely known. New Horizons (NH) is in the process of setting up Youth Forums where staff will discuss matters such as
the Rights of the child with the youth of St. Helena. It will also hold quarterly parental meetings where they can discuss issues on Child
rights. One of the aims of the organisation is to work closely with the media to get information across to both adults and children.
Click here to read more »
UNITED KINGDOM OVERSEAS TERRITORIES AND CROWN DEPENDENCIES
SUMMARY REPORTS
ST HELENA AND its DEPENDENCIES
(Ascension and Tristan da Cunha)
PART I: ST HELENA
CHAPTER I: GENERAL MEASURES OF IMPLEMENTATION
1. There are no specific human rights institutions or committees in St Helena. However by virtue of The Queen and The Attorney
General (ex parte Philip Lake) {Case No SC M 2/01} The Human Rights Act 1998 applies in St Helena. Work is to be undertaken to
enact a local Human Rights Act in the near future.
2. The Convention was ratified by the United Kingdom with a number of reservations in respect of itself and the dependent
territories. When submitting our initial report in 1998 the view was taken that it would be premature to withdraw these reservations made
by the United Kingdom in respect of St Helena. We are not aware of any change in circumstances that would warrant the withdrawal of
these reservations.
3. Protection of children and young persons is specifically provided for under The Children and Young Persons Ordinance (CAP
83) which defines a child as a person under the age of sixteen years and a young person as a person who is between sixteen and
eighteen years of age and The Child Care Ordinance (CAP 82) which defines a child as a person who has not attained eighteen years of
age.
4. It is believed that the above measures substantially bring St Helena into conformity with the principles and provisions of the
Convention but no further Ordinances have been enacted specifically to meet the provisions of the Convention since the last report.
5. As stated above the Human Rights Act 1998 provisions apply in St Helena and therefore such remedies as are available under that
Act are available to children. No monitoring of the implementation of the Convention is undertaken as such. No separate dedicated
national human rights institution exists on St Helena.
6. The multi-agency Child Protection Working Group (CPWG) posted a CRC charter in schools. Promotion has taken place through
child protection presentations to classes of children and a limited adult audience. The Social Work Division’s (SWD) endeavour is to use
the media services, presentations, opportunities during public meetings and leaflet publication to make the principles and provisions of the
convention widely known. New Horizons (NH) is in the process of setting up Youth Forums where staff will discuss matters such as
the Rights of the child with the youth of St. Helena. It will also hold quarterly parental meetings where they can discuss issues on Child
rights. One of the aims of the organisation is to work closely with the media to get information across to both adults and children.
Click here to read more »
No Reports from Freedom House mentioning Saint Helena after exhaustive search of their database. Please forward any
information you may have regarding Freedom House efforts on behalf of Saint Helena to the Pax Gaea World Report editor at
the link below
Contact the editor »
information you may have regarding Freedom House efforts on behalf of Saint Helena to the Pax Gaea World Report editor at
the link below
Contact the editor »
No Reports from Amnesty International mentioning Saint Helena after exhaustive search of their database. Please forward
any information you may have regarding Amnesty International efforts on behalf of Saint Helena to the Pax Gaea World
Report editor at the link below
Contact the editor »
any information you may have regarding Amnesty International efforts on behalf of Saint Helena to the Pax Gaea World
Report editor at the link below
Contact the editor »
No Reports from Human Rights Watch mentioning Saint Helena after exhaustive search of their database. Please forward any
information you may have regarding Human Rights Watch efforts on behalf of Saint Helena to the Pax Gaea World Report
editor at the link below
Contact the editor »
information you may have regarding Human Rights Watch efforts on behalf of Saint Helena to the Pax Gaea World Report
editor at the link below
Contact the editor »
ExCo Report
30 September 2010
Yesterday’s ExCo meeting covered a wide range of important issues, and the discussion lasted well into the afternoon. It is for this
reason that I am giving my normal broadcast the following morning.
The first item on the open agenda was a paper presented by the Acting Chief Secretary on the meeting of the Overseas Territories
Consultative Council to be held in London in November. A formal letter of invitation from Mr. Henry Bellingham, the FCO Minister with
responsibility for the Overseas Territories, was attached. Elected Members advised me that they had agreed that the Hon Tara Thomas
should represent St Helena at this important event. There was also agreement that the future relationship between the United Kingdom,
the Overseas Territories in general and St Helena in particular, would be a key area for discussion. Council has already submitted a
proposed agenda item on the position of the new UK Government on the 1999 White Paper, which deals with this theme.
The second item, presented by the Deputy Chairperson of the Home and International Committee, concerned a proposal from the FCO
to accept the right of petition to the European Court of Human Rights by groups or individuals in St Helena on a permanent basis; it had
previously been extended for five years. Members welcomed this move by HMG, which has also been accepted by Ascension and
Tristan da Cunha.
Members then turned to an item from the Chairman of the Health and Social Welfare Committee, and endorsed the submission of the
Public Health (Amendment) Bill 2010 to the forthcoming meeting of the Legislative Council. The Bill, if passed into law, will allow the
enforcement in St Helena of the latest WHO International Health Regulations that are relevant here, and also the establishment of a Health
Protection Board. This Board will handle the operational side of applying public health measures on the Island, leaving the Committee to
concentrate on strategy and policy. This is a good example, in my view, of a sensible division of responsibility between the “political”
role of the Council Committees and the “implementation” role of officers and expert stakeholders.
The final substantive item on the open agenda was a paper from the Deputy Chairman of the Civil Society, Tourism and Leisure
Committee seeking Council’s endorsement of the St Helena Tourism Development Project. This is a (literally!) weighty document which
puts flesh on the bones of the outline Tourism Plan, and its submission to DfID will allow the release of the very substantial funding
agreed by them in the Development Funding Agreement earlier this year. I congratulated the Committee, the Tourism Commission, the
Strategic Planning and Policy Unit, the Tourism Department and other stakeholders in pulling together this crucial piece of work. Whilst
endorsing the Project, some Members pointed out that the plan itself was in many ways a work in progress, and that indeed that some of
the details had already been overtaken by events. I accepted that a few consequential amendments should therefore be made. Mr.
Michael Dean, the new Tourism Development Executive, was in attendance and was able to assure Members that he would now drive
forward the plan in the new environment of potential air access. The benefits for the Island will include increasing the number of
seaborne tourist arrivals in the years up to 2015, preparing for the introduction of air access, developing a sustainable tourism industry
on Island based on its unique heritage and making sure, as far as we can, that visitors’ experiences of St Helena do justice to the Island’s
great potential.
We then moved to the closed part of the agenda. Members agreed, with some qualifications, proposals submitted by the Acting Chief
Secretary to issue draft documents to Cable and Wireless as the basis for negotiations for the continued provision of telecommunications
and TV re-broadcasting licenses up to 2019. The qualifications expressed, which will be incorporated in the draft documents and
covering letter to be sent to the company, reflected Members’ understandable desire to get the best possible services for the people of
the Island. At the same time, Members acknowledged the need for faster progress on this issue, not least in view of the importance of
enhanced communications to the success of the air access project.
Click here to read more »
30 September 2010
Yesterday’s ExCo meeting covered a wide range of important issues, and the discussion lasted well into the afternoon. It is for this
reason that I am giving my normal broadcast the following morning.
The first item on the open agenda was a paper presented by the Acting Chief Secretary on the meeting of the Overseas Territories
Consultative Council to be held in London in November. A formal letter of invitation from Mr. Henry Bellingham, the FCO Minister with
responsibility for the Overseas Territories, was attached. Elected Members advised me that they had agreed that the Hon Tara Thomas
should represent St Helena at this important event. There was also agreement that the future relationship between the United Kingdom,
the Overseas Territories in general and St Helena in particular, would be a key area for discussion. Council has already submitted a
proposed agenda item on the position of the new UK Government on the 1999 White Paper, which deals with this theme.
The second item, presented by the Deputy Chairperson of the Home and International Committee, concerned a proposal from the FCO
to accept the right of petition to the European Court of Human Rights by groups or individuals in St Helena on a permanent basis; it had
previously been extended for five years. Members welcomed this move by HMG, which has also been accepted by Ascension and
Tristan da Cunha.
Members then turned to an item from the Chairman of the Health and Social Welfare Committee, and endorsed the submission of the
Public Health (Amendment) Bill 2010 to the forthcoming meeting of the Legislative Council. The Bill, if passed into law, will allow the
enforcement in St Helena of the latest WHO International Health Regulations that are relevant here, and also the establishment of a Health
Protection Board. This Board will handle the operational side of applying public health measures on the Island, leaving the Committee to
concentrate on strategy and policy. This is a good example, in my view, of a sensible division of responsibility between the “political”
role of the Council Committees and the “implementation” role of officers and expert stakeholders.
The final substantive item on the open agenda was a paper from the Deputy Chairman of the Civil Society, Tourism and Leisure
Committee seeking Council’s endorsement of the St Helena Tourism Development Project. This is a (literally!) weighty document which
puts flesh on the bones of the outline Tourism Plan, and its submission to DfID will allow the release of the very substantial funding
agreed by them in the Development Funding Agreement earlier this year. I congratulated the Committee, the Tourism Commission, the
Strategic Planning and Policy Unit, the Tourism Department and other stakeholders in pulling together this crucial piece of work. Whilst
endorsing the Project, some Members pointed out that the plan itself was in many ways a work in progress, and that indeed that some of
the details had already been overtaken by events. I accepted that a few consequential amendments should therefore be made. Mr.
Michael Dean, the new Tourism Development Executive, was in attendance and was able to assure Members that he would now drive
forward the plan in the new environment of potential air access. The benefits for the Island will include increasing the number of
seaborne tourist arrivals in the years up to 2015, preparing for the introduction of air access, developing a sustainable tourism industry
on Island based on its unique heritage and making sure, as far as we can, that visitors’ experiences of St Helena do justice to the Island’s
great potential.
We then moved to the closed part of the agenda. Members agreed, with some qualifications, proposals submitted by the Acting Chief
Secretary to issue draft documents to Cable and Wireless as the basis for negotiations for the continued provision of telecommunications
and TV re-broadcasting licenses up to 2019. The qualifications expressed, which will be incorporated in the draft documents and
covering letter to be sent to the company, reflected Members’ understandable desire to get the best possible services for the people of
the Island. At the same time, Members acknowledged the need for faster progress on this issue, not least in view of the importance of
enhanced communications to the success of the air access project.
Click here to read more »
St Helena Sustainable Development Plan
2007/08 – 2009/10
3.1 Introduction
It is necessary to identify and recognise the key issues facing St Helena if development planning is to provide meaningful solutions. This
chapter presents key issues impacting on the future development of St Helena.
At present the public sector dominates the economy; there will, however, be increased opportunities for private sector development in
light of air access. There are also a number of focussed civil society organisations, for example, the St Helena National Trust, that play
significant roles in the community. Taking forward the SDP in order to address the issues highlighted in this chapter will require a
participatory approach encompassing all aspects of society on St Helena."
Strategic objective six
Continue to Develop and Establish the Democratic and Human Rights and Self-Determination of the People of St Helena.
Sub-strategic objectives:
• Engaging in the constructive review of the constitution and recommending appropriate changes to the UK Government.
• Reviewing current legislation to ensure that it is appropriate and consistent with principles of good public finance management and
good governance.
• Ensuring protection of human rights.
• Examining scope for improved access to civil and political rights under, for instance, the ratified UN Human Rights Charter and the UN
Charter on Civil and Political Rights.
• Improving and strengthening systems, management capacity and human resource development in the public sector to ensure
effectiveness, efficiency, accountability and sustainability, in order both to deliver the SDP strategy and to underpin constitutional change.
• Maintaining a strong democratic process in the administration of St Helena’s development and ensure that the rule of law is upheld.
• Ensuring that civil society is fully involved and informed about genuine participatory processes which are introduced and maintained at
all levels in the development process.
• Promoting and strengthening participatory processes for policy programmes and project development.
The St Helena Strategy also identifies seven lesser priority national strategic objectives. Of these, the following are of particular relevance
to the SDP strategy:
• Protect and conserve the environment.
• Promote and develop social policies to the benefit of society on St Helena.
• Protect and cherish the culture of the Island.
• Care of the elderly.
To measure the progress in meeting these strategic objectives, a number of targets have been developed for the medium term. These
targets include achieving the following by the year 2020:
• An increase in the current population of about 4,000 by 30 per cent.
• A decline in aid to less than 10 per cent of overall SHG annual expenditure (and elimination of aid by 2025).
• The majority of national employment and wealth to be generated by the private sector.
• An increase in the number of tourists to over 20,000 per annum.
Click here to read more »
2007/08 – 2009/10
3.1 Introduction
It is necessary to identify and recognise the key issues facing St Helena if development planning is to provide meaningful solutions. This
chapter presents key issues impacting on the future development of St Helena.
At present the public sector dominates the economy; there will, however, be increased opportunities for private sector development in
light of air access. There are also a number of focussed civil society organisations, for example, the St Helena National Trust, that play
significant roles in the community. Taking forward the SDP in order to address the issues highlighted in this chapter will require a
participatory approach encompassing all aspects of society on St Helena."
Strategic objective six
Continue to Develop and Establish the Democratic and Human Rights and Self-Determination of the People of St Helena.
Sub-strategic objectives:
• Engaging in the constructive review of the constitution and recommending appropriate changes to the UK Government.
• Reviewing current legislation to ensure that it is appropriate and consistent with principles of good public finance management and
good governance.
• Ensuring protection of human rights.
• Examining scope for improved access to civil and political rights under, for instance, the ratified UN Human Rights Charter and the UN
Charter on Civil and Political Rights.
• Improving and strengthening systems, management capacity and human resource development in the public sector to ensure
effectiveness, efficiency, accountability and sustainability, in order both to deliver the SDP strategy and to underpin constitutional change.
• Maintaining a strong democratic process in the administration of St Helena’s development and ensure that the rule of law is upheld.
• Ensuring that civil society is fully involved and informed about genuine participatory processes which are introduced and maintained at
all levels in the development process.
• Promoting and strengthening participatory processes for policy programmes and project development.
The St Helena Strategy also identifies seven lesser priority national strategic objectives. Of these, the following are of particular relevance
to the SDP strategy:
• Protect and conserve the environment.
• Promote and develop social policies to the benefit of society on St Helena.
• Protect and cherish the culture of the Island.
• Care of the elderly.
To measure the progress in meeting these strategic objectives, a number of targets have been developed for the medium term. These
targets include achieving the following by the year 2020:
• An increase in the current population of about 4,000 by 30 per cent.
• A decline in aid to less than 10 per cent of overall SHG annual expenditure (and elimination of aid by 2025).
• The majority of national employment and wealth to be generated by the private sector.
• An increase in the number of tourists to over 20,000 per annum.
Click here to read more »
CITIZENSHIP COMMISSION
The Citizenship Commission, a charitable organisation, was set up in 1992 as the Bishop’s Commission. This came about as a result of
a resolution at the Fifteenth Session of the Synod of the Anglican Church on St Helena in May that year. The purpose was to "support
restoration of full rights of citizenship of those British subjects who are Saint Helenian". Bishop John Ruston appointed Fr Nicholas
Turner and Mrs Cathy Hopkins, the proposer and seconder of the motion, to be co–chairperson.
Early major work carried out by the Commission was to research the background to citizenship since the first settlement of the island by
the English in 1659. The findings of the Bishop’s Commission were compiled in a booklet published by the Commission called St Helena
– the lost county of England. It was printed by the Government Printer and presented to Bishop Ruston at a special church service at St
Paul’s Cathedral, St Helena, on 3 March 1996.
Citizenship Commission.
The Bishop invited many of the existing members and a broader spectrum of new people to take forward the findings of the
Commission. It was re-designated the Citizenship Commission and the mandate extended to include constitutional development and in
1996 Basil George, an Islander, was invited to be chairman. The Commission has nine members on St Helena including one elected
member of the island’s legislature. The present bishop, Bishop John Salt is the patron
The main activity centers on bringing about public awareness locally, nationally and internationally about matters concerning citizenship.
The Commission is self–financing and gets its income from fund–raising and public subscription. There was wide-spread support for
islanders in their drive to restore full citizenship. The Commission used the Royal Charter of 1673 as a basis for citizenship rights. With
help from Canadian lawyers, the Commission presented a case to the United Nations in New York in 2000 and the Human Rights
Committee in Geneva in 2001 for restoration of citizenship and the right to determine the future status of St Helena. The case was
published in a booklet "St Helena’s Rights Under International Law" by its UK branch.
Click here to read more>>
The Citizenship Commission, a charitable organisation, was set up in 1992 as the Bishop’s Commission. This came about as a result of
a resolution at the Fifteenth Session of the Synod of the Anglican Church on St Helena in May that year. The purpose was to "support
restoration of full rights of citizenship of those British subjects who are Saint Helenian". Bishop John Ruston appointed Fr Nicholas
Turner and Mrs Cathy Hopkins, the proposer and seconder of the motion, to be co–chairperson.
Early major work carried out by the Commission was to research the background to citizenship since the first settlement of the island by
the English in 1659. The findings of the Bishop’s Commission were compiled in a booklet published by the Commission called St Helena
– the lost county of England. It was printed by the Government Printer and presented to Bishop Ruston at a special church service at St
Paul’s Cathedral, St Helena, on 3 March 1996.
Citizenship Commission.
The Bishop invited many of the existing members and a broader spectrum of new people to take forward the findings of the
Commission. It was re-designated the Citizenship Commission and the mandate extended to include constitutional development and in
1996 Basil George, an Islander, was invited to be chairman. The Commission has nine members on St Helena including one elected
member of the island’s legislature. The present bishop, Bishop John Salt is the patron
The main activity centers on bringing about public awareness locally, nationally and internationally about matters concerning citizenship.
The Commission is self–financing and gets its income from fund–raising and public subscription. There was wide-spread support for
islanders in their drive to restore full citizenship. The Commission used the Royal Charter of 1673 as a basis for citizenship rights. With
help from Canadian lawyers, the Commission presented a case to the United Nations in New York in 2000 and the Human Rights
Committee in Geneva in 2001 for restoration of citizenship and the right to determine the future status of St Helena. The case was
published in a booklet "St Helena’s Rights Under International Law" by its UK branch.
Click here to read more>>
| Click map for larger view |
| Click flag for Country Report |
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Queen since 6 February 1952
Queen since 6 February 1952
| TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS |
None reported.
