Ascension : St Helena ExCo Report 36: 4th August 2009
Submitted by The Islander (Ascension Island Government) 13.08.2009 (Article Archived on 27.08.2009)

We had a constructive meeting of the Executive Council this morning, with a typically varied agenda.

We had a constructive meeting of the Executive Council this morning, with a typically varied agenda.

The first item was a memorandum from the Chairman of the Public Health and Social Services Committee, concerning the publication of a list of infectious diseases which must, when known, be notified to a Medical Officer. The existing list is over half a century out-of-date, and Councillors supported its replacement by making the Notifiable Diseases Regulations, 2009.

The next item was a proposal from the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee for a site to be excised from the National Forest to be used as a play area for young people in Levelwood. It was agreed that a notice would be gazetted for public consultation under the Forestry Ordinance. Practical assurances were given in relation to issues of budget and maintenance. I noted that this fitted in well with a proposal for greater community involvement in managing playgrounds throughout the Island, recently drawn up by our Social Development Planner working with New Horizons.

Councillors then turned to a progress report on the implementation of this year’s “FLITS”, or “Frontloading Initial Triggers” to give them their full title. These are in practice a relatively straight forward set of indicators which help to show how well we are doing in our own efforts to move towards sustainable development and economic prosperity. Progress against these indicators is a key factor in determining the amount of additional funding made available by the Department for International Development (DFID) for the Island’s key infrastructure.

This year’s targets involve areas ranging from the school curriculum, revenue policy and public service reform to electricity infrastructure, social welfare and private sector opportunities for young people. While Councillors noted that progress in all areas was satisfactory, they agreed that the Government faced two important challenges: to make sure that funds already allocated by DFID were properly budgeted and spent on schedule, and to work to meet new targets so as to justify additional funding in the coming financial year.

Next on the agenda came a number of commercially sensitive or confidential issues which needed to be discussed in closed session. There were also a number of “matters arising” and any other business. One of the most important of these was the arrangements for bringing into effect the new Constitution, now time-tabled for 1st September. The Election Bill 2009 and associated regulations governing this year’s Legislative Council election should come into force at the same time, if the Bill is passed into law at the formal meeting of the Legislative Council on 24th August.

Councillors also noted a report on the urgent repairs being carried out in various units of sheltered accommodation. Several Councillors raised the related issue of the shortfall of temporary, emergency accommodation for the vulnerable, and I requested the Acting Chief Secretary to look into the present position and advise on possible solutions.

I also gave Members a preliminary briefing on the forthcoming visit to the Island of our Tourism Advisor, Catherine Leech, a well respected professional with hands-on experience in the industry. Catherine is not coming to Saint Helena to replicate the work of previous consultants, but to focus on specific areas such as sea-based tourism and the use of our limited marketing resources. In response to Councillors’ concerns over the decay of the Island’s world class built heritage, I confirmed that this would also be a priority during her visit.

Finally, I advised Members that expressions of interest would shortly be sought for a new television broadcasting licence for the Island. The exercise would be open to other interested parties, as well as Cable and Wireless, who hold the existing franchise.