The Bride looking very elegant wore an ivory sleeveless v-neck dress with empire waist and an alluring cathedral train completed by a matching shawl and a pearl and bejewelled tiara with double veil attached.

The Groom was dressed in a black and cream tuxedo with white tuxedo shirt and burgundy accessories. The Best Man was Andrew Williams and Man of the Groom was Peter Fuller.

Maid of Honour was Debbie Haughan, and the Bridesmaids were Petalia Yon, Michelle Augustus and Derrie Yon. Flower Girls were Anisa Moyce, Chelsea Thomas and Raquel Johnson. The page boy was Jamie Yon.

Lucy's sister Petalia, daughter Racqual , son Jamie and Niece Derrie came from St. Helena, sister Charmaine and partner David from the Falklands, Uncle Alton from Antigua and Max's sister Mary, husband George and grandson Michael came from the UK for this special occasion.

The ceremony was followed by a reception at the Volcano Club, with a speech from Russell Yon and reading of telegrams by Amelia Knipe. A superb meal was provided for everyone, followed by music by DJ Freddie Maggott and the Reflections Band

God Bless you and keep you,

Fr Keith & Ginny.

CITIZENSHIP IN SIGHT - the beginning of a true partnership

Extract from The Citizen page St Helena Herald (www.news.co.sh)

The announcement that a Bill for citizenship had had a first hearing in the House of Lords on Wednesday of last week(21 June) came as a complete surprise. It was even more surprising as there was no mention of this in the Queen's Speech at the State Opening of Parliament on the day prior to the first reading of the Bill. It is ironic that the Chairman of the Commission had put a letter in the St Helena Herald expressing disappointment that there was yet another session of the UK Parliament with no mention of citizenship. It is hoped that if the Bill does restore citizenship rights to islanders it will be the beginning of a true partnership with Britain and a turning point in the affairs of St Helena.

Consistent with its mandate, the Commission has been pursuing various channels for citizenship and constitutional reform. There has always been ongoing support at national level from many British people and British MP's and Lords. Questions have been raised in the British Parliament. The Commission is in contact with a number of these people including the All-party Parliamentary Groups concerned with St Helena and the Overseas Territories in general.

The Commission has also presented its case at international level with the United Nations. In July last year, lawyers acting as Counsel for the Commission presented a Submission to the United Nations C24 Committee in New York. The submission was later put into a booklet St Helena's Rights Under International Law and published by Canon Nicholas Turner who is chairperson of the UK branch of the Commission. Copies of this booklet are still available from Y & T Enterprises in Jamestown, and from the secretary Dr Dorothy Evans 3 Barns Hay, Old Marston, Oxford OX3 OPN in the UK. The booklets cost £2 each.

With no indication that the Labour Government was giving any priority to restore citizenship rights to islanders, the Commission again presented its case to the United Nations, this time to the Human Rights Committee in Geneva. The recent announcement does appear to be the long awaited Bill. But we cannot be sure and we, the people of St Helena and the Citizenship Commission, do not know the contents of the Bill.. The Citizenship Commission will still keep its Submission tabled with the United Nations until the Bill has successfully progressed through the British Parliament. In 1997 a Private Member's Bill for citizenship for St Helenians, introduced by Lord Iveagh, successfully passed the House of Lords but was not supported in the House of Commons. Though we trust the Labour Government will deliver its promise on citizenship with the new Bill, it is also wise for us to tie our camel.
Though the press release last week does not give the subject matter of the Overseas Territories Bill, it is to do with citizenship. The following is recorded in Hansard about the first reading of the Bill:

"(The leader of the Opposition) asked me what we might expect in the next few weeks. We hope to make a start on what will be a long journey and a difficult, arduous Session. There will be a Bill to grant citizenship to residents of overseas territories. That is a very long-standing promise. I know that all noble Lords have bee neager and determined that effect should be given to that measure of justice to a small but important number of people"(Lord Williams of Mostyn)

Advice received from a member of the House of Lords to the Commission indicates there should not be a problem with the passage of the Bill through Parliament but it cannot get Royal Assent and come into force until the autumn. The Commons will be in recess from 19 July and will not resume until October. The first reading of the Bill, as was stated in the press release last week, means that it allows the Bill to be published. What is now required is for people on St Helena, particularly the newly elected members of Legislative Council, to have copies of the Bill and to examine its contents. We do not know the details of the Bill. Consultation has to be a key component of the new partnership between Britain and its Overseas Territories.

The Watchdog column in the Islander of 28 June 2001 contained an open letter to me requesting information on the constitutional future of Ascension Island. Rather than have the Administrator respond I would prefer to do so myself.

It is always interesting to read such letters when you know that at least one of the writers has a good deal of information already. I say this because in answer to a request from the Administrator's Advisory Forum I sent one of the members some advice on constitutional advancement on 14 June and I know that these were discussed at the Forum on 14 June. I suggested some possible models to help the debate. There may be others.

Ascension Island's constitutional position is set out in the St Helena Constitution Order, 1988 part (V) section 27(b) which reads as follows:-

"The Governor in his discretion may make laws for the peace, order and good government of Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, respectively".

In essence this makes me, as Governor of Ascension Island, the legally constituted Ascension Island Government. The Administrator's appointment is made by me (at least in theory) under a 1965 Ordinance.

British Government Ministers have ruled out any change in the constitutional relationship between St Helena and its Dependencies as they do not want to create a proliferation of small island Overseas Territories that cannot obtain independence because of economic constraints. Britain's policy towards the Overseas Territories rests on the basis that it is the citizens of each Territory who determine whether they wish to stay linked to Britain or not. St Helena, Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha are three UK Overseas Territories which together form a single territorial group under British sovereignty known as "St Helena and its Dependencies".

No decisions have yet been taken in addressing the democratic deficit on Ascension Island except that as already indicated the constitutional relationship with St Helena will remain. Whatever is decided has to be agreed by Foreign and Commonwealth legal experts and then recommended to the Privy Council. Only that body can change constitutions in Overseas Territories. The FCO's Constitutional Adviser, Michael Bradley, CMG, QC will be visiting Ascension Island in October. He is a constitutional expert. I am not. What Ascension islanders (I am not sure how these can be defined legally) might want to do is to discuss the models I have sent to the Administrator's Advisory Forum (which have already been sent to Mr Bradley) and develop their own ideas in preparation for Mr Bradley's visit.

However you must remember that constitutional change must run parallel with a similar process on St Helena because the St Helena Constitution Order, 1988 covers all three islands of which I, and my successors, am, or will be Governor. By the end of the year I hope that St Helena's own constitutional review process will have been completed and a set of proposals can be forwarded to London for their consideration. These will include a Human Rights chapter, a model of which has been received from FCO legal experts.

As to the question as to who will manage and provide public services on Ascension Island these will continue to be provided by the Ascension Island Government and its Statutory Body the Ascension Island Works and Services Agency, as they are now and as set out in the respective Ordinances.

I hope this letter clarifies matters.

David J Hollamby
Governor

"Considering the unique situation of Ascension and the fact that ALL foodstuffs must be imported, is it too much to ask of the Governor to seek special measures on our behalf ?"

To date there has been no reply - nor has there been any fresh dairy produce !

Watchdog.............
Stephen Fowler and Caroline Yon get their teeth into some Ascension Island issues.

GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING
Many people on the island have been worrying about what is in store for the Health Service now that control of it seems unfortunately destined to be passing to an authority hundreds of miles away in St. Helena. These fears are well grounded, given the fact that both the staff at the hospital, and the community itself seem to be happy with the system that we had prior to April 1st 2001.

The Audit of Medical and Dental Services, which was carried out in March 2001 prior to the conversion of A.I.S. makes interesting reading. It was undertaken by a Senior Lecturer in Health Care Management from the University of Coventry, Sue Lister. In a nutshell, she was pleased with what she saw, and at the end of the report made some specific recommendations, principal among them the following;

"While the health care staff on Ascension have some similar experiences to those of the staff on St. Helena (especially working with a small isolated community), it should not be assumed that they can be run from one centre.
It has been shown that healthcare provision is better when the service is managed close to the unit of provision. Therefore, the auditor recommends that the hospital and dental services on Ascension Island should be run independently to guarantee that the appropriate organisation for the service is provided."

The move towards "remote control" not only flies in the face of advice from a Senior Lecturer in Healthcare Management, but also goes against the grain of UK Government policy, as illustrated by the appearance in the Queen's Speech the other day of the following paragraph on the subject of Health Service provision.

"My Government will introduce legislation to reform health services. A Bill will decentralise power and direct resources to National Health Service staff, give patients greater influence on the running of the NHS, and strengthen regulation of the health professions."

Spare a thought specifically for the staff of the hospital; the move towards centralised control to a remote and therefore out of touch authority means that staff face an uncertain future. Confidence would have ebbed even further after the comments of the SHG Chief Administrative Health and Social Services Officer who, in a radio interview on St. Helena, said recently "...it was the UK contract officers that were probably making the most noise…I suppose it's because they've got the most to lose when you think of it."

An additional worry is the fact that SHG indicated to AIG that they had adopted the contracts of all Hospital Staff, and written to all the staff to confirm that. But no agreement between AIG and SHG has yet been signed, so it is possible that SHG had no legal basis to adopt those contracts!

The Education Staff on Ascension are in an equally dire situation with their contracts since SHG has taken the reins. Also, teachers at the AI School have expressed a need for a U.K. qualified head-teacher with recent UK National Curriculum experience, but as yet, no steps have been taken to recruit one.

We have people on Ascension who are experienced in running the Health and Education services and, more importantly, that are here. The quality of care and management increases when the managers have the added incentive of having to use those facilities under their control. It also makes sense for staff to have immediate access, in person, with their line managers to resolve both personal and business related issues. It would also probably be cheaper - an issue that will become more important after taxation. The solution is for His Excellency the Governor to give Ascension Island Government the power to govern (If not, then why bother to have one?)

For SHG to dictate to an island hundreds of miles away how to run its affairs, when they appear to have enough difficulty running their own, is not desirable.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

………………………………..………………………………………..…..Stephen Fowler & Caroline Yon
______________________________________________________________________________________

Islander What is the reason for their disposal?
JC They are outside of core activity for Cable & Wireless and the BBC, and they do not form any part of normal government activity.
Their disposal is also seen as a way of kick-starting a privatised commercial environment on the island.

Islander Whom do you report to? Is it the Administrator or the Governor?
JC I report to a board of directors, one each from the BBC, Cable & Wireless and AIG. I don't report locally, but I do meet with the Administrator Geoff Fairhurst regularly, and he is my point of contact for AIG and the FCO.

Islander What are the names of the directors that you mentioned?
JC Mike Cronk from the BBC, Peter Clarke of Cable & Wireless, and Matt Young of AIG.

Islander In the event of a sale, what happens to the money?
JC The money will be split between the 3 organisations concerned.

Islander Given that your background is in engineering, what do you think qualifies you for this role, and what previous experience of this kind of commercial activity do you have?
JC Whilst in Saudi Arabia in the Middle East, I ran high value projects right through from inception to completion, and also gained a lot of experience in the disposal of assets. Also, it is less than 2 years since I was working at management level in Ascension and St. Helena.

Islander Have there been many expressions of interest for these businesses, and if so from whom?
JC We have had some encouraging enquiries from both on and off island, but I would like to stress that any enquiry is and will be treated as commercial in confidence.
In fact, you could say that I am confidential in my dealings, but open as regards processes!
I would add that I think that some people may not be coming forward yet because they don't know all the answers. Nor do I, but at this stage I am only seeking expressions of interest. I would stress that any discussions with potential clients are strictly confidential, and nothing is binding.

Islander Are you looking for interest within Ascension?
JC Indeed. I would like to see people in Ascension get the first bite of any cherry. For instance, people or families who have been here for decades might like to form co-operatives and so on. I am also looking outside; businesses in St. Helena or the Falklands may have an interest in investing here, and may be able to apply economies of scale; in fact I intend to visit these two locations in the near future to enable me to get face to face with those interested. There are also some interested parties in the UK.

Islander What safeguards are in place to ensure that anyone coming in will operate in such a way that is for the good of the island?
JC Any potential investor would be required to contractually state what the benefits to the island and the community would be, should they be selected as the new owners, but this would be dealt with down the line at the tendering stage. All we are looking for at the moment is expressions of interest.

Islander How do you see the long-term development of Ascension? Do you think it will be a place worth investing in?
JC That depends on how it takes off. I am making contact with some big players who would like to put the island on the tourist map, and there are a couple of other large initiatives, which are commercial in confidence. Whatever happens in future we need to greatly increase the population to give critical mass for commerce and government services.

Islander Supposing you don't sell any, or all of the items by then - What will happen?
JC I really don't know, and may have to come back to you on that one. It certainly won't be from a lack of effort on my part. AICS is only constituted until the 31st of March 2002, so I would have to pass the business on to someone else for them to deal with. In essence, it is too early to say, so I would not be able to give a proper answer to that question until later on.

Islander Given that the provider of water and electricity on the island is Merlin / BBC, is it possible to guarantee the prices of these amenities in the mid to long-term? This must surely be one of the considerations if you are setting up business on the island. Couple this with the fact that we are moving towards an uncertain regime of taxation, surely it is difficult to expect anyone to commit mid to long term business wise to the island?
JC That is not for me to answer. I agree that some one coming in on a 5-10 year business plan would need some kind of assurance as to the price of such fundamental amenities, and continuance of the same level of public services.

Islander It seems to me that people trying to formulate a business plan in the mid to long term, do not yet have all the information that they would require to commit to an investment, in so far as the island does not have any enabling legislation or planning bodies. How are you dealing with this?
JC The Administrator is aware of my concerns. He and I are meeting regularly with a running agenda, and I hope in due course to get answers for all the questions that people have. My work is going on in parallel with AIG's work on legislation, land tenure, right of abode, and all these sorts of things that are vital.

Islander When do you hope to finish this assignment?
JC The terms of reference given to me by my directors indicate that an end to this process should be achieved by April 2002.

SCHOOL PAGE

SAVING AN ISLAND'S SEABIRDS

A MILLION pounds sterling is to be spent by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and the United Kingdom government to remove feral cats and black rats that are destroying Ascension Island's seabird and turtle population.

In one of the world's loneliest breeding grounds for wide-awake and sooty terns, the birds have been reduced to fewer than 200,000 by rats that came ashore from visiting ships and also by cats that were introduced at a later date to kill the rodents. Both predators have colonised Ascension - a remote, tropical mid-Atlantic island, more than 1,600 kilometres (1,000 miles) from Africa - and prey on the birds and their eggs.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "This visionary two-year project will not only protect Ascension's wildlife for future generations, it will support the people of one of the UK's smallest overseas territories through sustainable tourism."

Ascension was once home to millions of sooty and fairy terns, red-footed boobies, the endemic frigate birds as well as being the breeding ground of the green turtle. The turtle returns every year from Brazilian waters to lay its eggs on the island's beaches. Rats eat the eggs and baby turtles. In one of the biggest conservation projects undertaken, the UK's RSPB is trapping the wild cats that are then culled by injection.

Many of the cats breed in caves high in the volcanic mountains and are proving difficult to find. The black rats are to be tackled shortly after poisonous pellets are dropped by helicopter throughout the island. The Mexican thorn accidentally introduced in the 1980s and that gives cover and provides food for the rats will also be removed.

Ascension, which has a population of about 1,000 UK and United States personnel, is a strategic air, radio and satellite station with one of the world's longest airfields. It provides a refuelling stop for Royal Air Force flights between the UK and the Falkland Islands and an emergency landing site for US shuttle flights. It is hoped that once the rats and cats have been eliminated, Ascension might attract more eco-tourists.

Alistair Bright, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom, SG19 2DL. Telephone: +44 1767 681577.

Website: www.rspb.org.uk

Dear All
SEE YA !!!!

This is the last time I will be editing the Islander on a regular basis, but I will be remaining on standby for leave relief or when things get desperate (temporarily). Besides I've promised my wife, Sharon, that I'll be home more at weekends to do thing with my kids before we go in a few months time.
Memorable highlights from the last two and a half years have been getting plastered during my first ever interview with Sir James Glover, Chairman of Merlin (he was late and it was a free bar !!!) and being present for the raising of the ships bell from William Dampier's HMS Roebuck, lost at Long Beach 300 years ago (the ship that is).

This week we have more from the Watchdog pair, plus a reply from HE the Governor of St Helena and Ascension, Sir David Hollamby. Shame it doesn't seem to answer any questions though.

That's all from me,
Ian Andrews signing off
._._. …_._
(and yes I know I got the issue number wrong)

Dear Editor,

I would just like to express my appreciation of Fr. Keith's contribution to The Islander every week. I always read it with interest, and some nostalgia. I would give a lot to be able to attend a service in that lovely little church again. Regrettably, I was not yet a Christian in the late 60's, so my attendance was limited to weddings and christenings, and other special occasions. I feel now that I was missing something rather precious, though I don't think I felt like that at the time. Thank you, Fr. Keith, for your faith - full words, which find their way round the world and into hearts you'll never know.

Jan Randall.

CORRECTION
Dear Editors,

I write to make a correction to the article on AICS that you kindly printed in The Islander on the 22nd of June 2001.
I used the word "constitution" incorrectly when I referred to forthcoming changes on Ascension Island. The word I should have used, of course, was "legislation".
Please arrange for this letter to appear in Letters to the Editor as soon as possible, as I understand my original article has caused some confusion, for which I offer my apologies.

Yours Sincerely,

John Cavana,
AICS
Ascension Island

Dear Editors,
I have noticed several references over the months to eradication of the thorn trees and didn't think much bout this until just recently after I visited the islands of Tahiti. Like Ascension they are ancient, volcanic islands but they are covered in lush vegetation. The appearance and abundance of the thorn trees may be just the beginning of lush vegetation on Ascension. They could be breaking down the soil and adding organic matter with what little leaf drop they have, thus making conditions more favourable for other plants.
In a few more decades perhaps Ascension will have coconut palms, papaya trees, and even more bananas. I have no scientific knowledge as a basis for this idea, but could it be true?
When I was resident on the island in 1979 and 1980, the prickly pear cactus was under attack and to be eradicated. Did this happen? The pictures I have seen on the web show a much greener Ascension than the one I remember and there also seems to be more rain. I know there is no source of fresh water on the island other than rain to support a huge amount of lush vegetation but perhaps the thorn trees are a small step in the evolution of a greater variety of vegetation.
Meanwhile, put those thorn trees to use as a source for good barbeque fuel! Is the wood substantial enough to use for carvings or even furniture? Start making those things tourists love to buy ready for when we visit!
This letter just represents my own point of view and has no scientific basis, but I hope it is food for thought.
Thank you for putting The Islander online enabling me to keep in touch with Ascension.

Helen Baczynski
N. Las Vegas, Nevada

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