Daily Radio News

7 February 2010

 

On Saturday, Radio St Helena did a live coverage via the radio bus that was following the Queens baton around the island.  Beginning at Ruperts Bay, the team and chairman of NASAS Mr. Eric Benjamin took the baton to houses where residents could have an opportunity of holding it and having a picture taken.  This was repeated throughout the day in all areas where people had gathered to see the baton.  Radio St Helena updated listeners about the progress of the baton via the radio bus and received many good comments by spectators about the coverage that the station provided. The baton was well received in all areas, homes for the elderly, the disabled and vulnerable all took a turn.

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In a press release from Governor Gurr on Friday about Ascension Island Issues said that when Ascension Island Services became Ascension Island Government (AIG) a number of things happened:  The Island Council replaced management by the users (Heads of Sheds), meaning that at last the people had a say in the administration of the island, Two forms of taxation were introduced, both individual and corporate, so that the user companies would be paying for the services indirectly. (It was always intended that no individual should be worse off financially as a result of the move). AIG was able to introduce savings and in fact provided a much more efficient operation right away – employing fewer people in total and costing the users less in overall terms. However, the organisation of AIG remained rather more cumbersome than the Administrator (Michael Hill at that time) thought it should be, and so the National School of Government in the UK were approached to report on whether the structures and processes were appropriate. The outcome of that was the Cooper Report and was one of the very first papers handed to the new Council in October 2008.

The well documented problem between AIG and the MOD with regard to the amount of Property Tax that should be paid was actually highlighted as part of the drive for efficiency, but it did not in itself cause that drive. Most of what has now been done in terms of slimming down the cost of AIG would have to have been done in any case.

A separate study was also done on the education system by Dr. Black. In preparing his recommendations Dr. Black consulted widely with teachers and parents. He produced a matrix of ideas for Councillors to consider which outlined a pathway towards matching the quality of educational provision with the number of pupils and the income derived from taxation.  There were some improvements made at the school. The Reception and Nursery children have been combined as one unit, The Primary unit remains the same, The Secondary part of the school has had some cut backs but is still able to offer 3 core GCSE subjects and further options of 5 or 6 subjects and so a total of 9 is possible.

In the past there were very small classes indeed, and although that may be considered desirable, as a provision it was very expensive and unlikely to be matched almost anywhere in the world. The government have created an administration that is slimmer and fitter for purpose and that is good for all those that work and pay tax on Ascension.

You can read this press release in its entirety in Friday’s Herald.

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The range of activities undertaken by Girl Guides - the UK's largest youth organisation for girls and young women - features on a new set of stamps.

The Royal Mail has issued them to commemorate 100 years of Girl Guides.

The movement's four age groups - Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Seniors - each figure on their own stamp. Their designs feature photographs of youngsters beside images depicting popular Guiding activities.

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Tristan Da Cunha’s Administrator David Morley has announced plans for the 2010 Island Council Election. The Constitution states that the Administrator must dissolve Council no later than 3 years following the dissolution of the previous Council on 21 February 2007, prior to the previous election on 19 March 2007. So David will be dissolving Council on 15 February and has received the Governor's specific approval to do this.

Education Adviser Jim Kerr has agreed to be Presiding Officer. Jim is well versed in Tristan da Cunha’s Government, and was Acting Administrator during his term as Education Officer. The election must be held no later than one month following dissolution, and is planned for Wednesday 10 March.

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And finally on Friday evening Police was called to a disturbance at ladder Hill, as the result a female person was arrested for a Breach of the Peace, the person was later released after receiving a Formal Caution.  Saturday afternoon Police dealt with a alcohol related road traffic accident at Half Tree Hollow, this accident involved one vehicle which left the main road, the Fire Department and Public Works Department was called to recover the vehicle, there were no personal injuries, as the result of the breath procedure a male person was arrested for suspicion of Driving A Motor Vehicle Whilst Over The Prescribe Limit and later bailed pending further inquires. Early hours of Sunday morning Police received a request for urgent assistance at Ladder Hill, as the result of this report a male person received medical attention for his injuries and another male was arrested on reasonable grounds of an Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm and is detained in Police Custody for the investigation.