All Established Employees

Last Friday, all established Government employees were informed that the Home to Duty Transport policy had been approved by Executive Council and that it will come into force on the 1^st July this year.

Home to duty transport has been on the SHG agenda for a while. When the pay award was announced last year, an undertaking was given that home to duty transport would be reviewed. The review was recently completed and Government’s decision is that with effect from 1 July, established staff will be refunded in full for what they have to pay to the bus operator to get to and from work. Persons using private cars will not be refunded. The scheme will also apply to SHG’s shift workers such as the nurses, energy, and others. Existing bus availability to get to and from work will remain unchanged and it is hoped that this will increase, as demand increases.

Chief Secretary John Styles said that he was "delighted" that the policy has been approved. He said that in a recent survey, it was identified that having to pay for home to duty transport was one of the main things established staff were dissatisfied with particularly as SHG used to provide transport for its staff via the buses, and other employers on the Island provide this benefit to their staff. In a message to staff he said: "It thus gives me great pleasure to say that SHG has responded to your views."

The scheme is operating on a trial basis and will continue until April 2004. It is hoped that following a further review, this will become permanent. Staff have been asked to ensure that they get a receipt when paying for their transport and the money will be refunded monthly.

Commenting on the effect this will have on the private sector the Chief Secretary said: "It is hoped that the increased funding and demand will stimulate the private sector eventually to offer more bus provision."

Later this year, the St Helena Government hopes to introduce a public transport system, which will be operated by the private sector. This will allow some buses to run during the day. Persons in more isolated parts of the Island, who do not have access to their own transport will be able to travel to places more easily including Jamestown. It will also be useful to staff as Government has also introduced flexible working hours for its employees. A public transport system has never been in place on St Helena so it is considered a major step forward. It is felt that the introduction of a public transport system will be of benefit to the private sector and the people of the Island.

The Chief Secretary concluded by saying that SHG is hoping that the home to duty transport system will be a success, with lots employees making use of the service, as this will form a sound basis for the public transport system to be built on.

The fourth output in the Health Link II programme is designed to enhance the provision mental health care on the island. Ivy Ellick, Chief Administrative Health and Social Services Officer when commenting on this output said that whilst a small number of people with psychiatric problems are in full time residential care at the psychiatric unit, Sundale, care is also provided in the community and at day centres.

The overall departmental aim of this output is to improve the people’s psychosocial well-being and to enhance the services that are available for those requiring care. Whilst there is no resident psychiatrist or psychologist the support nurses project enables the unit from time to time recruit a registered mental nurse from the UK. The unit is also supported by the medical officers.

Last year group therapy sessions were organised by the Community Psychiatric Nurse for the family members of those suffering from mental disorders. These sessions were designed to help families to understand the illness and to give them support in caring for their relatives at home.

The department will first and foremost try to raise public awareness to mental health issues through the media, special publications, school education, campaigning by holding a special event or setting aside a day or week in the year to focus on mental health issues.

The department also has plans to improve the way in which clients are managed by engaging the services of a short term psychologist and a psychiatrist every year for the next five years.

Arrival of Matthew Young

Matthew Young is currently on the Island serving as Acting Financial Secretary to the St Helena Government. He arrived on Friday 27 June and is currently filling the post while the substantive Financial Secretary Bob Dolan is away from the Island on overseas leave. He will remain in post until the return of the substantive Financial Secretary on 25 August this year. He is accompanied by his wife Sheila.

His Excellency the Governor has also appointed Matthew Young to be a Temporary Member of the Executive Council with effect from 30 June until the return of the substantive Financial Secretary.

Matthew, a former Financial Secretary to the St Helena Government, served as Acting Financial Secretary in January/February of this year.