A team has now been formed in the United Kingdom to take forward the process of developing Air Access to St Helena. The core team, which comprises key advisers from DFID’s Overseas Territories Department, the head of that department, Clive Warren, and representation from CA Legal, will be supported by DFID’s Procurement Department, and will bring in other parts of Her Majesty’s Government as appropriate.

Nigel Kirby, Engineering Adviser to the DFID Overseas Territories Department, has been appointed to lead the core team during the detailed evaluation and negotiation process. Nigel has been working to the St Helena desk in DFID since July 2002, and has twice visited St Helena in the course of his work. During those visits, and through regular contact on infrastructure issues, Nigel has developed a constructive relationship with St Helena and he looks forward to working closely with the people of St Helena through this challenging process.

GIC have submitted to SHG and DFID a preliminary assessment report on the four responses received on Friday 29 August 2003 from Basil Read (Pty) Ltd, John Laing International Limited, Lagan Holdings Limited and the St Helena Leisure Corporation Limited (Shelco). This has been done in accordance with the guidelines in the Air Access Invitation.

The next step in the process will be to conduct a detailed evaluation of the proposals, seeking clarifications and expansion of the proposals submitted by the four respondents. To do this, terms of reference have been developed jointly by SHG and DFID to appoint consultants with extensive experience in the implementation of public private partnerships to initiate detailed discussions with the four parties, explore the responses in depth and advise SHG, at a later date, on a selection procedure for the preferred respondent. The procurement process for these consultants is nearing completion, and it is expected that the preferred consultant will be appointed in the next ten days or so.

Acting Governor, John Styles said: "We have reached a key stage in the process of acquiring air access for St Helena. We are delighted that we have received these innovative responses from the four companies involved and are anxious to progress quickly to the next stages of detailed evaluation and negotiation. This will include economic, environmental and social impact analysis. From now on we will be issuing regular updates as it is felt that there will be much to report on in the coming months."

This is the first of a series of updates on progress in securing air access to St Helena, following the receipt of innovative proposals. The contact point for further information and updates will be St Helena Government Press Office.