St Helena : St Helena in Focus (21/07/09)
Submitted by Saint Helena Herald (Juanita Brock) 09.08.2009 (Article Archived on 23.08.2009)
Cyril Gunnell updates us on what is happening in St Helena
The IN FOCUS report for 21st July 2009 published in the St Helena Herald last week focused on issues raised by callers in their questions and comments on the way St Helena Government chose to award Staff Retention Bonuses to critical and non-critical post holders within the Public Service.
This week we report on other business dealt with in the 21st July programme.
PUBLIC HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT
It appears that the hospital does not have a dedicated ward for children:
Question: What is the reason for cutting out the children's ward?
Answer: I will look back on reports and find this out.
Question: Is it fair or proper for a mother and her baby to be accommodated in the same ward with male patients?
Answer: I have asked the Hospital Manager why this has happened and get back to you.
When patients are referred to Cape Town some are told before leaving Cape Town that they should return for a further check at a later date:
Question: Why is it that this is not carried out with some of the referred patients?
Answer: Although some doctors in Cape Town recommend further checks, a number of these can be done on Island and so referral to Cape Town for such is not necessary.
Question: Is it because there is insufficient money in the budget?
Answer: No.
Question: What is the possibility of having the fee paid to carers in Cape Town explained please with regard to how much they are paid and what services the fee covers, also when was the last time fees were reviewed for increase?
Answer: An increase in the fee has just been agreed by the PH&SSC and will become effective from 1st September this year. The daily fee paid to carers covers accommodation and subsistence. Travel to and from the docks and to and from hospital appointments is paid in addition to the daily rate.
Mrs Carol George, Chief Administrative Health & Social Services Officer provided the answers.
LEGAL & LANDS DEPARTMENT
Question: Who is the Coroner for the Island in the absence of Mr Peter Francis who currently is overseas?
Answer: We have at least two Coroners (I have not checked the details), so there is no problem. Mr Harry Legg is one of them, and has dealt with a case recently. Mr Larry Thomas is also a Coroner.
Mr Ken Baddon, Attorney General provided the answer.
Note: A press release on Coroners was issued recently stating that Mr Larry Thomas has resigned and the current Coroners are Mr Peter Francis, Mr Harry Legg and Mr Jeromy Cairns-Wicks.
BANK OF ST HELENA
The Bank will shortly move to new premises:
Question: How much will the project cost?
Answer: As of the 31st March 2009, our project costs were £84,921 and are reflected in our 2008/09 end of year accounts which will be published soon. Any additional expenditure will be reflected in our 2009/10 published accounts.
Question: From what source was funding secured for this project?
Answer: Any investment in capital expenditure is financed by previous profits.
Ms Rosemary Bargo, Managing Director, Bank of St Helena provided the answers.
AUDIT DEPARTMENT
A caller said she had received a bill for electricity dating back some eleven years:
Questions: Is this correct; can a person be expected to pay a bill after eleven years, and what is the set time for a bill to become obsolete?
Answer: I know the general rule in the UK is six years and if there's no action in that time to chase the debt. I'm not able to give an opinion on the position under St Helenian Law, although I presume it would be similar.
Mr Tony Kilner, Chief Auditor provided the answers.
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF SECRETARY
Two amounts, £9,000.00 and £27,250.00 were paid to Keene in the UK for services rendered in relation to the St Helena Airport campaign. We were told that the campaign would not be a cost to St Helena but a special warrant was presented to Legislative Council for the said sums of money that was drawn from the Consolidated Fund.
Question: Could it be explained why was this money taken from the Consolidated Fund, what it was spent on, and over what period?
Answer: Keene contributed to the St Helena Airport campaign as follows:
Strategy:
Drew up a strategy for a UK campaign both in support of the airport and to resist any attempt by HMG to shelve the airport project, following the announcement of a pause. This was then implemented under the supervision and with the considerable help of Kedell Worboys and Sharon Wainwright.
Tactics: At all stages of the campaign Keene has provided advice on tactics, targets and methodology taking into account new developments and opportunities. Regular meetings and telecom have been held to coordinate activities.
Engaging the Saints Community in the UK and raising their profile:
Assisted Kedell by drafting petitions and letters for UK Saints. Organised the demonstration outside Downing Street and in Parliament Square: over 100 supporters turned up, plus MPs and peers from all parties. A letter was drafted by Keene and a delegation led by Kedell presented it to No. 10. Arranged coverage by and TV as well as newspapers and online.
Lobbying MPs:
Organised support for EDM 175 (currently 81 signatures). Arranged for the All Party Parliamentary Group on St Helena to be re-registered. Arranged and attended meetings; drafted briefs, speeches and parliamentary questions for APPG members, keeping them informed and involved at every stage.
Lobbying Government:
We have drafted 72 oral and written questions and organised for them to be tabled for reply by all Government Departments involved in the issue. Organised, or helped to organise, 5 debates - 2 in the House of Commons and 3 in the Lords - rallying support and briefing MPs and Peers to speak.
Set up a Facebook specifically in support of Airport:
Now have over 700 "friends" and supporters.
VIP visits:
Assisted MPs and journalists with visits to St Helena by supplying briefing documents and arranging interviews.
Press and media coverage:
Includes BBC and ITV reports and features in the Guardian; Times; Observer; local press and media as well as on-line.
Consultation response:
Drafted response for St Helena and UK Government Representative: Devised short pro-forma response sheet and 5 key points for circulation to respondents in St Helena and UK – including Parliamentarians.
In summary:
The plight of St Helena was little known before this campaign started. Had it not been for the campaign led by Kedell Worboys and Sharon Wainwright and supported by Keene, plus intense diplomatic engagement with HMG and stakeholders by HE The Governor, there would have been no Consultation. The Government would have quietly dropped the airport project at the end of the "pause".
Mr Andrew Wells, Chief Secretary provided the answer.
PUBLIC WORKS & SERVICES DEPARTMENT
At the June 2009 session of Legislative Council the Chairman, PW&SD undertook to provide a written answer to supplementary questions raised by Councillor Mervyn Yon about the number of welding trainees at the Transport Division:
Question 1: What is TIG welding and is this special kind of welding unknown to St Helena?
Answer: TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) is not unknown to St Helena and the method has been around for more than 60 years, however, St Helena has developed a more traditional type of welding, and whilst TIG has been more effectively used abroad, to our best knowledge the first real exposure to this locally was during the refurbishment of the BFI tanks which was carried out by South African welders more than a year ago. We are aware (as we have worked with him) that there is a local engineer who has some of the appropriate equipment, but lacks the experience of this.
TIG welding is commonly used for both high quality and manual welding and during the process of TIG welding; an arc is formed between a pointed tungsten electrode and the area to be welded. As a result of the gas shield, a clean weld is formed. This prevents oxidization from occurring.
The type of gas shielding typically used for TIG welding is argon or helium or a combination of both. When combined, these two gases can ensure a higher welding speed and welding penetration. Argon is the preference of most welders when it comes to TIG welding. It is often used simply because it is heavier than air and provides better coverage when welding.
With TIG welding, one can perform a variety of weld types on several different metals. Steel and aluminium, however, are the two most widely used metals. The filler rod is another important aspect of TIG welding.
Usually made from the same material as the base metal, it is used for reinforcing joints and welding heavy metals. It should be pointed out that the training undertaken at the Transport Division, not only focuses on TIG welding, but welding practises in general.
Question 2: What benefits will this have for PW&SD and will the department have any use for this kind of welding?
Answer: Whilst there is a focus on TIG welding, the training looks at overall welding practises, the sterility of work areas, the use of the right equipment and consumables and health and safety. As outlined in 1 above, the method of TIG will benefit is in welding heavy metals (loader buckets and parts etc) and also with the welding of different metals (stainless steel and non ferrous metals).
Question 3: How often will it be necessary to put this training into practise within the department?
Answer: The outcomes of the training (because it focuses on all aspects of welding) will be used by the trainees on a regular basis, as not only does it provide knowledge on welding methods and practises, but the safe use of cutting and grinding equipment (abrasive wheels) and drilling techniques.
Question 4: How efficient and cost effective is this to the department?
Answer: PW&SD has been seeking welding training since a compilation of a training matrix of the department 3 years ago. Much of the training required is in specialist areas as this is a technical department, so unless we have the special skills then the training does not take place, already we have had training in asbestos removal, explosives handling and scaffolding erection. We originally had 5 members of staff requiring welding training and in querying this with John Thurlow in AVES, he confirmed that he was not in a position to offer welding training to my staff, but suggested that should we be able to recruit a trainer that we also see if that person can be taught to train to further develop the skills on Island. He further advised that training such as this if provided through AVES would cost some £80 per day, which is currently being paid to trainers. In this case, the skills acquired, the recommendations made and the proposals given is cost effective.
Question 5: With the trainees being young persons what guarantees are there that they will remain with the department?
Answer: The short answer is "none". This is like everything else on St Helena…you train people and then accept that there is the possibility that they go offshore or join another department, this is not unlike sending staff on overseas training and then they don't return.
Mr Derek Richards, Manager PW&SD provided the answers.
It was hoped that the St Helena Herald this week would include the remainder of the business that transpired in the 21st July IN FOCUS programme. This is not the case however and the remainder, just a small amount, will be covered in the report next week.
IN FOCUS is grateful to all who contribute to the programme in any way whether they ask questions, pass comments or provide answers, bringing about better awareness.
Cyril Gunnell
Radio St Helena
31st July 2009
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