St Helena : St Helena Visited by Malcolm Geere
Submitted by Saint Helena Herald (Juanita Brock) 24.04.2008 (Article Archived on 08.05.2008)
Government officials discussed a number of key issues with Malcolm Geere who visited St Helena from 10 to 18 April 2008.
Press Release
Visit by Malcolm Geere
Government officials discussed a number of key issues with Malcolm Geere who visited St Helena from 10 to 18 April 2008. Malcolm works with the Department For International Development as their Programme Manager for the South Atlantic, and shares St Helena’s aim for making St Helena self-sufficient.
The purpose of his visit was to look at how DFID and the St Helena Government can work together more effectively to implement the Sustainable Development Plan and get the Island in a position where Saints can gain maximum benefit from the opening of the airport in 2012.
He said “Overall, it was a successful visit and I was particularly pleased to see how St Helena is thinking strategically and towards the future. The Island has a lot to offer to tourists, investors and its own people and much work is going into preparing for Air Access and the associated developments. I know that by working in genuine partnership, DFID and SHG will foster the right climate St Helena needs in order to grow.”
While on the Island, Malcolm attended over 25 meetings with some involving Legislative Council. These meetings concentrated on the progress St Helena has made during the last financial year and how DFID can help the Island meet the challenges that lie ahead. Meetings also concentrated on the New Deal between DFID and SHG which means St Helena can access significant additional funding for important projects provided that SHG makes progress in preparing the Island for the future. In the Sustainable Development Plan SHG set out what it intends to do to achieve this. DFID has agreed to throw its support behind the plan and help St Helena deliver it.
Other meetings concentrated on subjects such as the progress that has been made with DFID funded projects; the impact Air Access will have on various activities; shipping; tourism; improvements in IT; modernising government; preserving the Island’s heritage; and the recruitment and retention of staff.
Malcolm also took the opportunity to meet with a number of non-Government organisations and private sector interests who will all play “an instrumental role in helping St Helena develop”. The non-government organisations included the St Helena National Trust, the Builders and Allied Trades Association, the Bank of St Helena, the Chamber of Commerce, the Citizenship Commission, and the St Helena Development Agency.
On return to London, Malcolm and his team will continue to work closely with the St Helena Government in order to help the Island reach its goals.
Public Relations/Information Office
Office of the Chief Secretary
24 April 2008
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