St Helena : ST Helena in focus (21/08/09)
Submitted by Saint Helena Herald (Juanita Brock) 27.08.2009 (Article Archived on 10.09.2009)
Numerous questions and comments were called in to the IN FOCUS programme at Radio St Helena hosted by Cyril Gunnell on Tuesday evening 4th August 2009;
ST Helena in focus (21/08/09)
As Published in the St Helena Herald (21/08/09)
Numerous questions and comments were called in to the IN FOCUS programme at Radio St Helena hosted by Cyril Gunnell on Tuesday evening 4th August 2009; some of the questions required research before answers could be given and therefore they were not ready for the programme last Tuesday evening the 11th. A promise was received from one government department that the answers would be ready for the programme on 14th August.
Councillor Mervyn Yon was on the 11th August programme however, and was able to relay the answers he had received to that time.
SOLOMON & COMPANY
Concerns have been expressed that waste water from the Bamboo Hedge Piggery in Sandy Bay is finding its way into the water stream that the public obtain drinking water from, which is situated below the Piggery.
Question: What happens to the waste water from the Piggery at Bamboo Hedge?
Answer: With reference to your caller's enquiry, we can advise that the waste water from the Bamboo Hedge Piggery is drained into our Banana Plantation.
Mr Mark Yon, General Manager Production and Services at Solomons provided the answer.
Editor's note: Councillor Yon said also that Environmental Health is looking into this issue. Also a comment from the public said that the waste water from the Piggery does indeed drain in the Banana Plantation but it then makes its way downhill into the water stream
EMPLOYMENT & SOCIAL SECURITY DEPARTMENT
The Employment and Social Security Department has a Policy in place for selling Government landlord houses to sitting tenants after 5 years. For most people to purchase these homes they will need money to raise money, which means that depending on their circumstances they would need to get a bank loan, however, if the sale of these houses drag on it will be difficult for some people to obtain a loan because of their age and job.
Questions:
(a) What is the delay in selling Government Landlord houses?
(b) What is the reason for the houses not being made available for sale?
Answer: Under the St Helena Housing Policy there is provision for SHG to offer any house for sale to the sitting tenant subject to constraints. However SHG is also required to maintain and own a stock of Government Landlord houses which can be rented to those who cannot afford to own a house of their own. So there is no delay, but SHG need to ensure first and foremost that they have an adequate number of houses to house as many families as possible who cannot afford to build their own houses.
From the last housing review there were approximately 70 people on the waiting list registered for a Government Landlord House, which shows that the building of new houses has not kept up with demand, therefore no more additional houses were put on the market for sale to tenants. The department is only seeing through the first lot of houses that which were first made available when the policy was first approved.
Under the policy SHG may also designate any property or group of properties which are not for sale because of their situation or heritage value or for other reasons. Such as blocks or groups of flats which would raise management, access, ownership and common responsibility issues among multiple tenants, listed buildings or areas of military interest.
Mr Ronald Coleman, Employment Benefits & Administration Officer provided the answers.
PUBLIC WORKS & SERVICES DEPARTMENT
Some questions about the signs in the vicinity of Plantation House that were erected and then dismantled were not answered by the PW&SD and were reiterated.
Questions:
(a) What was the cost of procuring and erecting the signs?
(b) What was the reason for erecting these signs knowing that they have now been taken down?
Answer: A press release has been issued on the signage at White Gate. If you have any queries then you should submit them to the Secretary of the Highways Authority.
Editor's note: The press release referred to was published only in The Independent on 7th August 2009 on page 3.
Question: Paperwork was promised on the output of the three wind turbines and also you were requested to have the info put into the two newspapers for the public to see?
Answer: Please find the document attached.
Editor's note: The graph referred to above is printed on the opposite page.
Question: A caller said one of your drivers (the driver's name was given) had been dumping rubbish near the road from the turn off to the Weather Station at Bottom Woods, instead of taking it to the appropriate place at the dump, could this be investigated and correct action taken to alleviate this problem please?
Answer: Is this a problem... I would be grateful if you could advise how?
However, PW&SD has an arrangement with ANRD in poor weather to leave the degradable verge cleanings in the one place and then move it to the dump when the weather clears up. Please note that other hard rubbish is fly tipping which is carried out by the public...not PW&SD.
Mr Derek Richards, Manager/Head of Department, PW&SD provided the answers.
PUBLIC HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT
Question: Why are Day Centres no longer held for the elderly?
Answer: Day Centres will recommence tomorrow (Tuesday 11.08.09) on a weekly basis. They will focus on smaller groups than in the past; generally targeting those older people who are frailer and socially isolated. We aim to transport older people from a different area of the island each week in the first instance. This will ensure that the older people can spend as many hours as possible at the CCC.
Question: When the last Day Centre was held and where was the venue?
Answer: A Day Centre was held at the CCC in May. It has not been possible to have any since then due to staff shortages and transport difficulties.
Question: If Day Centres are no longer held what happens to those savings?
Answer: Day centres are still held as and when staffing and transport permits.
Mrs Carol George, Chief Administrative Health & Social Services Officer provided the answers.
IN FOCUS recognises the difficulties there could be in providing the information requested and is grateful to the various heads of department and organisations for providing the answers. Also, callers to the programme are applauded for exercising their democratic right in asking searching questions and putting forward considered points of view, which at times if it were not for their proactive approach the public generally, it would appear, would be less enlightened.
Look forward to another report in next week's St Helena Herald.
Cyril Gunnell, Radio St Helena 21st August 2009
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