HIGH TURNOUT AND RECORD NUMBER OF ELECTION CANDIDATES REFLECT ST HELENIANS’ DESIRE FOR CHANGE

For Immediate Release: 6th November 2009

Election results have just been announced in one of Britain’s most remote overseas territories situated in the middle of the South Atlantic over 4600 miles from the UK. There was a record turnout at the election and a record number of candidates for the twelve seat council resulting in seven new councillors being elected. The result indicated a strong desire for change, particularly in relation to the treatment of St Helena by the UK Government. With a population of around 4,000 people, elections are a very personal affair with the majority of candidates known well to voters. Whilst in the past this has led few Islanders (known as Saints) to challenge incumbent councillors, this election was very different. Economic Collapse Chief among the Islanders’ concerns is the economic prospects for St Helena and in particular the continued delay by the UK Government regarding the construction of an airport, without which, many believe, there is no viable future for the Overseas territory. Concern has been building ever since the Secretary of State for International Development, Douglas Alexander, announced a pause last December in the construction of an airport which is urgently needed to deal with an economic crisis on the island and end dependence on substantial and growing aid from UK taxpayers; already amounting to £25 million each year. A consultation report published last week (28th October) on access to St Helena found that 70 per cent of Islanders supported the immediate construction of an airport and noted the Islanders sense of ‘disbelief’, ‘distrust’ and ‘betrayal’ following the announcement of the pause. Unable to find work, many Saints have left the Island; leaving behind children and relatives whilst they search for work overseas. The Island’s population has declined by 25 per cent in the past ten years and, without an airport, the exodus is expected to continue to the point where, ultimately, life on the Island will be unsustainable. The St Helena Government UK Representative, Kedell Worboys said: “The support for the airport has been overwhelming. Saints both on the Island and overseas desperately want to secure their own future whilst at the same time relieving the burden on the UK taxpayer. Both they and the British Government know that an airport is the only way of doing this.” MPs Criticism A decision not to build an airport would represent an enormous false economy as continued subsidies will ultimately cost the British taxpayer far more than the cost of an airport. The alternative option of replacing the RMS St Helena (currently the only means of access to the Island) with another ship would cost £75 million and would do nothing to reverse the Island’s increasing dependence. The pause has provoked much criticism in political circles and over 80 MPs have signed an Early Day Motion calling on the Government to proceed with the airport. The Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on St Helena. Bob Russell MP, commented: “St Helena has been treated shamefully by the British Government. Saints have served Britain loyally over the years and the island has the most people per head of population serving in Her Majesty’s armed forces. The simple maths is that an airport will make the island self-sufficient. That has to be a bargain. It makes economic sense. We can’t understand why the Government has wasted yet more money on a consultation to which they already knew the answer.” -Ends- For further information contact John Stanley on 020 7839 2140/07818 097 836 or john@keenepa.co.uk. Note to Editors: St Helena is an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom, with its own legislature and a high degree of internal self-government. It is an island of 47 square miles (122 sq.km) situated 1,200 miles off the west coast of Africa. The number of tourists currently is less than 1,500 a year but the opening of an airport could quadruple that number in the next ten years without undermining the essential way of life and natural attractions of St Helena.