ST HELENA

LOCATION AND COMMUNICATION LINKS

The Island of St. Helena lies in an isolated position in the South Atlantic, about 15.55° S and 5.45° W. The nearest mainland, the west coast of Africa, is over 1,000 miles away, and the island is 1,700 miles (2,276km) from Cape Town and 4,500 miles (7,240km) from Britain. The sister island of Ascension, one of St. Helena’s two dependencies, lies 703 miles (1,131km) to the north-west, and the other, Tristan da Cunha, some 1,500 miles (2,414km) to the south-west.

The main drawback to the island is the difficulty of communication with the outside world. As there is no air service, airmail letters via Ascension or Cape Town make the final part of the journey by sea, on the island’s own vessel, the RMS St. Helena, which runs from Cardiff to Cape Town, calling at Ascension and St. Helena en route. Cable & Wireless PLC has in recent years installed a modern telecommunication link with the outside world through radio, telephone, telex, facsimile and, in 1995, a television service.

GEOGRAPHY

St. Helena covers 47V₂ square miles, is 10V₂ miles long by 6/2 miles wide and rises steeply out of the sea. The highest point, Diana’s Peak, is 2,700ft above sea level. Jamestown, the capital, is at sea level. St. Helena is tropical but the climate is by no means as extreme as that suggests. It is equable and warm, but there is a noticeable difference between the drier, low-lying areas such as Jamestown and the cooler, damper cloudy uplands. Vegetation flourishes in the lush central areas. One Victorian writer likened the island to ‘an emerald, set in a ring of bronze’, and an aerial view would confirm his poetic fancy.

POPULATION, LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

The population of 5,644 (1987 census) is of mixed origin, descended principally from British settlers, soldiers and seamen, slaves from South-east Asia and Madagascar, and small numbers of Chinese and African labourers. Nevertheless English has been the only language. Most Islanders are Anglican, but Baptist, Salvation Army, Roman Catholic, Seventh Day Adventist, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Ba’hai and other denominations are actively supported.

Excellent medical, educational and social services follow English practice, while long-established Friendly Societies still play an important role in the community. In a word, the island’s prevailing culture and customs are essentially British.

HISTORY

St. Helena was discovered by the Portuguese in 1502, on 21st May, now celebrated annually as the island’s Feast Day. The first recorded English visitor was Thomas Cavendish in 1588. The island was claimed by the Dutch in 1633, but remained virtually uninhabited until settled and fortified by the English East India Company in 1659, as a vital supply base for homeward bound Indiamen. This was confirmed by Royal Charters until 1834, when it came under the direct government of the British Crown. Its importance as a mid-ocean staging post increased, until 1869, when the opening of the Suez Canal robbed it of its economic role. But it has gained temporary prosperity on several occasions as a place of detention, most notably for Napoleon, between 1815 and 1821, and 5,700 Boer prisoners of war (1900-02).

GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMY

By the 1967 Constitution, Government of the Colony is by the Legislative Council. The 12 elected members of this Council serve on the five committees established for overall control of the Government Departments of Public Works and Services, Public Health, Education, Social Services, and Agriculture and Natural Resources. The Chairman of each Committee also forms an Executive Council with two ex-officio members, who are senior Government Officers, and the Governor is the Chairman of this Council. A Speaker is elected by the Council and presides over all Legislative Council meetings.

Lacking major industries or export potential, St. Helena is never likely to become self-sufficient and by far the greatest part of the Colony’s revenue is a grant from the British Government, plus development aid allocated to various projects within the terms of the Development Plan. These are presently centred on attracting overseas investment, and developing select tourism.

SPORT AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES

Sport plays an important part in the life of St. Helena and the levelling and opening of the Francis Plain playing field with its much improved facilities including a 400 metre running track was welcomed. The opening of the Prince Andrew School on Francis Plain in June 1989 with its large gymnasium and other sporting facilities has increased the variety of sports available. Football is the most popular game but there is strong competition in cricket, tennis, rounders, badminton, skittles and rifle shooting (.22 and .762) — and not just among the men.

The nine-hole golf course at Longwood is pleasantly situated if not particularly sophisticated. The Royal Engineers constructed a 33/3 metre by 12 metre open air fresh water pool in Jamestown and a small paddling pool for toddlers. This is used extensively during the summer periods for school children during the day and for adults and children during the weekends. Fishing is being developed as a valuable local industry and even on a casual basis, many inhabitants rely on it for a cheap

variety of diet. But it is also a favourite pastime whether one goes after the small fry or the game fish such as tuna, barracuda or marlin.

The National Amateur Sports Association in St. Helena (N.A.S.A.S.) was set up for organised sports, but because of finances it has become more and more difficult to sponsor a team to participate in the Island Games or the Commonwealth Games. In spite of these difficulties the teams will always remember the kind hospitality and the many friends they made on those historic occasions.

Arnold Flagg, Trevor Hearl