The policy notes that land on St Helena is scarce. Therefore, land can only be sold to investors if they get a licence from the Governor in Council.

There were only three substantive items on today’s agenda and all of them were open to the public although none were in attendance. Desmond Wade deputised for the Financial Secretary who is on holiday.

The first item was to do with the Register of Electors. This is a very important list of all those on the Island who can vote for, or stand for, Legislative Council. By law we must update this list every year, but there are two different methods of doing so. Method “A” is to prepare a completely new register and method “B” is to update the existing one. In both cases it is individuals themselves who decide to put their name on the Register and I was astonished to be told that there are quite a few Saints who actually don’t want to be on the register at all. As this is the very foundation of our democracy I cannot think of any good reason for denying oneself a vote, but I respect the freedom that we all have here to make such decisions for ourselves.

“It is a good business opportunity and it was most encouraging to see that there are so many parties who are interested in this venture” said Susan O’Bey, Contracts and External Services Officer for the St Helena Government.

Sub Tropica Estates Limited in respect of the Sub Tropica Estates Development, near White Gate.

This whole airport business has been protracted to say the least. Most of you will remember the history far better than I can tell you. The “three-legged stool”, the reasons why that might not have been a good idea, the appointment of consultants, the apparent commitment of the British Government to the construction of an airport, the withdrawal of potential bidders, the good news of two compliant bids, the selection of a favoured bidder and now the “pause”. The whole process has been dogged by delay and fresh questions being raised by those who, as Ministers of HMG, have every right to raise them. Yet it must be clear to anyone viewing the whole process from outside that the driving enthusiasm for the project that has been obvious from many of those involved has not always been shared by those who would make the ultimate decision.