HOPE AND SURVIVAL ARE THE ELECTION ISSUES IN ST. HELENA

Michael Binyon in St. Helena, The Times, October 31, 2009

Voters go to the polls on Wednesday in one of Britain’s most remote territories - where there are no parties, no prime minister and no parliament.

But the general election in St. Helena promises to be one of the most passionate and divisive in the history of the lonely Atlantic island, ruled by Britain for almost 400 years.

At stake are just two issues: can hope be restored to St Helana? And - more crucially - can the island’s community survive? There are only two constituencies, East and West, each with six seats. For years, councillors were returned almost automatically. But St. Helena is gripped by an economic crisis, and record numbers of candidates are standing.

The average age of incumbent councillors is 72, and many are likely to be swept from office by challengers with a single demand - change. No new party will come to power: with fewer than 4,000 people, St. Helena is too small for a party system. The 25 men and women standing are campaigning on individual platforms in an opinionated community where almost everyone is known by sight. The promises, however, are as extravagant as elsewhere in the world: money for schools; a better-run hospital; help for farming; higher wages and less bureaucracy.

But even the most ambitious know that they can do only so much. As in the other tiny remnants of empire across the globe, the final say rests with the Governor. And the purse-strings - now drawn so tight that young St. Helenians are leaving in droves - are controlled in London.

The island’s survival is not a question of food, health or shelter. The "Saints" enjoy many of the benefits of their British citizenship: a good secondary school; social security benefits; care homes for the elderly; unemployment benefit and adequate housing.

But living costs almost 1,000 miles from the nearest land are high. Everything - food, medicine, machinery, cars, clothes and the myriad articles of daily life - must come by ship. And though Cape Town is only five sailing days away, transport costs make life difficult and expensive. Electricity prices are among the highest in the world. Petrol is £1.35 a litre. Wages are extremely low; many earn no more than £5,000 a year. A new constitution introduced this year increases the powers of oversight committees and five elected members of the Executive Council. Bernice Olsson, an outspoken member of the outgoing council, says in her campaign leaflets: "The constitution will not clip the Governor’s wings . . . but Bernice will."

But it is hard to see how. Committee chairmen do not have the power of ministers. There is no new money: of the £21 million budget, £12 million comes from London. As in the days when the East India Company ran the island, jobs, land, development and even the single supply ship are in the hands of the St. Helena government - and ultimately London.