Confrontation between Governor and elected members in remote St Helena, about Covid-19 measures

Governor Dr Philip Rushbrook, appointed to the island by the UK Government, this morning called three elected members a “disgrace” when he stopped his car on the way to the airport Dec. 2 in order to confront protestors.

About 20 people, including councillors Jeffrey Ellick, Christine Scipio and Gavin Ellick, had gathered on the road to the St Helena Airport early yesterday morning, wearing masks and carrying banners.

The group was demonstrating to the Governor (who departed to the UK on today’s flight) their dissatisfaction about changes in quarantine measures and a lack of transparency in Covid-19 decision-making.

St Helena is currently Covid-free and requires 14-day mandatory quarantine at the custom-renovated Bradley’s Camp for all arrivals, with a few exceptions.

However, recent government decisions – first, a closed-doors decision to exempt FCDO officials from Bradley’s, then an announcement that from January home isolation (not Bradley’s) would be the main method of 14-day quarantine – has resulted in opposition from some members of Legislative Council and the public.