Before the UK Boris Johnson administration finally struck the “Rwanda” deal to deport migrants and/or boat people crossing the English channel from the continent, (plus a generous donation of over £ 100 million for 'development'), some of the possible places considered even included the Falkland Islands, but the suggestion did not prosper.
The UK Government is reportedly considering reviving plans to fly people who arrive in the UK by unauthorized means to Ascension Island. Multiple reports say ministers and officials are considering the island as a “plan B” if the scheme to send migrants to Rwanda fails. plan B” if the scheme to send migrants to Rwanda fails.
A completely refurbished former RMS St Helena, which sailed between the British Overseas Territory of St Helena, (occasionally Ascension Island) and Cape Town in South Africa until 2018, is currently in Uruguay although under a new purpose.
Last Saturday 13 August, Nigel Phillips CBE, accompanied by his wife Emma, arrived to assume the office of Governor of St Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha. Governor and Mrs. Phillips were met at St Helena Airport by the Acting Governor, the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, and the Aide de Camp and were escorted to Plantation House. Governor Phillips' last appointment was Governor of the Falkland Islands.
His Excellency Governor Nigel Phillips CBE will be leaving the Falkland Islands on Friday 1 July 2022 at the end of his tour of duty. The following arrangements have been put in place for his farewell.
Mr. Nigel Phillips CBE, currently governor of the Falkland Islands has been appointed Governor of St Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha in succession to Dr. Philip Rushbrook. Mr. Phillips will take up his appointment in August 2022.
The St Helena government has announced the resumption of Airlink flights between Johannesburg, South Africa, and St Helena island commending 26 March. The Airlink service has been discontinued since March 20 because of the pandemic. The resumption also means a monthly inter-island service to Ascension Island.
Sailors from Ice Patrol HMS Protector paid tribute to legendary Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton – a century after he died pushing the boundaries of polar research. The crew of the icebreaker held a memorial service at his graveside on the island of South Georgia – the latest stop for the survey ship as she heads to the frozen continent for a summer of scientific research.
Google’s new submarine cable system, Equiano, which will connect Africa and Europe, will make its first landfall later this week – on the remote island of St Helena in the South Atlantic.
By Gwynne Dyer - Apart from Britain and Scandinavia, there was hardly a country in Europe that didn’t get a visit from Napoleon’s armies. The campaign that made Napoleon famous in France was his short-lived conquest of Egypt. At one time, he even contemplated following in Alexander the Great’s footsteps and invading India.