Simple directory > Regional > Saint Helena

Country :Saint Helena Official name: St Helena Colony with Dependencies Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II Head of government: Governor and Commander-in-Chief David J Hollamby (since 1999) Area: 122 square km Population: 7,400 (2004) Capital: Jamestown Official language: English Currency: St Helena pound (StH£) = 100 pence Exchange rate: StH£0.54 per US$ (Jun 2004) GDP per capita: US$2,500 (2003) Labour force: 3,500 (2003) Unemployment: 14.00% (2003) Inflation: 3.20% (2003) Balance of trade: -US$14.43 million (2003)

Historical profile

1502 St Helena was sighted by Portuguese mariners on 21 May (St Helena's Day).

1513 The island was settled.

1633 It was taken over by the Dutch.

1651 The East India Company was established on the island.

1673 The island was regained by the Dutch and then by the East India Company.

1815–21 St Helena was `lent' to the UK government for the exile of the French Emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte, who died on the island.

1834 Control was passed to the UK Crown.

1840 Bonaparte's body was returned to Paris.

1981 The 1981 Nationality Act ended the islanders' UK citizenship and right of abode, which they had held since 1673.

1992 The islanders established a Citizenship Commission which began fighting its case for full UK citizenship in the spring of 1997.

1999 The 'Partnership for Progress and Prosperity' White Paper re-confirmed the UK government's long-term financial support for St Helena. The paper also proposed to restore the right of abode in the UK for St Helenians.

2001 Only non-partisans were elected.

2002 After a UK-funded Air and Sea Access Study (ASAS), a referendum was held, in which 70 per cent of the islanders voted in favour of air access. St Helena held a week of celebrations marking 500 years since the island was discovered and the restoration to the islanders (the Saints) of full British citizenship.

2004 On 12 January, the St Helena government announced changes to the RMS shipping schedule, which will operate for a trial period of one year.

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