London.com

The island of St. Helena to vote: more autonomy from London

Posted on November 2nd, 2009 in london news Napoleon

Famous for the exile of Napoleon, and for offshore sailors, for the cyclone that bears her name, Sant ‘Elena is a remote island in the south’ s nearly two thousand miles from the Atlantic coast of ‘Angola, one of the areas most remote former British Empire, still under the jurisdiction of Her Majesty. Wednesday will be the 4,000 islanders to vote to elect its board in an atmosphere of overt rebellion against British policies. The islanders feel discriminated against compared to other citizens of the United Kingdom: on the island, in fact, everything costs more dramatically than England against salaries much lower. Gasoline costs 1.50 euro compared to the salaries of 5,500 euros per year, just to give a benchmark. Obviously, all goods arriving by sea from many thousands of miles away with a consequent rise in prices, but in this situation, the governor appointed by London, poses no remedy arousing the protests of citizens confronted, as all over the world, with the economic crisis. Greater autonomy, then, what they are asking citizens in these elections. Their leader is Councilor Bernice Olsen hoping to “clip the wings to the British government”