Becoming connected

Remoteness and identity on Saint Helena

Jennings, Owen

Dissertation/Thesis

2018

Baldacchino, Godfrey

Baldacchino, Godfrey
Fox, Michael
Randall, James
Royle, Stephen

Baldacchino, Godfrey
Fox, Michael
Randall, James

Master of Arts

Faculty of Arts. Island Studies.

Island Studies

Island Studies

University of Prince Edward Island

Charlottetown, PE

More than 500 after its discovery, the South Atlantic island of Saint Helena finally has an airport. I visited the island in 2016, between the construction of the airport and the first commercial passenger service, and interviewed Saint Helenians (Saints) on how this shift in access has already changed their island, and their hopes and fears about changes that might come with commercial air service. I used an inductive grounded theory approach. The location of Saint Helena and its history Show moreMore than 500 after its discovery, the South Atlantic island of Saint Helena finally has an airport. I visited the island in 2016, between the construction of the airport and the first commercial passenger service, and interviewed Saint Helenians (Saints) on how this shift in access has already changed their island, and their hopes and fears about changes that might come with commercial air service. I used an inductive grounded theory approach. The location of Saint Helena and its history relating to connection is considered, introducing an exploration of the importance of connections to islands and the loss of distance in many cases. Saints are asked about the contributory factors to their identity, and uniqueness, friendliness, and aspects of isolation are prominent. The airport has been a point of consideration for decades, and Saints have pinned their economic future into a shift to a tourist economy, but also have concerns considering how that might change their island. Other aspects like the presence of satellite internet, and prospect of a faster connection play a similar role to the airport, presenting clear economic benefits while diminishing the island's distance from the outside world. Saint Helena has been set a high goal in benefiting from the airport, and the island's position as one of the few remaining aid-dependent United Kingdom overseas territories presses the case for greater economic sustainability, even if such a position may be a decade or more away. Saint Helena is a small island undergoing substantial change, and that smallness is unavoidable. Saint Helena will always be a remote island, but finally, after decades of economic stagnation, change is in the air. Show less

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