Rob England
BBC News Online

The former member of St Helier's RNLI station whose initial sacking sparked a dispute leading to the station closing, has called the charity "a disgrace" for the way it handled the situation.

Andy Hibbs said the charity should go public with the reasons for his removal. He was later re-instated after the crew striked, but the episode soured relations between the charity and its volunteers.

The RNLI previously said the situation was "incredibly complex" and "confidential".

Today, the charity added that it wanted to move forward and focus on saving lives.

BBC Channel Islands News

The RNLI says it wants to move forward and focus on saving lives after announcing it is closing the St Helier lifeboat station.

The charity will still operate a separate island service at St Catherine's and will work with all parties to make sure appropriate cover is achieved, says charity spokeswoman Leesa Harwood.

"Part of the reason that we closed the station was just to stop this game now and be completely transparent, and be completely open.

"I have no interest in calling people's bluff. I have no interest in trawling through recrimination.

"What I want to do now is move forward, save as many lives as possible and get a good life saving service back on the island of Jersey," she says.

The RNLI's decision follows the sacking and subsequent reinstatement of the Jersey station's coxswain Andy Hibbs earlier this year after all the crew walked out.

It means there will not be an all weather lifeboat crew in Jersey until a replacement can be trained. The RNLI said St Catherine's lifeboat station would remain open.

Rob Byrne
BBC News Online

Jersey's harbour master says he has made arrangements to make sure emergency lifeboat cover is secured for the island.

The RNLI has announced it is closing the St Helier station, after a dispute with staff.

Captain Bill Sadler said it is his legal responsibility to coordinate search and rescue operations in the island's waters.

"Jersey Coastguard is fortunate to call on over 50 resources in times of an emergency, including lifeboats operated on-island by the RNLI in St Catherine’s, the inshore fire service as well as boat and aircraft based in France and the other Channel Islands.

"I have talked to colleagues in Guernsey and France today to discuss flank cover from their stations and have added extra resilience to our on call duty pilot crew for this week.

"Until a more permanent solution is agreed, Jersey Coastguard will continue to work with the RNLI and other search and rescue providers to give the most comprehensive provision of search and rescue coverage for the Island as we can," he said.

Rob Byrne
BBC News Online

The RNLI's St Helier lifeboat has left its station for the UK.

The charity has taken the decision to close the station after a dispute with the crew.

"Re-establishing all-weather lifeboat cover will take a few months," the RNLI said.

"In the meantime the RNLI will transfer the Tamar class lifeboat to Poole, where it will be fully serviced and stay while we make plans for the future."

Ryan Morrison
BBC News Online

People in Jersey will be asked whether there should be an elected speaker for the island's parliament next year, a first.

But there have been attempts before to change the current dual role.

• 2010: Lord Carswell's report into the machinery of government recommended the Bailiff's dual role should stop
• 2010: Former Bailiff, Sir Philip Bailhache criticised the Carswell report
• 2010: Former politician Pierre Horsfall said it would be hard to appoint a Jersey speaker
• 2013: There was a proposal to split the dual role when the then Bailiff, Sir Michael Birt retired. It did not get passed
• 2016: There was another attempt in 2016 to introduce an elected speaker but this was rejected by the States
• 2017: The Independent Jersey Care Inquiry recommended a change to the dual role of the Bailiff

Jersey's harbour master has thanked the RNLI and the St Helier lifeboat crew for their work on the island, but says he's "disappointed" the station has been closed.

It comes after the sacking and subsequent reinstatement of the Jersey station's coxswain Andy Hibbs earlier this year after all the crew walked out.

The RNLI shut the lifeboat station after a breakdown in the relationship between the charity and crew.

Police officers in Jersey have collected 44 guns so far and several rounds of ammunition, as part of a national police drive for people to hand weapons in.

The firearms range from air rifles, pistols, shotguns and even a German World War Two handgun, the force says.

Day one of Guernsey Police's weapons amnesty, which also covers Alderney and Sark, yielded a trove of weapons, including three shotguns, several pistols and BB guns, ammunition, a large collection of knives, two samurai swords and a flail mace.

BBC Radio Jersey

The RNLI says it is doing all it can to restore an all-weather lifeboat service in Jersey, after it took the decision to shut the St Helier lifeboat station.

On Monday crew members told the charity they wanted to set up an independent lifeboat station after relations broke down. Despite offering to run the lifeboat until they could set up on their own, the RNLI said it couldn't keep the station open while there was a threat of crew resignation.

Leesa Harwood, from the RNLI, said: "We would like to reassure the Jersey community that St Catherine’s RNLI lifeboat station remains open and we will be doing everything we can to restore an RNLI all-weather lifeboat service to the island as quickly as possible, working alongside the States of Jersey, the coastguard and the maritime community.

"Our immediate focus will be on restoring an inshore lifeboat service in St Helier.

"Re-establishing all-weather lifeboat cover will take a few months and in the meantime the RNLI will transfer the Tamar class lifeboat to Poole, where it will be fully serviced and stay while we make plans for the future," she said.

BBC Radio Guernsey

Guernsey boat building firm Aqua-Star has made nine people redundant.

The company told staff on Wednesday, managing director Geoff Willson said.

The St Sampson-based business has been involved in yacht building for more than 40 years.

Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport

Guernsey boss Tony Vance admits he has had to be "cruel" to some players in picking the team for recent games.

After suffering a club-worst start to the season where they lost eight of their first nine games, Guernsey have lost just two of their last nine.

"It's harder because you're letting people down," Vance told BBC Guernsey.

Image source, Fran Torode

"If I look at the players that are being let down at the moment, to name a couple Ryan-Zico Black and Angus Mackay, they're stalwarts for us."

He continued: "They've given everything and more to be in this squad and at the moment they can't get near the squad.

"I do feel for them, but we've got to have competition for places, we've certainly done that in the last seven or eight weeks and I think the lads have bought into it.

"It's cruel on some, but ultimately I've said we'll be stronger together and we are at the moment."

BBC Radio Jersey

Jersey's St Helier lifeboat crew has been stood down meaning there is currently no RNLI search and rescue service from the site, the charity says.

The decision comes after the crew asked to split from the RNLI, sparked by the sacking and subsequent reinstatement of the Jersey station's coxswain.

Leesa Harwood, from the RNLI, said the crew made it clear they wished to set up an independent station.

"In the interim period, while they pursue that aim, I do not believe that they can fully commit to the RNLI. I no longer have confidence that the station can be run without constant challenges and without constant threat of crew resignation."

"The lifeboat station and shop in St Helier will be closed and secured.

"The crew has been stood down. The RNLI has notified the coastguard that there is no longer a declared RNLI search and rescue service at St Helier," she said.

Jersey Evening Post

Islanders with a taste for adventure are being invited to apply for places on intrepid explorer Colonel John Blashford-Snell’s summer expedition to Mongolia., external

Rob Byrne
BBC News Online

The RNLI has taken the decision to close the St Helier lifeboat station "for the immediate future".

Leesa Harwood, from the charity, said: "It’s with regret that we have made the difficult decision to close the St Helier lifeboat station for the immediate future.

"It is impossible to run a station when the relationship with the RNLI and crew has broken down to this extent."

Earlier this week the St Helier lifeboat crew asked to split from the RNLI, following the sacking and subsequent reinstatement of the Jersey station's coxswain Andy Hibbs.

More to follow.

BBC Radio Jersey

Jersey's Infrastructure Minister Deputy Eddie Noel is stepping down next year.

Naomi Dunning
BBC Radio Jersey, Reporter

Jersey politicians may have approved a change in the law to allow same-sex couples to get married, but there has been a call to include something called a conscientious objection clause.

The laws now go before scrutiny to make sure they are fit for purpose before they can come into force next year, allowing couples to marry after several delays.

The Evangelical Alliance has already made a submission to the island's scrutiny panel asking for there to be a conscientious objection clause, so that people of strong religious views can refuse to serve same-sex couples without fear of being prosecuted for discrimination.

It points out that there is already a clause protecting churches and clergymen.

Revd Martyn Shea says there is a concern that people who want to respectfully speak up for their faith are no longer able to do so without fear of legal action.

But Senator Philip Ozouf, a gay politician who's had a same-sex civil partnership, said while the conscience clause for the church was right and proper, it would send out a message of intolerance if businesses were given the same privilege.

Jersey Evening Post

A homeless man had a slap-up meal at a St Aubin hotel – during which he drank a bottle of Dom Pérignon Champagne – before booking a room but leaving without paying his bill., external

BBC News England

Guernsey-based investment tycoon Guy Hands has warned a restrictive immigration policy in Guernsey is not only harming the economy but provides a stark warning for the UK as it negotiates its exit from the EU.

The founder of the private equity firm Terra Firma is warning that the British economy could suffer if it adopts the same "horrendous" approach.

The Channel Island's government is facing a backlash from employers experiencing a shortage of migrant workers after new a law was introduced in April.

"Guernsey is probably two to three years ahead of the UK in that the concept of Guernsey closing the door, if you like, to immigrants from the EU particularly, sort of got attention," he said.

Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport

Jersey Rugby's second team are bidding to join the English league system.

Jersey Athletic currently play in the Zoo Shield - an event for second teams.

Since Jersey went professional and moved up the English rugby system - they are currently in the Championship - opportunities for local players to make the first team have been limited.

Image source, Sue Armes

"What we're looking for is to give our guys the opportunity to fight for promotion," chairman Mark Morgan told BBC Radio Jersey.

Present rules prevent clubs from having two teams in the national league structure.

"There are ways to circumvent that and it's what we're looking for," added Morgan.

"It gives the guys a little bit more to fight for and as we look at how we bring the guys through from our minis, juniors and colts, playing at an appropriate level of amateur rugby would be great for the team."

BBC Channel Islands News

The States committee responsible for a cut in funding for sports and arts events said it faced difficult budget decisions to support the local economy.

Guernsey's sports and arts commissions has been told it will receive no funding from the events group budget administered by the Committee for Economic Development in 2018.

Sports Commission CEO David Harry described it as a U-turn and a "peverse decision".

In reply, a spokeswoman from the committee issued this response:

Rob Byrne
BBC News Online

BBC staff in Guernsey are doing their bit for Children in Need today, dressing up in swinging 60s attire.

It's a nod to the creation of BBC Local Radio in the decade, although technically it was 1967.

I'm a year early though, that's me on the right, trying to be Bobby Moore.

I'll be posting some videos today to show how your money is making a difference to the lives of children in the Channel Islands.