Summary

  • Updates from Monday 30 April until Friday 4 May 2018

Live Reporting

  1. Sexual assault centre 'needs more staff'

    BBC Radio Jersey

    A centre for people who have been sexually abused in Jersey has said it needs more staff to cope with demand for its services.

    Dewberry House is the island's first sexual assault referral centre - also known as a SARC.

    It's been open for a year, and has already helped nearly 100 victims.

    Coordinator Laura Osmand said it was very successful in offering help - but needs more resources.

    Going forward I think we're able to meet those clients' needs, and the staff are doing an amazing job to support the high demand that we have. Going forward - for the vision for the SARC - as our numbers increase and more people are aware of our services, it's essential that we have more staff to be able to support those clients.

    Laura Osmand, Coordinator, Dewberry House

  2. Five days left to register for Jersey's General Election

    Chris Quevatre
    BBC News Online

    There's still time to register to vote in Jersey's General Election.

    Anyone who hasn't already registered has until 12:00 on 9 May to add their name to the register.

    Only people who are on the register can vote when the polls open on the 16 May.

    Ballot boxes

  3. Your views on Twitter

    Twitter

    We've had quite a bit of reaction on Twitter to the news that Guernsey's Committee for Employment and Social Security is considering bringing in a law to make it illegal to discriminate against people on the grounds of race and sexual orientation.

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  4. Modern building designs mean we're 'losing birds'

    Sue Coryndon
    Broadcast Journalist, BBC Radio Guernsey

    Architects are being encouraged to work with ornithologists in Guernsey to build more habitats for nesting birds.

    Chris Mourant of La Societe Guernesiaise says modern building design doesn't take enough account of wildlife.

    He said unless we create the right conditions for birds to breed, we'll lose them.

    We're losing our starlings due to building renovations. There are not the proper boxes being put up. It's the same with the swifts. It would be nice if we could get together with architects to find ways of creating nesting areas where swifts can go - and all manner of birds.

    Chris Mourant, La Societe Guernesiaise

    Swift

  5. Nearly 10% of Jersey's public employees 'not local'

    BBC Radio Jersey

    Almost 10% of people employed by the States of Jersey do not have local housing qualifications, it's been revealed.

    A report on the island's public sector workforce shows the number of staff who are listed as licensed or registered.

    Of the 6,750 people employed by the government in 2017, almost 600 fit into one of those two categories.

    Ministers want to introduce time-limited work permits for people without local housing qualifications, as part of measures aimed at limiting the island's population.

  6. Former GFC captain speaks out about depression

    Chris Quevatre
    BBC News Online

    One of Guernsey's most prominent sports stars has spoken out about his battle with depression.

    Sam Cochrane is a former captain of Guernsey Football Club and was the first player to sign up to the club when it formed in 2011.

    He stopped playing for the Green Lions this season, but has since started playing in the Priaulx League.

    The worst point was when I was up here working in mid-November. I knew I was fighting something and I wasn't quite right in myself. And I spent the day crying - it was weird. I wasn't right, and I knew I'd been going backwards slowly - and at that point I went to the doctor and I said 'Look, I'm not right, something isn't right here'.

    Sam Cochrane, Former Guernsey FC Captain

    Sam CochraneFran Torode

    As well as being a formidable centre-back, Sam Cochrane remains Guernsey FC's top-scoring defender, with 10 goals over his 168 appearances.

    He has also appeared in several Island Games - most recently captaining his side to a gold medal in Jersey in 2015.

  7. School to block apps on students' phones

    Elizabeth College in Guernsey is trialling the use of a parental control app during school hours.

    Read More

  8. States considering extending discrimination law

    Chris Quevatre
    BBC News Online

    A States of Guernsey committee is considering whether to bring in a law to make it illegal to discriminate against people on the grounds of race and sexual orientation.

    The Committee for Employment and Social Security could ask the States to approve extending the development of disability discrimination legislation to cover multiple grounds of protection, including "sex, gender and race".

    Committee President Michelle Le Clerc says she would like to see the laws in place by the end of this political term.

    We've already got an existing resolution to bring in disability discrimination, but after consultation with our two experts, they're recommending that we go for a more encompassing legislation. So this would cover sex, gender, identity reassignment, race, religion, disability, age - so a wider remit of equality.

    Deputy Michelle Le Clerc, President of the Committee for Social Security

  9. Are you missing a dragon?

    Chris Quevatre
    BBC News Online

    You expect to find lots of different types of wildlife on the Cobo Nature Trail - plenty of flowers, birds... and dragons?

    No, Cobo is not the latest set location for Game of Thrones, a bearded dragon has been found in the area, and taken to the GSPCA.

    Bearded dragonGSPCA

    Steve Byrne, GSPCA manager, said "We are appealing for anyone that has lost a bearded dragon to please get in touch."

    Surely there's only one person in Guernsey with a missing bearded dragon.

    If it's you, give them a call on 01481 257261.

  10. Homeless 'rise' in Jersey

    Chris Quevatre
    BBC News Online

    The number of people who are homeless in Jersey is rising, according to a local charity.

    Figures from Shelter Trust Jersey show 195 people have stayed with the charity so far this year - a rise of 4% compared to the same period last year.

    In 2017, 364 homeless people stayed with the charity.

    Homeless manGetty Images

    It has sent a letter to all candidates in Jersey's General Election calling for a homeless strategy to be developed.

    John Hodge, the director of Shelter Trust Jersey, said they've been trying to react to the problem, but want to be able to prevent people becoming homeless in the first place.

  11. States 'pleased' nurses accepted pay deal

    Rob England
    BBC News Online

    Work is continuing to resolve outstanding public sector pay issues, according to the States of Jersey.

    This week Jersey's nurses agreed to a pay deal set out by the States for 2017 but say arrangements for 2018 remain "far from satisfactory".

    Island-based members of the Royal College of Nursing voted to agree a 2.5% pay increase for last year.

    The States of Jersey said it was "pleased" the offer had been accepted.

    "We recognise the commitment and professionalism given by all our staff, and we are continuing to work with everyone involved to resolve the outstanding pay issues."

    Teachers and civil servants have yet to agree similar pay deals as set out by the Workforce Modernisation Programme.

  12. Today's weather: Jersey

    BBC Weather

    Taking a look at the weather in Jersey today, the clouds are clearing throughout the day, with a top temperature of 13°C.

    Weather chart

  13. Today's weather: Guernsey

    BBC Weather

    We had a lot of rain overnight, but it's looking like a fairly dry day today, with the skies clearing this evening.

    Weather chart

  14. Parishes support efforts to fund Jersey teen's repatriation

    Rob England
    BBC News Online

    The repatriation of a man from Jersey who survived Nazi concentration camps has been supported by both the parish of St Saviour and the parish of St Helier.

    Frank Le Villio was sent to the World War Two Neuengamme and Sandbostel camps aged 19 after stealing a German officer's motorbike for a joyride in occupied Jersey.

    He was deported in 1944, and after the war lived in Nottingham where he died in 1946 after contracting Tuberculosis.

    Mr Le Villio's cousin, Stanley Hockley said plans to exhume and repatriate his body had "stalled" and although funeral directors in Jersey and Nottingham had offered free services to help bring Frank's body home, about £7,000 was needed to complete the process.

    Sadie Le Sueur-Rennard, the Constable of St Saviour - Frank's parish of birth - said she wanted to help with the costs, but could not ask her parishioners for the whole amount.

    Meanwhile, St Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft - the parish where Frank's family wishes him to be buried - said he hoped the funding could be found "so that he could be laid to rest with his relatives at Surville Cemetary".

    More on this story:

  15. Weather: Still the odd cloud to spoil the sunshine

    Alex Osborne
    BBC Weather

    A dry evening and night with some late sunshine, giving way to clear spells overnight.

    Milder compared to Wednesday night.

    Minimum Temperature: 6 to 9C (43 to 48F).

    Weather map

    Tomorrow will be another generally fine day and feeling warmer too.

    There will be some sunshine at times but some large areas of cloud will develop as well.

    Maximum Temperature: 10 to 14C (50 to 57F).

  16. Repatriation of concentration camp teen 'stalled'

    Rob England
    BBC News Online

    The family of a man from Jersey who survived Nazi concentration camps say they are "frustrated" after efforts to repatriate his remains from England have "stalled".

    Frank Le Villio was 19 when he was arrested by the German authorities occupying Jersey in 1944 and died in Nottingham in 1946 after contracting tuberculosis.

    Frank Le VillioJersey Heritage

    Frank Le Villio was deported after taking a "joyride" on a German soldier's motorbike

    Since his grave was discovered in 2017 funeral directors in Nottingham and Jersey have offered free services to help bring the body back, but Frank Le Villio's cousin, Stan Hockley, says he is "disappointed" the States of Jersey had not offered to help with the £7,000 costs involved.

    "If I had the money myself I would do it," Mr Hockley said, adding although efforts had been made by funeral directors in Nottingham to get permission for the exhumation "we can't get funding from the Jersey side and that's frustrating".

    St Saviour Constable Sadie Le Sueur-Rennard - where Frank lived - said she would be "happy to help" bring him home, but she could not ask parishioners to pay the full cost.

    The parish of St Helier - where Frank's family want him to be buried, alongside his father - has been contacted for comment.

    A spokesman for the Bailiff's Chambers said public funds would not be spent on this kind of case.

    More on this story:

  17. Arts 'crisis' facing Jersey in letter to 2018 candidates

    Chris Quevatre
    BBC News Online

    A joint letter has been sent by the chairmen of three arts organisations to the candidates in Jersey's General Election, talking about the "crisis" currently facing the island's arts and cultural sector.

    ArtHouse Jersey, Jersey Opera House and Jersey Arts Centre have joined forces to try and draw attention to the industry's "vital role in education, healthcare, social cohesion, tourism, environment and international profile on top of what many accept as their own ‘inherent value’ to the general well-being and contentment of society".

    They say there is a "pressing need" for the next government to address the "on-going viability" of each of their organisations.

    We would like to ask each of the candidates standing for election how they plan to support and utilise this vital sector to reach its potential and deliver real value for our Island community now and in the future? If you care about the arts, culture and creativity then please talk about it at your hustings and share your plans as part of your manifestos and discuss it online and with the media.

    Statement, ArtHouse Jersey, Jersey Opera House, Jersey Arts Centre

  18. If you're not a fan of Guernsey's waste strategy

    Chris Quevatre
    BBC News Online

    For those of you who aren't too keen on Guernsey's waste strategy, check out this new idea from China!

    Don't watch it if you're eating food...

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  19. Thriller author to be commemorated with blue plaque

    Chris Quevatre
    BBC News Online

    Guernsey's eighth blue plaque will be unveiled next Friday, to honour the life of thriller writer Desmond Bagley and his wife Joan.

    Blue plaques mark and recognise significant former residents of the island.

    Mr and Mrs Bagley moved to Guernsey in 1976, and supported the community through charities such as the GSPCA and La Societe Guernesiaise.

    He wrote many books while living in Guernsey, including Bahama Crisis, Night of Error, Juggernaut and The Enemy.

    Previous plaques have celebrated:

    The unveiling ceremony will take place on 11 May at 11:30 at Bagley Hall in the Rohais de Haut.

  20. Sarah Groves murder trial delayed due to 'civil unrest'

    Chris Quevatre
    BBC News Online

    The latest hearing in Guernsey woman Sarah Groves' murder trial could not go ahead because of "civil unrest" in the Srinigar area of Kashmir, India.

    According to in-court legal representation, Richard De Wit - the man accused of stabbing Sarah to death on a houseboat in April 2013 - "could not be transported from the Srinagar Central Jail to court due to the non-availability of required police resources".

    They added that while it is a "further setback", civil unrest is the "single most acceptable reason" for the court not sitting.

    This would have been the 118th time the court has sat.

    The next hearing is scheduled for 19 May.

    Sarah GrovesThe Sarah Groves Foundation