Summary

  • Updates from Monday 30 April until Friday 4 May 2018

Live Reporting

  1. Guernsey 'open for business' after work permit change

    Chris Quevatre
    BBC News Online

    An amendment to Guernsey's work permit policy "brings the island in line with the UK" and demonstrates "flexibility", according to the director of the Guernsey Chamber of Commerce.

    Businesses that are spread over multiple countries and locations will now be able to offer 12-month placements in the island to trainee staff - a change with John O'Neill said shows the island is "open for business".

    In an amendment to the Intra-Company Transfer sector of work permit policy, the Committee for Home Affairs agreed to the scenario where a trainee with at least three months service at a particular company can come to Guernsey for up to a year, either to work on a specific project, or to progress their career.

    Under the current policy, an employee must have been employed by a company for 12 months, and can then stay on the island for two years - this policy will remain in place.

    Not only does it bring us into line with the UK, it demonstrates Guernsey's flexibility. It will introduce potential skilled employees to the island, showing them what Guernsey has to offer in terms of employment and work-life balance.

    It demonstrates that Guernsey is open for business, that we are linked in to the global market and can assist in building and training those companies with both a Guernsey and international workforce."

    John O'Neill, Director, Guernsey Chamber of Commerce

  2. 'Good reasons' for using plastic bags

    Chris Quevatre
    BBC News Online

    Guernsey's recycling officer is reassuring islanders over the use of plastic liners in food waste caddies under the new system.

    Questions have been raised about why the States have chosen single use as opposed to biodegradable bags.

    Bin bag

    Guernsey's Recycling Officer, Tina Norman-Ross, said they're aware of the growing concern over the damage plastic can cause to the environment but added that there are good reasons for choosing single-use plastic liners for food waste.

    She said the problem with biodegradable bags is the ones made of cornstarch have a short shelf life and break down easily, meaning food waste could spill out during transportation.

    The other issue is that when they do degrade, they leave traces of tiny particles which can interfere with the bio-digestion process.

  3. Public register vote ‘colonial despotism’ – Cayman premier

    Guernsey Press

    British Overseas Territories who will now be required to produce public beneficial ownership registers have claimed the move is ‘prejudicial’ against them and affords the Crown Dependencies preferential treatment.

  4. Somewhere else is cashing in on the flood of tourists sparked by film made in North Devon

    Devon Live

    Guernsey is cashing in on a flood of tourists prompted by a movie which was, in fact, filmed in North Devon.

  5. Jersey beat Malaysia in nail-biter

    Jersey register a nail-biting 10-run win over hosts Malaysia in a rain-affected World Cricket League Division Four encounter in Kuala Lumper.

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  6. Taste Guernsey event cancelled

    Chris Quevatre
    BBC News Online

    The Taste Guernsey event that was due to take place on the Crown Pier this weekend has been cancelled.

    Taste Guernsey Committee Member Ross Gledhill said the event was cancelled due to "internal and external factors beyond our control".

    They're now planning on making their future events this summer bigger, including a week-long festival in September.

  7. Repetitive speeches in the spotlight in States debate

    Guernsey Press

    How to combat repetitive speeches in the States is on the agenda of the committee responsible for the rules.

  8. Second cruise ship of the year makes it into harbour

    Chris Quevatre
    BBC News Online

    The second cruise ship of the year has made it into Guernsey harbour this morning.

    Before today, 10 out of 11 visits were cancelled - seven due to bad weather.

    Today's low wind speed means the 264 passengers on board Le Soleal can come ashore - while yesterday's cancelled visit from the Royal Princess meant 3,600 passengers missed out.

    Le Soleal

  9. 'Don't panic, it's all training!'

    Chris Quevatre
    BBC News Online

    Jersey's Firearms Training Team are carrying out a training exercise near La Moye and Corbiere.

    States of Jersey Police are warning residents in the area that there could be "loud bangs" and "gunfire sounds".

    They added "Don't panic, it's all training!"

    Police training in the UKChris Baranjuk

    Police training in the UK

  10. Community Foundation unveils new plan for third sector

    Edward Rowe
    BBC Radio Guernsey

    The Guernsey Community Foundation has unveiled a six-point plan on how it plans to transform the island's voluntary sector.

    The foundation has spent the last six months considering the future of charities and has identified the key areas it needs to tackle.

    Charity box

    The foundation says impact, governance, leadership and partnership working are some of the key aspects the voluntary sector needs to focus on.

    Under the new plan, the Social Investment Commission will supply the voluntary sector with grants as well as loans to drive projects in line with the States of Guernsey priorities.

    The Association of Guernsey Charities is going to act as the voice for the voluntary sector and will no longer be responsible for distributing lottery proceeds - it'll be supporting member charities instead.

  11. Expats hoping for lower tax charges after election

    Chris Quevatre
    BBC News Online

    Retired islanders who have been "unfairly treated" by the Jersey's Tax Office because they live abroad are hoping things will change after the election.

    A group set up on social media has been lobbying politicians after being forced to pay a high rate of tax on their pensions.

    Some have seen tax bills rise to 25% after they lost marginal tax relief.

    Teresa Hughes moved to Portugal with her husband three years ago because the cost of living here was too high.

    If we'd have stayed on the island our tax bill would've been under £2,000, and we've just paid almost £6,000. We're not utilising any of the services for which tax is collected. The thing that I find so frustrating is that we have no voting rights - we are completely disenfranchised - so we cannot effect change with our vote.

    Teresa Hughes

  12. States made 37 £100k-plus appointments last year

    Jersey Evening Post

    Thirty-seven appointments to public sector posts with salaries of more than £100,000 were approved last year – more than four times the number given the go-ahead in 2016, a new report shows.

  13. Today's weather: Jersey

    BBC Weather

    It's going to be mostly sunny all day in Jersey, and the wind has dropped significantly.

    Weather chart

  14. Today's weather: Guernsey

    BBC Weather

    It's exactly the same temperature as yesterday, but the sun is going to be shining all day long.

    Weather chart

  15. Nurses agree 2.5% pay rise to 'focus on 2018'

    Chris Quevatre
    BBC News Online

    Jersey's nurses have agreed their 2017 pay deal so they can focus on this year's arrangements, according to the nursing union leader.

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

    Nurse

    The union's chairman, Kenny McNeill, said he's relieved to put the matter to bed, as his members deserved the pay increase "a long time ago".

    But he's labelled 2018's pay situation as "a mess", and says nurses are dismayed other health workers have had significant pay rises.

    Mr McNeill said this means nurses are getting significantly less money for jobs of equal or similar skill level.

  16. Phone blocker app could be extended to GCSE students

    Chris Quevatre
    BBC News Online

    A trial to block non-educational apps from students' phones at Elizabeth College in Guernsey could be extended to GCSE students.

    The trial for Year 7 students will start next week, while the scheme is due to be rolled out to students up to Year 9 in September.

    The school hasn't ruled out extending it to Year 10 and 11 if it's successful.

    The app, called FamilyTime, helps parents control the phone's functionality, including location services, internet time limits and allows parents to block certain apps from children.

    The initiative is designed to help students develop a healthy relationship with the internet and social media and prevent the "damaging psychological effects of screen dependencies".

    If it's deemed to be a success then at the moment we're looking at rolling this facility out to our incoming Year 7, our Year 8 and our Year 9. Whether we include Year 10 and 11 in this particular facility is something we'll discuss.

    Dave Colsten, Head of Digital Learning, Elizabeth College

  17. Guernsey 'must make the most of new film'

    Chris Quevatre
    BBC News Online

    A Guernsey politician wants to ensure the island is doing all it can to capitalise on the success of the film The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

    The film is ranked second at the UK box office and is currently being shown at 544 cinemas nationally, grossing more than £3m to date.

    Castel Deputy Chris Green wants to ensure the island makes the most of this success and has submitted questions to the Economic Development Committee to find out how they intend to make it happen.

    I think it's a once in a lifetime, once in a generation opportunity, and I think we should be absolutely doing our very best, throwing what we need to do at it to make sure that the island benefits from increased tourism. It would be such an own goal if we didn't do that.

    Chris Green, Guernsey Deputy

    Cast of Potato Peel Pie Society

  18. School phone blocker gets 'frosty reception' from students

    Chris Quevatre
    BBC News Online

    A trial to block students from accessing certain phone apps at Guernsey's Elizabeth College will start soon.

    The idea received a frosty reception from Year 7 pupils at the school but has had a much more positive reaction from parents, according to the head of digital learning at the college.

    Dave Colsten says it doesn't want to stop pupils using their phones, just using them recreationally during school hours.

    If the trial is a success Mr Colsten says the school will extend it to older students next term.

    Smart Phone

  19. Lord Falconer says UK 'won't interfere' on assisted dying

    Rob England
    BBC News Online

    The UK has "no precedent" to intervene if Guernsey legalises assisted dying, according to a former Lord Chancellor.

    Lord Falconer

    Lord Falconer was responsible for the UK's relationship with the Crown Dependencies between 2003-2007 when serving as Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor in Tony Blair's government.

    He said the debate "reflects positively" in the island, which he says is often presented in an "unflattering light" in the media.

    On legal matters Lord Falconer said there was "no constitutional risks" should politicians vote to begin legalising assisted dying on 16 May, adding the government "would only ever intervene" if the laws "breached the UK's international obligations".

    The former Lord Chancellor also said legal risks to those involved with assisted dying from other UK laws could be "addressed relatively simply" by "primary legislation" in Parliament.

    More on this story:

  20. Jersey Reds bring in Premiership duo

    Gloucester forward Charlie Beckett and Bath scrum-half Will Homer are to join Championship side Jersey Reds.

    Read More