Channel Islands Live: 2-6 July

Summary

Updates from Monday 2 July until Friday 6 July 2018

Live Reporting

St Pier responds to 'secret government' email leakpublished at 11:40 British Summer Time 5 July 2018
Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online
Guernsey's chief minister has responded to claims he is intentionally dividing the States chamber and convening "secret meetings".
In response to criticism from Deputy Peter Ferbrache - who was recently elected president of the States Trading Supervisory Board - Deputy Gavin St Pier said the "adversarial approach" was very different from his own.
He said Deputy Ferbrache's professional specialism "requires and rewards" him for "synthesising indignation".
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On the claims of "secret government meetings", Deputy St Pier said: "It would be more newsworthy if politicians were not meeting".
"These meetings are often to resolve conflict, seek compromise or consensus, whether by amendment or another route."
"I will always endeavour to make myself available to meet colleagues, should they ever wish to do so."
"These meetings may be one-to-one; with a small group or a large group."
Deputy St Pier also alluded to meetings of what he called the "Islanders Party", saying: "Like you, I have even on invitation attended a number of meetings in a garden shed."
'A real opportunity to become electricity generators'published at 11:36 British Summer Time 5 July 2018
Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online
Jersey Electricity is offering people the chance to export solar power back to the island's grid by installing panels on their own property.
The company said it would agree a fixed price for up to 20 years, if people invested capital in the initial purchase of solar panels.
Any installations would need the usual planning permissions.
Quote Message
We have been exploring how we can economically deploy solar photovoltaic technology since we installed our own array on the Powerhouse roof in 2013. As ground-based solar PV generation has become more cost-effective, we believe it is the best local renewable option by some margin as it is close to grid parity – that is, competitive with imported electricity.
Chris Ambler, CEO, Jersey Electricity
Image source, Getty Images
Machinery to process waste due in few weekspublished at 11:31 British Summer Time 5 July 2018
Guernsey Press
Development of the new waste management facility at Longue Hougue is "on budget and on schedule, external", with the processing equipment set to arrive in the next few weeks.
Roman pottery found at Samares excavationpublished at 11:17 British Summer Time 5 July 2018
Rob England
BBC News Online
Previously unseen evidence of Roman and Iron Age culture have been found at a site in Jersey.
A week-and-a-half into an archaeological excavation at Samares Manor, members of Societe Jersiase say their search for evidence of a medieval manor house has turned up pottery fragments dating as far back as 500 BC.
So far two trenches have been dug out, and evidence of a stone wall has been found which is thought to have surrounded a, long since lost, orchard. The team are using a 17th Century map as a guide for their excavation.
Rosalind Le Quesne, assistant archaeologist at the societe, says this is the first evidence of Roman material at the site, and although the pottery "does not date the wall", it indicates the pottery was in the soil at the time of its construction.
Robert Waterhouse, field archaeologist for the societe, said most of the finds have probably been "stirred up in the soil" and moved from their original positions.
Quote Message
This pottery gives an idea of what has been present on the site in the past. The date range for the Iron Age pottery goes from early as 500 BC to around the 1st Century BC when the Romans started to arrive. In the Roman pottery we have some grey ware of the 1st to 3rd Century AD, which we think is some kind of large, flat-bottomed storage jar. So we’ve got domestic activity going on. It’s not high status."
Robert Waterhouse
Seal to be released after eight months in carepublished at 11:11 British Summer Time 5 July 2018
John Fernandez
BBC Radio Guernsey
Temperance the seal is being released later.
He was rescued from Beaucette Marina in November, and was described as looking thin and dehydrated.
Now he's eating 20 to 30 fish a day, and is ready to be released back into the wild.
He looks very excited and ready to go...
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New 'solar farm' opportunities in Jerseypublished at 10:52 British Summer Time 5 July 2018
Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online
People in Jersey are being encouraged to start their own "solar farms".
Jersey Electricity said farmers, developers, the States or any landowner are all being given the opportunity to "acquire a stake in a new renewables energy sector" in the island.
The company hopes to soon be powering homes and businesses from the electricity grid with "locally generated ground-mounted solar power".
Image source, Jersey Electricity
It's looking for groups or individuals to take part in a pilot scheme, where they would sell power back to Jersey Electricity.
Anyone who agrees to participate will have the security of a long-term purchase contract, where Jersey Electricity agree to buy all the units generated at an agreed unit price for up to 20 years.
The island currently imports 95% of its power from nuclear and hydro-electric sources in France.
'Can we just get on with the job?'published at 09:41 British Summer Time 5 July 2018
Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online
A Guernsey deputy has asked her colleagues to "just get on with the job" after an email spat caused one politician to say the chief minister's position had been undermined.
Deputy Gavin St Pier sent an email to 21 deputies that said the next States meeting had "much on the agenda", and that there were "plenty of opportunities for mischief to be made".
Deputy Peter Ferbrache said in a statement - which he's sent to all States members - the words "mischief to be made" are inferring the 19 States members who weren't sent the e-mail can't be trusted.
But in a tweet, Deputy Sarah Hansmann-Rouxel urged her colleagues to stop "wasting more time on political shenanigans".
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Many victims 'changed their minds' about abuse home futurepublished at 09:06 British Summer Time 5 July 2018
Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online
A lawyer for Jersey abuse victims has said many of the people who lived at Haut de la Garenne changed their minds about what should happen to the building.
The Council of Ministers decided not to knock it down - despite that being one of the key recommendations of the care inquiry.
Image caption,
Haut de la Garenne was named the "house of horrors" after many of the allegations of child abuse
It comes after 94% of people who responded to a government survey said the building should be saved.
Alan Collins says initially, many of the survivors thought Haut de la Garenne should be demolished.
But he said once the issue had been debated in more depth, they decided the former children's home should remain as it is.
Quote Message
A reminder of what has happened in the past, but also a reminder that no matter how sophisticated society may be, child abuse can happen, and you've only got to let your child protection measures slip and you run the risk of child abuse happening. They did not want what they experienced to be inflicted on future generations.
Alan Collins, Lawyer for abuse victims
'More value' in negotiating fishing deal with Francepublished at 08:57 British Summer Time 5 July 2018
Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online
The UK won't be able to negotiate a new Fisheries Management Agreement with the island before Britain leaves the EU, according to the president of the Guernsey Fisherman's Association.
Deputy Barry Paint said while he thinks giving the Bailiwick a bespoke agreement is a good move, he doesn't feel the Channel Islands will be high on the list when it comes to negotiations.
He believes while progress needs to be made with the UK, there may be value in negotiating more with France.
Image source, Getty Images
Quote Message
The people that have been in touch with Europe - and France in particular - have got along quite well, so we'll just have to see what happens.
Deputy Barry Paint, President, Guernsey Fisherman's Association
CI Air Search hoping to take off in new plane this autumnpublished at 08:39 British Summer Time 5 July 2018
Jersey Evening Post
Channel Islands Air Search could take ownership of its new aircraft this autumn, external – nearly five years after its old plane was written off in a crash-landing.
Birth registration criticised by LGBT communitypublished at 08:30 British Summer Time 5 July 2018
BBC Radio Guernsey
Existing birth registration laws have been criticised by those in the LGBT community in Guernsey.
At present, only one parent in a same-sex couple is able to put their name on the birth certificate of their child because of birth registration law dating back to 1935.
Liz Taylor-Kerr, a parent of two children in Guernsey - who is in a same-sex marriage - has called for more clarity on the situation.
Quote Message
It would be good to have a situation where you didn't have to go out of your way to try and gain the same rights as people would get automatically in a normal situation.
Liz Taylor-Kerr
The States is yet to comment.
Marks and Spencer to close in Jerseypublished at 08:15 British Summer Time 5 July 2018
BBC Radio Jersey
The Marks and Spencer shop on Liberty Wharf is to close.
The retailer was one of the first to open in the controversial development of Jersey's old abattoir site.
It's owned by Sandpiper, which said it's in negotiation with a highly-respected international brand to take over the space.
Marks and Spencer will move its home store inside its existing shop on King Street.
'House of horrors' will not be demolishedpublished at 08:14 British Summer Time 5 July 2018
BBC Spotlight
Image source, EPA
Image caption,
Haut de la Garenne was named the "house of horrors" after many of the allegations of child abuse
Haut de la Garenne, the care home at the centre of Jersey's historic abuse allegations, will not be demolished.
Sam Mezec, minister for children and housing says what the site will be used for next should be "appropriate"...
Chief minister's position 'undermined' after e-mail leakedpublished at 07:57 British Summer Time 5 July 2018
Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online
Deputy Peter Ferbrache has suggested Deputy Gavin St Pier's position as Guernsey's most senior politician has been "seriously undermined".
It comes following what Deputy Ferbrache said is an e-mail, sent to 21 politicians by Deputy St Pier saying "the next States' meeting has much on the agenda and plenty of opportunities for mischief to be made!".
Image caption,
Deputy St Pier said there was "mischief to be made" at the next States meeting.
Deputy Peter Ferbrache said in a statement - which he's sent to all States members - the words "mischief to be made" are inferring the 19 States members who weren't sent the e-mail can't be trusted.
He adds this seems to be "government in secret" and is offering Deputy St Pier the chance to explain.
He finishes his statement by saying, "on the face of it and without a clear explanation, Deputy St Pier's position as our senior politician has been seriously undermined".
Deputy St Pier has been approached for comment.
Inquest to begin on Five Mile Road deathpublished at 07:22 British Summer Time 5 July 2018
Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online
An inquest into the death of a 50-year-old man following a car crash at the southern end of Jersey's Five Mile Road is due to open later.
Adrian Fowler died after a crash on La Pulente Hill in St Brelade at about 08:45 on 24 June.
He had been driving a silver Peugeot 307 - no other vehicles were involved in the accident.
The hearing - at St Helier's Le Morier House - is expected to open and adjourn, so Mr Fowler's family can make arrangements for his funeral.
Warm and sunnypublished at 06:59 British Summer Time 5 July 2018
BBC Weather
It looks like staying dry this morning with spells of sunshine.
A pleasantly warm afternoon to come with light winds and spells of sunshine. Remaining largely dry. Maximum temperature: 17 to 20°C (63 to 68°F).
Jersey
Guernsey
CI Weather: Staying mainly drypublished at 17:09 British Summer Time 4 July 2018
BBC Weather
Any showers should slowly fade through this evening, leading into a mostly dry and partly cloudy night. Winds will remain light and mostly from the east.
Minimum temperature: 12 to 15C (54 to 59F).
A fairly cloudy but dry start is anticipated to Thursday. Thereafter, a mainly dry day, with partly cloudy skies and some warm sunny spells. There is a risk of the odd afternoon shower.
Maximum temperature: 18 to 21C (64 to 70F).
Jersey:
Guernsey:
Pair arrested after bomb hoax callpublished at 16:46 British Summer Time 4 July 2018
BBC Radio Guernsey
Guernsey Police say a juvenile male and a woman in her 30s have been arrested after a bomb hoax that led to the evacuation of Beau Sejour Leisure Centre earlier.
Officers said inquiries were continuing and urged anyone with any information to contact them.
Wimbledon: Scott Clayton wins men's doubles first roundpublished at 16:16 British Summer Time 4 July 2018
BBC Radio Jersey
Jersey's Scott Clayton has won in his first round men's double match at Wimbledon.
Clayton and partner Liam Broady beat the American pair of Jackson Withrow and Frances Tiafoe 7-5, 6-3, 7-5.
Ministers 'unanimously agreed' not to demolish abuse homepublished at 15:19 British Summer Time 4 July 2018
Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online
Jersey's Council of Ministers "unanimously agreed" not to demolish Haut de la Garenne, according to the incoming children's minister.
Senator Sam Mezec said they agreed the former care home - dubbed the "house of horrors" after decades of child abuse - will be redeemed through "positive use over the long-term".
The eighth recommendation of the Jersey Care Inquiry report suggested demolishing the building, while 94% of respondents to a citizens' panel said they wanted to see it remain.
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