Politicians 'stand with' MPs after receiving 'unacceptable' letter
Christmas lottery jackpot claimed
Open market activity 'hits 11-year high'
No nurses for new hospital unless pay resolved - unions
'Stronger sentences' for paedophiles petition gains support
Refurbishment plans for Footes Lane ahead of 2021 Island Games
Updates on Wednesday 9 January 2019
The weather across the Channel Islands will be chilly with clear spells and areas of cloud.
It will be mostly dry, but the odd shower is still possible.
Thursday looks set to be largely dry with variable cloud cover and some bright or sunny spells.
Just the small chance of the odd shower. Chilly again.
Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online
The new Channel Islands Air Search plane has made its first test flight.
Image source, Rich DaviesThe new aircraft currently has a temporary registration, and only a coat of primer paint, rather than the full livery.
It will have a powerful infrared camera, something that's been missing in the temporary replacement.
The previous plane crashed in November 2013 after a "reserve fuel error", external, but all three crew members survived unharmed.
BBC Radio Guernsey
The £977,184 first prize in the 2018 Channel Islands Christmas Lottery has been claimed in Guernsey, by a winner who wishes to remain anonymous.
The proceeds from the Guernsey ticket sales from the lottery will go to the Association of Guernsey Charities to be gifted to local groups via its grant process.
Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online
Last year saw the most open market transactions in Guernsey for 11 years.
According to an independent statistics company, 75 properties changed hands in 2018 compare to just 48 the year before.
The average price of open market houses was £1,256,250, an increase of more than £400,000 on 2017, while the eight flats sold at an average of 1,184,063.
In the local market, 844 properties were sold.
The average house price increased slightly to £433,875, while the average flat price was £245,700 - another slight rise.
Open market properties are available for anyone to buy or rent, while local market properties can only be purchased by people with a valid housing licence or residential status.
Image source, Carey OlsenQuote MessageAlthough there has been some softening of asking prices on the Open Market, it is encouraging that activity levels have improved so dramatically. If such levels are sustained in 2019, which there are encouraging signs that they will be, that must bode well for an increase in sales prices going forward."
Jason Morgan, Carey Olsen
Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online
With public sector strikes planned for next week, Jersey's government has restated that there won't be a better pay offer on the table.
Constable Richard Buchanan, Deputy Chairman of the States Employment Board, said he's "absolutely convinced" the government's stance is correct.
While flights are likely to come into and out of the island as normal, ferries between Jersey and France are expected to be cancelled on Monday.
Meanwhile, parents are yet to be told whether or not their children's school will be open.
Under the most recent pay deal:
Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online
The number of people who were unemployed in Jersey fell by more than 6% in 2018.
The total of all unemployed people at the end of the year was 890, with the long-term unemployment figure falling by 20, to 250.
Image source, Jersey StatsIn numbers...
Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online
Guernsey Police will not be taking action against a man who sent an "unacceptable" letter to island politicians.
The letter was sent to politicians and the media on 31 December, but was made public by Deputy Gavin St Pier in light of abuse claims against UK MP Anna Soubry.
Guernsey Police said: "We would remind people that freedom of speech is not a mechanism for allowing threatening or abusive language to be directed at others – and if a line is crossed, law enforcement will take action against those behind the communications."
Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online
Work has begun on Guernsey's new Market development that will see a mezzanine installation and floor space for art galleries.
Builders are now working inside the building which, when open, will also provide eight market stalls, a licensed bar and a cafe with seating.
On 16 January there will be an opportunity to see a presentation in the Inner Street at 18:00, with a walk through to see developments in process.
Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online
Guernsey's new head of law enforcement has said his staff will "meet the challenges" of 2019, in his first comments in the role.
Ruari Hardy - who has been a police officer for 34 years - said there are many challenges coming, "not least Brexit", but assured the public that his organisation is filled with "highly capable" people.
He said his priorities would be keeping Guernsey a "safe and secure place to live and work", and would be focusing on the recommendations from November's HMIC report, external, which found that the department had some of the most outdated IT equipment it had ever seen.
He thanked predecessor Patrick Rice for his "dedication and work", and said he was looking forward to serving the community.
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Rob Byrne
BBC News Online
There has been a lot of discussion online about Guernsey politicians receiving abuse, after the island's chief minister mentioned a letter he and other politicians received.
He did so as a show of support for MPs being harassed outside parliament.
But how much of an issue is it in Guernsey?
Last year, a BBC survey showed more than two thirds of deputies (68%) were subjected to abuse from the public.
Of the 28 deputies who responded, some described being targeted online and shouted and sworn at in the street.
Eight deputies experienced harassment and intimidation, three were subjected to physical abuse and two said they had been stalked.
Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online
Nursing unions in Jersey say the unresolved pay deal with the island's government is having a detrimental impact on nurses morale and mental health.
Two unions - the Royal College of Nursing and the Jersey Nursing Association - rejected a final pay offer from the government.
Image source, Getty ImagesThat offer would have seen a backdated 3.1% pay rise for 2018 and a 3% pay rise for 2019.
The Royal College of Midwives accepted the deal.
A spokesperson for the nursing unions have threatened that there will be no staff at the new hospital if they "continue to be undervalued".
The States of Jersey said it was disappointed and will be speaking to the unions soon.
The results
Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online
Jersey's tax office is asking people not to go there in person - unless you want to stand in a queue.
The department is moving more than 100,000 records from Cyril Le Marquand House to new offices on La Motte Street, meaning there are fewer officers available to answer questions.
Image source, Getty ImagesComptroller Richard Summersgill said you'll get a quicker response if you call on the phone, as there are more staff available in other offices who can take the call.
He reminded everyone that online tax returns should be available next year.
Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online
Guernsey's chief minister has said the island's deputies "stand with" UK MPs after receiving a letter described as "unacceptable bile".
It comes after Conservative MP Anna Soubry was accused of "being a Nazi" by protesters while being interviewed on the BBC News Channel.
In a tweet on Tuesday evening, Deputy Gavin Pier posted screenshots of a newsletter that was received by deputies and the media on 31 December 2018.
In it, a Guernsey man names all the deputies who voted for successful proposals that will see people have to opt-out of organ donation, in which he says he hopes their subsequent years are "not numerous".
Deputy Neil Inder - who wasn't named in the letter - said it "crossed the line", while Deputy Mary Lowe - who did vote for the new organ donation system - said "that sort of behaviour is not acceptable under any circumstance".
According to Deputy Barry Brehaut, online abuse is nothing new for local politicans.
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Deputy St Pier said the letter had been reported to Guernsey Police.
BBC Radio Jersey
Jersey's safety will not be compromised when customs and immigration staff strike next week, the home affairs minister says.
Hundreds of civil servants are walking out over an ongoing pay dispute with the States on Monday and Tuesday.
Minister Len Norman said there should not be too much impact on travellers...
Quote MessageThere are no international flights at the airport, so there'll be no disruption; and Condor and the Ports of Jersey are looking at contingency arrangements for the rotation of St Malo sailings. Freighters are automatically manifested and automatically checked, and there's only one due in on Monday."
Len Norman, Home Affairs Minister
BBC Radio Jersey
Almost 1,500 people in Jersey have signed a petition calling for paedophiles to get stronger sentences.
As more than 1,000 people have signed it Jersey ministers will have to respond.
If it reaches 5,000 then the States will debate the petition.
Cheyenne O'Connor, who poses as a teenager online to try to catch suspected child groomers, is behind the campaign.
She says people are tired of seeing paedophiles found guilty of abusing, or attempting to abuse, children being handed lenient prison sentences by the Jersey courts.
She's calling for a mandatory minimum prison sentence starting from three years with paedophiles being put on the sex offenders' register for life.
BBC Radio Guernsey
There's more help for older people in Guernsey as a charity announces it's giving the Guernsey Community Foundation a record amount of money.
The Pargiter Trust is giving £80,000 to distribute to local charities in 2019 - which is up from £50,000 last year.
The money is used to try to help people aged 65 and above live independently, stay healthy, and feel socially included.
Charities wishing to apply for funding have until 4 February to submit an application to the foundation.
BBC Radio Guernsey
Work has been planned to refurbish the Footes Lane track ahead of the 2021 Island Games.
The Education, Sport and Culture Commitee has put in a bid for funding and is currently looking for companies to take on the project.
A new synthetic full eight-lane track would meet international competition standards.
The work has to happen during summer months, and will cause disruption to training whilst it is carried out.
BBC Radio Jersey
Nursing unions in Jersey have warned that there will be no staff at the island's new hospital if their concerns about pay are not resolved.
Two unions rejected a final pay offer from the States: a 3.1% pay rise for last year and a 3% pay rise for 2019. However, the Royal College of Midwives accepted the deal.
A spokesperson for the nursing unions, which did not accept the deal, said staff - having been continuously undervalued - had experienced an ongoing detrimental impact on both morale and mental health.
The States said it was "disappointed" at the strike decision, and would be speaking to unions soon.
Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport
St Peter threw the Jersey Premiership title race wide open as they inflicted a first loss of the season on reigning champions St Paul’s.
Island striker Karl Hinds, who only moved to the parish side from St Paul’s late last month, scored both goals in the 2-0 win.
Image source, Jersey 2015The victory leaves St Peter three points off St Paul’s from one less game played.
St Paul’s, who are the reigning Channel Island champions, are aiming for a sixth successive title.
Wednesday will be mostly dry with variable cloud and sunny intervals, but there could be the odd shower.
Feeling chilly, particularly in the northerly breeze.
Maximum temperature: 3 to 6C (37 to 43F).
Jersey:
Guernsey:
