Summary

  • Parents getting financial support during teacher strikes

  • Guernsey States agree to spend up to £1.5m on harbour future

  • Plan to encourage more skilled workers to move to Jersey

  • Updates from Friday 24 May 2019

  1. Gavin St Pier issues statement on Maypublished at 15:43 British Summer Time 24 May 2019

    BBC Radio Guernsey

    Gavin St Pier has credited Theresa May for ensuring Guernsey's interests over Brexit have been represented, even when they differed from those of the UK.

    He also alluded to controversial moves by some backbenchers to force Guernsey to create an open register of beneficial ownership of offshore trusts and companies.

    He said Mrs May assured him that the long standing constitutional relationship would be respected.

    Deputy St Pier ended his statement by saying he looked forward to working with a new leader and a new cabinet, following the inevitable reshuffle.

    Media caption,

    Theresa May: How the PM fought through Brexit battles

    StatementImage source, Guernsey States
  2. Chief minister grateful for May's supportpublished at 15:39 British Summer Time 24 May 2019

    BBC Radio Jersey

    Media caption,

    Emotional May announces resignation

    Jersey ministers have been reacting to Theresa May's announcement that she'll step down as leader of the Conservatives.

    In a tweet, Chief Minister, Senator John Le Fondre said he was grateful for Mrs May's support over the past three years.

    Meanwhile Jersey's External Relations Minister Senator Ian Gorst thanked her for keeping Jersey's interests at heart during the Brexit process.

    Both said they were looking forward to working with Mrs May's successor.

  3. Vulnerable child support reached 'crisis point'published at 13:58 British Summer Time 24 May 2019

    Adam Durbin
    BBC News Online

    Jersey's Complaints Board has upheld a ruling against the minister for health and social services over a lack of support for a vulnerable child until the situation reached a "crisis point".

    The hearing, which has now been made public, was told in December that the child was seen by a variety of different nurse practitioners over three years, but the family had been given limited access to qualified professionals and there had been no consistent record keeping.

    The parents of the child in question felt that the child had been "moved from pillar to post with different members of staff’.

    Stuart Catchpole QC, the chairman of the board, acknowledged in this case "mistakes were made, communication was poor and record keeping was limited and inaccurate".

    The full report can be accessed on the states website, external., external

    Quote Message

    "Little effort was made to establish a positive working relationship with the very people who had sought help for their child from the Service in the first place and whilst we were assured that the young person concerned has continued to receive care and support, it cannot be right that the family were excluded from the process in such a stark way and made to feel that they had been inattentive to their child’s needs."

    Stuart Catchpole QC, Chairman, Jersey Complaints Board

  4. Woman sexually assaulted near La Rue Le Masurierpublished at 13:00 British Summer Time 24 May 2019

    Police are appealing for information regarding an alleged assault that took place on 21 May at around 09:30am between the Co-op Grand Marche and Stopford Road.

    A woman in her thirties reported that a man approached her on La Rue Le Masurier whilst she was sitting outside the Grande Marche and then forced her to go to an address nearby, where he sexually assaulted her.

    The woman and man were seen in the area of Millennium Park beforehand, they walked together from Bath Street to the area of Grand Marche.

    The woman was wearing a short jacket and leggings, the man was wearing a tracksuit.

    A 36-year-old man has been arrested, interviewed and is currently on bail.

    There were a number of people in the area at the time and police would like to speak to anyone who may have seen this disturbance outside the Grand Marche.

    Anyone who may have seen this or who has any information is asked to contact police on 612612 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their anonymous online form.

  5. Workers 'incensed' by recent pay offer from Statespublished at 10:49 British Summer Time 24 May 2019

    BBC Radio Guernsey

    The regional officer for the union, Unite, said workers were "incensed" by a recent pay offer from the States of Guernsey.

    Members have voted to strike over what they're describing as "a below cost of living pay offer."

    Manual workers say the States' offer of a 2.3% rise for 2019 is essentially a pay cut.

    Bob Lanning says if they don't take action the States will "take advantage of them year after year".

    Bob Lanning
    Image caption,

    Unite's Bob Lanning believes workers are right to take strike action

    The Policy and Resources Committee, which leads on employment issues, says it's been assured essential services at the hospital and airport won't be affected.

    It's describing the move as "drastic and disruptive" and is calling on Unite to resume negotiations.

  6. New pay offer for civil service workerspublished at 10:30 British Summer Time 24 May 2019

    Adam Durbin
    BBC News Online

    States of Jersey negotiators have offered civil servants an updated pay offer after "productive" talks with union representatives.

    The government hopes the offer will settle the ongoing disputes that have culminated in threatened strike action by Unite workers.

    Civil service unions have agreed to suspend proposed industrial action while the offer is under consideration.

    The terms of the new offer include consolidated pay rises of 6.5% over three years, 2.1% cash payments in the first two years and improved annual leave allowances for staff.

    The Chief Minister John Le Fondré said: "I hope that this offer, which is the result of intensive discussions, will be acceptable to the union membership so that we can conclude this matter."

    Chief minister John Le Fondré
    Image caption,

    Chief Minister John Le Fondré

  7. States agree to spend up to £1.5m on harbour futurepublished at 09:11 British Summer Time 24 May 2019

    BBC Radio Guernsey

    Guernsey's States members have agreed to spend a total of up to £1.5m investigating the island's future harbour requirements.

    The work is expected to take 18 months and will be led by the States' Trading and Supervisory Board.

    For the time being, Longue Hougue South remains the preferred option for the tipping of construction and demolition waste.

    Longue HougueImage source, States of Guernsey
  8. Plan to encourage more skilled workers to move to Jerseypublished at 08:50 British Summer Time 24 May 2019

    BBC Radio Jersey

    The States has outlined plans to encourage more skilled workers to move to the island.

    Jersey is facing a shortage of essential workers such as nurses and social workers.

    A new report suggests the States could offer short-term accommodation for six to nine months to some workers.

    There's also a possibility of leasing long-term accommodation at an affordable rate.

    construction workers
  9. Parents getting financial support during teacher strikespublished at 08:23 British Summer Time 24 May 2019

    BBC Radio Jersey

    Parents in Jersey have been offered some financial support to cover the cost of childcare during the teachers' strikes.

    Centre Point Trust, which looks after children when they're not at school, has been offering discounted rates to parents who are stuck because of the ongoing action.

    It's Head of Playcare, Rob Crawford said it's been inundated since the strikes were announced but is doing its best to help parents.

    strike
    Image caption,

    There have been a number of teacher strikes in Jersey as part of an ongoing pay row

    Quote Message

    At the end of the day we're here to support the working parents so we have had some free places that we've given to the parents that really can't afford to send their child here. We've given discounted rates as well. We've also helped out if parents are at a loose end with children who aren't registered with us.

    Rob Crawford, Centre Point Trust

  10. Weather: A good deal of sunshine with some patchy cloudpublished at 08:16 British Summer Time 24 May 2019

    BBC Weather

    A fine day with light winds and a good deal of sunshine.

    Some patchy cloud is likely to develop this afternoon, while there is a risk of an isolated shower moving in from the north too.

    Highs of 15C (59F).

    Jersey:

    Jersey weather

    Guernsey:

    Guernsey weather