BBC Radio Jersey

Phone company Sure says four jobs in Jersey are at risk as the company restructures due to the coronavirus crisis.

It has put 11 employees roles at risk of redundancy across the group, four of which are based in the island.

Chief executive Ian Kelly said it was not a step the company had taken lightly but it had to react to the effect of Covid-19 on the business.

He said staff affected would be closely supported throughout the process.

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

A constable in Jersey has blamed "poor press" for dissatisfaction among island residents towards the government's handling of the coronavirus crisis.

The Constable of St John Christopher Taylor made the comments in light of a poll referenced by Senator Kristina Moore that showed the public's satisfaction "at 37%, and Guernsey at 89%".

Constable Taylor said: "But the reason for that is the very poor press that the island has been giving a truly excellent government and medical profession in guiding us through this crisis."

He continued: "The facts show we have done better than Guernsey so why are the public here in Jersey not as content as they are in Guernsey?"

"It's because the message hasn't been given clearly to the public."

Commenting on the reopening of Jersey's borders, the constable proposed "the sooner the better".

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

Jersey's minister for social security has told ministers to "go and live in Guernsey" if they do not wish to take the medical advice of the island's health authorities.

Deputy Judy Martin made the comments in support of reopening Jersey's borders on 3 July, amid a States debate that could see open borders delayed to 10 July.

"It is mad to say we're rushing this," Deputy Martin said.

"It is politically motivated today. It's knocking everything that we've followed for every good reason."

Deputy Martin said the government had been "following the medical advice" provided by medical officers Dr Ivan Muscat and Dr Susan Turnbull throughout the crisis.

She added: "To be quite honest I am fed up with people. Please go and live in Guernsey if you think they are doing everything better."

Deputy Rob Ward said he was "disappointed" by such comments and said the States required an "intelligent, thoughtful, and considered debate".

Image source, Island Global Research

Ninety percent of 501 Guernsey respondents are in agreement with the island's exit strategy, external, a survey has found.

The work by Island Global Research reveals only 38% of 454 Jersey residents feel the same about their government's approach to emerging out of the coronavirus lockdown.

When asked about travel, respondents from Jersey and Guernsey were asked if they would like to see a travel bubble created between the two islands, 58% of respondents in Guernsey said no.

It compares to 49% of respondents in Jersey who said they would like to see travel between the two.

Image source, Island Global Research

Meanwhile 49% of Guernsey respondents agree with an 'air bridge' that will connect the bailiwick to the Isle of Man.

This feeling was reflected in the response from Manx residents, with 42% happy to see unrestricted travel to and from Guernsey.

Only 6% of Jersey residents said they had booked off-island travel ahead of the reopening of its borders, and 70% said they had no plans to book any either.

The reopening of Jersey's borders could be delayed to 10 July if an amendment to the government's safe travel policy is approved in the States.

While borders remain closed for non-essential travellers in Guernsey, 23% of respondents from the island have booked a staycation although 47% said they had no plans to book a stay within the bailiwick.

Andrew Segal
BBC News

Jersey and Guernsey's competition and regulatory authorities have formally demerged from the umbrella organisation of the Channel Islands Competition and Regulatory Authorities (CICRA), they have announced.

CICRA was formed in 2012, but it announced in February 2020 the organisation would be wound up to "enable each jurisdiction to concentrate on domestic priorities".

The Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority (JCRA) said as an "independent authority for Jersey", it would be working to "promote competition to secure best value, choice and access to high quality services for islanders" and "using its powers to ensure that the regulated sectors of the economy are working well for consumers".

Interim JCRA chief Tim Ringsdore added that when there was "commonality and it is both possible and pragmatic", staff would work with their Guernsey counterparts, "but from today forwards our primary focus is on Jersey".

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

A scheme that financially supports people who have lost their full-time jobs as a result of coronavirus has been extended until 31 August.

The Covid Related Emergency Support Scheme (Cress) provides weekly payments to those who have lived in Jersey for less than five years.

The amount paid to each type of household includes:

• A single person living alone - £150 a week
• A couple who have both lost their employment income - £250 a week
• A £50 supplement per child

People who have worked in Jersey for less than six months are eligible for £70 a week.

A condition of the Cress scheme is that those applying must be available to support "any voluntary, Government or community work required during the coronavirus emergency", the States of Jersey said.

For people who wish to return to their home country, the government has said "support" will be offered in covering their travel costs.

BBC Radio Jersey

The location of Jersey's government's new office is due to be revealed in September, and the next International Finance Centre building at the Waterfront is likely to be on the shortlist.

The office block was granted planning permission last month.

Chief Minister John Le Fondre said officials were considering a number of site options and were expected to report back by the end of July, with ministers then given the final say.

Senator Le Fondre said the overall cost of any project, and its potential economic effect on St Helier, would have a bearing on the choice of site.

The government is currently paying about £1m a year to rent an office on Broad Street after moving out of Cyril Le Marquand House, its former headquarters on Union Street, in 2018.

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

A proposal to delay Jersey's border reopening to 10 July "may cause harm", the health minister has said.

Last week the government announced the borders would reopen on 3 July, a proposal that is being debated in the States.

In addition to delaying the border reopening by a week, an amendment lodged by the Scrutiny Liaison Committee (SLC) would require travellers arriving in Jersey to self-isolate until they return a negative test result.

Deputy Richard Renouf said while there were no "perfect solution", such a requirement was "disproportionate, and indeed its consequences risked doing more harm than good".

He said the island's Scientific and Advisory Cell (STAC) had advised "the time is now right to reopen our borders".

The first passenger sailings between St Malo and the Channel Islands have been cancelled because of industrial action in Brittany.

The first scheduled journeys that had been set to connect Jersey and France for the first time since the Covid-19 lockdown from 3 July now will not happen.

Condor Executive Director Elwyn Dop said the news was "ironic" - seeing as Jersey's government was continuing its debate on fully reopening their borders.

Guernsey's borders remain closed.

BBC Radio Jersey

Brides in Jersey will have to keep 1m (3ft 3in) apart from the person walking them down the aisle if they do not live in the same home.

Couples can get married again, but they must follow Covid-19 guidelines, external from the superintendent registrar for their ceremony.

Ceremonies have a limit of 40 people, including guests, the celebrant, photographer and anyone providing entertainment or catering.

Everyone at the wedding will also have to provide contact details, so they can be traced if someone at the wedding later tested positive for the virus.

Superintendent registrar Claire Follain said it was all part of "really important measures to keep everybody safe".

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

Test results for people arriving in Jersey when borders reopen will take 24 hours on average to be returned, Senator Ian Gorst has said.

Senator Lyndon Farnham previously said tests would be completed "in under 12 hours", when the government announced borders would reopen on 3 July.

Senator Gorst said increased contact with a UK lab meant results could be "produced and returned within 16 and 28 hours."

The States Assembly will debate the reopening of borders today, including an amendment which could delay opening the borders until 10 July.

The Chief Minister Senator John Le Fondre has so far accepted an amendment to his proposal for 3 July, which would require passengers arriving in Jersey to speak with contract-tracers on a daily basis for a period of 14 days.

BBC Radio Jersey

Jersey's chief minister has welcomed the news that there are no known cases of coronavirus in Jersey.

As of Tuesday afternoon, no-one in the island is known to have Covid-19, although there are still hundreds of tests outstanding.

Senator John Le Fondre said it was fantastic news, and the island should be proud of it.

He added it was down to everyone in the island cooperating to prevent the disease from possibly returning and spreading.

The island has experienced 319 positive cases of the virus, and 31 Covid-related deaths. The latest statistics show there are 415 test results pending.

People can have a drink in a Jersey pub from Wednesday without having to order food as restrictions on drinking have been relaxed.

Customers have to be sitting down to be served, and must stay a safe distance from others.

Jersey Evening Post

Claims that the government is trying to nationalise Jersey’s GP services, which could potentially deny Islanders the right to visit the doctor of their choice, have been dismissed as ‘falsehoods’ by the health minister, external.

BBC Radio Jersey

There is to be a review of plans to knock down the arrivals building at Jersey Airport to make way for a new development.

There will also be a separate study into how a permit to demolish the listed 1937 building was granted, with no demolition work to be carried out until the review has been completed.

Some politicians raised questions about the viability of the £42m redevelopment of the airport (pictured), which was agreed before the coronavirus pandemic effectively shut down the aviation industry.

In response, ministers said they expected air travel to bounce back in the coming years.

Economic Development Minister Lyndon Farnham also told members the position of the arrivals hall causes taxiing aircraft to go too close to the runway, and restricted visibility of the area from the air traffic control tower on foggy days.

But after a report last month concluded the old arrivals building might not have to be demolished, States members supported Deputy Russell Labey's call for the whole project to be reviewed.

Image source, Jersey States

BBC Radio Jersey

People who have lost their jobs because of coronavirus will be able to get help from the States for an extra two months.

Social Security Minister Judy Martin has agreed to extend the Covid-19 Related Emergency Support Scheme, external (Cress).

It was launched in April to help people who have lost their full-time employment to cover their basic costs through weekly payments.

BBC Radio Jersey

Jersey's infrastructure minister hopes more people will be able to use the shops in town now that drivers have to pay to park again.

Deputy Kevin Lewis said large car parks, such as Sand Street, had people parking in them for hours on end during the day, meaning fewer people could use it to do their shopping.

He said he thought that the reintroduction of charges from 1 July should actually help shops in town see a boost in numbers because "by introducing charging, we’re actually getting a turnover in cars, and that will help businesses in town".

BBC Radio Jersey

The States Assembly will debate the proposal re-open Jersey's borders from 3 July.

Politicians agreed the matter can be discussed this week, even though ministers' plans were only announced last Friday, which meant they were too late to automatically be debated at this sitting.

There is an amendment to be discussed to delay the move by a week and require arriving passengers to isolate until they get a negative test result.

A separate motion would force people entering the island to speak to the government's contact tracing team every day for two weeks after arriving in Jersey.

The debate comes the day after the island announced it had "no known" cases of coronavirus.

Listen live on 1026AM or online.

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

Jersey's chief minister has said he will not comment on reports that the prison governor is no longer working., external

Deputy Kirsten Morel put the question to Senator John Le Fondre after claiming the chief minister had told him on Monday, at a scrutiny liaison committee (SLC) meeting, that the governor was "not currently working".

Nick Cameron took on the role of the island's prison governor in 2018.

In the States Assembly the chief minister responded: "We don't comment on personnel matters whilst any process is being undergone."

He also reminded Deputy Morel that all conversations held in the SLC "are confidential".

The Minister for Home Affairs, Constable Len Norman, denied that a proposal for a full lockdown at HM La Moye at the start of the coronavirus pandemic was refused by the director general.

He said: "The prison governor's reaction to Covid and the fact that we've had no cases at the prison whatsoever, that the actions he took, were fully supported by the director general."

BBC Radio Jersey

The former States of Jersey Police station at Rouge Bouillon could become an extension of the next-door primary school under plans being considered for its future.

Officials are also considering building a combined fire and ambulance station or creating a residents' parking area.

Infrastructure Minister Kevin Lewis said the site could also be used for keyworker accommodation, affordable housing, or it could be turned into an amenity space.

Deputy Lewis said he hoped a decision on the future of the site, which has been delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic, would be made in 2020.

Jersey police moved from Rouge Boullion to their current headquarters, on the Green Street roundabout, in March 2017.

Andrew Segal
BBC News

Image source, Jersey Zoo

A baby nocturnal lemur born in Jersey Zoo is being hand-reared by keepers after being rejected by her mother, in a first for the zoo staff have said.

Mifaly, meaning "playful" and "to rejoice" in Malagasy - the national language of Madagascar - was born on 15 May, the second baby aye-aye of 2020 at the zoo, to mother Zanvie and father Pan.

Weighing only 65g when born, staff needed to intervene to ensure her survival after she was rejected.

The zoo said: "Despite the zoo staff’s efforts to encourage Zanvie to care for her young, she appears to lack maternal instincts."

Newborn aye-ayes would usually weigh between 90g to 120g, but staff said Mifaly had "progressed extremely well and has now more than trebled her birth weight".

Her arrival brings the total number of aye-ayes at Jersey Zoo to nine.

Image source, Jersey Zoo

Image source, Jersey Zoo