The appointments follow the resignations of two assistant ministers ahead of the unsuccessful vote of no confidence in Jersey's chief minister and the appointment of Deputy Jeremy Macon as Minister for Children and Housing to replace Senator Sam Mezec.

Deputy Jess Perchard will be appointed as an Assistant Minister for the Environment.

This role will cover the wider environment regulation portfolio, including the climate emergency, Island Plan, carbon neutrality, pollution control and other green policy issues. She will also be conducting a piece of work on the impact of social media on school children.

Deputy Trevor Pointon will be appointed Assistant Minister for Health and Social Services as well as an Assistant Minister for Children and Housing, with a particular responsibility for mental health in both roles.

Deputy Kirsten Morel will be appointed Assistant Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture, with particular responsibility for culture, arts and heritage, retail economy and strategy, lottery and gambling policy, liquor licensing policy, aircraft and shipping registries and public records law and Jersey Archive.

He will formally take up the role once he has completed his scrutiny commitments.

Deputy Hugh Raymond will be appointed Assistant Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture, with particular responsibility for sport and the Beach Lifeguard Service

He will retain his responsibilities as Assistant Minister for Health and Social Service and for Infrastructure.

Adam Durbin
BBC News

The consequences of a cluster of Covid-19 cases in Jersey linked to a gathering at a hospitality venue has been school children "missing part of their education" to self-isolate, Chief Minister John Le Fondre said.

The politician would not confirm the details of the cluster or the action that had been taken against the venue or people participating, as whether law or guidance was breached has yet to be determined.

Senator Le Fondre said: "It all comes down to what was the law at the time the event took place."

Ministers were given the power to impose rules on gathering sizes on Tuesday, but have yet to enact them.

He added the priority was to get the cluster, which has been linked to a significant increase in cases, "nailed down" and the government could "deal with the aftermath" later.

Heath Minister Richard Renouf confirmed consequences for the venue could follow if the event was held "irresponsibly" under Jersey's licencing law.

Adam Durbin
BBC News

Measures are being arranged to help students get back to Jersey for Christmas if commercial flights in the right areas of the UK are not available, Chief Minister John Le Fondre confirmed.

He did not offer specific details of what flights could be offered, but he did confirm the flights would be run by Blue Islands if needed.

The airline has been asked to resume lifeline flights from Monday.

Asked about offering assurances to students and their families, Senator Le Fondre said communication about their return will be offered to them shortly, but did not say exactly when this would be.

BBC Radio Jersey

Jersey-born actor Joss MacDonald has released his latest piece of performance art online., external

Image source, Joss Macdonald

Artist in Lockdown is an abstract piece about how a creative person feels when confined to a world with little creativity.

ArtHouse Jersey has partnered with UK physical theatre company Project Lockout, who specialise in movement, freewriting and cinematic mime to premiere this new work.

Joss said: “For me, lockdown proved just how powerful creativity can be.

"Even when pushed to such an extreme limit, the artistic community still manages to support and encourage each other, even when we can’t be in the same room.

"Yes, it has been an incredibly tough year for many of us, but I’m hoping that next year will bring a boom of exciting projects as the world tries to reset."

BBC Radio Jersey

All Jersey students in Years 11 and above in secondary schools and colleges, and all young people aged 16 -18 not in education, will be offered Covid-19 screening.

Image source, PA Media

The test at their school or college premises, or at the screening facility at the harbour is a "precautionary measure", said the States of Jersey.

Further details will be sent to parents and young people in the next week.

Information will also be available on social media, on the Government of Jersey website, external and via the coronavirus helpline (01534 445566) for islanders in this age group who are not in full-time education.

Last week, the testing teams undertook screening for more than 100 teachers on two school premises. All of these tests cam back negative.

Education Minister Senator Tracey Vallois said the aim was to "guarantee the highest form of safety for our school community".

BBC Radio Jersey

The number of essential workers allowed to bypass the usual quarantine restrictions when coming to Jersey may need to be capped, says a scrutiny leader.

The authorities gave permission for more than 160 people to come into the island without the normal isolation period.

There have been concerns about this since earlier in the year when a worker from Rennes who had not isolated while awaiting the result of their arrival test was found to be infected.

Deputy Inna Gardiner said it is not safe enough and wants the rules to be tightened.

In response to a Freedom of Information request, the Government of Jersey confirmed between 26 October and 15 November, 163 exemptions have been granted to the isolation programme, with 94 rejected.

The "significant majority" of exemptions were for made for critical workers, with most of those coming from the construction sector, the government said.

Other workers putting in requests on the grounds of critical worker statues include:

• Healthcare
• Agriculture
• Animal welfare
• Finance
• Mechanics

Three other passengers were given special exemptions for "specific health issues" after medical consultation, it confirmed.

BBC Radio Jersey

A woman has claimed the Government of Jersey are undermining the States Assembly by offering her £10,000 for a driveway, the purchase of which would be needed for the proposed new hospital site at Overdale.

Tamara Vanmeggelen said the offer shows "brazen disregard" for an assembly decision requiring ministers to present a report on access to the site.

Members will then have to approve the review in January before they can acquire land on Westmount Road.

Mrs Vanmeggelen argued the government starting negotiations with her over her property showed ministers are not taking the issue seriously.

In an email sent to Mrs Vanmeggelen and shown to BBC Jersey, property company D2 Real Estate said it has been instructed to make the offer "on behalf of the public of the island" and the intention is to complete the transaction in January.

In response, Deputy Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham, insisted there are no plans to buy properties before the report has been presented to the States - although he says engagement with land owners will continue in the meantime.

A cluster of Covid-19 cases in Jersey has been linked to a private event at a hospitality venue

The event is being investigated to see if public health measures were followed, the Government of Jersey confirmed.

The government urged people to follow public health guidance as "just one event can have a significant effect" on the island's coronavirus statistics.

"We want to ensure we can continue to avoid a lockdown in the run-up to Christmas," it added.

Freddie Miller
BBC Jersey political reporter

Jersey's chief minister has delayed a debate on the government's proposed Migration Control Policy, external until February, following a request from scrutiny, external.

Politicians had been due to vote on the plan, which would update the island’s system of housing and work permissions, next week.

But Senator John Le Fondre has agreed to postpone the debate by two months, after the Scrutiny Liaison Committee said it won't be able to fully analyse the proposals until January.

BBC Radio Jersey

A student at Jersey College for Girls and a student at St Michael’s School have tested positive for coronavirus.

Jersey College parents have been informed and, as a precautionary measure, students in the year group have been asked not to attend the college on 26 and 27 November.

St Michael's School parents have also been informed and the students and siblings who were in the double year group bubble have been asked to remain at home until the contact tracing process has been completed.

Education Minister Senator Tracey Vallois said: “I would like to thank students, parents and school staff for their patience and understanding during these difficult times."

BBC Radio Jersey

Jersey's health minister withdrew an offer of a ministerial position to Deputy Kevin Pamplin, after the deputy said he still intended to criticise some of the department's decisions.

Image source, States of Jersey

In the shakeup after the vote of no confidence in the chief minister failed, Deputy Richard Renouf invited Mr Pamplin to be his assistant minister with responsibility for mental health.

After taking some days to consider, Mr Pamplin wrote back to accept, but only on certain conditions.

For example, he insisted that he should still be able to criticise health policy, and that he would press ahead with a previous proposal to force the Council of Ministers to reveal the minutes of a briefing about communications during the pandemic.

The health minister then withdrew the job offer, saying that their approaches to the role were different.

Two positions remain unfilled on the Council of Ministers, following the resignations of Senator Steve Pallett and Deputy Montfort Tadier over the unsuccessful vote of no confidence in the chief minister.

Mr Renouf said Mr Pamplin was a "skilled and passionate scrutineer who works hard in the important role of holding government to account".

He said: "I wish him well in that role and have little doubt that he will continue to be an effective and committed member of the States Assembly."

BBC Radio Jersey

Jersey ministers say the decision by States members in Guernsey to remove the director of civil aviation for the Channel Islands from his role in Guernsey, has no immediate effect on the island.

An internal investigation in Guernsey into Dominc Lazarus found evidence of misbehaviour or gross misconduct.

It followed complaints from businesses within the aviation industry, which accused him of a lack of regulatory oversight and running an ineffective, inefficient service.

Jersey authorities are considering what action to take.

Mr Lazarus’ responsibilities in Jersey are being covered by his deputy while he's on a period of absence.

BBC Radio Jersey

Image source, Getty Images

Jersey's government is using social media apps such as TikTok and Snapchat to share health information about coronavirus with young islanders.

The use of the social media apps - which allow users to post short videos or pictures - follows suggestions by young people about how the government can improve communication.

Ministers have previously raised concerns about young people spreading the virus.

The health authorities are now asking those aged between 16 and 20 for their views on the pandemic, which will influence how they communicate in future.

BBC Radio Jersey

Jersey Designate Deputy Chief Officer James Wileman is leaving his role with the States Police "to take up a new role within a different sector", the force has said.

Mr Wileman, who has served for 17 years made "a significant contribution to the future direction of the force", bosses said.

Chief of Police Robin Smith added he had been "pivotal as a leader for the force over the last two years, and will be very much missed by all his friends and colleagues".

Adam Durbin
BBC News

The wearing of face masks in Jersey's indoor public spaces is expected to be required by law from some point next week, according to Health Minister Richard Renouf.

The States Assembly voted to give ministers the power to introduce laws mandating mask use on Tuesday.

Once introduced, it will mean anyone older than 12 years old going into an indoor workplace as a customer must wear one, unless exempt for medical or disability reasons.

Failure to do so could lead to a fine of up to £1,000.

However, Deputy Renouf said he would not immediately make shops refuse service to those not wearing a face covering.

He said: "Staging the requirements in this manner should enable retailers to support and train their staff, in line with industry consultation.

"This will also allow government the opportunity to assess islanders’ compliance with the new measures."

The government was also given the power to impose restrictions on gatherings of more than 10 people in the island, but the minister put no date on the likely introduction of this measure.

Mr Renouf said if introduced it would match current public health guidance on gatherings, external.

BBC Radio Jersey

A backbench Jersey politician has claimed the island's government offered him the role of assistant minister with responsibility for mental health, only to "reconsider" after he accepted.

Deputy Kevin Pamplin said the change of heart came after he sent an acceptance email with his "views", including that transparency was one of his key principles.

He said he would share the email "at some point".

The BBC has asked the government to respond to Deputy Pamplin's comments.

BBC Radio Jersey

Nearly all of the UK remains at the highest level of coronavirus risk for Jersey travellers after the latest revision of the green-amber-red system, external.

It defines how long people have to quarantine for when coming into Jersey.

From this weekend, there will be only four areas classed as amber.

Anyone from Jersey who spends a night in a red zone will be expected to self-isolate at home until they get a negative Covid test on the 10th day after coming in.

BBC Radio Jersey

Channel Islands Co-op staff could be at risk if they are expected to enforce rules that force people to wear masks in shops and other public places, managers have said.

The States has given the government the power to make it a legal requirement if medical experts said it was necessary.

Currently the wearing of masks is not legally enforceable, with the government continuing to promote them in guidance.

However, if it moved to them being legally enforceable, Co-op Chief Executive Mark Cox said it was unfair to expect shop workers to police the rules, and the States needed to come up with a better solution.

Gerald Voisin, from Voisins department store, said that he did not want his staff to have to confront people either as "our staff aren't trained to do this".

He said: "While most people, we think, will probably wear masks, the law puts the onus on our staff, not only to challenge everybody not wearing a mask, but if somebody refuses, then we must - and the word is specific in the law - must require them to leave."

BBC Radio Jersey

Jersey's States members have agreed to temporarily relax some of the legal requirements the island's residential care homes need to meet if they become short-staffed due to a rise in Covid cases.

Care homes usually recruit agency staff from the UK to fill gaps, but coronavirus restrictions make this difficult.

Under the existing law, residential care providers who do not have enough staff could be forced to close. But now they will have more leeway, which could allow them to ask staff to work longer hours, or to use staff from the Health Department.

Official said the changes would not affect children's care homes, which would continue to be subject to the usual level of regulation.

BBC Radio Jersey

Most schoolchildren in Jersey are being given a special badge to mark this year's Liberation Day.

Liberation Day marks the end of the German occupation of the Channel Islands between 1940 and 1945.

With this year commemorating 75 years since the occupation ended, the Bailiff of Jersey, Timothy Le Cocq says it’s "crucial" the anniversary isn't forgotten.

More than 10,000 badges are being given out, to everyone aged between four and 16.

This year’s Liberation Day celebrations were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.