Claire Gilbody-Dickerson
BBC News

The Guernsey Fishermens' Association are concerned the UK may try to use the channel fishing rights as part of the Brexit negotiations with the EU.

Guernsey currently has an agreement with France until the end of the year to allow certain fishing rights to French fishermen. The agreement aims to protect the existing agreement during the ongoing Brexit negotiations.

Image source, Getty Images

Chairman of the group Barry Paint told Radio Guernsey the speculations seems to have come out of nowhere.

"I'm so surprised that everything has happened so quickly because that wasn't in the arrangements, and bear in mind that the English government gave us control of the 12-mile limit only this year.

"So what's happening? I really don't know myself. But if this is true, and there is never smoke without fire, this isn't playing the game, this is just not playing the game."

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News

Guernsey Coastguard has launched its own account on social media platforms Facebook and Twitter.

Until recently the coastguard has relied on using the Guernsey Harbours’ social media accounts to communicate important messages to islanders.

Duty SAR Mission Coordinator for Guernsey Coastguard Jerome Davis said: "We will be providing sea safety messaging and general updates of Search and Rescue missions when there is a requirement to do so.

"We will also share material and good work that local and national voluntary search and rescue organisations do in saving lives at sea."

The public are reminded not to use social media to report emergencies, either in public posts or private messages.

Anyone who requires help should call 999/112, or via VHF Channel 16 radio and ask for Guernsey Coastguard.

The traveller who tested positive for coronavirus has now recovered, returning the islands to zero cases.

Nominations are being accepted until 16:00 on 24 September for the seat made vacant by the resignation of David Earl from the States of Alderney.

The by-election is being held on 10 October with the successful candidate due to serve until the end of 2022.

Three other elections are due to be held in Alderney before the end of the year.

The election of the president of the States is being held on 14 November, with nominations open for the seven days ending 16:00 on 4 November.

Five of the 10 Alderney States members are due to be elected on 28 November with nominations due in the week before 16:00 on 18 November.

The plebiscite election to decide which two members of the States of Alderney will be formally nominated for the positions of representatives in the States of Guernsey will be held on 12 December.

BBC Radio Guernsey

The States of Guernsey says it is monitoring the ongoing negotiations between the UK and EU about the access to fishing.

The island made a temporary agreement with France, which is due to end on 31 December, aimed at mitigating the impact of the UK withdrawing from the London Fisheries Convention and ensure France maintains access during the transition period.

Policy and Resources said any new agreement made by the UK and the EU will certainly include the Channel islands and will need to be considered by all three Bailiwick parliaments before it can be accepted and applied.

Image source, Getty Images

A statement from the Policy and Resources Committee, said the EU "has made it clear that fisheries access to British waters is a prerequisite for any new trading relationship after the end of the transition periods".

"This naturally means that for the islands this will form part of the negotiation," the statement reads.

It added the new relationship must be "proportionate, relevant and practical taking into account the island nature of the Bailiwick, its size and population and unique needs".

BBC Radio Guernsey

The death of fish in a stream near St Saviour's reservoir is being investigated by Guernsey Water engineers, the utility has said.

The stream concerned has been isolated from the reservoir, and the staff said there were no concerns over the safety or wholesomeness of their water supplies.

The Environmental Health department has been in touch with Guernsey Water and the source has been identified, the BBC understands.

BBC Radio Guernsey

The States of Guernsey is forcing some businesses to make hard decisions about their workforce because of its cutting back in Covid support, a hotel manager says.

It has been announced the co-payment grant scheme is ending for some businesses at the end of September, while carrying on until December for others.

Daniel Elsadany, who works at la Trelade Hotel, one business that will lose the funding, argued more people could become unemployed because of this decision.

He said: "A lot of people are going to be struggling, especially the smaller business, and they will have no choice but to reduce their workforce."

BBC Radio Guernsey

The number of people out of work in Guernsey has fallen slightly, according to the latest figures from the States.

As of the week ending 5 September, there were 690 people classed as wholly unemployed, down from a peak of more than 1,600 in May.

The latest figure of 690 is actually slightly up from the lowest figure since May, which was 686 people, on 8 August.

From there, it jumped back up to 725 and has taken until now to come down.

According to data on unemployment benefits, some 27% of current claimants have experience in finance and administration, and 9% in catering and hospitality.

BBC Channel Islands News

A coronavirus outbreak at a court in Kashmir has caused more delay to the trial of the man accused of murdering Guernseywoman Sarah Groves.

The 24-year-old was found dead on a houseboat in the region she shared with a local family in April 2013.

Dutch national Richard de Wit has denied murdering her in a trial which has faced constant delays.

Her father, Vic Groves, said the latest incident was another blow to the family and had left him "quite pessimistic about any progress for the rest of this year".

He said: "We’ve just got to bide our time, hold our breaths and hopefully something will come out of the other end sooner rather than later."

BBC Radio Guernsey

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the E. coli contamination found in the waters at Cobo Bay.

The outbreak was reported last week and signs have been put up to warn the public to avoid the outfall between Route de Cobo and the slipway next to the kiosk.

Dr Tobin Cook, director of Environmental Health and Pollution Regulation, said: "The advice remains unchanged until a source has been established or the results become consistently compliant."

BBC Radio Guernsey

Guernsey FC is not to play in the Isthmian League South East Division 2020/21 season because of coronavirus, the clubs has said.

The club said its board of directors made the decision on Monday evening "with a heavy heart", concluding that Covid-19 travel restrictions would leave the club "unable to fulfil its placing" in a 38-match fixture list.

Club Chairman Mark Le Tissier (pictured) said it was an "extremely difficult decision to request a suspension from the league this season".

He said: "With the flights between Guernsey and Gatwick not operating until the middle of October, and the club's desire to ensure the safety and well-being of the players, coaching team, and the island's wider population from the possibility of contracting Covid-19 ... we believe it was the right course of action to take in these unprecedented times.

"We wish all our friends in the league well and hope they stay safe and have a successful season and we look forward to meeting them again in the not too distant future.”

He added that the Football Association agreed to support this decision and Guernsey would retain its place in the league in the 2021/22 season.

Image source, Guernsey FC

BBC Radio Guernsey

The head of a Guernsey travel firm believes the payroll co-payment scheme is vital to the local industry.

Guernsey's Policy and Resources Committee has agreed to extend the scheme, external until December for sectors and companies which have been hardest hit during the coronavirus pandemic.

However, some area will not be entitled to apply for the next round of business support beyond September.

Brian Kelly, from Wayfarers Travel, said the current restrictions had nullified any interest in travel, and his business was greatly reduced.

BBC Radio Guernsey

States Works is building up stocks of its usual supplies in preparation for Brexit.

It is unclear whether the UK exiting the European Union will affect supply chains for the States contractor.

However, general manager Paul Lickley said staff were preparing for the worst.

Guernsey has held the British Isles' first "in person" Pride event since the coronavirus pandemic.

Thousands of people attended over the weekend without the need for social distancing.

BBC Radio Guernsey

Retail and hospitality businesses in the Bailiwick of Guernsey will not be entitled to apply for the next round of business support beyond September.

The Guernsey Coronavirus Payroll Co-Funding Scheme, external will continue for some until the end of 2020, having previously been extended to the end of the month.

But, despite the extension, there will be a reduction of those eligible for support when the island moves to Phase 5C of its Covid exit strategy, external.

The States has not detailed when that move will be, but those working in certain areas of retail and hospitality will no longer be able to apply. Neither will taxi drivers.

The States said this was because the core tourist season would be ending at this time and people in such sectors would be returning to more normal trading conditions for the time of the year.

However, people providing visitor accommodation would continue to be eligible, it added.

BBC Radio Guernsey

Guernsey's States Works will stop using the herbicide glyphosate by the end of the year.

The pledge has been made in its 2019 report, which committed it to seeking alternative pesticides instead.

The department, which provides contracting and maintenance services to the government, said it would look to set an "international benchmark" on environment protection before an EU review into the use of glyphosate.

Last year, the States voted to continue using the chemical, which is prominent in many common weed killers.

However, earlier this year, chemical firm Bayer said it would to pay up to $10.9bn (£8.8bn) to settle cancer claims linked to its glyphosate-based product Roundup.

The States Works report also predicted a period of transformation for the year ahead, in which the group would seek to improve its advances in technology.

Staff sickness saw a reduction in 2019 compared to the year before as well, it said.

Guernsey held the British Isles' first "in person" Pride event since the coronavirus pandemic.

FC Isle of Man captain Frank Jones wants more games between the new Manx football club and Guernsey FC.

BBC Radio Guernsey

Homelessness is remaining an unseen issue in Guernsey, according to one of the support workers from St Julian's House.

The house provides accommodation and support for anyone who finds themselves homeless in Guernsey.

Staff at the States-run hostel said they had seen an increase in people using their facilities because they had lost their home.

Many evictions notices were held off earlier in the year because of lockdown, but Mike Newsom, said staff were also seeing those who were supposed to be seasonal workers coming forward.

Mr Newsom, who has worked at the house for 10 years, said not all homeless people in Guernsey would use the hostel "sometimes because they are not going to manage with the restrictions that we have here, and not being able to do what they want to be doing; so they choose to stay out."

BBC Radio Guernsey

Alderney has taken another step closer to taking control of its own local taxes.

Earlier this year, politicians agreed a new law to enable the island to take control of its own property taxation from January 2021.

Now it has been agreed revenues from fuel and document duties will go to Alderney's coffers, also from 2021.

The Chairman of the Policy and Finance Committee in Alderney, James Dent, said it was the final piece in a jigsaw to allowing the island to keep revenues it generated for its own spending priorities.