Updates from Monday 12 February 2018 until Friday 16 February 2018
Tonight looks set to be dry with some clear spells. However, there is likely to be a fair amount of cloud around at times too.
Minimum Temperature: 3-7°C (37-45°F).
Tomorrow is expected to continue largely dry and bright with sunny periods. However, there is the very small risk of the odd shower during the afternoon.
Maximum Temperature: 6-9°C (43-48°F).
BBC Radio Jersey
Poetry books, food hampers and a ticket to see Take That were among the gifts given to ministers in Jersey's government last year.
A freedom of information request, external lists the gifts declared by the politicians.
Lower value items include tea and cake at a reception - declared by Chief Minister Senator Ian Gorst - and a set of cufflinks given to Senator Sir Philip Bailhache, Minister for External Relations.
One of the more expensive declarations included a £307 trip to Guernsey for Deputy Murray Norton - an Assistant Minister in the Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture department (EDTSC) - to attend the Guernsey Awards for Achievement, paid for by the States of Guernsey.
Topping the list was Senator Lyndon Farnham - the Minister for EDTSC - who received a £500 ticket to Durrell's Rainforest Ball from the charity. Take That were the guest performers.
The Code of Conduct for Elected Members, external, says all politicians must register the name and address of any person who gives them a gift which has a value greater than £466, but gifts of a lower value can also be declared if the minister wishes.
Guernsey Press
More than 12 dwellings could be built at Les Bas Courtils if they were designed well, proposed guidelines have said, external.
Jersey Evening Post
A man who pulled a kitchen knife from the back of his trousers during a fight outside the front of the General Hospital on a Sunday morning will be sentenced in the Magistrate’s Court, external.
BBC Radio Guernsey
A woman who received gender reassignment surgery in Guernsey says it has improved her quality of life.
Politicians voted in favour of publicly funding gender reassignment surgery in 2014.
Image source, Getty ImagesBack then, according to Rachel James, she says, there was a "mixed reaction" to the States decision to fund treatment, with some islanders disagreeing with the decision.
Ms James said this was perhaps because people "didn't understand".
She said at the time she "couldn't afford" the treatment herself and would be unlikely to be able to do so for at least 10 years.
She says she, along with her doctor and psychiatrist lobbied the States to change their policy.
"I did it mainly by writing letters explaining how I was feeling," she said.
Ms James also presented a business case for the decision, saying the treatment would cost the government less money overall.
A spokesman for the Committee for Health and Social Services said they were "pleased" the surgery has been of benefit to a service user.
Commenting on whether providing the surgery would cost the States less overall, the committee said: "In general we always consider the clinical benefits of treatment, as well as the cost-effectiveness of any intervention."
Adding: "However, in this case the focus was very much on the desire to respond to an unmet need. Meeting the need, not cost, formed the basis of the decision to fund."
Rob England
BBC News Online
Condor Ferries has announced the services which will be affected by delays to the Condor Rapide.
The vessel left dry-dock earlier to resume services from St Malo to the Channel Islands, but turned back to Falmouth due to an issue with its "engine management software".
The affected sailings, external are the 15:50 service from St Malo, arriving in Jersey at 16:10, as well as the return journey leaving Jersey at 17:00, arriving in St Malo at 19:20.
The Rapide does not appear on the Guernsey Harbour arrivals and departures schedule.
"We continue to plan to operate a delayed schedule today", a spokesman said.
Condor Ferries apologised for the inconvenience, and said further information would be issued "as soon as it becomes available".
Rob Byrne
BBC News Online
Guernsey's Anglican Dean says the local church should do more to promote weddings, after it emerged the denomination has seen the largest reduction in the number of marriages since 2011.
In 2017, there were 68 Anglican weddings, compared to 108 in 2011.
However there were still more Anglican weddings last year (68) than other denominations (24 combined), and significantly fewer than civil ceremonies (189).
The Very Reverend Tim Barker said the fall in the number of Anglican weddings was in line with a general reduction in the number of marriages, both locally and the UK.
He said: "I think we should do far more to promote church weddings.
"I noticed the other week that there had been a wedding fair at St James. I will certainly be looking to see whether we can be represented at future wedding fairs, so that we can talk to people about the tremendous opportunities that a church wedding offers.
"Big moments and big changes in life, such as preparing for marriage, can lead to big questions, thoughts and feelings. We would encourage people who are planning weddings to feel free to ask what the Church of England can offer – without any obligation."
Rob Byrne
BBC News Online
Here's the brief journey made by the Condor Rapide as it was forced to return to dry dock in Falmouth earlier.
A problem with the vessel's "engine management software" forced the return, Condor Ferries said.
An update is expected later on how this afternoon's sailings will be affected.
Condor Rapide's brief journey, courtesy of Marine Traffic
Rob England
BBC News Online
The Condor Rapide was forced to return to dry dock this morning due to an "engine management software" issue, Condor Ferries has said.
The vessel was set to resume services to the Channel Islands from St Malo today, after several delays.
Returning to dry dock in Falmouth, Condor said engineers and contractors were working to resolve the issue.
A spokesman said: "We are expecting Condor Rapide to operate this evenings services to a delayed schedule."
A further update is expected from the company at 14:00.
Rob England
BBC News Online
Voluntary carers in Guernsey could receive more support from the States in the future.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe States has launched a survey on a new initiative , external- the "Carers Action Plan" - to identify where they might be able to provide more help in the future.
Currently carers have access to an allowance , externaland short break provision.
Deputy Heidi Soulsby, President of the Committee for Health and Social Care, said input from carers themselves was "very important".
"All of us need some support from our family and friends sometimes. Many of us will also, at some point in our lives have times where a family member or friend needs our care or support on a more intense and ongoing basis," she said.
A new charity "Carers Guernsey" has also been set up in the island to provide "advice and outreach support" to voluntary carers.
BBC Radio Guernsey
Work on the L'Ancresse anti-tank wall will be completed this week, the States has said.
Rock armour protection haw been placed over the existing toe of the wall and three to four tonne rocks used to reinforce it.
The rocks were transported over the wall - as opposed to workers cutting a route on to the beach - to put them in place.
A trench was also dug in front of the wall and a layer of rock placed below the beach level as a "secure base for the structure".
A spokesman for planning services said the department had received "several requests" to clarify details of the work.
The department said two holes were dug to judge the height of rock required for the repairs, but said this "did not amount to development", and did not require planning permission.
BBC Radio Jersey
Proposed changes to Jersey's housing laws should not be "rushed", the Citizens' Advice Bureau has said.
Currently there is no provision in the law to prevent landlords turning families with children away.
The issues was touched on by the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry Panel, who singled out restrictive housing practices in Jersey as one of the main reasons why children ended up in care and became vulnerable to abuse.
Deputy Montfort Tadier and Deputy Sam Mezec - from the island's only political party Reform Jersey - have renewed their calls to change the current situation, as they say it is discriminatory.
The head of Jersey's Citizens' Advice Bureau, Malcolm Ferey, says there is "no simple fix" to the problem, and changes should not be made to the law without consultation and careful consideration.
Mr Ferey says housing is the "biggest issue" for the bureau, and accepted it was not easy to find "good quality, affordable" accommodation in the island.
"But just removing the exemption within the law in itself is not a solution" he said, claiming this could cause "unforeseen" issues in the future.
He advises families with children to "engage" with prospective landlords, who he says may assume families with children will cause more "wear and tear" damage to properties, and may struggle to pay rent.
Rob England
BBC News Online
A fault was found with the Condor Rapide as it returned to service in the Channel Islands - causing it to sail back to Falmouth.
The ferry provider said it was still hoping to run services later, and engineers were working to solve the issue.
An update on the situation should be available this afternoon, a spokesman said.
The vessel was due to return to service last weekend in time for Jersey's half term, but was cancelled due to poor weather conditions.
The service also faced further delays earlier this week, before being put back to today.
Rob Byrne
BBC News Online
Successfully freezing millions of pounds linked to Nigeria's late military ruler Sani Abacha is a sign Jersey is committed to tackling financial crime and money laundering, the island's Attorney General has said.
It comes after the Privy Council upheld the earlier decision of Jersey's court to restrain the funds, after a US court suggested, external the money was derived from corruption in Nigeria during Mr Abacha's military regime., external
There has been a global effort to retrieve the money, which was allegedly stolen from the Nigerian public purse.
The money made it to Jersey's Deutsche Bank International through a BVI company after being laundered through the US and Swiss banks, court documents show.
Attorney General Robert MacRae QC said: “In restraining the funds at the request of the United States of America, through whose banking system the funds were laundered prior to arriving here, Jersey has once again demonstrated its commitment to tackling international financial crime and money laundering.”
BBC Radio Guernsey
A legal expert claims the Channel Islands could save a lot of money by decriminalising drugs.
Alex Stevens, professor of criminal justice at the University of Kent, has been looking into suggestions Guernsey should re-think its drug laws.
The island's most senior politician, Deputy Gavin St Pier, says current drug policies, to treat the issue as a criminal problem rather than a health concern, has "failed".
Drug campaigners are supporting changes to the law, and other politicians are split on the issue, calling for it to be debated in the States Assembly.
Prof Stevens says Portugal has saved "fortunes" in prison expenses since it decriminalised many drugs, and the level of drug use has not gone up.
Quote MessageThe patterns of young people's drug use in Portugal are fairly stable, they're similar to other countries that haven't decriminalised, which reflects this evidence from around the world that decriminalisation in itself does not tend to lead to more drug use.
Prof Alex Stevens
BBC Radio Jersey
Houses will be built on the site of an old nursing home in Jersey.
The development at La Pouquelaye was approved by the island's planning committee after being put forward by property developer Dandara.
Maison de Ville will be demolished and replaced with 28 two bedroom homes.
The committee said the plans include improvements to the pavement and road layout in the area to make it safer for pedestrians, after concerns were raised about children walking to the nearby Janvrin School.
An application to redevelop the site and build a nursery - as well as 28 care apartments - was refused in 2016.
BBC Radio Jersey
The owner of a centre for rescue dogs where animals died in a fire has helped provide pet breathing masks for Jersey's fire service.
Four dogs died after the blaze at Jersey Rescue Dog Centre in February 2016.
Alison Le Feuvre, who ran the centre, said sponsorship from a vet surgery and residents has led to six animal resuscitation kits being sent to Jersey Fire and Rescue Service.
Ms Le Feuvre said it was "great" crews were carrying the kits.
"We were fortunate the day of the fire that an ambulance turned up, so they had oxygen and masks and we believe this made a real difference to the outcome of the lives of some of the other dogs that were poorly that did survive." she said.
The oxygen masks used by Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service are the same brand as those used in Jersey
Rob England
BBC News Online
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It's a dry but chilly morning across the islands.
Our BBC Weather Watcher Brass took this snap of St Peter Port.
Image source, BrassAnd the States of Jersey Police caught this view of the sunrise.
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Rob England
BBC News Online
Police are looking to speak to a man after a woman was "followed home" in St Helier earlier this week.
The 28-year-old was followed along Bath Street on Monday at about 18:25, officers said.
Police described the man as 5ft 4in (1.6m) tall, of medium build, with a paunch, wearing a navy blue coat and dark trousers.
"There could be a totally innocent explanation" a police spokeswoman added.
Image source, States of Jersey Police
