BBC Radio Guernsey

Guernsey's chief minister says he cannot understate the importance of the British-Irish Council for giving the island a voice on the political stage.

Chief ministers of the crown dependencies along with England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales met in Guernsey today to discuss issues relevant to all the different parties.

Deputy St Pier says the summit give Guernsey access too people it usually wouldn't have the chance to meet.

More on this story:

• British-Irish 'joint communique' released
• Political summit begins in Guernsey

Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online

The Royal Bank of Canada has issued a statement saying it's fully committed to its business in Guernsey.

It follows the news that the bank has offered to sell its current site on Upland Road to Elizabeth College.

RBC said it wants to move to new, as yet unspecified premises, and grow its Guernsey business.

Elizabeth College is describing the potential acquisition of the large bank building as a "once in a lifetime opportunity".

The aim is to use it for improved library facilities and private study areas - pupils would have direct access to the building from the school.

Both organisations are working on a planning application for a change of use for Canada Court, and hope to complete the sale by December 2019.

BBC Weather

It will remain fine with sunshine this evening, giving way to some long clear spells overnight.

Turning fairly cool once again with just a gentle breeze.

Miles Davis
BBC News Online

Guernsey's Economic Crime Division (ECD) is warning people to be on their guard against mandate fraud after one local business reported losing £17,000 to fraudsters.

An ECD spokesman said mandate fraud, also known as invoice redirection fraud, is when someone impersonates a supplier and tells the customer they've changed their bank details and asks for their record to be updated.

Unknowingly the payment is then made to the newly provided details. The fraud often only comes to light when the real supplier chases payment.

The States of Guernsey was defrauded of £2.6m back in 2012 in a similar scheme.

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Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online

Jersey's population is growing at a faster rate than the UK, new figures show.

It's estimated more than 105,500 people call the island home - an increase of nearly 20% since 2000, compared to 10% in the UK.

The figures also show there were 100 more births than deaths in the island last year - and 1,200 more people came to the island, than left.

Image source, Statistics Jersey

Statistics Jersey said that of the 1,200 net inward migration in 2017, approximately 400 were licensed workers and their dependents, while 800 were registered workers and their dependents.

Jersey's government was accused of failing to control the island's growing population during the recent election.

The States is yet to agree on a proposed immigration policy, which includes plans for time-limited work permits, criminal record checks and photos on registration cards.

Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online

Delegates from Wales, Ireland, Scotland, the UK and all the Crown Dependencies were in Guernsey for the 30th British-Irish Council summit earlier.

Taking place at St Pierre Park, the meeting was the first opportunity for Senator John Le Fondré to make his mark on an international stage as Jersey's new chief minister.

He was in luck during the press conference, as he was sat next to the most recognisable of all the delegates, Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

The meeting was scheduled to focus on the marine environment, although Brexit was inevitably a big topic of discussion.

Ministers from across Britain and Ireland updated the council on their preparations for the UK's exit from the EU, with Robin Walker MP - the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Exiting the EU - also in attendance.

Delegates with responsibility for the marine environment had already met prior to the summit. They discussed marine litter, biodiversity, protected areas and "ocean acidification".

Earlier ministers "directed the BIC environment work sector and any other relevant officials working on the council to prioritise areas for collaboration over the coming months."

They also agreed to hold a meeting in early 2019 to tackle marine litter.

Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online

If you've been wondering what's happening at St Pierre Park Hotel over the last few days, they've been preparing for the British-Irish Council summit.

The British-Irish Council is made up of representatives from all the Crown Dependencies, the governments of the UK, Scotland and Wales, and the Northern Ireland Executive.

Guernsey Police have been recently carrying out sweeps of the hotel grounds, and searching cars as they arrive at the hotel, as national leaders arrive in the Channel Islands.

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar arrived at the hotel just over an hour ago. He'll join Karen Bradley, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, as well as Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington is the representative from the UK government, while Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones completes the political line-up.

Jersey Reds may not have a home game until the fifth week of the new season after the release of the Championship's fixtures.

Guernsey Press

New fog-beating technology could see flight delays due to bad weather dramatically reduced , external- if it is brought in locally.

A fundraising CPR marathon is taking place at Beau Sejour Leisure Centre in St Peter Port to raise money for the St John Ambulance Service.

Teams from local organisations have signed up to complete continuous resuscitation on a mannequin in one-hour time slots.

The hope is to raise enough to replace the service's oldest emergency vehicle.

Jersey Evening Post

Plans to build a 62-turbine wind farm 23 miles from the south coast of Jersey have been approved, external, French President Emmanuel Macron has announced.

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British and Irish ministers will hold talks in Guernsey on Friday at the British Irish Council (BIC) summit.

Leo Varadkar says he is still confident a deal can be struck but is making contingency plans.

BBC Radio Guernsey

The president of Guernsey's Education, Sport and Culture Committee is defending the decision to double spending on PE locally - despite it meaning his committee is going further over budget with the move.

Last week it was announced funding for the PE in schools programme would be doubled with an extra £100,000 being given to the Guernsey Sports Commission.

Deputy Matt Fallaize says despite almost a £4m projected overspend, it is the right thing to do...

BBC Radio Jersey

Senior church leaders are gathering in Jersey to celebrate 25 years of service by an island minister.

Deacon Iain MacFirbhisigh has overseen baptisms, weddings and funerals at two of the island's Catholic churches and is recognised for his compassionate approach.

He'll be honoured at a special mass and reception later.

BBC Radio Jersey

The Bishop of Portsmouth has announced his deputy as Jersey's new Catholic Dean.

Canon Dominic Golding will succeed Monsignor Nicholas France in the role in September.

Deacon Iain MacFirbhisigh, who's being honoured later for 25 years of service, says the relationship Canon Golding has with the Right Reverend Philip Egan will give him a "good understanding" of how Jersey's faith community interacts.

"Dominic ticks all the boxes. He's a remarkable man - very quiet, very intelligent.

"He's a listening priest and we're blessed to have him."

Jack Murley
Channel Islands Sports Producer

A Jersey man is attempting to become the first ever to swim around the island twice.

Extreme swimmer Andy Truscott says it's a double no-one has attempted before and he gets a "buzz" out of trying new challenges.

"Swimming has been my background. I'm good at it and it's therapeutic for me.

"It's nice to get in and take it a mile at a time - just zone out and swim."

He's due to tackle it on 13 July.

BBC Radio Jersey

Jersey's new infrastructure minister says a new structure within the government will "improve the way States-owned property is managed".

It comes as the States auditor Karen McConnell says £1bn worth of States assets weren't being looked after properly.

She said there is still no strategy for bringing the body's plans to reality with its annual business plan for 2017 only getting as far as draft form by the end of the year.

But Deputy Kevin Lewis says the department is now heading in the "right direction".

"I'm going to go through the report again with officers. It was critical and we accept that.

"Obviously there were mistakes there. But everything going forward is going to be really positive."

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