Rebecca Thorn
BBC News

A passenger delayed a flight from Jersey to Gatwick by 40 minutes after initially refusing to wear a mask.

Police and special branch officers were called on Monday evening to speak to the EasyJet passenger, who had previously worn his mask inside the airport terminals.

The airline said the traveller was behaving "disruptively", but eventually agreed to wear the mask and was able to remain on the flight.

The Ports of Jersey reminded people that masks or face shields must be worn at all times inside the airport terminals and passengers must comply with mask requirements as set out by each airline.

"Failure to do so could result in a passenger being refused travel", the ports said.

BBC Radio Jersey

A partner at a Jersey finance firm says he believes businesses are shifting towards treating workers more fairly.

Mark Lewis says his company, Stonehage Fleming, introduced the £10.55 an hour minimum rate to support cleaning staff.

It's one of three finance firms, including the body which promotes the industry - Jersey Finance, in the island that has committed to pay staff the living wage.

Mr Lewis also chairs the board of Caritas, a charity which campaigns for the living wage in Jersey.

He said: "Social responsibility, how we treat people, the environment ,wellbeing, all these sort of issues are becoming more important to firms and there is a shift in the way we do business."

The adapted system for travellers - based on areas within those three countries rather than the overall country-wide coronavirus figures - is due to start next week.

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News

Image source, States of Jersey

Islanders are being urged to keep an eye out for Asian hornets when picking blackberries, gardening, or preparing for the Branchage, after a number of nests were discovered.

The Government of Jersey said nests had been found in bramble patches as well as in the ground and under shrubbery at several locations including Howard Davis Park, St Clement and St Brelade.

Islanders are advised to check the area they plan to work on beforehand, and immediately stop if they see any "unusual insect activity".

Alastair Christie, the Government of Jersey’s Asian hornet coordinator, said: "Nests low-down in hedges, in the ground and in blackberry patches present the greatest risk of being disturbed and it is well known that Asian hornets may defend their nest area.

"A disturbed nest may have serious consequences, so I would urge people to be vigilant, cautious, and report any possible sightings of Asian hornets."

A total of 33 asian hornet nests have been discovered this year, compared to 48 at the same time last year.

The government said the reduced numbers suggested control measures were working to keep the population at "manageable levels".

BBC Radio Jersey

A politician, who has campaigned for better pay for workers, has welcomed the news that Jersey Finance has committed to pay all of its staff the living wage.

The payment is currently £10.55 per hour.

Jersey Finance promotes the island's finance industry - but also employs workers such as cleaners and security staff.

Deputy Geoff Southern said it was a positive step forward and that companies should aim to pay their workers enough so they didn't have to rely on government help to reach a good standard of living.

Chief executive of Jersey Finance Joe Moynihan said the decision showed the industry wanted to support fair working practices.

BBC Radio Jersey

Jersey Electricity says its new solar farm will help the island achieve its target to become carbon neutral in the next 10 years.

The power company has been given permission to install more than 1,000 sq m (10,760 sq ft) of the panels at Woodside Farm in Trinity.

Once the panels have been installed, they should produce enough energy to power 37 homes.

Work is due to start on the project next month.

BBC Radio Jersey

A 14-year-old swimmer from Jersey has raised more than £2,000 for charity by swimming the distance between the UK and France.

Ocean Brown wanted to raise the money for Jersey Hospice by actually swimming the English Channel, but isn't old enough.

Instead, she swam the 21 miles in chunks around the island.

She took on the challenge in memory of Charlie Gravett, who supported many islanders with their long distance swims.

BBC Radio Jersey

A teaching union leader in Jersey has said a recent report showing teachers work about 60 hours every week is still underestimating their workload.

The document from a scrutiny panel looks at why Jersey is having problems recruiting and retaining teaching staff.

Image source, Getty Images

Marina Mauger, from NASUWT, external, said a combination of red tape and pressure to perform leads many teachers to work 70 hours or more.

She said education isn't the only sector facing a recruitment crisis in Jersey, and has called on the States to cut the amount of paperwork teachers have to complete.

BBC Radio Guernsey

The head of the main ferry operator in the Channel Island's says it could be Easter before passenger numbers return to pre-pandemic levels.

Condor Ferries has cut about 200 jobs across its business after travel restrictions saw income drop by 75%.

The company has confirmed it is planning to run a limited schedule for the next four months at least.

Chief executive Paul Luxon said the business has done all it can to secure its future and will be ready add more sailings as soon as it's able to.

Image source, Condor Ferries

Jersey's government said the announcement of the reduced schedule is "a reflection of this broader economic environment in the UK and in France".

“Condor Ferries remains a valued partner in working to ensure that Jersey maintains a robust maritime supply chain during the challenges posed by the Covid-19.

"The company is able to access government support schemes that have been introduced in response to the pandemic, including the Co-Funded Payroll Scheme.

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News

Four new cases of coronavirus have arrived in Jersey, the island's government has confirmed.

The cases were identified at arrivals screenings at the island's borders since Monday.

It bring the total number of active cases in the island to 11, after two previously-infected people have recovered.

Four of the 11 cases are symptomatic, and seven are asymptomatic.

All of the individuals are based in the community.

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News

Condor Ferries has cut its workforce by 37% in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the company's chief executive has said.

Paul Luxon told the BBC the ferry operator had lost 75% of its turnover during the crisis.

He said letting staff go had been one of the "worst things I've ever had to do".

The company head said there was "no end in sight" for when ferry services could return to normal.

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News

A shortfall of teachers in Jersey is partly due to the "unsustainable" workload faced by the profession, a report has found.

The review into teacher recruitment and retention in the island was conducted by the Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel.

It found teachers were working on average 60 hours a week, demonstrating the "extreme expectations" put on the States workers, the report said.

Teachers within the panel's focus groups said they felt "undervalued" as a result.

The cost of living in Jersey, lower starting salaries compared to the UK, and the "attractive employment opportunities" offered by the finance industry were all named as incentives to leave the profession.

BBC Radio Jersey

Jersey police say they are being called to an increasing number of incidents involving ant-isocial behaviour – including assault and malicious damage – at Havre Des Pas.

Officers have already dealt with 21 cases this month, compared to nine in July and fifteen in June.

Officers are working with the Jersey Youth Service on outreach programmes to keep young people from getting involved.

They get specific briefings for patrolling the area, and have made several arrests in recent weeks. They are looking into requests for more CCTV coverage.

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News

States of Jersey Police have warned against a cold-caller pretending to be from Jersey Electricity.

BBC Radio Jersey

The head of Citizens Advice Jersey has said rent rises in the island should remain frozen until the end of the year.

Emergency laws agreed by the government earlier this year stopped landlords from putting up rents during the coronavirus pandemic.

The changes also prevented people from being evicted while their jobs were under threat.

Malcolm Ferey said extending the temporary powers beyond October would be a "sensible approach" to ensure people have the time to reassess their situation following the crisis.

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News

LibertyBus, Jersey's bus operator, will release its new timetable on Monday.

Temporary schedules by LibertyBus have been in place since March as a result of "changing demand" due to the coronavirus pandemic, the company said.

The new timetable will have reduced services during peak times to accommodate fewer people travelling to work, and is due to run until at least March next year.

There will be a 10p increase on adult cash fares from £2.30 to £2.40 from 31 August, and the AvanchiPAYG adult fare will also increase from £1.65 to £1.75.

The price of a ticket paid for via a contactless method will remain at £2.00.

Director of LibertyBus, Kevin Hart, said: "We had agreed the changes to bus fares with the Minister for Infrastructure earlier this year, however, by request of the Minister when the pandemic hit, had delayed implementing them on 1 April 2020 as originally planned.

"The changes, which involve marginal increases in line with inflation, now need to be put in place in order to keep the bus service sustainable."

BBC Radio Jersey

A total of 309 people have been asked to self-isolate since early July as part of Jersey's track and trace response to the coronavirus.

The method works to identify those who may have been in contact with a confirmed positive case of coronavirus to help stop the spread of the virus.

Dr Ivan Muscat, the island's deputy medical officer of health, said he expects the number to increase as a result of relaxed lockdown restrictions.

Jersey reopened its borders to travellers on 3 July, and has a traffic-light system in place, external to determine the isolation requirements for arrivals from different countries.

BBC Radio Jersey

The Constable of St John Christopher Taylor has resigned from his role as Assistant Chief Minister for Jersey after being found guilty of dangerous driving.

He was convicted of dangerous driving at Jersey's Magistrates' Court on Thursday for driving into the legs of a cycle race steward in July last year.

He was fined £4,000 for the offence and disqualified from driving for 18 months.

In a letter to the chief minister Mr Taylor said he was "devastated" by the decision and he couldn't allow his personal situation to interfere with the government's work.

Mr Taylor will stay in his position as the Constable of St John.

The Government of Jersey is asking for islanders to complete a survey to help officials who are drawing up the 2021-2024 government plan.

It aims to learn what's important to the public, how the government should be responding to concerns and how they should be dealt with over the next four years.

The anonymous survey is available online, external and responses will be shared with policy officials who are preparing the plan for ministers.

The responses will help to determine how concerns and priorities may have changed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, along with other data, the government said.

The survey closes at midnight on 31 August.

Islanders can also write in with their views to:

Government Plan Consultation, Government of Jersey, 19-21 Broad Street, St Helier, JE2 3RR.

Travellers returning to Jersey from Ireland or Greece will now have to self-isolate for at least five days and only end their isolation after a test negative for coronavirus.

Both countries moved from green to amber in the States of Jersey's three tiered Covid-19 safety classifications on Sunday.