18/01/2012 BBC Channel Islands News

Hello. Welcome to the programme. Tonight's headlines. Pessimism

amongst businesses as the economic slowdown hits jobs and confidence.

Plus, weighing up a political future - the build up to Guernsey's

election begins. And a brighter green future for Jersey's prisoners

as the island invests in La Moye's As you've heard in the national

news, the rise in unemployment is still making the headlines. And the

Channel Islands are no exception. Business leaders - from retail to

finance - in Jersey say they aren't optimistic about employing more

people in the future and they say economic activity has slumped.The

results come from The business tendency survey which monitors how

well local businesses are doing across the island. The Finance

Industry reported economic activity at its lowest for two years.

Meanwhile, builders said optimism in the coming months including job

opportunities was at its lowest to date. But some smaller businesses

are more confident. Emma Chambers reports now on one Jersey woman

who's bucking the trend. Despite the odds, Ima Joseph opened her

dream coffee shop while others were closing down. One year on it's now

a thriving business but she says it's all down to hard work. I have

to be here all the time, I Amir 24- 7. You get out what you put in, and

it is so important to be a, beating the customers. You see the

sentences are ready, and that is what is important. As the kitchen

hots up with more food orders, confidence is growing for this

business owner and others like her, according to the latest business

tendency survey. It suggests they are not struggling as much as

larger businesses. But the economic slump hasn't gone un-noticed.

Everyone is spending less. It is so hard. There is so much unemployment.

It is difficult all round. The Government has got to think of some

plan to get us back up there. Bringing forward capital projects

is one thing we can do in terms of getting money into the economy,

circulating, helping people keep their jobs. That was the advice of

the fiscal policy panel. Retraining and getting new skills is

absolutely key. For Ima her first year has been a success. She says

as long as the customers are happy, she's happy and looks forward to

the future. But not all those in business are as optimistic.

Representatives of Sark's emergency services are calling for the

publishers of an island-wide newsletter to apologise for

releasing what they claim is confidential medical information,

causing harm to Sark's residents. The Sark Newsletter - distributed

to every island household - is published by an employee of the

Barclay brothers-owned Sark Estate Management. In a statement to the

island's government, Chief Pleas, Sark's Emergency Services and

Medical Committees said that confidential details had been

released in the newsletter. They're calling for the newsletter to print

a full apology to the families and casualties concerned. BBC News has

approached the publishers for a comment, and is awaiting a response.

And is Guernsey set to get a new cinema? These plans - from

developer Comprop - show ideas for Admiral Park which could see new

homes, offices, cafes and a cinema being built. It would cost around

�50 million and would be constructed on part of the site

which is currently un-developed. In exactly three months time, it'll be

all go in Guernsey as the Island elects a new government. There are

certainly interesting times ahead. But what's it like at the moment

for those politicians planning on leaving the States, or those hoping

to join? Penny Elderfield has this report. MUSIC: The Good, The Bad

and the Ugly theme tune. For Guernsey's Home Minister, this

isn't the start of the story, but the end of a chapter. As he looks

to leave politics at the next election, after eight years in the

States. I feel that it is time to have more time to myself. I am

looking forward to a little bit more golf and a few more holidays,

perhaps. It is a new beginning for me. It will be a change. I have

thoroughly enjoyed being in the States. It is demanding and

challenging. But I have thoroughly enjoyed it. But over the years,

politicians come and go - and soon the focus will be shifting onto who

could be entering the States come April. Lee's planning on standing

in the election. Four years ago, he was the youngest candidate to ever

run - and didn't get in, but that's not stopping him now. To me, it has

a chance to make big difference in whatever you do. I said after the

last elections that I would come back and give it another go. Last

time I ran my election campaign in but the friendly. It was a crushing

kind of feeling when the boats were read out. This time I am putting in

20-30 times the effort that I did last time. And then there are those

who have done it all before. Peter Roffey left politics at the last

election, and hasn't regretted it. There is a life after politics,

honestly. You take a toxic legacy with you. As a former member of the

stage you are not the most easily employable person, perhaps, but you

get you're private life back and that is quite pleasant. So whether

past, present or potentially a future deputy. There are many faces

that make up the States. Some will stay, some will go. But exactly who

will fill these seats in future will be answered three months from

now. You're watching the BBC in the Channel Islands. Later in Spotlight

with Justin and Victoria. Inspiration amidst unemployment -

the 14 year-old schoolboy who's set up his own software development

business. Jersey's La Moye prison has been granted �350,000 by the

States to upgrade its horticultural facilities. The new facility could

help prisoners train for horticultural jobs when they leave

and will allow female prisoners and young offenders access for the

first time. Rachel Royce reports. Experiencing the great outdoors is

something that most of us take for granted, but prisoponers at La Moye

have limited opportunities to take fresh air. -- prisoners. That's one

of the reasons why many of the inmates enjoythe horticultural

This morning there is a lock down and only staff are around, but on

most days up to 22 male prisoners tend the plants and vegetables.

Other prisoners, women, vulnerable inmates and young offenders can't

mix with male prisoners, so have no access to the site. Philip Anderson,

who heads up learning and skills, wants that to change. He's

overseeeing the development of a new greenhouse and training centre.

This area that you see here was dilapidated. It was an old poly

tunnel. We have taken that down, and we're putting in beehives with

a class from which people from all parts of the facility will be able

to access. The new centre will offer training for vocational

qualifications that could lead to jobs outside. It is a far cry from

the days when the prison was criticised for lack of facilities

and outdated practices. Ever since it opened, the agricultural area

has been popular with prisoners, a chance to be in the fresh air and

to make something productive Foster with the new facilities, all

prisoners, including children and young people, will have some access

to this form of training. Six Channel Islanders are flying to

London for the BBC Introducing Musicians Masterclass. The event -

at the world famous Abbey Road Studios and at Maida Vale - gives

musicians from across the British Isles the opportunity to network

and learn from others. Sam Falle, Sam Mezek and Cameron Johnson from

Jersey will join Guernsey's Andy Sauvage, Julles Hunisett and Tom

Domaille at the event. I will be there all day with the BBC producer

of the Guernsey Show, and we will broadcast highlights from the event

on BBC Radio Guernsey and you will be able to listen to the thing live

as it goes out on the BBC introducing website. And it will be

on the red button later in the month. And there is that website

Good job they were not flying to the, because it was a little on the

for the site. Here is David with the weather. Misty and mild across

the Channel Islands with some rain We have a slow-moving weather front

across the South Britain that will sink his way southwards. By the

time we get to the morning it is starting to nudge in towards

Alderney and the northern coast of Guernsey. It will move through, so

by the time we get to the latter part of the day and into Friday,

the mist and fog clears and we should see some sunny spells.

Tonight, mist and fog quite extensive. Some possibility of C4

through the night. We will see that patchy rain beginning to appear --

sea fog. Tomorrow, a slow improvement through the afternoon,

but it all takers time to move out of the way, this band of rain.

Quite a breezy day with fresh wines, and a similar temperature of 11

Celsius. There is the coastal Quite a these developing, so the

surf will be messy throughout the day. Vase for the outlook, breaker

on Friday and we should see some sunny spells. On Saturday, another