25/02/2014 BBC Channel Islands News

That's all from us. A first look at the papers on the news channel. Now

Good evening. Guernsey politicians are largely standing by Peter

Harwood, after his decision today to quit as Chief Minister. It's after a

magazine article questioning his former role as both director of the

Channel Islands Stock Exchange, and chairman of the Guernsey Financial

Services Commission which regulates it. Penny Elderfield reports.

Back in 2012, and day one of his new job. Deputy Harwood probably didn't

expect his time as Chief Minister to end like this. But today he

resigned. With regret, but recognising Guernsey's reputation

was at risk. It followed this article in Private Eye, questioning

Deputy Harwood's previous role as both director of the Channel Islands

Stock Exchange and chairman of the regulator that oversees it. Not the

sort of national publicity that Guernsey wants. He clearly recognise

that a story with his name attached as achievement Mr in the national

media was a risk to the reputation of Guernsey. It was not right at

all. It was at a meeting here that states members heard the news this

morning. I would assume there was a frank discussion yesterday, and we

have to respect Deputy Harwood's decision to step down. I think that

the chief Mr going well have a lot of negative things were Guernsey. ``

I think the Chief Minister going. Initial reactions. But now the talk

will turn to who will stand to be the next Chief Minister. So, is this

former one ready to give it another go? If a majority came to me and

said that with your experience and all the rest of it, we'd like you to

consider being the custody until the end of this time, it is a discussion

I would have with those members of my family, in particular. Let's be

clear about it, as it stands at the moment, I do not want the job. It'll

no doubt become clearer in the next couple of days who the likely

candidates are. With the election expected to take place next month.

Well, earlier I asked Guernsey's deputy Chief Minister, Jonathan Le

Tocq, whether Peter Harwood really needed to go. No, I don't believe

so, but we're not dealing with matters of black or white here. That

is not politics. He did what he felt was correct. And at his disposal to

resign, bearing in mind he is the sort of man flatters modelling the

sort of leadership that puts Guernsey first. Surely, resigning

suggests some sort of wrong doing, does he have your confidence? I

don't think it suggests that at all. What it shows is that here we have a

Chief Minister who has put Guernsey first and whilst there is an ongoing

investigation, no one is in a position to double guess that. The

trouble is that we live in a world where there is all sorts of

speculation, which diverts attention and, therefore our energies

elsewhere. And we cannot control that, of course, but we can seek to

minimise it. That is what he wants to do. Finally, if it turns out

Deputy Harwood cannot return to the position of Chief Minister, will you

stand for it? That is something I need to consider along with my

colleagues. To be honest, I'm happy where I am at the moment. And I did

feel that Deputy Harwood and myself made a very good team. And the

Policy Council will continue to do what it is intending to do. It is

business as usual, we need to maintain the momentum, and I feel

the most important thing is that. The Chief Minister is not some

achievement Mr of the Policy Council. He provides leadership for

the States. `` he is not Chief Minister of the Policy Council. So,

that will have to take on into due consideration and it's too early to

make those sorts of judgements. In other news, unemployment figures

in Jersey continue to fall. The number of islanders registered as

actively seeking work last month was 1,860. That's down 160 on the same

time last year. A sixth of the total, about 310 people, are long

term unemployed. Visitors are being advised to stay

away from Guernsey's Princess Elizabeth Hospital while an outbreak

of vomiting and diarrhoea is brought under control. Samples have been

sent to the UK for testing, and it's thought they'll reveal the five

patients and one staff member in Victoria Wing have the norovirus. A

quarter of ?1 million has been spent improving facilities for homeless

people in Jersey. The Shelter Trust said a new refuge fills a critical

gap. This has been Chris's home since New

Year's Eve. He's been in shelters for the past few years after family

problems. My main fear was to be on the street, to be honest. And

probably, more likely, at the other end of a bottle. I consider myself

lucky to be able to live in this kind of facility, which has helped

me out a lot at since I left my family home. Today, Evans House

officially opened more than two years after a similar centre closed

because it was short of cash. Health and Social Services bought that and

it's since been refurbished and renamed. There's now room for up to

22 men and women, from the age of 25 onwards. I think it has filled a

very critical gap. We now have emergency accommodation, second

stage accommodation, and we also have the dedicated service for young

adults. So, we feel as if we are covering bases of the sorts of needs

that people have of us and the services we offer. The Shelter Trust

helps around 400 islanders a year in Jersey. And there's already a

waiting list for people wanting to move in here. So there's a home for

those who need it. That is it from me. Fixed, the

weather, and the National forecast follows him.

Tomorrow, we all have some pleasant weather, particularly in the

afternoon with a bit of sunshine and lighter winds, although in the

morning, we will see some showers. By the afternoon, it is dry and

bright. Showers overnight, they will keep going, easing a little, but

even by the morning, there is a risk of some showers. Blustery winds and

five degrees is the minimum temperature. Those showers will be

with us, by the afternoon we will have some sunshine, turning hazy,

but the rest of the day should be light. The outlook for Thursday and

Friday, plenty of showers on Thursday, or persistent rain

overnight tomorrow, and showers continued towards the weekend. We

will have a full forecast in a moment. From me, good night.

be rain, clearing into sunshine and showers, Buster once. Then it is

more difficult. Susan Powell is here to explain more international focus.

Take a glimpse out of the window and the chances they will be starry

skies where you are. The showers we have today are dying back to the

coast. The breeze is also easing and reclaiming skies and light winds, it

will be chilly overnight tonight. The wind will remain keen enough to

hold