07/07/2011 BBC Channel Islands News

Welcome to the BBC in the Channel Islands. Senator numbers slashed,

but will fewer island-wide politicians damage democracy?

Also tonight: Muddying the waters. Calls for Guernsey States to come

clean about fishing compensation claims.

And fantastic gymnastic. Find out which island is the king of the

The number of senators in Jersey's States will go down as planned,

despite an 11th hour attempt to have the decision reversed.

Politicians spent all day debating whether to ask the Privy Council in

the UK not to approve a law, which they'd already passed in January.

The law will cut the number of senators by four. The move is

designed to save money by reducing the overall number of States

members. It's part of a reform that would make all Senators, elected on

an island wide mandate, serve four- year terms, all elected on the same

day. A petition signed by at least 2,000 islanders had been handed to

the privy council. It claimed the right of islanders to elect their

politicians has been reduced by a third. One of those against the cut

is Deputy Carolyn Labey. Christie Tucker spoke to her earlier.

The sale last ditch effort to change the decision made by the

state before it gets approval from the Privy Council. This debate has

been had a number of times before. Why did you want to bring his fog

again? This is the second time I have brought it forward. I think it

is fundamentally important to hour constitution and to intellectual

rights. People have trust with the senatorial seats. To seek their

mandated diminished and eroded in the way we have done -- to seek the

mandate diminished and eroded in the way we have done is a backward

step for democracy. The States of Guernsey is being

strongly criticised by the island's fishing community over what it

claims is an "appalling lack of transparency". The States recently

struck a deal with UK fishermen but has refused to release details of

the settlement. Mike Wilkins reports.

Protecting the likes of him and also ensuring there's plenty of

them. Those were the good intentions of 2003 when the States

wanted to introduce licences for non-local fishing boats as a way of

managing fish stocks. But over the years the States has been hit with

compensation claims by foreign fishermen. The Privvy Council also

ruled that the States hadn't implemented the law correctly.

We've been told a deal has been struck with some of the UK

fishermen. But when it comes to open government Guernsey isn't

playing ball. The States is refusing to reveal the details of

the settlement and for the people on the frontline it's unacceptable.

I am appalled at the lack of transparency since the settlement.

The tax payer and the fishermen of the silent deserve to know the fact.

I contacted several government departments as well as the law firm

representing the States but none would give me any information. So

for now some feel it's up to the public to put the pressure on.

sincerely hope the public shout for more answers, to know where their

taxes and going, now and for the future. They deserve their

accountability and justification of where their hard-earned tax money

is being spent. I would like to tell you the outcome of this, but

after eight years and a long and costly dispute, this is all that

you and I have got. A statement from a policy council, saying the

state is satisfied with the outcome, and there is no further comment.

Wards at Guernsey's Princess Elizabeth Hospital are to undergo a

radical overhaul. The Health and Social Services Department made the

decision after looking at the costs of clearing asbestos from Ozanne

Ward. Several wards will now undergo what the Department is

calling a re-profiling which entails reviewing the configuration

and quality of the facilities to better meet patients' needs.

The Jersey government's funding a new post to help voluntary

organisations in Jersey. The States is giving �120,000 over two years

for a professional coordinator for the Third Sector Forum. It'll help

local charities and non-profit- making community organisations

promote the work of volunteers in the island.

The owner of Jersey Gas has been fined �89,000 by the island's

competition regulator. Brookfield Asset Management failed to notify

the JCRA of its intention to buy Jersey Gas and Kosangas last year.

It's the biggest fine issued by the competition body in six years and

they've got a warning for other companies. One of the things we

want to do on the back of this is in early autumn use the opportunity

to remind businesses of the fact that if mergers at been completed

in Jersey involving companies with an interest in Jersey, they do need

to keep their mind on competition. You're watching the BBC in the

Channel Islands. Later in Spotlight with Justin and Natalie: David

Braine escapes the studio for the harbour, as 70 boats go head to

head in a race. Guernsey's emergency services have

been taking part in a training exercise today learning to deal

with fires at sea. The Fire and Rescue Service, paramedics and a

Portland Coastguard Helicopter were involved in winching volunteers

from the sea. The training takes place every two years for

volunteers from the Maritime Incident Response Group. There has

only been one men occasion when I have been flown out by helicopters

to see. We are on the ship for a number of days. It is not very

often, but we need to keep up the training to be ready at all times.

Parents in Guernsey are being given a helping hand to ensure they keep

their children safe online. A magazine called Digital Parenting

is being sent to the homes of every year six pupil in States schools.

It highlights the positives and negatives about what young people

might be able to do with modern technology. And it's hoped it'll

help mums and dads keep track of what their children are up to.

grown-up, you were concerned whether children no more than you

do. It is a case of keeping on top of things. They use these things

all the time and then you have to use them better than we do.

It was the only major sport not to feature in the Island Games last

week. But that didn't stop more than 80 competitors from islands as

far as Bermuda taking part in the inter-island Gymnastics final today.

The competition was tough, the athletes focussed, and Jersey's

facilities shone despite the cloudy weather. Anisha Shah was there.

Before 12 deliberating judges, searching for the height of talent,

anxious gymnasts from eight islands all over the world waited their

turn to swing into action, hoping to score top marks. Fort Regent was

filled onlookers of parents, friends and fellow competitors who

didn't dare miss a monet of the action. - a moment of the action.

Competition was fierce but there was plenty of cameraderie. I am

really impressed with the performance of the boys. It is a

great opportunity for them to express themselves in gymnastics.

Gymnastics was not on the Island Games just gone. As he netted a

tragedy and a travesty. -- I think that is a tragedy and a travesty.

Although gymnastics didn't feature as a runner-up in the island games

last week, it's leapt in to form a permananet fixture in the next

games in Bermuda, much to the delight of Team Jersey. One Jersey

boy is tipped for the top in those and told me he'd be honoured.

would mean the world to me. I would be proud to represent Jersey.

will be old enough next time, so he will be in the team. Do you expect

to get any medals? A have not seen any scores yet. I hope we will get

a few. Get a few they certainly did, as

Jersey's juniours were awarded with the highest rankings. The boys won

Now the weather. A few more showers yet before the end of the week.

The weather it does look like it should be settling down across the

weekend. It is still no pressure in charge of the weather system. Some

more weather fronts are swimming away overnight, so further showers

to come. By Saturday, the pressure does move away to the north-east.

This evening, some dry and clear skies around, but a few showers

overnight. Still quite breezy with these south-westerly winds. Things

are mild overnight. Temperatures no lower than 13 or 14. To start the

day, some sunshine around at times, but these showers could be fairly

heavy for the time. Temperatures no higher than 19. The Marine forecast

for tomorrow. Some showers out at sea and quite breezy. Moderate or

good visibility. High-tide at St Helier will be at 12:19pm. For the

surface, it will be quite choppy. Some more showers to come

throughout the day. As we get the weekend, it settles down. Also some

sunshine. Temperatures should start to pick up by the end of the

weekend. By Monday, we will see more cloud and a risk of a shower.

It should feel warmer by the start Now tomorrow BBC Guernsey and BBC

Radio Jersey are coming together for a phone-in special with the

managing director of Aurigny Air Services. Malcolm Hart, who's in