21/07/2011 BBC Channel Islands News

Good evening. Our top stories: Jersey States vote to help pay for

residential care. Tallying up the positives and

negatives of raising the minimum wage in Guernsey.

And highlighting how a local hairdresser has reached the final

cut in a national competition. It is a big worry for elderly

islanders, the fear that they will have to sell their homes to pay for

long term care, and have nothing to leave their children. Today,

politicians in Jersey have unanimously agreed a new law which

will see the States contribute towards residential care. Guernsey

already has this benefit but today's decision is being hailed as

better late than never by campaigners.

73-year-old Jean McLaughlin has lived, worked and paid into the

system in Jersey most of her life. But only now is she guaranteed

financial help if she needs long- term care. Today the States passed

a law which will mean elderly islanders have most of their care

paid for. It is a relief. A thing it is a good thing that people

should be helped in their older age. -- I think. They have contributed

all of their life and I think it is a good thing they should be helped

in their older age. The new law means everyone working will

contribute to a central pot just like a social security contribution.

The department says everyone will benefit. This is a new system where

we will be asked to contribute throughout our lives and if we need

help we will be able to claim a benefit to help pay for that care.

Older people in Jersey are used to fighting for their rights,

gathering in protest last year when the States threatened to withdraw

their Christmas bonus. And as Guernsey States have already agreed

to fund long term care, campaigners here it is long overdue: We have

been trying to get this for 10 years. We want to help older people

prepare for their future. smaller details, like how much we

will pay and when we will start paying are yet to be announced.

While some younger workers may resent the dent in their pay packet

now, they may come to rely on the fund later.

There are concerns that a proposed increase in the minimum wage in

Guernsey could mean fewer jobs and more unemployment. Several

businesses on the island are against the rise, which they say is

unsustainable. They are taking on fewer people and

staff are working fewer hours. Although workers here are paid

above the minimum wage it is manager says at a time many

businesses are tightening belts increasing amounts they have to pay

could spell trouble. The minimum wage was brought in last year to

protect workers. Some people are facing cuts and the Government is

saying that everyone is guaranteed a 2.5 % increase on that wage rate.

I think it is the wrong increase at the wrong time. But business owners

I spoke to said an increase would mean they take on fewer people and

could damage the islands' economy. The minimum wage, or amount the

government says employers must pay staff is �6 for adults and f�4.25

for 16 to 18-year-old. But it could rise by 2.5 % to �6.15 for adults

and �4 and 36p for young people. Those working in things like

hospitality, cleaning, bulk mailing and horticulture are most likely to

be affected. This man says the planned rise does not go far enough.

He doesn't think raising the minimum wage will lead to more

unemployment. If it is not increased annually it will lose

value and it can lose its purchasing power and its value

relative to whatever everyone else is earning on the island. We should

increase it in long -- in line with everyone else's earnings. Some

business owners told me they would prefer to see the income tax

threshold, or the amount you can earn before tax increased, as an

alternative. The States will debate the proposals on whether to

increase the amount workers get Jersey's trading laws have been

changed to give the Constables more control over which shops can open

on Sundays. At the moment the island operates under a 50-year old

law that lists which items can be sold on a Sunday, such as jewellery

and sunglasses, and which cannot, such as films. The new law allows

premises up to 700 square feet to apply for a licence to open.

The body of a man, found in the sea south of Jersey on Tuesday has been

identified as that of missing French sailor Alain Govard. His

shop was found floating off Guernsey's Pleinmont Point on

Sunday - his boat was found. Guernsey Police are working with

the French and Jersey authorities on investigating the incident.

Guernsey Electricity has recorded a profit for the first time in six

years. The company has published its annual report and accounts

which show a surplus of nearly �1.5 million in the year up to 31 March.

Nearly �500,000 will be paid to the company's only shareholder, the

States of Guernsey. This is the first time in six years we have

made an operating profit. I think the fact that we have started to

make a profit allows us to go forward.

Is it time to say good bye to the humble A-Level? Some students in

the Channel Islands tonight are celebrating after passing a new

exam to get them into university. The International Baccalaureate was

taken up by Hautlieu School in Jersey in addition to more

conventional exams. And it has paid off.

These two students celebrating after passing an international exam.

I was not sure if I'll wanted to go to university -- if I wanted to go

to university. I wanted to keep my doors open and have a larger

opportunity to contemplate what I was going to do. It is three

subject that you want to take at a higher level and three that you

want to take at a standard level. You also have to write a

dissertation which is a great practice of for university. There

is also a creative service course which makes the test really stand

out. And that has pleased teachers like this one. He's in charge of

the test and says it offers student an alternative to the more

conventional A-level. But is it as good? What is significant is that

this test is a recognised worldwide and the academic rigour that goes

with it is easily transferable to world universities, particularly

Australia and America out. Teachers here say that the test is gaining

in popularity and a more and more students will want to take it out.

For this student it was the perfect choice and she is now off to study

at Warwick University in September. And with the success of students

like these, it seems a new book is opening on education in the Channel

Islands. There have been some suggestions for rezoning many beach

areas and the plans will be revised in September.

You are watching the BBC in the Channel Islands. Later in

Spotlight: Find out why volunteers are being

A new breed of hairdressing entrepreneur is emerging right here

in the Channel Islands. A hairdresser in Guernsey has made it

to the finals of one of the hairdressing industry's most

prestigious competitions. Its owners have had to prove they have

# Work, work # Fun, funky, one of the best in the

British Isles. It has only been open for a year and a half and this

salon in Guernsey has been judged as head and shoulders above the

rest. It has made it to the last six in the British Hairdressing

Business Awards, something its customers feel is well deserved.

The service is excellent and the staff are very friendly. It is well

deserved. They are hard-working people and they have a lovely

employees. But the awards are not just about fancy hair styles, they

highlight the business acumen of the salon owners. Helen runs the

place and would not let me go without a makeover. You have been

nominated for this award. It must be quite a proud moment? It is very

exciting to have got this far in a national competition. I did not

quite expect it. It is really great that we have been entered into a

competition and we have succeeded against hairdressers that are in

London and other parts of the UK. When it is the Channel Islands it

isn't good news when someone gets in there. -- it is good news.

are of course plenty of other excellent hairdressers in the

Channel Islands but the team at this salon are hoping they will

Now for a look at the weather. The promise of some sunshine. We may

see some showers overnight but tomorrow is bright and mainly dry

and feeling a bit warmer as well. Southern locations should see

temperatures up to about 20 degrees. Here is the high pressure we would

like to see. It does not move very far. We continue with northerly

winds and showers trapped within the flow. We will have a lot of

cloud and showers tomorrow morning and then another front may be

behind that. By the time we get to Saturday the high pressure will be

a cross of the island's. Overnight tonight there will be some wet

weather and then we will see a first line of showers coming in

from the north. Tomorrow morning we will have a lot of cloud with some

quite frequent showers but the cloud will melt away by the

afternoon. 17 or 18 degrees will be the top temperature on the south

coast of Jersey. The winds will be coming from the north. They will

have been North or northeasterly. There will be some isolated showers

and mainly good visibility. Times of high water. The only beach that

faces north is this one and it will have some rather choppy waves. The

forecast for the weekend is very promising. Saturday and Sunday will

be warmer and more dry. Up to 21 degrees. Wyatt cloud to start next

week but it will not produce much rain. -- more cloud. That is the

Tomorrow at Breakfast on BBC Guernsey we will be asking whether

the legal drinking age should be raised to 21. We will also be

looking at whether it is time Guernsey had a Freedom of

Information Act. And hearing why the States could be coming round to