26/10/2011 BBC Channel Islands News

Good evening, welcome to BBC Channel Islands. Our headlines

tonight: Weighing up the costs. New funding

for gastric surgery to prevent an obesity timebomb.

Replacing people with computers. Why 50 States jobs could be going

in Guernsey. And we meet the new first lady of

dairy, who has just been honoured Eat less, exercise more. Simple

advice, but for people in Jersey who cannot or will not follow it,

the States could provide an alternative. The health service has

new funding for gastric surgery, including bypasses and bands, which

make the stomach smaller. It is thought up to 1,000 people could

benefit. Edward Sault has this exclusive report.

Nathan Wright knows all to well what it is like to be trapped in a

vicious circle of obesity. He has diabetes and earlier this year had

a gastric bypass because there was no option left to shift the weight.

It got to the point when literally walking up the stairs was difficult.

Taking the dog for a walk was really not possible. And this was

Nathan before his operation. What difference that this operation make

to your life? It made a huge difference. A couple of months

later, my son said that he had got his dad back. Jersey's Health

service have been guaranteed funding of �150,000. It is hoped up

to 13 people a year will benefit from gastric surgery, an operation

which will cost �8,500. There is a widely held and had full and

fundamentally incorrect presumption that people in the situation up,

going for it for at this surgery are somehow morally culpable for

the situation defined themselves in. That is not the case. The supper

from a medical condition which requires a medical solution.

scissor example of -- this as an example of the operation in the UK.

Alberic Fiennes is the consultant surgeon who does gastric operations

on people from Jersey in the UK. Today he was in Jersey, meeting

patients. Gastric bypass has a profound and immediate effect. The

person wakes up from the operation not interested in food. But surely

�150,000 would be better spent elsewhere rather than on helping

those lose weight? If someone remained overweight, the will get

diabetes. If they get it will cost �3,000 per annum spread over their

lifetime. It is a bargain this way. For Nathan, he is looking to a

brighter future. And has he gets on with his life says he is pleased he

took that massive step for a slimmer future.

Guernsey States members have given the go-ahead to a new computer

system which could see the end of up to 50 civil service jobs. The

centralised IT system will cost millions to set up, but is aimed at

making savings in the long run. I spoke to our reporter Mike Wilkins

earlier to ask if this was simply a case of replacing people with

machines. Well, you could say that. States

members have voted for a proposal that could lead to the loss of 50

civil service jobs here in Guernsey. An overwhelming majority backed a

recommendation from Treasury & Resources to move to a centralised

IT system. It will cost nearly �8 million. The number of staff

affected could be as high as 50. And �1.5 million will be available

for redundancy payments. But Treasury Minister Charles Parkinson

says it will increase efficiency and make savings in the long run.

The investment in the system, to be shared corporate services operation,

will save us. We estimate it will save us millions of pounds a year.

We think this is a good investment of public money which will improve

services to the public as well as increasing efficiency for other

staff. And what's the latest on the

Education Department following the recent resignations?

Well, a new member has been appointed to the Education Board.

Deputy Robert Sillars has replaced Matt Fallaize, who resigned along

with Deputy Mike Collins several weeks ago over the Department's

handling of poor GCSE results in two Guernsey schools. States

members voted 26-18 in favour of Deputy Sillars instead of Alderney

Representative Paul Arditti. Deputy Sillars says he is keen to get

started. I was shocked when I read the report back in January of 2011,

putting the UK into the middle ranking for reading and maths. I

filled very strongly that the money we spend on education, the

relatives that the population have, we should be aspiring to a higher

level. There are 19 countries higher than us in a maths, in the

upper band, and I think that is where we should be. There were to

be part of trying to take us there. -- I want to be part of trying to

take us there. Next on the agenda is the possible scrapping of

Saturday's postal deliveries, a contentious issue, but one, again,

about cost-cutting. Just after I spoke to Mike, the

States did vote to let Guernsey Post axe its Saturday service, if

the company feels it will help it to break even.

Guernsey's new slaughterhouse could cost in excess of a �1 million.

Plans for the abattoir, which will replace the existing facility in St

Peter Port, have now been drawn up. Penny Elderfield has been taking a

look. It has served the Island since the

Victorian era, but Guernsey's slaughter house is no longer fit

for purpose. The authorities say it does not meet modern standards and

its busy town location just is not ideal. So the pressure is on to

close it once and for all. It has really got to appoint now where,

over several years, there have been many improvements that have allowed

the slaughter is to continue operating. We are at a point now

where it cannot run -- where it cannot meet the regulatory

requirements and for that reason we need a new slaughter house. Plans

have now been submitted, though, for a new facility next to the

existing carcase incinerator here at Longue Hougue. It will cost

around �1 million, that is if the States agree. It will be a similar

design to the building already there and could be up and running

some time next year. It's news farmers like James have been

waiting for. June it is just outdated, really, and everyone

realises that. The main differences that we can slaughter her older

cattle and market them into the food chain. Currently, they are

disposed of in the incinerator and we get compensation for that. But

it also costs the States a lot more besides that to destroy these

counts. That is a tremendous waste. -- cows. For the local farming

industry, the development could not happen soon enough. But there is

still the hurdle of planning permission, and getting States

approval to overcome. Remembrance wrist bands are to be

sold in Jersey for the first time to raise money for the Poppy Appeal.

The blue and red bands are unique to the island, and it is hoped they

will be popular with young people. They go on sale on Monday,

alongside 3,000 limited edition metal pins from the poppy shop in

Halkett Place. Money raised will go to the Royal British Legion.

Later on in Spotlight, back to ration books. This whole town is

celebrating the 1940s. A Jersey dairy farmer has been

honoured in America. Anne Perchard was invited to the World Dairy Expo,

where she won the International Person of the Year award. She is

the first Channel Islander to bag the title and her certificate was

signed by a very special person. Emma Chambers reports.

Anne Perchard has devoted her life to the Jersey cow, not only here on

her farm in St Martin but also worldwide as part of the World

Jersey Cattle Bureau. And now her devotion has been recognised in

America. She was awarded with this, the International Person of the

year award at the World Dairy Expo, the largest dairy show in the world.

After the dinner was over, I had lots of people coming up to me and

ask me about the island and about the German occupation. They were

fascinated by it all. This huge state of Wisconsin, where you could

fit umpteen their jerseys in it, found it difficult to believe that

this little island could produce this wonderful cow. Not only is

this an honour in the dairy community but is also recognised by

America's president. I could not believe it was true, and all the

recipients were thrilled to think that it had been signed, by the

president of the United States. It is really quite something, isn't

it? It is a prestigious award. Anne is back home, all she has to

do is find somewhere to put it. am very proud to have it. But why

did well in my bedroom with all my others, or one of my sons suggested

it: the kitchen, where it will be seen by everybody.

Guernsey tennis star Heather Watson has lost her second round match at

the Aegon GB Pro Series tournament in Devon. She was beaten by Laura

Robson 6-1, 3-6, 6-3. It is the first time the British teenagers

have met on the WTA circuit. Bosses at Tarka Tennis Centre in

Barnstaple, where the tournament is being held, say Heather was among a

high standard of players in action. The trip to put a bit of effort to

get people to watch these local players. The standard has got

better at the year. -- Eddie year. -- every year.

At the moment we have a low pressure close to the UK, keeping a

weather settled -- unsettled. Tomorrow, by the middle part of the

day, it is sitting on top of us. By the end of the BT, much quieter end

to things. Overnight tonight, some cloud pushing in and we'll see a

good deal of Rain spreading in from the south, becoming persistent and

at times quite heavy through the early hours of the morning. It will

be mild overnight, and living Celsius the minimum temperature.

Tomorrow, the Rain will be with this from the beginning, heavy and

persistent that much of the day. It will eventually start to clear,

slowly from the South later in the day. Generally, a fairly unpleasant

day. Temperatures are around 14 or 15 Celsius, but with the cloud,

Rain and a brisk wind, it will not feel especially warm. The forecast