25/11/2013 BBC Channel Islands News

Good evening and welcome to the That is all from

Good evening and welcome to the first BBC Channel Islands of the

week. Tough talk ` Flybe's boss meets

staff facing job cuts. Some people see their careers coming to an end.

Our job is to mitigate the redundancies as much as possible.

A penalty points system proposed for speeding drivers.

Eastern promise ` could China provide big as must opportunities

for Guernsey's finance industry? `` big opportunities.

The head of Flybe has been meeting staff across the Channel Islands

today, after announcing job losses. Saad Hammad held talks with unions

in both Guernsey and Jersey earlier over plans to close both of the

island's bases. Pam Caulfield reports.

These cost`cutting plans mean there will not be any people or planes

based in Jersey or Guernsey in the near future. That would mean 47 job

losses, 35 here and the rest in Guernsey. Today the head of the

airline, Saad Hammad, held talks starting in Guernsey this morning

and heading to Jersey later on. As he left he did not give any

interviews with the media. Flybe says the purpose of the visit was

internal communication with staff and they were not allowed to speak

to us either but were noticeably upset. One man who could speak to us

was the member presenting pilots. People are very sad, they have been

working for this company for many years and they see their careers

coming to an end. Our job is to mitigate the redundancies as much as

possible but some people will not want to move off the island and get

jobs elsewhere. With no local staff they will be forced to bring in

crews from other airports. It is not clear how routes and timings from

Guernsey and Jersey will be affected. Unite, which represents

cabin crew, say they looking at the business case and aim to save every

job they can. `` they are looking. The Flybe says the consultation

process will be a fair one. Jersey is considering introducing a

points system for speeding offences. The Transport Minister is calling

for a system similar to the UK, where drivers caught travelling too

fast for macro times in three years are banned from the roads. `` four

times. If you get caught travelling to

quickly you will be hauled in front of the courts and find but now the

Minister for transport wants to change it to a points system, like

in the UK. What do the people of Jersey think of that idea? So many

times you see them whooshing past. You tell the kids, don't run, look

first, but if Na Li a good idea. It will make `` if it makes you think

again about speeding it is a good thing. They should stick what they

have, it works. There are only a certain number of points you can get

before losing your license so that will act as a more stringent

deterrent than fines. Let's find out what the politician has to say.

Kevin Lewis, the Minister for transport, joins me now. The level

of speeding we have at the moment is unacceptable and road traffic

accidents per head of the population are also unacceptable. People are

already punished if they are speeding, there are fines and you

are disqualified if you get caught more than once. Is it broke, do we

need to fix it? It needs modifying. You can get a fine and go out and do

exactly the same thing. If this went from a back of the envelope plan to

a proper proposal, what hoops would we have to jump through? There are

one or two legal complications so it is a work in progress. Nothing firm

at the moment but I am sure many drivers will be keeping a very close

eye on this one. The trial of a man accused of

murdering the young Guernsey woman Sarah Groves continued in India

today. Richard De Wit, a 43`year`old Dutch national, denies killing Sarah

on a houseboat in the tourist area of Srinagar seven months ago. Mike

Wilkins reports. After months of delay Sarah's father

is in Kashmir again. A Dutchman, Richard of it, seen here wearing

white clothes is charged with Sarah's murder. `` Richard De Wit.

Today more witnesses were cross examined but the biggest surprise

came from the accused who turned up wearing Muslim clothing and asked to

be addressed with a Muslim name. The judge addressed him with his earlier

name and he objected and asked the judge to call him a Muslim name

meaning servant of God. The trial appears to be picking up pace. It is

due to resume on the 16th of December for two consecutive days.

There is a warning of dangerous drugs being imported onto the

island. Three people have been arrested for supplying them. The

Health Minister says calling them legal highs is misleading. We are

concerned about a particular batch of toxic substances that have left a

number of users seriously ill, requiring hospital treatment for

paranoia, hallucinations, aggressive and irrational behaviour.

The number of people registered as unemployed in Jersey is at a 12

month low. 1800 people were looking for work at the end of October. Just

under a fifth of them have been out of work for more than a year. There

has been no change in the number of unemployed teenagers.

You're watching the BBC in the Channel Islands.

Part of Mount Kingdom which has been closed for months after a rock fall

will open this Thursday. There have been long clean use around the

tunnel while the rock face has been made safe will stop `` long queues.

The route is likely to be closed until the end of the week.

Later in Spotlight with Justin and Natalie, puddings and paddles at the

ready ` reflecting on stir`up Sunday.

Sport, and Jersey Rugby Club have slumped to second bottom of the

Championship, losing 29`13 at Leeds. The islanders' only try came from

Drew Locke. In football, Guernsey drew 2`2 with Peacehaven and

Telscombe in Ryman South. They rescued a point with a late

could China provide big business opportunities for Guernsey's finance

industry? A delegation from the island spent a week meeting

officials there. The aim is to cash in on China's economic reform. Penny

Elderfield reports. Shanghai. If there is a city that

demonstrates China's dramatic growth in recent decades it's the growth of

this one. One of the fastest`growing economies in the world, it may be

worlds apart from Guernsey. But could China provide big business

opportunities for the finance industry? Whether it be people

investing money or banks having a base here. Well, the government

certainly sees the potential, with ministers just back from a trip to

promote the island. We have a go out there just as any

other business and fight our corner to get that investment. Banking has

been very flat, as we know. To have one, two Chinese banks here would be

a massive boost for our economy and for employment. In terms of the

value of the business, how much is a potentially worth? It is such a big

market, but importantly it is growing. We are pretty much stagnant

in Europe, China is growing. And this local finance company is

already growing after setting up a China office earlier this year.

The number of enquiries we have been receiving has risen dramatically and

we can only see this trend increasing as we enter into a number

of discussions with the large institutions so the range of

opportunities is enormous. So the opportunities are there. The

next job for the States will be to convince more businesses based here

to go out and get them. Good evening. The weather has stuck

really at the moment. The same type of weather pattern lasted through

the weekend and will probably last until Wednesday. Not a great deal of

change, a lot of cloud around and that could potentially give us the

odd shower. Later this week it changes, more in the way of breaks

in the cloud and later a rise in the temperatures. We still have the area

of high pressure, which does not change much. We have a cold wind

staying with us round the edge of high pressure tonight and tomorrow.

By the time we get to the middle of the week the high pressure is moving

back out to the Atlantic allowing a weather system to come in from the

North West. It is a dry night, temperatures as low as six degrees.

It is effectively a dry but rather cloudy night. A dry and cloudy day

to come tomorrow with just a hint of brightness in the afternoon.

There are the coastal waters forecast.

Hardly any, perhaps one or two feat for the surfers. Most will be clean.

`` one or two feet. Quite thick cloud on Thursday that might produce

the odd bit of drizzle. Temperatures reaching double figures by the end

of the week, a brisk north`westerly wind developing on Friday.

That is it for now. I will be back at 8pm and 10:25pm. Now I will hand

you back to Justin and Natalie in Plymouth for Spotlight.

giving business leaders hope that after five very tough years, the

future may, at last, be looking brighter.

In the last two years, there's been a record amount of rainfall and

flooding in the South West. One of the most common callouts for

firefghters is to rescue drivers stuck in water. The service says

around 14 people a year die after becoming trapped in their vehicles.

Louise Walter reports on a new campaign to highlight the dangers of

driving into a flood. Remember, remember, last November

when heavy rain and flooding caused huge disruption to roads. Many

vehicles got stuck and drivers needed rescuing. Now imagine being

in one of those cars as electrics fail and cold water starts to

pouring. Vehicles in the water is one of the most common rescue

incidents we have and it is a major cause. 14 people a year perish in

their vehicle when there is flooding. That's why there is

specialist training here so that rescuers can be prepared for the

most difficult flood rescue scenarios. As little as 15

centimetres of water will sweep your feet away from you. It's not as

simple as just walking away from it. The trick is, turn around and

don't drive into floodwaters if you don't how deep it is. That's the

message of the campaign: Turnaround, don't drown. Don't drive into

floodwater. It would take only an egg cup full of water in your engine

to ruin it. Don't walk into flood water because you can't see the trip

hazards and if you fall over in six inches of water flowing in six miles

an hour, you can't stand up again. It's inevitable that some roads will

be get flooded this winter. The emergency services are hoping people

will heed their message and not end up in a situation like this.

Troops from more than 20 nations have been taking part in a huge

military training exercise in Cornwall. 2,500 service men and

women have been based at RAF St Mawgan near Newquay, making it one

of the largest land deployments in the county since the Second World

War. Spotlight's Heidi Davey has been along to watch the action.

This is exercise arcade fusion. It has been transformed and its

personnel increased ten times over to allow the UK led Allied rapid

reaction Corps is to command an entire theatre. On the ground, and

this is the nerve centre of the operation. Its role is to support

NATO missions at anywhere in the world at just a few days notice. We

pick a region in the world in a scenario which we then lay on to

that region. That could be anywhere. In this particular scenario, we are

using a country which is in the north`east of Africa. But that is

fictional. We then develop a scenario which works for the

training objectives we are trying to achieve for the particular training

audience. Out on the field is where troops are to make key decisions.

Around you are a number of people. On one occasion, we are dealing with

a massive incident in the North and South, missing people to the

south`east, maritime incidents, IED 's, political incidents,

terrorists, the whole lot. But no on functions without the right

nutrients and the kitchen staff will use over 7000 tonnes of potatoes and

8000 litres of milk by the time the exercise has reached its peak.

Success is down to good at base. My staff have been working closely with

personnel to make sure that on the logistics, life support is good for

them. When this exercise comes to a close, many personnel are hopeful

for a well earned Christmas break. But there is every chance they could

still be called out within 48 hours to anywhere in the world.

Exeter Chiefs will feel aggrieved that television match officials

wiped out two try scoring efforts in their 16`9 defeat to Premiership

rugby leaders Saracens at Sandy Park. Ian Whitten had a score ruled

out by the TMO in a game of only one try which went the Sarries' way.

Just before the end, Tom Johnson thought he'd rescued the Chiefs, but

the verdict was that he'd grounded the ball just short of the line.

The Cornish Pirates have put more pressure on the top four teams in

rugby's Championship after beating Bristol for the second time this

season. The Pirates overturned an 8`7 half`time deficit to win 21`15.

South African wing Kieran Goss pounced to score twice with Tom

Kessell scoring his seventh try of the season. The victory means the

Pirates are sixth with Bristol remaining second. The games between

Bristol in the past have been extra special, and you can tell by the

amount of supporters yesterday, you get a phenomenal game of rugby and

top championship rugby. Plymouth Argyle are the team in form

at the moment. Their 2`1 win over Dagenham and Redbridge was their

fifth without defeat in League Two. But for Exeter City and Torquay

United, their poor runs have continued. BBC Radio Devon

commentators described the drama with the fans also having their say.

Yeovil Town are cut adrift at the bottom of the Championship. A 2`1

reverse at Doncaster Rovers leaves them five points behind the safety

line. Byron Webster brought the Glovers back in it just before the

interval in South Yorkshire, but they fell behind for a second time

eight minutes from the end to leave them pointless once again. Next up

for Town, Watford away next Saturday.

Finally, Exeter welterweight boxer Freddy Kiwitt has won his first

professional bout with a unanimous points decision. Kiwitt was

confident in his build up to the fight and he outboxed Matt Seawright

at Gloucester's GL1 Leisure Centre with a flurry of body shots and left

hooks. Well done, Freddy! Trainee chefs at HMS Raleigh in

Cornwall have been learning how to uphold a Seasonal tradition.

Yesterday was so`called Stir up Sunday, the day when Christmas

puddings are made, and everyone in the house gets the chance to stir

the mixture. Johnny Rutherford joined the recruits as they learned

about the Navy's traditional recipe and customs.

An important naval tradition today: Stir up Sunday. It might look like

after chef, but this is HMS Raleigh. Happy? Let's go! It's very important

that we instil in them the Navy ethos and we keep these traditions

alive. It's difficult because the ship is rolling around and you got

other commitments going on. Whether you are deployed or not, you still

look forward to Christmas lunch, so it's important we give them a full

spectrum of training. The tradition of stirring victory `` of stirring

the Christmas pudding goes back centuries. Stirring is meant to take

place the last Sunday before Advent to allow the mixture to mature.

Racers, currants, sultanas, suet,, zest. And run. Then stirred to

perfection. It's a family thing to do and the royal navy is a family.

I'm going to put a coin in! I wonder who will find that. Not everyone

will be able to mix it, so traditionally, the youngest crew

member and commanding officer do the final stir. On Christmas Day, the

youngest person on board the ship captain will change roles, so the

most junior person will become captain for the day and the captain

will slot into his job. I bet that's fun!

I bet that's going to taste good! Oh, use off!

Hopefully, it might warm up a little bit, but it is still pretty cold,

and even though it is best described as less cold, it's still cold at

night. Towards the end of the week, showers come our way. Most of which

will fall as rain. Subtle changes this week. It is a little bit

weaker. As it weakens, it allows more clout to come in. That process

is already underway. You can see that cloud up through the Irish Sea

at the moment. The high`pressure moves gently southwards through the

day and then begins to retreat out into the Atlantic. What will happen

is more cloud will come at the top of that high and drift across most

of Britain. A change to cloudy skies and less cold air. The clear skies

we have had today, though, already allowing temperatures to get fairly

close to freezing. Some cloud around, but even here, that cloud

will break up later on. So for all of us to night, a cold night with

light winds, it widespread overnight frost and even some freezing fog

patches. The sort of temperatures we can expect: Zero down to freezing.

That will depend to where the cloud goes. If you keep the blanket of

cloud, temperatures will hold up around freezing, but with clear

skies will drop well below. Tomorrow, plenty of winter sunshine.

A little more in the way of cloud. But for most of us, sunshine again,

a dry day, a fine one, not very warm, though. Temperatures really

struggling. Seven, possibly eight degrees the highest temperature. For

the Isles of Scilly, a lot of cloud in the morning but it should break

up to allow sunny spells in the afternoon. For the rest of our ports

and harbours, Plymouth, afternoon. For the rest of our ports

has been disappointing because of the wind direction. Hardly any

swell. Waves as much as two feet, clean. There the coastal waters

forecast. The winds are north`easterly tomorrow, generally

fair with good visibility. No more than force three. The forecast, as

we head into the middle of the week, not much change. More cloud

around, though. That will be quite extensive on Wednesday. It helps

keep the temperature is up, so temperatures back up to nine degrees

on Wednesday. And then a change on Friday. More wind. That will feed in

some breaks in the cloud but also a few showers, although it has cooled

down again as we head into next weekend. And all the while, the risk

of light frost. There are unconfirmed reports that a

huge wind farm of the North Devon coast will not go ahead.

Royal Marines have arrived in the Philippines to help distribute

disaster relief aid. If there are any further

developments on that Atlantic array story, we will