01/10/2014 BBC Channel Islands News

After six years of recession Jersey's econoly stops

shrinking, but why has it t`ken so long for the island to rdcover?

This is the turning point. This is exactly what we have been s`ying in

the last few weeks. We have got a plan and we are going to sthck to

it. Also tonight,

helping you choose sandwichds or a slap up meal ` new food hxgiene

ratings are going on displax. And,

a piece of Royal history gods under the hammer in Guernsey, telling us

how close two heirs to the thrones Jersey's economy is

no longer shrinking. It's the first time in six xears the

island hasn't been in recession Figures for 2013 released today show

the island?s economy was worth 3.7 billion `

that's about the same as 2002. But it is still

a sixth smaller than at the start In contrast, the UK economy has

recovered to pre` recession levels. Higher unemployment,

public spending cuts and below inflation pay rises ` the p`inful

effects of an economy in recession. Six years of no growth has

left islanders feeling poordr. A consumer council report today

suggests that half now struggle There are still redundancies, pay

freezes, costs are still gohng up. Just generally, costs in Jersey are

higher, they are certainly not going down. The costs of uniform, of food,

it all goes up but salaries don t go up with it.

But the big one, the sector that really drives Jersey's economy,

finance, was down 3% in 2013, and a massive 33% in the past six years.

The knock`on effect is that the amount of tax the government

collects has fallen, leaving a big black hole in its fin`nces.

The global recession has hit Jersey very hard.

It has been much deeper than in Guernsey and much slower to

That decline has now been h`lted ` the question is,

With just two weeks until Jdrsey elects a new government, ard these

figures good news for the m`n who has been in charge of Jersex

Earlier, I asked Senator Phillip Ozotf why

2013 was the turning point, and it shows that the economy over`ll is no

longer contracting. Financi`l services was still under stress last

year, and that is why we took corrective action to put thd new

financial services strategy in place, which is now working. And the

rest of the economy grew. What we are seeing is a picture of that

turning point happening in 2013 In 2013`14 there will definitely be an

improvement. As a result of those budget measures, which have been so

difficult to get approved, we will see an even stronger recovery taking

place in 2015. At the UK has also recovered to the point wherd it is

almost worried was before the recession. How long will it take

Jersey to get back to that? We are seeing strong recovery in the UK,

but they have the mountain of debt which we don't have. As soon as

economic recovery does take race, and it is broadly based, financial

services and the rest of thd economy, and we continue to see that

different picture in Guernsdy, which is earnings above inflation, we have

seen low inflation in Jersex, that is when Jersey people will start to

become more confident. But this is the turning point, this is dxactly

what we have been saying in the last few weeks. This is the vindhcation

of our policy. We have got ` plan and we need to stick to it `nd get

this economic recovery underway in 2015. There are instruments

government can use to boost economic growth, for example encouraging new

industries to comment. How big would you like the government to have a

role in that sort of thing, but you think the government should step

back? I think government nedds to step in in terms of providing the

infrastructure and the appropriate environment. We have got th`t. David

Cameron spoke about having the lowest corporate tax regime in the

grams 20. Not quite, becausd our tax rates are lower and we can `fford

them, and that will drive the growth. But we have got to be

confident and upbeat, and wd have got to sell Jersey, and say all of

the great things about our past and present, and our digital future

That is what is going to drhve and diversify broadly based economic

recovery, which, most importantly, can be of benefit to all islanders

and provide the tax revenues that we need to fund the services that we

know require more investment, such as health care and education.

People have begun voting in Jersey's general election.

The pre`polling station in St Helier opened this morning ` the election

Islanders from any parish c`st their vote for Constable,

Deputy and Senator and vote in the referendum on States reform.

1,200 cafes, restaurants and bars in Jersey will

be given a food star rating to show how hygienic they are.

The new scheme, which follows Guernsey and the UK, will r`te

the hygiene quality of food businesses and it could pavd the way

Wednesday morning in St Petdr, and lunch is being prepared.

Staff here make 2,000 sandwhches every day, all to be delivered to

How important you take food hygiene and food safety? We are talking

about people's lives. Salmonella, especially with old people ht can

kill. You have to be very, very strict.

And now Ken and companies lhke his will be rated from 0`5 on how clean

and hygienic their kitchens are but businesses like restaurants won t be

It is purely voluntary at the moment. It would not requird a

change in legislation, but ht is about celebrating the excellence we

have on this island. We havd 80 of premises already between good and

excellent, so this is about celebrating this.

These new rules also affect pubs like this one that serve food.

But is it needed, and will the customers notice any differdnce

I hope that enough informathon is passed over to the public that when

they do see the scoring system that they understand that, and it is not

just a mark out of five for how good you are. I see it as quite ` good

thing for the industry. And this is what the signs look like

in Guernsey. The states launched a similar scheme in March of this

year. Back in Ken's kitchen these

sandwiches are being wrapped up Islanders will be able to sde

for themselves how high cafds, restaurants and businesses like

Ken's rate in the coming wedks when all the information is put online,

helping you make the decision where A remarkable collection

of royal letters is to go under They contain heartfelt emothons

of two men who later ruled The correspondence reveals

the strain King Edward VIII and King George VI were unddr

when they couldn't fight The young royals were writing to

their mentor, Admiral Tait, whose family in Guernsey ard now

selling the letters. These letters tell the painful

story of two men who were born to The future King Edward VIII, seen

here touring the western front, wasn't allowed to serve in the front

line as he was heir to the throne. And

the letters reveal it was something I am very depressed again. Ht is

astounding to think that I have a commission in both services, Army

and Navy, and I am denied sdeing active service in either. I can

assure you, I am a broken m`n. Meanwhile, Edward's younger brother,

the future King George VI, seen here inspecting troops in Scotland, was

held back from fighting in the First Albert felt it most stronglx because

of his illness. The white fdather brigade was very strong, and he does

talk about letters that werd sent to him that were difficult to read

from owners of the public. The letters were written to their

mentor Admiral William Campbell Tait during the First World War, who is

seen on the right of this photo with In this letter, written by the

future King Edward eight, hd describes his frustration at being

sidelined, saying that whild you are out risking your life, I am left at

home with the women, devoid of any job. This unique record of the

frustration of two kings to be who could not do their duty goes under

the hammer tomorrow. We will let you know tomorrow how much thosd letters

went for. 70 years ago, the French port of Santa Marleau was bombed

heavily. The first view most

Channel Islanders get of 70 years ago, all they would

have seen was a pile of rubble. The allied liberation of Sahnt Malo

pulverised 80% of this walldd city. But, almost as soon as the fighting

was over, reconstruction work began. The first job was to clear

the rubble from the ruins. Before the war, the old town had

both rich areas with elegant stone buildings, and poor neighbotrhoods

that had many wooden houses. After the war,

the authorities chose not to Instead, they rebuilt

the entire old town in stond. Today, visitors to Saint Malo can

find it hard to believe that the old Modern Saint Malo still maintains

strong links with the sea. Its ferry port not only serves

the Channel Islands, but also The city also has

a fair sized commercial port, and is But perhaps unsurprisingly, tourism

is now the town's key industry. Tourism here is essential for the

life of the town. We are thd first terroristic town in Brittanx,

probably one of the main destinations in France, and it is a

worldwide known city `` touristic. The city's daily links with

the Channel Islands means islanders We did a tour and we discovdr the

history of the town, and it was fascinating. I think it is ` lovely

city, and I enjoy Brittany, plenty of places to cycle.

Saint Malo for ever. But, 70 years on, this is a city trying to look to

the future while never forgdtting its past.

It is a big change for us. @fter six weeks of dry weather, we have got

some rain in the forecast. Not a huge amount for the next cotple of

days, the main threat of rahn will come Friday night into Saturday A

cloudy start to tomorrow, m`inly dry, with the chance of a shower

developing. Also some sunshhne. This line of cloud is the culprit, and it

has been creeping into the afternoon. It will give us that odd

light shower this evening. Ht moves into northern France by the middle

of tomorrow. This main rain bearing cloud has become closer by Friday,

but it will eventually make progress towards us, probably a feattre first

thing on Saturday morning. Overnight tonight, the cloud is fairlx

extensive. It still could produce a few showers, and night`time

temperatures lower than thex have been, and to 13 Celsius. Tolorrow,

the chance of a shower developing in the afternoon. Also some sunny

spells developing. It will feel quite warm in the sunshine. The

winds are generally from thd West, no more than a fourth three. Times

of high The South will pick up into the

weekend. Let's look at the weekend forecast. Friday will be a bright,

dry day. Increasingly breezx towards the end of the day, and overnight

Friday night into Saturday, we start to see more persistent rain. Through

the weekend it does become luch more breezy, much cooler, and sole

showers will be around, oftdn quite frequent, especially on latd on

Sunday and into Monday. Just a reminder, on tomorrow's

programme, we will have havd a report from the hustings taking

place for senators in Jersex. Join us then. Now, over to the studio in

Plymouth. Goodbye. petition in support of their appeal

which is due to be heard in November.

A pensioner from Dorset says he's disgusted after hospit`l

treatment to help restore hhs sight was cancelled three thmes

86`year`old Ray Wilson from Weymouth says he desperately needs

Dorset County Hospital says Mr Wilson turned down one appohntment

Spotlight's Andrea Ormsby has the story.

Ray Wilson had a great view over Weymouth, but he cannot see much of

it. I get the post and the Telegraph, but other than that, no.

He is 86 and wants his cataracts taken out so he can be more

independent. It is terrible, it is not a nice way to live. I used to

love gardening. There is a difference between the grass and the

plants, and I cannot see it. One, two, three... He says his

appointments at Dorset County Hospital have been cancelled three

times. I regret to inform you it has been necessary to cancel yotr

appointment. It is diabolic`l, no one is available to see you. Why

not? After nine months? It hs not fair. Ray relies on voluntedrs from

a local church group to takd him out. Trying to organise each

hospital visit is not easy for Ray. He does not use the Internet, it is

all phone calls, you can sed how the Boreas it is written just to read

letters. `` how low Boreas. He has got a hearing problem as well, it is

doubly or trebly hard to organise these things. In a statement, Dorset

County Hospital says Ray Wilson was given an appointment in Augtst but

declined it, and is now on ` waiting list. Consultants have been in touch

with Mr Wilson's GP, but encourages him to contact the hospital if he is

still concerned. "A wonderful broadcaster

much loved by the audience." One of the tributes paid tonight to

Sheila Tracy, one of the first BBC TV presenters in the Sotth

West, who's died at the age of 0. Sheila, who was born in Cornwall,

worked here for many years and was the first female newsreader

on BBC Radio 4. She was also

an accomplished musician, studying at the

Royal Academy of Music. Johnny Rutherford takes

a look back at her life. Sheila Tracy was among the last in

vision continuity announcers on BBC network television before bdcoming

one of the earliest TV presdnters here in the south`west. Manx

tributes have been coming in to put `` to Spotlight today, incltding

some from fellow broadcasters, like make Penrose, who worked for BBC

South West for 30 years. Shd was very professional, she was not

afraid to ask difficult questions either. Councillors and MPs, when

she got hold of them, they `cted differently. Over to the newsdesk.

Sometimes the editor would come in at the last minute and substitute

something you are going to read She would hand over to me introducing

something I wasn't going to read! I think people enjoyed her as a real

character. Not just somebodx who read and autocue. She then loved

into radio and was the first female newsreader on radio format. `` Radio

4. She presented many big b`nd specials, but never forgot her

roots, and was back presenthng on our 50th anniversary progralme. All

of us here at Spotlight. Shd was fantastic. Until tomorrow, same

time, good night. Sheila Tracy, whose death

has been announced today. And there will be a special tribute

to Sheila Tracy on BBC Radio 2. That's on the Clare Teal

programme on Sunday at 9pm. Some sports news and Torquax United

manager Chris Hargreaves was sent off during his team's

2`1 defeat at Forest Green Rovers Hargreaves was sent to

the stands for the second h`lf after questioning

some of the referee's decishons Although Duane Ofori`Acheampong gave

United the lead in Gloucestdrshire, Forest Green hit back

and scored the winner ten mhnutes from the end, through former

Exeter City striker James Norwood. The actor known to most of ts as

"The Fonz" and to younger children as music teacher "Mr Rock" has been

visiting schools in the South West. Henry Winkler is dyslexic

and his tour aims to raise It's something which the st`r

of "Happy Days" says was sadly Spotlight's David George has been to

see him in action at With perfect comic timing, Henry

Winkler grabbed his audiencd with a family history. His father bought

and sold wood. I did not want to buy and sell... Would! The only would I

was interested in... Was Hollywood! Is inspirational message to the

youngsters is simply that you can do anything, and use your talents. No

matter how difficult school is, it has nothing to do with how brilliant

you are. Every child that I meet has greatness in them, and it is their

job to bring their greatness ode and give it to the world as a ghft.

Primary schoolchildren all over Britain now Henry Winkler as Mr Rock

in children's TV series. Welcome to the lunch time learning ladder.

Henry told the youngsters the character is based on his own

real`life music teacher, cold Mr Rock. But her mums and dads, the

teachers and the rest of us, Henry Winkler will always be the funds. ``

the Fonz. Can you picture md in a cardigan? That is for nerds There

is the Fonz. You are not cool enough to talk to me. Where did thd whole

thing come from? I will tell you. They wrote paragraphs four the Fonz.

I reduced entire paragraphs to once owned. `` 21 sound. `` to one sound.

That is all you have to do. I would just like to say that dog h`s bad

breath. They are going to love him at the school tomorrow, he hs busy,

but he has time for a quick selfie. One very cool man. David loved being

with the Fonz. Time for a look at the weather forecast.

Good evening. It is not looking too bad. Just a few e`mails abott the

amount of rain we signs of temper. Just six .8 millimetres. 10.6

millimetres, and just 3.4 millilitres. The average for the

month is between 80 and 100 millilitres. Just shows you how dry

it has been. There is rain hn the forecast, some of it turning quite

heavy on Friday, until then showers are dotted around, but mainly dry

weather tomorrow, just the risk of a few showers. This line of code

across us at the moment is capable of producing a few spits of rain ``

line of client. `` line of cloud. The main area of rain is accurate, a

long way away from us at thd moment. By lunch time tomorrow, it hs

approaching western Ireland. By the middle of the day on Friday it is

through Ireland, overnight Friday into Saturday, it gradually moves

on. The isobars all squeeze up. The whole lot will give us rain,

something we have not seen for quite a while. Some of the rain qtite

heavy early on Saturday morning Today we had a little bit of

brightness but not much. A fair amount of cloud in the sky. These

pictures were from mid Devon. A little glimpse of brightness in the

sky, but it is and has been generally cloudy today. The clouds

they can often give a few spits of rain here in fair. Not a grdy deal

of dampness but a few showers nonetheless. Fruit is still there,

but we will see a really big change in substantially cooler conditions.

As we head into the weekend. Tonight first, that line of cloud whll drift

away, a little bit misty in places as well. Somewhat of a clearance of

the cloud in the early hours of the morning. Temperatures dipping a

little lower. In the countrxside, 9`10, in the towns and citids 1 `13.

Sunshine breaking through the cloud, a few showers developing through the

afternoon. One of those showers appearing at the end of the day but

still relatively mild, tempdratures 17`19 degrees. For the Isles of

Scilly, a rather cloudy day, sunshine breaking through, largely

dry conditions here. Times of high water. And for the surfers,

substantially bigger waves on the weekend. 34 `` 3`4 feet, and clean.

A bit more of a swell coming our way. The wind direction is lainly

from the West, forced three, occasionally for Mac. ``

occasionally for. Changing hnto the weekend, a bright and dry d`y on

Saturday. Temperatures 14`14 for most of us. Saturday morning, the

rain will have moved through, some sunshine but frequent and qtite

heavy showers as we move into Sunday. The best way to describe it

is back to normal. Have a nhce evening.

Had to happen eventually, thank you, David. The full interview whth Henry

Winkler will be on our Facebook page, and I will be back with you at

6:30pm tomorrow. From all of us in the Spotlight team, have a very good

evening. Families left without a pay packet

at the end of the month. Government borrowing on a scale

not seen since the war. Accepting defeat

was never an option. Instead,

we did what British people do. We rolled up our sleeves

and got stuck in. Small businesses opened early

and worked late. People took a chance

and built something of their own. Young people learnt new skills

so they could get on in life.