The Interview

Bailiwick Law Enforcement’s annual report for 2021 has revealed a modest reduction in recorded crime compared to previous years. 

However, covid and Brexit continue to cause disruption to the Police and Border Agency. 

Resignations and retirements are up, whilst in-island recruitment and retention are stagnant – all at a time where front-line services are already stretched. 

I sat down with the Head of Law Enforcement, Ruari Hardy, to gather some insight on all these challenges, and more.

October 3, 2022

A decade ago, many Polish nationals were seeking help settling in Jersey... Now, with the pressures of Brexit, the pandemic, and the rising price of living locally, many are returning home, with implications for Jersey's workforce.

There's also the matter of war in Ukraine - on Poland's doorstep - and the many refugees that need help as a result. 

Needless to say, a lot has changed since Magda Chmielewska became Jersey's Honorary Polish Consul in 2012 - but her enthusiasm for the role and determination to bring Jersey and Poland closer together has never wavered.

"The quality of education" at St Sampson's High School "is not good enough" according to a recently released Oftsed report. 

It's a damning indictment of one of Guernsey's schools and the fallout of the report has inevitably raised concerns within the teaching community, the student body, the political sphere and from parents of students. 

So what happens now? How does the situation get fixed? Express spoke to the Director of Education, Nick Hynes, and the Principal of the school, Vicky Godley, to find out if St Sampson's High can change, and if so, how...

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A relatively new aviation company is looking to bring electric aircraft to the Channel Islands within the next three years.

GreenAir was launched in 2020, splintering off from a company called Harrison Aviation to focus the owner's intentions into the green aviation space.

Express spoke to the owner, Mark Harrison, who has been working in the aviation industry for more than 50 years and is now pushing for a carbon neutral future.

July 8, 2022

The Bank of England has increased interest rates yet again and it is having a substantial impact on Guernsey's mortgage market. 

While the situation is only getting better for those with property, the first time buyers are facing consistently increasing house prices. We spoke to head of lending at Butterfield Bank, Ed Jones, to find out how people should be preparing for mortgages and how they can best get on the property ladder.

June 24, 2022

Daniele Harford Fox recently took over as Principal of The Ladies' College. 

Born in England, her journey to Guernsey was via the United States, Kenya and Oxford University. She has a psychology degree and for a time worked as a Theatre Director. 

Daniele previously worked in a co-educational school but she is a passionate advocate for single-sex secondary education. In the latest Bailiwick Express podcast, Matt Fallaize spoke to Daniele about her background, her views on education and her ambitions for The Ladies' College.

June 10, 2022

When Deputy Peter Ferbrache was elected as President of the Policy & Resources Committee, he said he wanted to lead a "States of action". 

That was 19 months ago. The States are now more than a third of the way through their term. 

In the latest Express podcast, we asked Deputy Ferbrache what the States have achieved so far and where they have under-achieved. We talked tax, housing, the cost of living, cannabis and the always thinly veiled rivalry with his predecessor, Deputy Gavin St Pier.

May 25, 2022

Deputy Heidi Soulsby has been in politics for 10 years. She has been a serial poll topper at elections and previously held one of the toughest roles in the States as President of the Committee for Health & Social Care. 

She is now leading the Government Work Plan, trying to build consensus in an Assembly which she admits is more tribal than any she has known before. In the latest podcast from Express, we asked her what the Plan is achieving and why she considers it so essential.

May 17, 2022

It was once claimed that the medicinal cannabis industry would be a massive economic enabler for Guernsey, that it would revitalise the growing industry and see the Bailiwick lead the way in cannabis regulation. 

That hasn't happened yet, and as mainland Europe starts to relax its laws surrounding recreational cannabis, it could never happen. The issues surrounding regulation are complicated. Some argue that it should be fully legalised, regulated and taxed. Some adamantly stand by it's classification as an illicit substance that should never be used recreationally. 

Who is right? To get a better understanding of...

A former inmate turned prison reform advocate, has commended the Channel Islands' approach to incarceration after recently visiting Jersey and Guernsey. 

Paula Harriott is the Head of Prisoner Involvement at the Prison Reform Trust, a group of campaigners who champion rehabilitation over punishment. She came to the islands to speak about 'lived experience' after spending four years in prison for drug posession. She spoke to Express about why rehabilitation is so important and why justice is never black and white...

April 11, 2022

The quality of food is only as good as the soil it grows in, and for decades the Earth's black gold has been degenerated through intensive farming practices. 

Everything from petroleum-based fertilisers, mono-cropping, and the fuel required to operate farm machinery has served to harm our environment and produce sub-optimal food. But Jock Pettitt, a self-proclaimed soil farmer, believes the mainstream methods of farming are not inevitable, promoting instead small-scale, widespread, and community centred organic farming. He believes that this can positively affect the environment in which we grow, and even provide greater flavour and nutrition from t...

Guernsey Cancer Support wants to make sure anyone affected - directly or indirectly - by a cancer diagnosis knows the group is open to them. 

The community peer group has been together for more than 12 years and offers people a place to discuss their concerns openly without judgement. 

Express met with one of the group's volunteer helpers, Joni de Kooker, to find out how the group can help those affected by cancer...

24 March 2022

The Sark Chamber of Commerce held an event last week called 'Building Sark's Future'. 

During the event, the Seigneur of Sark, Major Christopher Beaumont, gave a presentation detailing the story of the island and how it has reached a tipping point in time. There has been a growing disconnect, according to Major Beaumont, between the direction of the island and its governing body, Chief Pleas. 

I spoke to Major Beaumont about the event, the issues affecting the island, and why the Sark Chamber of Commerce could become a leading voice for positive change in the is...

Politics is about policy and decision making but is driven by characters. 

Deputy Carl Meerveld is undoubtedly a character of Guernsey politics: outspoken, controversial and combative - a divider of opinion - to some, in touch with the public like few of his colleagues; to others, an insufferable showman. 

In this States' term, he is also at the centre of many of the biggest debates inside government. We took the opportunity to sit down with Deputy Meerveld for an in-depth conversation about his life in politics.

 February 25, 2022

The Policy and Resources committee has begun a public campaign, explaining its approach to broadening Guernsey's tax base. A necessary action, it says, to tackle a looming £85 million deficit: most notably this includes a push once again for a Goods and Services Tax (GST). 

The idea has been controversial both publicly and within the States. One Deputy who has been consistently critical of P&R's approach to taxation reform is Deputy Chatles Parkinson, who is a qualified accountant and has written extensively on taxation. 

He spoke to Express about his concerns and the alternative approach whi...

The annual De Putron quiz is returning as a completely live, in person event this year. 

The inter-school quiz has been a popular and challenging date in the calendar for students from both Guernsey and Jersey for 15 years. 

We spoke to one of the organisers of the event, Megan Thoume from Orchard, who told us why the event has been so successful...

February 4, 2022

The impact of covid is starting to ebb away and the entertainment industry has plenty of catching up to do. 

Last year saw Alderney Week cancelled, as well as a variety of events at St James. 

With 2022 looking more hopeful, Express caught up with some of the organisers of live entertainment in Guernsey to get their thoughts on the future.

January 28, 2022

The Royal British Legion has been supporting ex-service personnel emotionally and financially for decades and the Guernsey branch has recently launched a mental health support service for people in the island. 

Express spoke to the chair of the welfare team, Marlene Place, and the chair of the central RBL committee, Ben Rowe, about the service and why it has been launched.

January 20, 2022

The President of Policy and Resources, Deputy Peter Ferbrache, recently announced that he is unlikely to stand for the top job again. 

Express wanted to find out why, so we invited him in for a chat. During our conversation we discussed rumours, avoiding social media, and P&R's intention to buy Guernsey its very own ferry...

January 14, 2022

While Jersey now celebrates the festive season much like the rest of Europe, things used to be very different. 

Express chats to local Jèrriais expert Geraint Jennings about the weird, wonderful and heart-warming traditions that have died out... and the ones he'd like to see return!

December 24, 2021 

This week, we dip into the archives for the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition

A new Heritage report on the legacies of slavery in Jersey, released to coincide with Black History Month, has shown a number of people and places throughout Jersey's history have been linked to the transatlantic slave trade. One of the conclusions the report reaches is that No. 9 Pier Road, the Victorian House which forms part of the Jersey Museum, was built on proceeds accumulated from the trade. 

Following one of the report's recommendations, Jade E...