BBC News Guernsey

A move to remove Dominic Lazarus from the post of director of civil aviation has been lodged with the States of Guernsey.

The motion was brought by the Committee for Economic Development based on the evidence of an investigation carried out after he was suspended from the role in August.

The committee found Mr Lazarus had "misbehaved in office and has behaved in a way that is grossly incompetent".

The motion will be debated at this week's States meeting starting on Wednesday.

BBCCopyright: BBC

A new online payments platform for people to subscribe to St John Ambulance Guernsey is aimed at attracting thousands more people to sign up.

The new system will replace paper forms.

Currently the cost of ambulance cover, for unlimited emergency calls, under the subscription scheme is up to £85 for a family.

An ambulance responding to an emergency call for someone without cover can be charged up to £380.

There are currently about 17,500 subscribers.

Chief Financial Officer Stuart Brennan said an increase in subscribers could also mean a change of prices.

Quote Message: We're hoping that the ease and availability of the system will encourage more people to subscribe. The more people that subscribe, the more we can look at the different pricing for non-subscribers. And this is all about trying to make it as effective and fair for everyone to use the ambulance service - we hope we don't have to, but if we do - make the most cost-effective use of our finances." from Stuart Brennan Chief Financial Officer, St John Ambulance Guernsey

We're hoping that the ease and availability of the system will encourage more people to subscribe. The more people that subscribe, the more we can look at the different pricing for non-subscribers. And this is all about trying to make it as effective and fair for everyone to use the ambulance service - we hope we don't have to, but if we do - make the most cost-effective use of our finances."

Guernsey has only a single active case of Covid-19 after two people recovered from the virus, the States has said.

There are 48 suspected cases awaiting test results.

Nominations for the upcoming election in Sark have opened.

Residents can put their name forward to be a member of Chief Pleas between now and midday on Friday, 4 December.

Polling day for the Sark general election is Wednesday, 16 December.

Guernsey Ports have seen an 80% fall in passenger numbers due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The figures for the year up to the end of October include a 95% fall in passenger numbers at Alderney Harbour, but only a 50% drop at Alderney Airport.

Guernsey Airport has seen a fall of 75%.

Head of Ports Colin Le Ray said the 100% fall in cruise passengers has had a limited impact on the ports' takings but did still affect the island.

He said: "We generate about £150,000 of income from cruises, but I think the wider issue is really the value added that it brings to local businesses."

Guernsey Water is disputing losses predicted in the latest budget.

Figures released last week forecast the utility to lose almost £1.2m next year.

However, managing director Steve Langlois said the utility's plans had changed since figures were submitted for the budget.

He said he believed investment in infrastructure meant losses for 2021 should now remain roughly the same as those expected this year - about £400,000.

The utility is also predicting a return to profit in 2022.

Royal assent has been granted to legally recognise humanist marriages in the Bailiwick of Guernsey.

The law is now expected to come into force from March 2021.

Currently couples have to go to the Greffe to register their marriage and have the humanist ceremony as a public celebration only.

Voters in Alderney will have two chances this week to meet candidates ahead of the States members election on Saturday.

A hustings will take place on Wednesday evening at the Island Hall and use a Question Time format.

Candidates then will also be on hand on Thursday evening in the same place for a public drop-in session.

Guernsey Ports is expected to lose almost 10 times more than originally forecast this year.

It's forecasting a deficit of £12m over 2020, in part due to less marine traffic due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Other States assets such as Guernsey Water and Guernsey Waste are also forecasting losses, with only States Works expected to turn a profit.

Guernsey Football Club will be starting the celebrations for the 10-year anniversary of its founding a little early by playing a match between players from the original and current squads.

GFC Originals vs GFC Newcomers will kick off at 14:00 on 27 December at Footes Lane.

Guernsey Electricity has "strongly" denied breaking the terms of its electricity licence, following a ruling from the island's regulator.

The Guernsey Competition and Regulatory Authority (GCRA) said on Thursday the utility company breached the terms of its licence by not advertising commercial charges for power it offered some businesses.

The company's CEO Alan Bates said it is "extremely disappointed" by the GCRA’s decision which lacked a "coherent and cogent legal basis".

He said: "This matter is still ongoing and we shall now take the time to consider our options which include an appeal."

Guernsey Electricity Limited (GEL) "breached its electricity licence" when it failed to publish the prices it charged some commercial customers for power, Guernsey's regulator has found.

The Guernsey Competition and Regulatory Authority (GCRA) upheld a complaint against the utility company and concluded it had "failed to demonstrate" pricing was "transparent, non-discriminatory or cost-justified".

The States of Guernsey owned business has not accepted the regulators provisional decision concluding it had breached the terms of its licence.

GEL has three weeks to publish the pricing information, the GCRA said.

The regulator's CEO Michael Byrne said transparency over pricing was vital where a single business occupies a "powerful position in our economy with legacy advantages" over any potential competition.

He said: "We have no view whether these special prices Guernsey Electricity charges a select group of customers are unfair or whether householders are subsidising those prices, and we are not saying GEL cannot compete.

"Guernsey Electricity's decision not to be transparent has however removed visibility of its pricing behaviour and this cannot be allowed to continue."

Guernsey PoliceCopyright: Guernsey Police

Guernsey Police are searching for a 35-year-old woman who has been missing since Tuesday night.

Liga Balode, from Latvia, was last since at about 22:00 GMT near the Collinette Hotel end of the Gibauderie in St Peter Port, officers said.

Police are asking anyone who lives in the area with private CCTV to check their footage from around the time she was last seen.

Anyone with information can contact officers on 01481 725111 or visit the police station.

A senior member of the House of Lords has written to the UK government with questions about the Crown Dependencies and the Brexit process.

Lord Kinnoull, Chairman of the Lords European Committee, sent a letter to UK minister Michael Gove asking him to answer 11 questions on constitutional issues and the implication of Brexit on Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man.

The letter follows allegations the UK is "trampling" on the constitutional relationship with the Channel Islands over a provision in its recent fisheries bill, which claims to allow the government to legislate for the islands without their consent.

Among the questions asked to Mr Gove were:

• What steps has the Government taken to ensure that the concerns and interests of the Crown Dependencies have been taken into account during the future relationship negotiations with the EU?
• Will any UK-EU future relationship agreement take account of the Crown Dependencies’ unique relationship with the UK and the EU, including the Channel Islands’ bilateral relationship with France?
• What steps are you taking to protect the Crown Dependencies’ trade in goods with the EU, in particular in fisheries, agriculture and manufacturing?

The letter with the full list of questions is available online.

The States of Guernsey payroll co-funding scheme for sectors currently still affected by the Covid-19 pandemic has been extended to the end of March, the Policy and Resources Committee (P&R) has announced.

The scheme allows businesses to apply to have between 80% and 100% of the minimum wage paid for furloughed workers.

The decision was informed by the high prevalence of coronavirus in surrounding jurisdictions and continuing self-isolation requirements for those arriving in the bailiwick restricting travel, the States said.

Sectors currently eligible for the scheme are:

• Travel agents and tour operators
• Event companies such as those working in corporate events or weddings
• Taxi operators, subject to a cap of 80% payroll support
• Exceptions are being considered for businesses heavily impacted by travel restrictions

P&R said they may review this decision if travel were to resume in the short term, but acknowledged this was "unlikely".

If it becomes the case that the support is no longer needed, businesses will be given advance warning to plan.

Deputy Mark Helyar, who is leading financial support measures for P&R, said the committee made an early decision to continue support to give "clarity and assurance" to businesses continuing to be affected.