Jersey government to give £160k in funding for Battle of Flowers
Deputy Morel said: "It is the role of Ministers to consider the wider balance of risks and take into consideration the broader economic and social imperatives".He admitted there was "significant overspend" last year and the government "does not have an established relationship" with the new organisers.But, the Minister described the Battle of Flowers, which was first held in 1902, as an "iconic event" and "an important fixture," which "brings Islanders together." Battle is due to be held on the 8 and 9 August, and the parades will be free to watch.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
7 hours ago
- BBC News
Falling birth rate in Jersey a 'ticking bomb'
Jersey's falling birth rate is a "ticking bomb" for the island, the housing minister Sam Mézec said the declining rate, combined with an ageing population, posed a huge comments come after a Policy Centre Jersey report based on data from the Superintendent Registrar showed the number of births in Jersey between 2021 and 2024 fell by 20% compared to a 5% drop in England and birth rate in the first half of 2025 was 4% lower than the first half of 2024, figures also showed. Mézec said difficulty finding the right home was putting young families off having children in Jersey, and he had friends who "moved away from Jersey so they can afford to have children".He said: "They just can't find the kind of home they want to bring their children up in, a place with enough bedrooms, outdoor space, and over the last few decades that has become more and more unaffordable in Jersey.""We will have problems if we don't have a large enough working population providing the services and paying the taxes supporting the young and the retired.""We need to be planning now for policies that start to reverse that trend, and that means supporting younger people into family-sized homes." Smaller communities 'vulnerable' He added: "What's our working demographic going to look like in 20 or 30 years if we don't have enough young people going through our education system and going into work when they reach adulthood to provide the services that supports the whole of society including the ageing population?"This could be a ticking bomb if we don't get this right."Mark Boleat, a senior advisor at the Policy Centre Jersey, said it was concerning the local birth rate was falling faster than other centre's report found the number of babies born in Jersey in 2024 had fallen by 10% compared to the year before, and the number of primary school pupils had fallen by 5.6% in the last two Boleat said smaller communities such as Jersey were more vulnerable to falling said: "In a big country, it can fall but it doesn't have quite the effect. In Jersey, the fall... over the last few years is already having a very significant effect."So, over the last couple of years in England, the number of births has fallen 5%. In Jersey, it's fallen by 20%. We need to understand why." Parents told the BBC the cost of living made raising children very Yordanov is 33 and has a son, but said the cost of living was making him reconsider having more said: "I love Jersey, but most likely if we have another child we are going to move because it's going to be unbearable."The cost of raising children here is one of the main reasons the birth rate is so low. There is absolutely no other reason and it's getting ridiculously expensive."In a couple, one of your salaries just covers nursery."Abdul Bassit, 43, has two children and said his biggest costs were clothing and food, which cost "more and more everyday". However, environmentalist Nigel Jones argued the declining birth rate locally was not said: "We all know that, worldwide, the biggest predictor of a lower birth rate is the level of education of the population. "The more educated young women are, the fewer children they are likely to have, and I don't see that as a problem at all."There are plenty of children being born all over the world - it's not like we have shortage worldwide. "We need to be less insular on this and we need to think, if work needs doing in the future, there will be people who can come to Jersey and do it."
BBC News
7 hours ago
- BBC News
Trainee wage brought back for Jersey apprentices
A trainee wage is being brought back by Jersey's government for businesses to pay its apprentices in Jersey have been paying apprentices the minimum wage of £13 since the lower rate was scrapped in 2023. The government said reintroducing the trainee rates would help businesses hire more apprentices into skilled Chamber of Commerce, which represents local businesses, said about 70% of the 79 businesses surveyed said having to pay trainees the minimum wage made them less likely to hire September, first-year trainees will be paid £10.50 an hour and second-year trainees will get £11.75. People already on a training programme will continue to be paid £13. The chamber said its survey highlighted "significant concern among local employers" and had "urged the government to rethink"."A clear majority, 57 respondents, said their business would benefit if the trainee wage rate was reinstated," it said. Jersey 'built on talent' The chamber said there would be "relief among small businesses who were faced with increased wage costs for trainees".It added that "employers would feel confident in offering entry-level opportunities for young people and those with no prior experience".President of the Jersey Chamber of Commerce said the island was "built on talent"."I think this programme is going to enhance the sectors, it's going to improve the economy and hopefully it's going to retain some of the young workforce who actually stay in Jersey," he said. Minister for Social Security Deputy Lyndsay Feltham said the "key difference" now was that there were "clear guidelines so employers and employees can be informed about what they are doing".She said: "It's really important that employees in particular know their rights and are aware around what training is available within this offer."Employers are working within a competitive environment in order to encourage staff to come and work with them - it's really important that employers are offering a good offering to people."
BBC News
20 hours ago
- BBC News
Scrutiny panel questions extra Jersey Battle of Flowers grant
A scrutiny panel said it wanted to "better understand" why an extra £121,000 grant was given for the recent Battle of Flowers Chief Minister and Economic Development Minister signed off the additional grant at the beginning of August, saying the decision would allow groups to put on a scaled-down parade and future letter also said the £90,000 top-up grant, which was given out in 2024, was not required to be recovered - it saw an overspend of more than £150, of the Panel Deputy Montfort Tadier said the event had been a highlight in Jersey's calendar but there were "questions around process and due governance" it wanted the ministers to explain. He said: "The panel understands that the decision to award these grants may not fully comply with the Public Finances Manual. "If this is the case, then it is important that the reasoning behind these decisions is outlined in a clear and transparent way."Mr Tadier said it was "important that all organisations applying for and receiving grants feel that they are on a level playing field".The panel said it understood funding awarded would be deducted from future grants, but requested more details about how the arrangement would be managed to "avoid placing undue financial strain on the event's organisers". It also requested Deputy Kirsten Morel outline any arrangements which had been made regarding the 2024 top-up grant.
