Latest news with #KirstenMorel
BBC News
a day ago
- Business
- BBC News
Compensation calls for Blue Island passengers
Deputy Inna Gardiner has called for passengers impacted by Blue Islands flight delays and cancellations to get travelling by Blue Islands have faced recent disruption with some islanders missing medical appointments in Southampton because of cancellations. The airline removed 28 flights from its summer schedule due to one aircraft being damaged and another new addition to its fleet being delayed. Economic Development Minister Deputy Kirsten Morel acknowledged the airline had not been performing well enough but said a compensation scheme could make flight routes less viable. Deputy Gardiner told the BBC that islanders could not continue to pay for delays and said: "I would encourage the minister for sustainable economic development and the consumer council to get together to find a way that islanders can be protected, can be compensated and can be reimbursed."Whether its through the insurance company, or through the airline or through a special compensation scheme." Deputy Morel said a compensation scheme would not be introduced in this government said: "If you start a compensation scheme its going to add significant cost to the viability of the routes, that means routes will become less viable and so you could see airlines pulling out of certain routes if they are forced to be part of a compensation scheme."It would take some time to look at properly and its not something we are going to look at between now and the end of the states assembly." During a States Assembly sitting, the minister encouraged islanders to get travel Deputy Louise Doublet responded by saying insurance companies were not always paying out because they wrongly thought islanders were protected by EU law regarding flight Jersey Consumer Council said UK and EU law meant passengers on UK and EU-based airlines could claim more than £200 compensation for cancellations - but the equivalent law does not exist in the Channel Morel said if this issue was happening to people they should go to the Channel Islands' financial services ombudsman.
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Guernsey chief minister "embarrassed" by ferry spat
Guernsey's chief minister has said he was embarrassed by a spat between Channel Island politicians over proposals for an inter island ferry follows a disagreement between Guernsey's head of economic development Neil Inder and Jersey's economic development minister Kirsten Morel over a possible solution to provide freight transport links between the a Chamber Of Commerce lunch, the chief ministers of Guernsey and Jersey were asked if they were embarrassed by the row between their economic development Lyndon Farnham said he was "disappointed but not embarrassed" while Guernsey's Lyndon Trott said he was "more embarrassed than Deputy Farnham". The chief ministers were talking to business leaders in Guernsey about the importance of inter-island cooperation on Wednesday when they were asked about the disagreement between Morel and had said he was angry Morel had told the media Guernsey did not seem as positive as Jersey over the inter island ferry plan proposed to them by FerryBridge. 'Disappointed but not embarrassed' Guernsey's chief minister Lyndon Trott told the BBC he was embarrassed by the spat. "One of the first things I learnt in politics is that there are few things that can't be sorted out over a cup of tea but also it's important that proper business is not conducted on the front page of the local newspapers," he said." I think while the spat was regrettable, the positions are held strongly."However Trott insisted inter island relationships were stronger than ever."The good news is there is an overwhelming amount of time we spend working cooperatively, collaboratively and positively and I genuinely expect that to continue significantly into the future," he said he was "disappointed" but not "embarrassed" by the disagreement and it was important the islands looked at moving forward."What we have to do now is work together to ensure, in the fullness of time, that we can get an improved inter island service for passengers and cars," he said."I'm sure that Brittany Ferries and DFDS and Jersey and Guernsey are committed to that and we have other third party operators that want to come in and provide services." However, Murray Norton, the head of Jersey's Chamber of Commerce, described the spat as "politically immature"."I think it's disappointing for Channel Island collaboration and I think its fairly unfitting of two politicians, whilst they might have deep seated views of their own island and we all have those," said Mr Norton. "But we've got to see the bigger picture and we look at our politicians to act much more maturely and to act a little bit more dignified I think."Inder is one of 82 candidates standing in Guernsey's general election - see a full list here.
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Jersey and Guernsey politicians clash over ferry offer
Politicians in Jersey and Guernsey have clashed over inter-island ferry island's governments chose different firms to operate services to the UK and France for the next 15 years, but under the new arrangement there are fewer large vessels travelling between Jersey and said they had now been approached by a group, called FerryBridge, offering to run vehicle and freight services between the Kirsten Morel, who was responsible for Jersey's ferry negotiations, said he was "willing to support" the idea, but Deputy Neil Inder, who ran Guernsey's negotiations, said it was too early in the new arrangements. Deputy Kirsten Morel, the sustainable economic development minister who handled the ferry negotiations for Jersey, said island authorities were interested in the offer from FerryBridge."Jersey has said it's absolutely willing to support that, we've not received positive responses from Guernsey," he said."I am slightly concerned that we're being offered solutions and Jersey wants these solutions but we're being pushed back elsewhere, and I do wonder why that's the case." Deputy Neil Inder, President of Guernsey's Committee for Economic Development, said Morel's comments had left him angry."'I'm incredulous that a minister in Jersey appears to have no ability to look in the rear-view mirror," he said."I have already advised the people behind FerryBridge that it is too early in the new ferry arrangements and any ferry proposal seeking ramp access would be incompatible with Guernsey's current contractual, legal and ramp licensing arrangements."Deputy Morel is fully aware of our position, so there shouldn't be any lack of clarity on his part." Despite a lack of options for people wanting to take their vehicles between the islands, there are a number of services for foot passengers. Guernsey company Islands Unlimited launched an inter-island ferry service offering a daily inter-island foot passenger service on high-speed catamaran capable of carrying 316 passengers from Murray, operations director for Islands Unlimited, hoped the service provides more certainty for people wanting to travel between the islands."They want something that they know is the same each day of the week," he said."Not only for the general public, but also for a lot of the tour operators that are trying to have confidence to sell experiences to visitors in both islands."French firm Manche Iles Express will also run ferries for foot passengers between the French coast, Jersey, Guernsey and Sark.
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
States rejects proposal for chief minister public vote
The States Assembly has rejected an "entirely unworkable" proposal to have the position of chief minister elected via a public vote. In a States meeting on Wednesday, former chief minister Deputy Kristina Moore proposed the role should be elected through an Jersey-wide vote, held in parallel with the general election. Ms Moore said the change would boost public engagement in the elections and "offer the electorate a greater level of transparency".The assembly rejected the proposition by 43 votes to one. Ms Moore was the only member in favour. She said: "Accountability of the role of chief minister within the public arena is lacking as voters do not have a say on who should be elected to the role. "Voters should be provided with the opportunity to indicate their preferred candidate for chief minister during the voting process." 'Presidential system' Ms Moore added it was possible under her proposal that an individual with no political experience might be elected."If this were the case, it is anticipated that the electorate would have made the decision based on the clear leadership qualities of the candidate who would be supported by the professional civil service in the transition," she said. Deputy Sir Philip Bailhache said the idea was "entirely unworkable.""There is a fundamental distinction between a presidential system and a ministerial system," he Kirsten Morel added the proposition would "turn the election into a presidential election".He said: "In an island of 100,000 people there is no place for a presidential election. "It would be damaging, it would be divisive and it would ultimately turn the island in many ways against each other, I fear."
BBC News
17-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Jersey Opera House electrical use 'unethical'
An expert report into Jersey's newly refurbished Opera House found its lighting system uses an "unethical" amount of independent lighting audit was taken in the final stages of the government-funded £11.5m project and noted the older-style lighting and control desk needed said the green credentials of the older kit were "completely incompatible with a modern requirement" using up to 80% more electricity than opera house, which has been approached for comment, made a request for extra funding to modernise equipment in January, which the government said it would investigate. The government has also been approached for comment. 'Heavy on consumption' The report was commissioned in February by the minister for sustainable economic development and was carried out by a company called Lighting audit results were made available through a freedom of information request made to the Government of Jersey. The report said: "The current fixtures are perfectly capable of lighting a wide variety of presentations including drama, dance, opera, musicals, comedy, and conferences."However, most all of the fixtures currently in the Opera House stock are older-style 'conventionals' that have a tungsten source that require hefty phase control dimming."It added the lights were "hugely heavy on electricity consumption", regarded now as "unethical" when utilised in a theatre that has undergone a recent refurbishment. It also said the control system in the theatre required "a high level of niche training in order to be operated"."A touring company visiting the theatre would most likely not be able to use it, preferring instead the industry standard which they would tour in with the show." 'Outcry' The report noted the lighting system would eventually need to be replaced. "If seen as a purely short-term remedial placeholder before the fixtures are replaced with ethical sources then of course the theatre could open and service a variety of shows needs," it said."In today's world, the transition to a more sustainable, energy-efficient future has never been more vital."The report recommended that a full LED lighting rig of automated and static fixtures be installed either in parts or at once."I reiterate that after any refurbishment the outcry at using these inefficient technologies would be justified and doubtless fail the energy efficiency projected for the building pre-renovations," it January, Minister for Sustainable Economic Development Deputy Kirsten Morel said the infrastructure department had "delivered the building on time and on budget, and the inside technical theatrical workings were not part of their remit".
