It all started with two questions: Why aren't islanders with learning disabilities given more opportunities? And what can we do to help? The answer came in the form of Beresford Street Kitchen in 2017. As BSK turns five this year, Fundraising Manager Georgie Dodd reflects on the journey of the café with a conscience, serving Princess Anne, a brand new campaign, and the disability shattering stigma still left to be done in Jersey... Find out more about BSK's new 'Rise Up!' campaign here: www.bere...
May 13, 2022•10 min•Ep. 107
The countdown is on. Today marks the official start of Jersey's pre-election period, with the big day six weeks away. That means, from now on, election candidates have to follow strict rules. What behaviour rules to candidates have to follow? How much can parties spend on campaigning? What's stopping Ministers from launching another vote-winning £100 voucher scheme? And why is the word 'purdah' controversial? This week, Bailiwick Express Deputy Editor Fiona Potigny and Reporter Hannah Voak disas...
May 11, 2022•8 min•Ep. 106
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 classific...
May 06, 2022•46 min•Ep. 105
Around one in 15 crimes reported to the police in Jersey is linked to domestic abuse and while the law already covers some of the behaviour associated with abuse in the home, such as assault and criminal damage - it doesn't recognise the longstanding coercion, control and other patterns that may form domestic abuse. That's set to change this week when the States debate a specific Domestic Abuse Law. But how difficult will it be to take action against acts that often take place behind closed door...
Apr 25, 2022•23 min•Ep. 104
Follow the money - if the story of the last few years has been dominated by a virus, the price tag has never been far behind. So, when you tot up the cost of covid, and then throw in Brexit, a new hospital, pension debt and the spiralling cost of living, as well as changes to zero/ten... The island's first female Treasury Minister, Deputy Susie Pinel, has held the keys to the strongbox throughout that time. This week, she announced she won't be standing again after 11 years in very senior roles ...
Apr 21, 2022•33 min•Ep. 103
It all started with a childhood passion... Express meets Curtis and Nikki Stanier, who have transformed their garden into a model train haven with a 6,600-strong online following. ★ Support this podcast ★
Apr 18, 2022•16 min•Ep. 97
Formerly known as Brig-y-Don, charity Brightly has been supporting children and families in Jersey through some of their toughest times for more than 100 years. Express found out why the support and stability offered by the charity is needed more than ever right now, and their hunt for volunteers for a new initiative called Home-Start that could help "make an impact that will last a lifetime"... ★ Support this podcast ★...
Apr 14, 2022•31 min•Ep. 102
After two weeks of intense debate, the States Assembly passed the Bridging Island Plan last month. Express meets one of its authors, Kevin Pilley, to unpick what was decided and how it might impact our lives. ★ Support this podcast ★
Apr 11, 2022•29 min•Ep. 101
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...
Apr 11, 2022•52 min•Ep. 100
Octogenarian island sporting legend Tim Pollard opens up to Express about where his love of sport began, and his feelings about being selected for England's over-80s squad... ★ Support this podcast ★
Apr 08, 2022•19 min•Ep. 99
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 ...
Apr 08, 2022•59 min•Ep. 98
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... ★ Support this podcast ★...
Mar 24, 2022•12 min•Ep. 96
In politics, they say timing is everything. On this week's Politics Disassembled podcast, Bailiwick Express Editor James Filleul speaks to Senator Ian Gorst - a two-term Chief Minister, and the man who took over at External Relations just before Brexit, and who is now dealing with Ukraine. But - he wasn't in the top job during covid. He is the man who recruited the island's controversial CEO, Charlie Parker, and oversaw the changes which backed-up his power. Now he sits on the Council of Ministe...
Mar 24, 2022•30 min•Ep. 95
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 C...
Mar 14, 2022•18 min•Ep. 94
As the situation in Ukraine worsens, the repercussions are steadily being felt more widely, and more deeply. Here in Jersey, we are braced for fuel prices to rapidly increase this year, in what's being described as the most volatile market in recent memory. Where does our fuel come from, and what can be done to soften the price rises? Will all this just accelerate our journey to becoming carbon neutral? To answer those questions, James Filleul is joined on the News Pod this week by Director of A...
Mar 11, 2022•18 min•Ep. 93
We don't have much land in Jersey, but how we use what we do have will be decided in the next two weeks. In what could be the longest debate in States Assembly history - the agenda alone runs to 68 pages - our politicians will debate the Bridging Island Plan. It's a critical step in the major issues facing Jersey today, such as providing enough homes. Joining Bailiwick Express Editor James Filleul on Politics Disassembled this week is in the Environment Minister, Deputy John Young. He'll also be...
Mar 10, 2022•27 min•Ep. 92
Are personalities dominating in politics? Is the States Employment Board dysfunctional? Do we need a Cabinet Office? Was the change to Ministerial Government the right thing? And does the CEO have too much power? Alongside a team of Ministers past and present, Senator Tracey Vallois has just published a review which picking apart the bad bits of Government - and suggests how to fix them. As well as analysing the machinery that keeps the public service ticking, the former poll topper opened up to...
Mar 03, 2022•45 min•Ep. 91
Will it be third time lucky for Le Masurier with their new £120m Les Sablons proposals for St. Helier? We're talking about the two acre site between King Street/Broad Street on one side, and Commercial Street on the other. A few years ago it had permission to become offices called J1...and then it was the preferred option for the new Government HQ. Neither happened. But now Le Masurier has bounced back with plans for hundreds of apartments, an apart-hotel, cafes and bars. To explain why this tim...
Mar 03, 2022•14 min•Ep. 90
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 l...
Feb 25, 2022•59 min•Ep. 89
Children's rights and family law expert Advocate Darry Robinson speaks to Express about care proceedings, Children's Services and how the processes could be improved to better protect children from long-term harm... ★ Support this podcast ★
Feb 23, 2022•25 min•Ep. 88
The island has set up five citizens' panels to work on subjects from mental health, the hospital to climate change, with a cost from a few thousand to a few hundreds of thousands. But isn't that what we democratically elect politicians for? And if we appoint islanders to make recommendations instead, are they accountable, what process do they follow and how do we control costs? Those are all issues with the Government watchdog, the Public Accounts Committee has ruled on this week - have the pane...
Feb 18, 2022•21 min•Ep. 87
Prices in the UK are rising faster than at any rate in the past three decades. Express asked Co-Op CEO Mark Cox what the impact will be in the Channel Islands. ★ Support this podcast ★
Feb 17, 2022•21 min•Ep. 86
In three weeks, the States will debate a proposal to create a 900-square-kilometre Marine National Park in Jersey's territorial waters. Express speaks to Freddie Watson of Blue Marine Foundation, a charity that has campaigned for the park's formation, to find out why he thinks it's an important step forward. ★ Support this podcast ★
Feb 10, 2022•18 min•Ep. 85
Big gov versus essential controls - it's a debate which is played out in many guises in Jersey politics, but perhaps nowhere feels closer to home than when its about, well, your home. Proposals to make minimum rental standards mandatory for all landlords were narrowly defeated in the States this week, their opponents said they were too expensive, too complex and unnecessary as the right protections were already there. On the pod this week we speak to Reform's Deputy Rob Ward, who along with Sena...
Feb 10, 2022•26 min•Ep. 84
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 wri...
Feb 09, 2022•23 min•Ep. 83
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... ★ Support this podcast ★
Feb 04, 2022•11 min•Ep. 82
Jersey is too crowded. Jersey needs more skilled workers. Jersey must protect its environment. Jersey has an ageing population. Jersey doesn't have enough homes. All those statements are true, and they all rotate around how many people live here. Welcome to the great population problem. Jersey hasn't solved it, it just smashes all targets set, and passes the problem onto the next guy. The trick is not to be the Minister when the music stops. Well, next week that Minister is Deputy Rowland Huelin...
Feb 03, 2022•25 min•Ep. 81
Express speaks to Jersey-born actor Timothy Renouf about starring alongside Claire Foy and Paul Bettany in the deliciously scandalous new BBC series, 'A Very British Scandal', how being a rat sparked a love of performance, serial killers, covid vs Netflix filming, and why coming from a small island shouldn't limit big screen dreams... ★ Support this podcast ★
Jan 28, 2022•35 min•Ep. 80
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. ★ Support this podcast ★
Jan 28, 2022•28 min•Ep. 79
Politics is power, and on this week's Politics Disassembled podcast, we'll be playing a bit of Game of Thrones, States-style. This week, info leaflets are landing on doormats to prep you for the June General Election, the first of a new kind of election in Jersey which sees Senators gone, nine new districts and 'none of the above' on some ballot papers. Who's going to cling onto power? Can we beat Boris at 'party games'? We'll be unpicking the key issues on the politics pod... ★ Support this pod...
Jan 27, 2022•22 min•Ep. 78
