Andy Hibbs had been with the station for around 25 years but was this week asked by the RNLI to stand down with immediate effect after what the charity said were ‘breaches of the RNLI’s volunteer code of conduct’.
Mr Hibbs, however, claims he has been ‘bullied by RNLI managers’. He is being supported by the rest of the station’s crew, who have all left their posts.
Following the crisis – which comes on what is likely to be one of the warmest weekends of the year so far and leaves Jersey with no all-weather lifeboat and just the inshore ribs operated by the St Catherine’s RNLI Station and the Jersey Fire and Rescue Service – Guernsey’s volunteer crew has been asked to provide cover for the Island. The RNLI said it was working on bringing in interim personnel from the UK to man the St Helier station.
Jersey Coastguard also moved to reassure Islanders that adequate, round-the-clock coverage by them would still be provided within Jersey’s territorial waters.
The Fire Service, meanwhile, has said extra staff would be on duty to ensure their rescue boat was available at all times.
However, the vice-commodore of the St Helier Yacht Club, Steve Pearl, who served with the RNLI for 15 years, believes that will not be sufficient cover. Concerns have also been raised about the local knowledge of any interim crew brought in.
Full story in Saturday’s JEP
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