THE St Helier politician behind last year’s narrowly-defeated bid to decriminalise personal possession and recreational use of cannabis has welcomed new proposals from the Health Minister that could fundamentally shift how the drug is controlled in Jersey. Deputy Tom Coles described the nearly-100-page-long proposition lodged by Deputy Tom Binet on Friday as “very well thought […]
Search results
Posted inNews
New guidance welcomed as a further step away from “criminalising people for personal drug use”
MORE lenient guidance outlining how small amounts of personal drug possession can be dealt has been issued by the Attorney General. It sets out how the honorary police officers who preside at parish hall enquiries should deal with instances of possession and importation of some controlled drugs for personal use through a system of written […]
Posted inNews
Health Minister confirms work on cannabis laws but warns of resourcing challenges
PROPOSALS for new legislation which would “reduce the criminalisation” of cannabis possession are set to be brought to the States Assembly later this year, the Health Minister has confirmed. Following a vote by Members last June the minister, Deputy Tom Binet, provided an update to an oral question posed in the Assembly yesterday by Deputy […]
Posted inNews
Call to bring in regulation for counsellors
A REFORM Jersey politician is calling on the government to introduce regulations for therapeutic counsellors in an attempt to protect clients and ensure practitioners meet professional standards. Deputy Tom Coles has put forward a proposition asking Health Minister Tom Binet to introduce legislation requiring counsellors to register with the Jersey Care Commission and a relevant […]
Posted inNews
Assembly votes against plans for registration of counsellors
PLANS to bring in a legal requirement for the registration of counsellors have been voted down by politicians. During the second and final day of this week’s States Assembly sitting, Members voted by 26 to 18 to reject the proposition from Deputy Tom Coles regarding registration of counsellors by the Jersey Care Commission and a […]
Posted inTop Stories
Backing for return of Senators to the States… with a twist
REFORM Jersey has thrown its support behind the principle of restoring Senators to the States Assembly, but with a significant twist on how to achieve this without increasing the size of the Chamber. The party has put forward plans to scrap existing arrangements whereby Constables sit as Members of the Assembly, freeing up 12 places […]
Posted inNews
Liberation Day becomes the Island’s official national day
LIBERATION Day has been designated Jersey’s official national day by a vote in the States Assembly. And politicians also decided yesterday to adopt Beautiful Jersey as the Island’s official anthem. The move to formalise the status of 9 May as Jersey’s version of Bastille Day in France or Independence Day in the United States came […]
Posted inNews
Dangerous dog law changes finalised
CHANGES to the Island’s Dogs Law around the keeping of “dangerous” breeds such as the XL bully have been voted through by politicians, in spite of lingering concerns about how they will be enforced. The legislation put forward by the Constables’ Committee included a new requirement that XL bully dogs and associated breeds must be […]
Posted inNews
Bid to scrap ‘unjustifiable’ earnings cap falls short
A RENEWED attempt by Reform Jersey to abolish the upper-earnings limit for social security contributions and the long-term care tax was defeated during the Budget debate. Deputy Tom Coles put forward an amendment to do away with the limit, currently £317,304, above which earnings are exempt from long-term care tax for individuals and from social […]
Posted inNews
Politicians reject Grouville housing scheme over ‘immense impact’ concerns
PLANS to build four houses on a coastal site in Grouville have been turned down by the Planning Committee. Politicians voted by six to one to go against a planning officer’s recommendation for the approval of the scheme at La Mielle du Parcq. The application would have involved the demolition of an existing five-bedroom property […]
