The Briefing

The Weekly Briefing from The Quarry

All the latest from The Quarry newsroom.

Dig Deeper: Discover Guernsey

Take a virtual tour around Ste Apolline's Chapel to dive into more than 600 years of history including some rare Medieval wall paintings. This is part of our ongoing efforts to celebrate and connect people with Guernsey's rich heritage.

Editor Nick Mann talks through some of the highlights that we found at Ste Apolline's.

In other news...

The Policy & Resources Committee is advancing dual workstreams related to tax reform.
One focus is the implementation of a tax package agreed upon by previous States which includes a GST.
The second track centres on exploring corporate tax alternatives.
Findings from the Tax Review Sub-committee are expected by mid-April, but it has now dropped the territorial tax option.
Public engagement sessions will follow, alongside a final proposal publication in July.

The Development & Planning Authority has issued a Land Amenity Improvement Notice to St Margaret’s Lodge.
The notice is a response to the site's poor condition and safety risks.
The lodge has suffered from vandalism, graffiti, and neglect since it closed in 2016.
The landowner must undertake specific repairs within nine months or face penalties.
The notice serves as a last resort after unsuccessful informal attempts to address the issues.

Islanders registered in the previous general election are automatically eligible to vote in the upcoming by-election.
New registrations must be completed by 25th April 2026.
Candidate nominations will be accepted from 23rd to 25th March 2026.
Main polling station will be at Beau Sejour, with three additional locations.
Postal vote applications must be submitted again; deadline is 10th April 2026.
Nominations for candidates will be accepted between 23 and 25 March.

Carlos Aguiar worked at St. Pierre Park for over 41 years and eight months.
He emphasised the importance of employee happiness and customer care in catering.
Carlos believes that every guest should be treated like royalty, regardless of their status.
He coined the term "top of the world man" to describe his positive attitude and approach.
He trained a significant number of individuals who now work in catering across the island.
Carlos was given a Special Recognition Award by the Guernsey Hospitality Association at its annual ceremony.

Islanders can complete their 2025 tax return online at my.gov.gg.
The deadline for submissions is 30th November 2026.
A recovery plan is being implemented to address the backlog of assessments and repayments.
Online filing is encouraged for its convenience and cost-effectiveness.
Drop-in events for paper tax returns will occur in May at various locations.

Policy & Resources has settled on legal costs with the Fermain Beach Café tenants.
Financial details have not been released - it follows the tenants winning their court case to be allowed more time before they are evicted.
The tenants will continue café operations until 31st October 2028.
Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez commented on the pragmatic closure of legal proceedings.

Residents are alerted to the early emergence of Asian hornet queens.
A nest was discovered in St Saviour’s on 2 January.
Queens may now be hibernating and will emerge to search for food.
The Spring Queening campaign will commence in April with over 230 volunteers.
Sightings should be reported to local authorities.

Guernsey Post will implement changes to its postal tariffs on 1st April 2026.
Local and UK letter prices will increase, while parcel rates will remain unchanged.
A new tracked service for UK destinations is set to launch in Summer 2026 to help people trading on eBay and Vinted.
Specific increases include local standard letters rising from 69p to 75p and UK letters from £1.37 to £1.45.
Full details on rate changes will be available on the Guernsey Post website on 18th March 2026.

The Social Investment Fund announces £1.67 million available for charities in 2026.
The allocation has increased by 19% from 2025.
Two rounds of Small Grants and one round of Major Grants will be offered this year.
Applications are open to registered charities and non-profit organisations benefiting the Bailiwick of Guernsey.
Recent recipients include Guernsey Street Festival and the Guernsey Sports Commission.

Careers Guernsey has introduced a drop-in careers support hub.
The hub offers free, impartial career advice and guidance from 8:30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
The service caters to individuals at all career stages, from students to adults considering a career change.
The launch coincides with National Careers Week, aimed at encouraging professional development.
The new service is located at Les Varendes High School.