The Briefing

The Weekly Briefing from The Quarry

All the latest from The Quarry newsroom.

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In other news...

Prison Governor John De Carteret has temporarily stepped aside during a conduct investigation
Deputy Governor Tracey Mahy will lead the prison during the interim period
The decision was agreed with the Committee for Home Affairs and States Chief Executive
States Chief Executive Boley Smillie said the investigation will be conducted fully and fairly
No details about the nature of the allegations have been disclosed

Fire broke out at Mont Cuet landfill site on Monday night in processed garden waste
It occurred in a windrow of decomposing organic material that was due to be turned
Adjacent Household Green Waste Site was unaffected and both facilities open normally
No equipment damage or injuries reported during the incident
Site staff assisted Fire & Rescue Service in extinguishing the fire

New UK registration requirements for Personal Locator Beacons on flagged vessels come into force on 15 April 2026
Guernsey Coastguard strongly encourages all local mariners to register their PLBs and EPIRBs despite not being legally required
Registration allows Maritime Watch Officers to quickly identify who is in trouble and what resources are needed for response
Two separate rescue incidents in local waters last year demonstrated the value of emergency beacon devices
Registration is free, takes 15 minutes, and can be completed online at www.gov.uk/register-406-beacons

Millennium Walk has reopened following extensive tree surgery work after Storm Goretti damage
The popular route had been closed since the storm for safety reasons
Tree surgeons removed fallen trees, broken limbs and unstable branches across the walk
Reopening came a month earlier than initially anticipated, in time for Bank Holiday weekend
Some fencing damage remains and visitors are asked to take care while using the route

Guernsey's Asian hornet spring trapping programme has launched for its eighth year with 260 traps distributed island-wide
Two queen hornets have already been found this season, representing the earliest sightings on record
Volunteers position traps at 500-metre intervals to catch queens as they emerge from hibernation
Since 2017, 157 queens have been captured and 62 nests destroyed across the island
Residents are urged to report sightings to prevent establishment of new colonies

Les Bourgs Hospice chosen as main beneficiary for 2026 Skipton Swimarathon in its landmark 50th year
The hospice is celebrating its own 35th anniversary and relies on £2.8 million annual fundraising
Event runs from 7-11 October 2026, continuing Guernsey's biggest community fundraising tradition
Around 2,000 swimmers participate annually, having raised over £2 million in 49 years
Organised by Guernsey Round Table and Lions Club, sponsored by Skipton International since 2010