The Weekly Briefing from The Quarry

Dig This - a podcast for Guernsey

In a live recording of Dig This at Les Cotils, Mark Prevel gave us a full insight into what it took to walk 1,000 miles in 28 days.

He fitted his fundraising challenge in around work commitments, setting off in the early hours, sometimes snatching moments of sleep on benches to ward off exhaustion, and at one point walked 100 miles in 24 hours to add even more spice.

Mark was raising money for Les Bourgs Hospice. Les Bourgs receives no financial support from the States, and is currently working on a new model to ensure the future of hospice care in Guernsey.

To donate: https://giving.gg/fundraising-events/12/1000-mile-challenge-mark-prevel-for-les-bourgs

Dig Deeper - a paid subscriber exclusive

A new legal front has been opened in the wake of the collapse of RG Falla with action to force a £3.7m. payout from an insurance firm.

It all stems from the standard of work on a £10m. Fort George property called The Lighthouse, which is owned by Lavinia Holdings Ltd.

In other news...

• Syphilis diagnostic rates dropped from 12 to 3 per 100,000 population in 2025, the lowest since 2019, whilst gonorrhoea rates fell from 30.1 to 7.5 per 100,000.
• Chlamydia detection rates in females aged 15-24 fell to 580 per 100,000—well below national benchmarks—with screening coverage dropping to 14.1%, suggesting significant under-detection.
• Sexual offences reported in 2025 rose 9% to 258 cases, including 69 rapes, equating to 3.88 per 1,000 population compared to England's 3.1 per 1,000.
• The Domestic Abuse and Related Provisions Law came into force in June 2025, introducing offences including threatening to disclose private sexual images and recognising coercive control.
• A critical sexual health outreach nurse post remains vacant despite multiple recruitment attempts, representing the strategy's only red performance indicator.

• Medical cannabis prescriptions in Guernsey increased from 6,741 in the second half of 2022 to 19,778 in 2025, nearly tripling since the programme's launch
• Opioid analgesic prescriptions rose from 17,017 in 2020 to 19,226 in 2025, showing steady growth alongside medical cannabis prescriptions
• Health services are currently unable to track cannabis-induced psychosis or Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome admissions due to limitations in the patient record system
• Psychiatric admissions to Oberlands Centre mentioning cannabis remained stable at 18 cases in both 2024 and 2025, out of total psychosis admissions of 36 and 27 respectively
• Implementation of a new Electronic Patient Record system is expected to improve tracking of substance-related diagnoses and hospital presentations

• Planning application submitted to convert former Guernsey Information Centre into Victor Hugo Centre
• Building at North Plantation, North Esplanade, would change from office to public amenity use
• DLM Architects submitted comprehensive plans including demolition drawings for all floors
• Proposed centre would establish permanent facility dedicated to French writer who lived in Guernsey 1855-1870

• Demolition of buildings at Leale's Yard will begin in September and continue into spring 2027
• Rok Limited will carry out controlled demolition in small groups, with continuous monitoring of dust, noise and vibration
• Soft strip phase supervised by ecologists will allow birds and bats to leave buildings naturally
• All facing granite will be stockpiled for reuse, with stone and inert materials crushed for future projects
• Site investigations during demolition will inform second stage involving removal of building slabs and contaminated soil

• Health & Social Care is seeking views on proposals to update private fostering laws in Guernsey and Alderney
• Private fostering involves children living with people who are not close family members or approved foster carers, such as family friends or term-time host families
• Current legislation dates from 1972 and the States agreed in 2004 that it should be updated to reflect modern childcare practice
• Proposed changes include clearer safeguards, enhanced checks on carers, regular visits, and powers to remove children from unsuitable arrangements
• The consultation closes at midnight on Monday 17th August 2026, with responses accepted by email or post

• The Confederation of Guernsey Industry has called on Deputies to prioritise spending restraint and economic growth over GST introduction
• The business group proposes income tax increases as the central measure to address the island's structural fiscal deficit
• CGi estimates a 3% income tax rise three years ago would have generated £45 million by 2026
• The organisation questions whether the Revenue Service has capacity to administer a new GST regime given existing backlogs
• CGi cites 2014 research showing GST would disproportionately impact lower-income households and key economic sectors

• Guernsey Retail Group urges deputies to prioritise economic growth alongside tax reform proposals
• Group warns that tax reforms are framed too narrowly around revenue extraction without addressing economic leakage
• Retail sector employs more than 3,500 people and plays substantial role in island's economic vitality
• Every £1 spent locally creates around £1.40 of local economic value through multiplier effect
• 2024 consumer survey shows 70% prefer in-store browsing and 46% recognise buying locally supports economy

• Five Guernsey firefighters injured while responding to a gorse fire on Little Sark this morning
• All five sustained non-life threatening injuries and have been transferred to Princess Elizabeth Hospital for treatment
• Fire covers approximately 20,000 square metres but no properties are currently affected
• Multi-agency response includes Guernsey and Sark fire services, coastguard drone unit and Guernsey Harbours' workboat
• Wind direction blowing fire out to sea means it is not expected to spread further

• Guernsey will debate increasing access to company beneficial ownership records before year-end, with a policy letter going to the States
• The island plans to allow those passing a 'legitimate interest' test—potentially including journalists and NGOs—access to ownership details with safeguards
• Guernsey currently restricts access to law enforcement and tax authorities
• The UK has previously pressed Guernsey, Jersey, Isle of Man and Overseas Territories to introduce full public access to ownership registers
• Policy & Resources President Lindsay de Sausmarez made the commitment during the British-Irish Council Summit hosted at Les Cotils

• States employees have been warned about expressing opinions on GST ahead of next week's debate
• Staff received reminders about code of conduct rules regarding political opinions and social media use, with potential disciplinary action for violations
• Some employees view the warning as an attempt to silence GST critics before the crucial States meeting
• The code requires staff to express comments 'with moderation' and avoid anything that would 'inhibit loyal and effective service' to the States
• The Policy & Resources tax reform package faces 21 amendments and one motion to delay the debate until finances are reviewed

• Dementia Friendly Guernsey has organised an 'under the sea' themed competition for island care homes
• Six entries have been created, ranging from individual projects to collaborative works by residents and staff
• Displays include sea creatures from recycled materials, balloon paintings, clay models, and treasure chests
• The creative activities provide opportunities for meaningful cognitive engagement and reminiscence
• Installations are displayed in communal areas for residents, relatives, and friends to view

• 59.1% of pregnant women and 57.4% of adults in Guernsey are living with overweight and obesity, with childhood excess weight rising from 17.1% in Year 1 to 31.7% in Year 5
• Only 37.7% of adults meet recommended physical activity levels, and just 25% of students in Years 6, 8 and 10 eat five or more portions of fruit and vegetables daily
• Primary school active travel rates increased by 10% to 58% and secondary rates rose to 43%, with 1,023 children participating in Growing Gang vegetable growing programmes
• New digital Oviva weight management programme enrolled 141 people with average weight loss of 2.5kg at 12 weeks, whilst Counterweight Plus achieved average 10.7kg loss at 12 months
• Healthier Weight Strategy extended to 2027 with Tier 3 adult weight management service including GLP-1 medication to launch in 2026 for approximately 360 patients

• Twilight Cinema returns to Castle Cornet from 6th to 15th August with 20 films across 10 days
• Two daily screenings: family films at 5pm (£6) and adult films at 7pm (£7)
• All screenings on castle's top lawn with views over St Peter Port; picnics welcome
• Advance booking required via guernseytickets.gg; no tickets sold at gate
• Programme includes classic and recent films from Ghostbusters to Zootropolis 2

• Grow receives copy of gold medal certificate from RHS Chelsea Flower Show for its contribution to Burncoose Nurseries' winning garden stand
• Grow team handcrafted two bespoke bug hotels in their workshop which featured in the Over the Garden Hedge display
• Four team members were invited to Chelsea during final preparation days and attended the press day
• The garden stand featured more than 500 plants alongside Grow's handmade bug hotels in the Grand Pavilion
• Gold medal certificate will be displayed in Grow's Flourish Café for visitors to see

This week's audio briefing

The Weekly Briefing from The Quarry

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Games

Guernsey Gazette

The building at 4 Tower Hill in St Peter Port has been removed from the protected buildings list.

St Andrew's Parish will hold an election meeting on July 16th, 2026 to fill two Douzenier positions.

GFSC notices

GFSC issues Dear CEO letter on technology risk