Latest news with #PeterRoffey
BBC News
7 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
'Two weeks of paternity leave is enough time to bond with child'
Fathers in Guernsey and gender equality supporters are echoing calls from campaigners in the UK to improve paternity Allen said that, although having a baby was "exciting and nerve-wracking", he wished he could have had more time off work to build a closer bond with his son Ajax, who was born in November said: "My mental health has taken a cliff-dive since my little one was born and I had to come back to work."Peter Roffey, outgoing President of the Committee for Employment & Social Security, said statutory leave entitlement reform was needed and he was asking the next government to look at it. Mr Allen said he found it tough adapting to being back at said: "The first couple of weeks back, I was getting quite emotional. I was having to go off to the toilet to compose myself because it just felt like I was missing out."There were times when I didn't want to be here. I'd much rather be at home with my young family."While it's gotten better as time's gone on, I really do feel like if I had extra time with my young family, I do think I'd be more prepared to come back to work."A group of MPs in the UK has said the statutory parental leave system is "one of the worst in the developed world" and has "fundamental flaws".Introduced in 2003, statutory paternity leave, external allows most new fathers and second parents in the UK to take up to two weeks off work. In Guernsey, a mother has the right to 12 weeks' basic maternity leave, regardless of length of service or hours of is entitled to an enhanced period of 26 weeks leave if she has worked continuously for the same employer for at least 15 there is no statutory obligation on employers to provide paid maternity claiming maternity support leave have a statutory entitlement to two weeks' unpaid parental said his committee was "recommending to our successor committee [after the 2025 general election] that a review is prioritised early in the next term of government".He said: "It's clearly very important that government does all it can to make Guernsey a family-friendly place to live – not just because of the positive social benefits, but because of potential economic benefits as well." Parental leave rights Jersey:Six weeks paid leave at full salary for both parentsStatutory right to request flexible workingGuernsey:Two-week statutory entitlement to parental leave, but unpaidNo legal requirement to give employees paid parental leaveNo statutory right to request flexible hoursUK:Two-week statutory entitlement to parental leavePaternity Pay is £187.18, or 90% of average weekly earnings (whichever is lower)Statutory right to request flexible working Louise Doublet, Chair of the Jersey's Health and Social Security Panel, said the island was a "trailblazer" for equal parental rights for mothers and said: "It's important for children to have both parents fully involved in their care from day one."We need to reduce the stigma around fathers taking parental leave. I know that this stigma still exists."In 2020, Jersey approved new parental leave policies which would treat each parent Doublet said: "As a society, we need to send a message to fathers that they are entitled to this leave, that they are needed in the home caring for their children just as much as mothers are, and that they should fully utilise their parental leave benefits." Elliott Rae, founder of Parenting Out Loud, campaigning for equal parenting and gender equality, said he felt dads had become "undervalued".He said: "I think our role in the family has been really minimized to a kind of provider protector role and we know that that is not enough."Around one in four dads don't take any paternity leave and that is devastating."That fatherhood-infant bonding experience is so important. We know from the research that one in 10 dads will suffer some symptoms of post-mental depression in the first six months of their child's life. "So, if we're not giving that dad the opportunity and the time to bond with their child, they are more at risk of poor mental health."Mr Rae said he felt that six weeks paternity leave should be given to new said: "It's a bare minimum, but it's an adequate amount of time for that dad to spend time helping their partner, to bond with their baby, to look after their mental health, to understand the flow of the household."
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Slashed tyres raises deputy's fear for politicians
A Guernsey politician has said he was targeted by vandals who slashed the tyres of his motorbike, e-bike and his grandson's car while they were parked at his home. Although the motive behind the attack remains unknown, Deputy Peter Roffey suspects it may have been politically motivated. Police said they were investigating the attack after Roffey discovered the damage on Sunday after returning to his St Andrews home from a family bereavement. Roffey, who is standing down at the general election on 18 June after decades of service in the States of Guernsey, said: "At first, I thought it was just bad luck, but when I found all three vehicles had been targeted, it became clear this was deliberate." More news stories for Guernsey Listen to the latest news for Guernsey He added: "There hasn't been a spate of vandalism in the area, and my property seems to have been specifically targeted." Roffey, who was the youngest ever elected deputy in 1982, said the attack has left a "dusty taste" at the end of his political career. "There's no excuse for this kind of behaviour," he told BBC Radio Guernsey. "In Guernsey, politicians are very accessible, if someone is upset with a decision, they can just talk to us. "This kind of mindless vandalism is not what our community is about." Roffey said he had faced hostility throughout his political career. He recalled receiving threats, particularly during his campaign to introduce public smoking restrictions nearly 20 years ago. However, he said this was the first time threats had escalated into physical damage. "This is probably the worst thing that's actually happened to me," he said. "It's one thing to receive threats, but another to come home and find your property attacked." Roffey also expressed concern about the message this sends to prospective candidates. "I hope it doesn't put people off standing for election, but I wouldn't blame them if it did," he said. "We need people willing to make tough decisions, and this kind of intimidation narrows the field." Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to 'I remember thinking that I was going to die' Politicians request £10m for new QEII marina gate Guernsey Police
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Slashed tyres raises deputy's fear for politicians
A Guernsey politician has said he was targeted by vandals who slashed the tyres of his motorbike, e-bike and his grandson's car while they were parked at his home. Although the motive behind the attack remains unknown, Deputy Peter Roffey suspects it may have been politically motivated. Police said they were investigating the attack after Roffey discovered the damage on Sunday after returning to his St Andrews home from a family bereavement. Roffey, who is standing down at the general election on 18 June after decades of service in the States of Guernsey, said: "At first, I thought it was just bad luck, but when I found all three vehicles had been targeted, it became clear this was deliberate." More news stories for Guernsey Listen to the latest news for Guernsey He added: "There hasn't been a spate of vandalism in the area, and my property seems to have been specifically targeted." Roffey, who was the youngest ever elected deputy in 1982, said the attack has left a "dusty taste" at the end of his political career. "There's no excuse for this kind of behaviour," he told BBC Radio Guernsey. "In Guernsey, politicians are very accessible, if someone is upset with a decision, they can just talk to us. "This kind of mindless vandalism is not what our community is about." Roffey said he had faced hostility throughout his political career. He recalled receiving threats, particularly during his campaign to introduce public smoking restrictions nearly 20 years ago. However, he said this was the first time threats had escalated into physical damage. "This is probably the worst thing that's actually happened to me," he said. "It's one thing to receive threats, but another to come home and find your property attacked." Roffey also expressed concern about the message this sends to prospective candidates. "I hope it doesn't put people off standing for election, but I wouldn't blame them if it did," he said. "We need people willing to make tough decisions, and this kind of intimidation narrows the field." Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to 'I remember thinking that I was going to die' Politicians request £10m for new QEII marina gate Guernsey Police
BBC News
04-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Slashed tyres raises Guernsey deputy's fear for politicians
A Guernsey politician has been targeted by vandals who slashed the tyres of his motorbike, e-bike and his grandson's car while they were parked at his the motive behind the attack remains unknown, Deputy Peter Roffey suspects it may have been politically said they were investigating the attack after Roffey discovered the damage on Sunday after returning to his St Andrews home from a family who is standing down at the general election on 18 June after decades of service in the States of Guernsey, said: "At first, I thought it was just bad luck, but when I found all three vehicles had been targeted, it became clear this was deliberate." He added: "There hasn't been a spate of vandalism in the area, and my property seems to have been specifically targeted."Roffey, who was the youngest ever elected deputy in 1982, said the attack has left a "dusty taste" at the end of his political career. "There's no excuse for this kind of behaviour," he told BBC Radio Guernsey."In Guernsey, politicians are very accessible, if someone is upset with a decision, they can just talk to us."This kind of mindless vandalism is not what our community is about." 'Worst thing' Roffey said he had faced hostility throughout his political career. He recalled receiving threats, particularly during his campaign to introduce public smoking restrictions nearly 20 years he said this was the first time threats had escalated into physical damage."This is probably the worst thing that's actually happened to me," he said. "It's one thing to receive threats, but another to come home and find your property attacked." Roffey also expressed concern about the message this sends to prospective candidates. "I hope it doesn't put people off standing for election, but I wouldn't blame them if it did," he said. "We need people willing to make tough decisions, and this kind of intimidation narrows the field."
BBC News
26-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Guernsey politicians request £10m QE2 marina gate replacement
Replacing the gates of Guernsey's Queen Elizabeth II (QEII) Marina could cost about £10m according to the president of the States Trading Supervisory Board (STSB). STSB has approached Policy and Resources (P&R) to discuss how the project could be funded. Deputy Peter Roffey said the best way to fund the project would be through a loan from the States as this was a "a key bit of infrastructure" that was coming to the end of its life.P&R said it had only recently been made aware of the STSB proposal and had expressed its concerns to the board. Roffey admitted it was an expensive project for the States. Non-States member of the STSB and Chair of the Guernsey Ports board Simon Thornton led the delegation to P&R to request the funds. Some of the marina users said they hoped the new gate would be 2m, rather than the current 1m gate. Head of infrastructure delivery at Guernsey Ports, Jenny Giles said: "The QEII gates and surrounding infrastructure are coming to the end of their useful life."Due to their age, the constant use and the exposure to weather and tide conditions all year round, the gates and the surrounding infrastructure are showing considerable signs of wear with repairs being required more frequently."The gates are constantly monitored by Guernsey Ports' team and more recent surveys have established that it would be more cost effective to replace the gates rather than continue with the substantial repairs which are likely to increase year on year." The QE2 marina was officially opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1989, although it first opened in 1987 and the gates have operated 26,280 would be the first time the main gates have been replaced since the facility was year, two new pontoons were installed at the QE2 Marina at a cost of £1.4m. Politicians also clashed with boat owners in 2024 after they increased the cost of moorings in St Peter Port alongside promises these increases would lead to further investments in Guernsey's of Guernsey's general election at one of BBC Guernsey's roadshows, chair of the Guernsey Development Agency Peter Watson criticised the lack of spending on infrastructure. Mr Watson said: "I really want to see some strategic working, I think they need to be brave, Guernsey has some big issues which need resolving. "We need infrastructure, we haven't spent on it in years."We really just have to build some infrastructure and move Guernsey forward."BBC Guernsey's next election roadshow is on 28 May at Vistas café.
