Today in the States

GUERNSEY will go to the polls on Wednesday 18th April.

In the final vote of the July meeting, the States this afternoon rejected an amendment by Deputy John Gollop for the General Election to be held on a Saturday instead.

Members rejected the move by 37 votes to seven.

PUBLIC holiday's have been earmarked for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee next year.

With little debate, the States voted to move the public holiday traditionally held on the last Monday in May to Monday 4th June instead.

And Tuesday 5th June will be an additional public holiday.

THE minimum wage will rise by 2.5%.

Deputies accepted Commerce and Employment's proposal this afternoon.

From 1 October, the adult rate will go up from £6 an hour to £6.15, with minimum pay for 16 to 18-year-olds rising from £4.25 an hour to £4.36.

But it could also face a further challenge that month.

Deputy Matt Fallaize has threatened to bring back his failed amendments - to give deputies more say and to tie the base rate to average earnings - as requetes.

HOME will produce a new sex offenders register for the island after the States unanimously voted through proposals for new legislation yesterday.

Department minister Geoff Mahy also assured deputies it would review the severity of sentencing after concerns were raised following the Guernsey Court of Appeals recent reduction of the sentence of a man possessing indecent images of children from 15 months to three.

GUERNSEY will have a new regulator of airport security. Deputies unanimously voted for Commerce and Employments request for the new £18,000 to £20,000 a year position to keep airport security up to date with UK standards.

See tomorrow's Guernsey Press for full details