Royal Navy ships patrolling Jersey amid post-Brexit fishing rights row

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Written by northsouth

Category: Europe

Published: 06 May 2021

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LONDON/PARIS - Two British Royal Navy vessels are patrolling waters around Jersey amid concerns of a possible blockade of the island by French boats due to an ongoing row with France over post-Brexit fishing rights.

HMS Severn and HMS Tamar have been deployed by the UK Government to “monitor the situation” at the Channel Island amid a protest by French fishing vessels at the port of St Helier over the lack of access.

French maritime minister Annick Girardin warned on Tuesday that the country is ready to take “retaliatory measures”, accusing Jersey of dragging its feet over issuing new licences to French boats.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke to Jersey Chief Minister Senator John Le Fondre and External Affairs Minister Ian Gorst on Wednesday, and “underlined his unwavering support” for the island.

Dozens of French boats arrived at the harbour on Thursday morning, with some crews setting off flares during the so far peaceful protest, according to the Jersey Evening Post.

The newspaper later said the leader of the protest had asked the French boats to leave the harbour to let a freight ferry, the Commodore Goodwill, depart.

Paris has warned it could cut off power to the island, which receives 95% of its electricity from France through three undersea cables, in retaliation for the fallout.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “HMS Severn and HMS Tamar are deploying to Jersey to conduct maritime security patrols.

“This is a strictly precautionary measure and has been agreed with the Jersey Government.”

A Downing Street spokesman added: “The Prime Minister and Chief Minister stressed the urgent need for a de-escalation in tensions and for dialogue between Jersey and France on fishing access.

“The Prime Minister underlined his unwavering support for Jersey.

“He said that any blockade would be completely unjustified.

“As a precautionary measure the UK will be sending two offshore patrol vessels to monitor the situation.

“They agreed the UK and Jersey Governments would continue to work closely on this issue.”

Don Thompson, president of the Jersey Fishermen’s Association, said his members have warned they are prepared to ditch their fishing licences if the French win their demands.

He told Good Morning Britain: “We’ve already told our minister – our licences, some of our fishermen have paid a quarter of a million pounds for our licences – we’re going to get rid of our licences and fish without licences.

“We just will not put up with those (French) boats being left to fish uncontrolled, unsustainably in our waters, whilst we’re subject to all sorts of constraints.”

Speaking to BBC Newsnight on Wednesday, Mr Gorst said: “We take these threats from both Paris and the French fishermen very seriously.

“They are disproportionate to the issues that are being experienced in the post-Brexit trade licensing issuing.”

The row began after the island implemented new requirements under the terms of the UK-EU trade deal for boats to submit evidence of their past fishing activities in order to receive a licence to carry on operating in Jersey waters.

On Wednesday, Mr Gorst held talks with Marc Lefevre, the president of the La Manche region of northern France, on the “difficult set of issues relating to fishing licences”.

“There are a number of important matters which we will continue to work through,” he said.

Ms Girardin told the French parliament that it gave Paris the “means” to act against the island if the issue could not be resolved.

“Even though I am sorry that it has come to this, we will do so if we have to,” she said.

Mr Gorst, however, said the island is not seeking to bar boats which have historically fished in Jersey waters and insisted the dispute can be resolved amicably.

He said that of the 41 boats which sought licences under the new rules last Friday, all but 17 had provided the evidence required.

“The trade deal is clear but I think there has been some confusion about how it needs to be implemented, because we absolutely respect the historic rights of French fishermen to fish in Jersey waters as they have been doing for centuries,” he said.

“I do think a solution can be found.

“I am optimistic that we can provide extra time to allow this evidence to be provided.”

Earlier this week, France hinted that it may cut off electricity to the island and French fishermen threatened to blockade the main port of St Helier to prevent supplies from being delivered.

Queen, Prince Charles, William and Harry lead mourners

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Written by northsouth

Category: Europe

Published: 17 April 2021

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Windsor, England - The Queen was seen in public for the first time since the death of her husband, as she lead a small number of mourners as they said goodbye to Prince Philip in a funeral service which was shaped by the duke himself.

The Duke of Edinburgh's naval career permeated the service in St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle on Saturday afternoon, with references to the oceans and a hymn associated with seafarers.

Philip died on 9 April at the age of 99 in Windsor Castle.

The Queen followed the funeral procession through the grounds of the castle, joined in a state Bentley by a lady-in-waiting, the first time her husband has gone ahead of her in more than 60 years.

Behind the coffin, their children walked in pairs, first Prince Charles and Princess Anne and then Prince Edward and Prince Andrew.

Their grandsons, Prince William and Prince Harry, walked behind, with Peter Phillips in between.

Behind them were the Viscount Linley and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence.

Members of the Royal Family, including Prince Charles, Prince William and his wife Kate, and Mike and Zara Tindall, were seen arriving around lunchtime on Saturday.

Countess Mountbatten of Burma, Penny Knatchbull travelled to Windsor on Saturday – the only friend of the duke to be able to attend the slimmed down service.

Prince Harry's wife Meghan Markle was confirmed to be watching proceedings from the US, where the couple now lives with their son Archie, who turns two next month.

Philip's favourite driving carriage was pulled by two of his ponies, Balmoral Nevis and Notlaw Storm, to stand in the Quadrangle of the castle as the procession passed by. He took up carriage driving in the 1970s and continued the sport well into his 90s.

The hearse, a custom designed Land Rover, was driven through the Quadrangle as military bands played just before 2.29pm, ready to collect the coffin.

Philip's funeral began with a nationwide one minute's silence at 3pm before the coffin is taken into the quire for the service, led by the Dean of Windsor and the Archbishop of Canterbury.

There were no readings or eulogies from the Royal Family, in line with other royal funerals.

Members of the British Royal Family and the duke's German family, paid tribute to him in the hours before the funeral.

His great-niece Princess Xania, whose brother Prince Phillipp who was one of the 30 mourners at the ceremony, said: "To all of us, he was an idol, he was somebody to look up to, we had enormous respect for him and it was always very exciting when he came to visit, and he came often."

Mike Tindall, the husband of Zara, one of the duke's granddaughters, called him a "devoted family man who we will forever miss but always love".

The ceremony, which included many traditional elements of a Church of England funeral as well as several of his own requests, honoured the duke's "unwavering loyalty" to the Queen and the courage, fortitude and faith".

There were several readings but no sermon, in line with his wishes.

Poet laureate Simon Armitage wrote a poem to mark the passing of the duke, entitled The Patriarchs – An Elegy, which was released on Saturday and set to images of Philip on the Royal Family's social media.

It reads: "On such an occasion / to presume to eulogise one man is to pipe up / for a whole generation – that crew whose survival / was always the stuff of minor miracle, / who came ashore in orange-crate coracles, / fought ingenious wars, finagled triumphs at sea / with flaming decoy boats, and side-stepped torpedoes."

Prince Philip has died, Buckingham Palace announces

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Written by northsouth

Category: Europe

Published: 09 April 2021

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LONDON - The Duke of Edinburgh has died, Buckingham Palace has announced.

Philip, 99, was the longest-serving consort in British history.

The duke and the Queen were married for more than 70 years and Philip dedicated decades of his life to royal duty, serving the nation at the monarch’s side.

He officially retired from public engagements in the summer of 2017.

The Palace said in a statement: “It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

“His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle.

“Further announcements will made in due course.

“The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss.”

The death of the duke comes in the midst of the worst public health crisis for generations as the UK and countries around the globe reel from the devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

It has also taken place in the aftermath of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s bombshell Oprah interview which left the monarchy in crisis after Meghan accused an unnamed royal of racism and the institution of failing to help her when she was suicidal.

Philip had returned to Windsor Castle on March 16 to be reunited with the Queen after spending a month in hospital – his longest ever stay.

He initially received care for an infection but then underwent heart surgery for a pre-existing condition.

The duke had looked gaunt as he was driven away from King Edward VII’s Hospital in central London, having been pushed in a wheelchair to the waiting car.

Philip – father to the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex – was just two months away from his 100th birthday in June.

He spent much of the Covid-19 crisis staying with the Queen at Windsor in HMS Bubble – the nickname given to the couple’s reduced household of devoted staff during lockdown.