Lifeboat appeal hearing this week

Sunday 14 May 2017

Two officials from RNLI headquarters in the UK will be in Jersey on Thursday to hear the appeal of ‘sacked’ coxswain Andy Hibbs.

The charity dismissed Mr Hibbs five weeks ago claiming he’d broken its code of conduct for volunteers, something he denies, and says he’s already been cleared of.

The RNLI’s action prompted all 25 members of the local crew to quit in an act of solidarity. Two silent protests outside the station on the Albert Pier in support of Mr Hibbs and the crew, and calling on the RNLI to re-instate him, have attracted hundreds of islanders.

There have also been questions in the States, and an online petition has more than 4,500 signatories. There have also been calls to boycott fundraising events. The dispute even made national news.

Since the ‘sacking’ and the mass walkout the St Helier boat has been manned by a team brought over from the UK by the RNLI.

The Jersey crew says it would go back to manning the lifeboat straight away, if Mr Hibbs was reinstated.