Shops to open on Liberation Day
Saturday 31st January 2009, 9:58AM GMT.
SHOPS will be allowed to open on Liberation Day – which this year falls on a Saturday – in a move to help Jersey’s struggling retailers.
The Constable of St Helier, Simon Crowcroft, has given permission for all shops in town to trade on the bank holiday, which is usually covered by Sunday trading laws, following a request from the Chamber of Commerce. Shops which usually open on Sunday will be able to trade as normal on 9 May and others which are usually barred from opening will be allowed to trade from noon.
Mr Crowcroft is hoping that the move will be seen as a compromise by the Chamber and those who oppose trading on Liberation Day. He said: ‘There is provision in law which states that if there is a recognised fete or festival the Constable can allow shops which aren’t normally allowed to trade to open.
‘My greatest concern is that the Liberation Day service is not affected by commercial activity, but I think that as long as shops don’t start trading until midday, this won’t be a problem. ‘My decision was based on a request from the Chamber of Commerce, who wanted shops to trade on an important trading day, and my view is that it is a moderate proposition and a fair compromise.’
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give the workers a break. Who wants to go to town on Liberation day anyway!
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You’ll all survive without shopping for a day. Don’t fall for it, you’ll be open next year!!
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“Nad”
I for one would want to go to town on Liberation day, as I work through the week, rather like most people. Therefore, on the one day per week that we are allowed to go shopping, the shops tend to be rather full up and it’s a fairly unpleasant experience.
Like most people, I look forward to day when our draconian Sunday trading laws are finally scrapped.
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Liberation day is not the Sabbath, or vice versa. Liberation Day, to use the old parlance, is a Bank Holiday. To confuse the two is to confuse the issue.
Personally I find Jersey’s trading laws an anachronism but that is another matter. Let customers and commerce find their own equilibrium.
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Without wishing to go over the same old stuff about Sunday trading and trading laws in Jersey etc etc the first thing that came to mind when I read this article was that seeing as most shop workers in St Helier are not of Jersey origin then Liberation Day has absolutely no meaning for them whatsover so they will not be opposed to working as per normal.Shoppers,as on any other day,can choose what they wish to do and please themselves.
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the only thing that will help local retailers is for them not to hide vat in the prices and offer more choice with prices inline with UK. Everything in town can be bought of the internet, delivered in 48 hours with huge savings. Why support local when you you can save hundreds online.
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Julie,
Most locals are not practicing Christians. Would you support the opening of shops (and your own place of work) on all Christian public holidays for all none Christian workers?
Or maybe it wouldn’t be fair if YOU were treated like a second class citizen?
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Ross, too true. Join the horde and vote with your mouse, at whenever time it suites you.
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Ella- sorry but I am not quite with you on this one.Liberation Day means a lot to Channel Island born people,especially the older generation who lived through the occupation and I support their celebration of it.My point is that non-Jersey born staff probably have no particular feelings about the day in question so wouldn’t treat it as a different day from any other.Just for the record I work on Sundays and public holidays when I am asked to and don’t see myself as a second class citizen at all.
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