This shows that the Constables really have no place in the States
Tuesday 21st April 2009, 3:00PM BST.
From Barry Breuilly.
WHEN listening to Chris Stone’s phone-in on local radio on 15 April, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
St Lawrence Constable Deidre Mezbourian was opining on the Syvret/Perchard episode and the resignation of Senator Perchard from his position of Health Minister.
When asked by the interviewer, she being the Assistant Health Minister, whether she had any intention of standing for the position of Health Minister, she had the effrontery to say: ‘Oh no, I’m far too busy with parish affairs to be the Health Minister,’ or words to that effect.
What is the woman on about? She is paid £44,000 per annum by the taxpayer to represent the taxpayer, not to spend time at the parish hall organising WI meetings or opening kindergartens.
If this is her desire, then let the ratepayers of St Lawrence pay her more than substantial salary, then she could spend the whole of her time at the parish hall, without the perks that being a States Member attracts.
This is a typical example of what the Clothier report wanted to eradicate, a paid Constable who, in truth, only thinks of and represents her parish and not the taxpayers in their entirety.
The sooner the Clothier report and the question of Constables not sitting in the States in particular is implemented, the better, thus eliminating taxpayer-subsidised officials who very often are re-elected unopposed or at the very least by one man and his dog.
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A more worrying aspect to me was that she said she had to ask the civil servants (greffe) how the role would be filled, she had not got a clue as to the procedure!
Us taxpayers are paying professional salaries to amateurs and their lack of intelligence is astounding. Of course the same radio show you mention allows the same people to rabbit on constantly on many issues without being challenged yet other callers are cut off in a rude manner! Your main point is of course spot on, but look at Len Norman, knew he would not get re elected so stood for constable instead. got in by the back door!
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A part of a constables job is to represent parish interests in the states. It is for that reason being a states member needs to be part of their office.
I do agree they are too busy or should be, with parish business to be such as minister of health, that is not what they were voted for.
If the states assembly is too costly or overpopulated (which I believe it is)why not get rid of the deputies ?
More money will be saved that way.
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So long as we have politicians affecting our lives with their decisions, I’m happy that a number of them are connetables. They are not in it just for themselves – they are happy to put in a lot of work for their parishioners, and are fully in touch with everyday life and the less well off. They are far more ‘grounded’ than those who spend their lives in a cosy bubble all day long.
If they had to stand for election twice (once for the constable role and again for a seat in the States) I suspect most would get in easily anyway.
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The Deputies with their numbers weighted towards the more populous parishes make the house more representative of the island as a whole.
Getting rid of the Deputies and leaving the Senators and Constables would leave a House even more heavily biased towards the wealthy country parishes.
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Do the maths – for each politician in the UK there is roughly 46,000 people. Compare that to Jersey where there are only around 1,800 people per politician. Some might say that this generous ratio ensures a much better service, hehemm.
Using the UK model we’d only need 2 politicians. Obviously that wouldn’t work but it’s also obvious 53 members is way to many and the number should be culled accordingly
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i think the Connetables should be in the states to represent their parish on local matters. ie Connetable Crowcroft on the harbour developement or Connetable Vibert on the Pontins site for example
its the parish deputies that shouldn’t be in the states.
ALL other states members should be elected on an island wide basis only. then and only then can they claim to speak on behalf of the island.
the Deputies Pitman for example (and others Mrs Macon) hide away in their little enclaves not allowinig the majority of the island voters the oportunity of accepting or rejecting their policies.
of course some do stand for senator but if the island voters reject them, they go running back to the safety of their rottern borroughs.
But they still claim to speak for the majority of islanders still want a say in what happens in my parish, my street, my house.
is this really acceptable in a modern democracy?
so Parish Deputies up to you
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Joker, you are ignoring the local government aspect of UK politics, the UK has councillors at the town, city or parish level and again at county level.
They deal with a lot of matters such as planning which never goes near Westminister.
Jersey only has one layer of government and it performs the functions of UK local government eg control of health and schools, some of the functions of UK national government eg social security and passes some of the duties of national government eg defence to the UK.
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The Constables are elected to represent their parishes and it is only through their close involvement with their communities that they are able to do this to such good effect. They do work hard for their parishes but also for our Island. I would suggest Mr Breuilly directs such criticism to those States members who treat their States job as a part time role between outside business commitments.
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OK Pip Clement – agreed. But let’s look at it the other way. Extrapolating Jersey’s number of politicians per head of population and applying it to UK population figures there would need to be around 36,000 UK politicians. Are there 36,000?
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Well said Paul, islandwide mandates would be far too democratic for this place!
It really ruffles my fine plumage that I never got the chance to vote against Deputies I’d rather not see in the States.
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