Late bid to change 9 May rule for shops
Tuesday 5th May 2009, 2:59PM BST.
Bob Le Sueur
A LAST-ditch plea has been made to stop shops across the Island being allowed to open on Liberation Day this Saturday.
The request has been made by four Islanders who have done much over the years to ensure that Liberation Day is commemorated in a way they deem appropriate.
Economic Development Minister Alan Maclean is on the verge of finalising a ministerial order to declare this weekend a festival – which would allow retailers to open their doors. But it is still not known what hours of trading are going to be allowed.
The four Islanders committed to keeping alive the memory of the Occupation have written to Senator Maclean urging him not to set a precedent that could undermine the significance of Liberation Day in future.
The four signatories are Bob Le Sueur, who lived in the Island during the Occupation and has been honoured for assisting Russian slave workers to hide from German forces; Gary Font, who organises a service on Liberation Day in memory of slave workers, who included his father, Spanish republican Francisco; Michael Ginns, president of the Channel Islands’ Occupation Society, who was interned at the Bad Wurzach camp in Germany; and Paula Thelwell, one of the organisers of Holocaust Memorial Day.
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You would have thought with the economy the way it is at the moment, these four islanders would think about our future instead of our past.
Traders are struggling as it is to make ends meat without proposals to take away one of the busiest trading days of the week.
We will, I am sure all take a moment to remember the brave people who stood up to the invaders during the war.
But let’s allow people to remember in their own way! I certainly would appreciate being able to head to town this Saturday on my only day off! As I am not sure when I will be able to get in otherwise.
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Simple solution give Monday as a day in lieu then. Or is it that business is to tight to give a legitimate day off prefering to take one of the workers nine bank holidays away from them on the pretext that it falls on the wrong type of day?
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People do have a holiday in lieu by law
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As a Retailer of large stores previously in Jersey
and now in Cape Town, M & S St Helier 1980 and I
opened the NOW Checkers Rue De Pre store 1984, I
believe we open on too many days that are meant for family occasions, forcing the ordinary people
to work.These are holidays for the family to
celebrate not for business owners to exploit their
workforce, if the Government enforce the all closure law no one will lose or gain business on
the other because ALL are closed that day.
LIVE & LET LIVE. TONY COUTANCHE
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Because of the economic downturn most firms are asking workers to take the time off, so it can only be a minority of companies and politicians that want to make this day insignificant, I say name, shame, and boycott such places.
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Hands up all those who know a politician who listens to the electorate – thought not !!!
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“The request has been made by four Islanders who have done much over the years to ensure that Liberation Day is commemorated in a way they deem appropriate.”
Well that is good for them. I’m all for respecting local traditions and those that suffered and died under the Liberation BUT… How about whilst I am at work all week they run all my errands for me, and do a big shop, which I WOULD have done on Saturday?
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If these four people (and, indeed, any other likeminded people) prefer not to shop on Liberation day, that is their choice.
If I choose to shop, that should be my choice.
Surely it is the freedom to choose that is important, rather than the imposition of one group’s views on others?
Isn’t that something you fought for and that we rightly hold dear today?
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My reaction over this matter is moderated by the failure of the article to state clearly as to why the four people mentioned have objected? 1)Are they afraid that allowing shops to open this weekend will set a precedent for failing to close when Liberation day falls on a weekday in the future? or 2) are they objecting on behalf of shop staff who should be entitled to celebrate a public holiday along with everybody else? Or 3)are they objecting because they feel Liberation Day should have the same solemnity as Remembrance Day?
1) I believe that liberation day should be a full Public holiday regardless of whether it coincides with a weekend or not. If it falls on a weekend then there should be a public holiday the following Monday
2) Staff who wish to work voluntarily on the day should be given a day off in lieu.
3)Liberation Day is a day of celebration for the restoration of democracy, freedom from occupation by a dictatorial facist regime, an end of oppression and starvation. It is wholly appropriate that businesses geared to leisure and catering should be open on such a day albeit with voluntary staff.I am not so sure the same can be argued for businesses not geared to those markets. One thing liberation day should not be is a second Remembrance Day.
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Tony (no 40)says that ordinary people are forced to work on public holidays.Are they?Personally since moving to England where Sunday opening is the norm I have no problem with working on Sundays or Bank Holidays although my boss seldom asks me to as the students usually want the hours.However it is nicer in my opinion to have a day off in the week if I have worked the weekend as shops etc are quieter.
The fact is that Liberation Day will always be a special day for some people and just another ordinary day for others.I have great respect for those who wish to celebrate and keep it special but you cannot force everyone to feel the same way.
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Sorry, comment 9, why is it appropriate that leisure and catering should be open but not shops?
I am sure the staff will not be working ‘voluntarily’ in the restaurants, if they do not they will probably lose their jobs.
I am not sure why businesses should be forced to close if they do not want to, after all few of the people working in the shops have any connection with Liberation Day.
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Yes we should close shops on Liberation Day.
Mark of respect to all Islanders who lived through this terrible War time. The new generation us, who are their children and grand children should be proud of them!
I don’t think you will starve to death for the shops being closed! If you don’t like it the boat is in St Helier and the airport is in St Peters! What a sorry bunch, just be grateful you were born after the war, and didn’t suffer hardship. Celebrate the day, hold a street party make new friends and give an elderly person a hug say how proud you are of them!!!! To all those with flag poles in their gardens fly your flags! Have a great day, life we know is so very short.
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Well said comment 12. I was born in Lancashire but lived in Jersey for 25 years from 1965.
I now live on the Dorset coast. I have a flag pole in my front garden and I will be flying the Jersey flag on Liberation Day.
I shall also be asking Jersey born and other friends to come round and celebrate.
After reading some of the comments I am pleased that I now live here.
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I don’t understand why it has to be so black and white – (either they open or they don’t) – there is a compromise. All my relatives lived through the Occupation, some here in Jersey in great hardship and under increasingly worsening conditions, and some interned in Germany. I’ve grown up with the stories and admire that generation’s courage and fortitude.
However, although I will always think of them particularly on the 9th and go to the ceremony in Liberation Square to honour what they did for us, afterwards I want to be able to do what I need to do at the weekend, (and can’t do on Sunday until more enlighted times arrive), eg. shop, go to the hairdresser, garden centre, etc. Common sense says businesses could open at midday after the formalities – wouldn’t be disrespectful at all.
Doesn’t mean we don’t venerate that generation, democracy and freedom of choice is what they fought for – for us. Can we have it now please?
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(12) AnnLouise
I find it funny that people always play the “if you don’t like it leave card”.
Obviously you don’t work out of town or at all! and have a family that depend on you to run the errands that need running on the weekends.
As H Horse- comment 11 said: Why is it appropriate for leisure and catering to work. I’m sure the president of the ocupation society won’t be complaining about the staff of the Corbiere Phare working, when they are preparing for the Ocupation Societys Liberation day dinner!!
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Oh My God, as if this is even a topic for discussion.
Move forward with the times and stop hanging onto bits of the past that suit when you want them to.
Liberation Day will always be commemorated but please don’t tell us how to commemorate it or what we shouldn’t do on that day, as the freedom to exercise our rights is what all those brave people fought for in the whole of WWII.
Whilst these 4 should be proud of their involvement in Liberation Day activities, they should be mindful of how ironic their protestations may seem. Are they not attempting to control the majority by assuming they speak for all?
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The Germans forced My father had to close his business for 5 years during the war. We were then liberated and now we are being told that we have to close. Pathetic !!!! Why were we Liberated in the first place? To have freedom of choice.
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this is madness and typically jersey. life does not stop on may 9th. yes an important date in the history of the island but come on…. why shut shops, if you dont want to go shopping and go to the street party then go, if you want to go shopping and the retailer wants to open then brilliant. this island is so backwards. maybe the hospital, police, ambulance, fire departments should close for the day to join in the street party after all why should these services be open. how is continuing daily life making this day insignificant. just because people dont wake up at 7am and rush to the celebrations doesnt mean they are making a mockery of the day, people remember and celebrate in different ways…pathetic
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To No.13 Dorset Dave
Sadly, there aren’t many real Beans left. I also shall be out of here soon.
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Alex, comment 7. “How about whilst I am at work all week they run all my errands for me, and do a big shop, which I WOULD have done on Saturday?”
Alex, maybe its time you started to appreciate the Saturdays you do get off?
How would you like your time off work limited to Sunday and a rotating day during the week? Thats what me and thousands of other islanders have to put up with so you can do your Saturday errands. I can only dream of the luxury of having a complete weekend away from work, quality time with my family for 48 whole hours, every week.
This Liberation day is ONE Saturday you cannot do your errands in town. Be grateful that isn’t the case for FOUR Saturdays each month, every month of the year.
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13 Dorset dave. 19 JC.
Thanks and goodbye.
all the more room left for us that love Jersey
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Can someone explain why opening on one day will be help the economy? Some shops will just have to pay more for staff but may not get enough business to cover their overheads.
People buy what they need and want to buy, if they can’t get it one day they’ll get it another, apart from a possible rise in tourism for Liberation Day (and these will be people who have cheaper places to shop i.e. home!) what makes people think that a shop opening will mean they make more, rather than lose, money?
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This is a joke if people can’t go two days without wasting their money in over priced local shops the end is nigh.
As I have said before if the States had used their nowse they sould have given Monday off in lieu of the working day of Saturday for everyone. Result everyone is happen. What do they do make a hash of things and open on Sunday because Saturday is Sunday this week? How bizarre and sad!
As per better ways of working why can’t the majority work 4 days a week making up the extra day over these 4 days? Easy pessy lemon squeezy! No need to open on Saturday or Sunday! Result people less stressed and they have a 4 day week every week with a flexi day off in the week. Why be a slave to work why not work to live and work smarter? Or do people perfer to work stupid hours to end up with a good chance of not seeing their way into a safe, secure, healthy and enjoyable retirement?
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Nick M (9)
“Liberation Day is a day of celebration for the restoration of democracy, freedom from occupation by a dictatorial facist regime, an end of oppression and starvation”.
We need liberating from the current regime me thinks
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Totally agree B.S. This whole thing reminds me a bit of the spam thing by Monty Python. Replace the word spam with work and away you go.
“And what would you like sir?”
“A day off.”
“We don’t do those.”
“What do you do then?”
“Well you can have work.”
“Do you do day off, and work?”
“No but you can have work, and work.”
“Are you sure you don’t have anything else?”
“Yes!”
“What about work, work, work, work, work, work and a day off?”
“No but you can have work, work, work, work, work, work and work.”
“No thanks I’ll leave it.”
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I’m not so sure why they are making such a big deal out of Liberation Day this year….has this never fallen on a Saturday before??
As a Jersey born woman who likes to celebrate the freedom of this Island, I was pretty annoyed to learn that I had to work this year. No choice in the matter! But i have a day off in lieu, and anyway there are some people in this world who have to work 365 days a year. So i am thankful i’m not one of those people!
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I can’t see what this has to do with government. Let shops do what they want. Some people will go to the shops that are open, others will not. Some may boycott the shops in future. Like so many things, this is the States getting involved in something that can be left to itself.
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Don’t you just love the comments that seem to be found throughout so many of these view points along the lines of “if you don’t like it the boat is in St Helier and the airport is in St Peter” or “I’m jersey born and bred” (as though this then gives that person more entitlement to have their viewpoint heard than somebody not born here)
The real irony of these comments, particularly as we approach liberation day is that the freedom of speech these people so readily enjoy were partly won by many of those who in fact “got on the boat” before the Germans arrived, joined the armed forces and fought to liberate us all!
Some people have no idea how lucky they are!
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I am amazed that this is only being finalised this week. Was it a shock that the 9th May 2009 fell on a Saturday?
Surely there is a simple rule. If a business choses to trade and sufficient staff are happy to work on this day then they should be able to operate. If there are not sufficient staff, then they dont.
It is also a choice of an individual if they go into a shop/business on Liberation day. I find it hard to believe however, that all those who opose, would walk/drive by a shop if they needed something at the last minute.
I myself, am not working tomorrow and will probably not have time to go shopping.
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realist 3)
I’m not getting a day off in lieu and neither are a LOT of people working in the private sector
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(30) Lula
All people that are required to work have a day off in Lieu by law
The JACS guidelines are below
If these days fall on a day an employee is normally required to work the employer has one of two options:
(a) allow the employee the day off work, but pay them as normal; or
(b) require the employee to work; and
(i) pay them for that day’s work; and
(ii) allow the employees a paid day off in lieu.
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Dont worry, it took jersey 50 years after the liberation to have a statue and square wheras most occupied countries in civilised europe had one within a year of the war ending ,so this debate or debacle may go on even longer
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How about those that only work mon-fri? we don’t get a day off in lieu therefore missing a bank holiday – it sucks
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lula I believe you should get a day in lieu as it is classifed as a work day regardless of whether you work it or not. I suggest you check with JACS and see what they say.
If you disagree with me answer how we are getting a day for Boxing Day this year which also falls on a Saturday? Is it a case of some Bank Holidays being more equal than others? I see no difference maybe someone would be kind enough to explain the difference to me?
Ask yourself who gains from this state of affairs?
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I believe i already answered your question Adrian – Jersey follow England around like a lost puppy and because there isn’t a bank holiday over there our bank holiday won’t exist in a few years lol It’s sad that Jersey claims independance but always follows the UK’s examples (usually bad examples) Sunday trading is just around the corner just you watch
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This is a joke. I don’t recall people complaining when the shops were open Christmas morning,or is this also not a significant day in anyones calender?
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Lula [35] Liberation day is a special day for the people of Jersey but unfortunately too many people see things only in money terms and view this as either a bunk off work or double pay. It is no such thing. We get the actual day off to celebrate the anniversary of the liberation. I think therefore your comment about following the UK is unjustly directed towards our authorities when in fact it is the UK greed culture followed now by so many locally that is at fault.
I also find it difficult to reconcile the fact that many people state they would like more bank holidays and at the same time want shops and business to stay open 24/7. A holiday should be for everybody and not just the lucky few.
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