1

Sanity

With the Island facing an imminent recession, over a thousand unemployed and crippling cuts being proposed in key services I would have though politicians would have bigger and better things to do than start another expensive enquiry into the make up of the States, especially as there is another 2 years for such electioneering stunts.
Before too much time and money is wasted Perhaps Constable Norman could answer some very obvious questions:-
How does holding two separate elections fit in with the public demand for a single general election? – having two separate elections for the Constables seems to put a rather large spanner in the works of the new PPC proposals.
If a constable did not sit in the States would his salary be paid from Parish [rates] funds rather as the tax payer who would then have to employ an additional body to sit in the States?
If a Constable chose to sit in the States would he get double the pay? –so much for cutting back on expenses.
Does this proposal reflect a feeling that the role of politician is grossly undervalued for the work involved?
Who would represent the Parish system in the States? Or should the parish system be allowed to die.
If Constable Norman thinks that he is overworked by having to cover both functions then there are many other honorary positions suitable for the part time retired person looking for a position of status with not too much work involved.

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3

Pip Clement

More water muddying.

By the time they get round to debating the proposals there will be enough to kepp them going for a few days and at the end of it nothing will be done, the stus quo will remain and Jersey politics and what is left of the febrile democracy that underpins it will continue to die on its feet.
But the old boys and girls club with the tea room and the free lunches will have survived to sleep another day!

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5

Adrian

Get rid of the Constables they should be looking after their own parishes and be paid by their own parishes.

Also get rid of the 5 unelected members of the States while at it as far as I am concerned. That would remove 17 establishment people in one fell swoop, and knock 12 votes off the establish side at the same time.

We need to get away from a defacto one party state as I see it and the sooner the better.

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7

truthseeker

6 Simon,think you’ll find the title was “Constables” to fight ,so I left out the c.o.m which if you notice I have no time for and recognise their utter failure and am one of those who won’t rest till this failed Govt is reformed into something ,fit for purpose,with a restoration of democracy and fairness.

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9

J Lamborrari

Len Norman’s propsition will fail, partly because it’s not a very good idea (except for the removal of the constables), and partly because the States simply doesn’t have the bottle or imagination for such radical reform.

Idealy the constables should be removed, but I’d go further and get rid of the old, out-dated parish system too.

13 different authorities collecting the same taxes/rates doesn’t make any sense. 13 authorities policing an island Jersey’s size doesn’t make sense. And a quasi-judicial system that favours the guilty and penaloses the innocent.

It’s well past it’s ‘use by’ date, and getting the constables out of the States is as good a place to start in doing away with it… but it still isn’t going to happen anytime soon.

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