Liberation ‘scare tactics’
Saturday 13th February 2010, 3:00PM GMT.
Montfort Tadier.
BUSINESSES are using ‘scare tactics’ to fight plans for a replacement holiday for Liberation Day, according to Deputy Montfort Tadier.
The Deputy says that opposition to his plans for a day off on the Friday before 9 May show that the Chamber of Commerce is putting profits before the welfare of workers.
His proposition will be debated by the States in a fortnight, but Chamber president Ray Shead said this week that politicians should stick to their initial decision and not give everyone a day off.
Islanders are missing out on the usual Liberation Day holiday because 9 May falls on a Sunday.
States Members decided last month not to replace the holiday with a day off on the Monday afterwards, but Deputy Tadier says that the alternative is to have a day off on the Friday before.
He said: ‘Mr Shead and other members of the Chamber should examine their consciences and ask themselves, in these tough times, when ultimately it is the workers that suffer – many paying increased rents and rising food and energy bills – whether they should now be expected to make do with one holiday fewer than in previous years.’
See Saturday’s JEP for full story.
Read the full story in the Jersey Evening Post.
Click here for subscription details.
Individual editions are also available online.
The Queen's Diamond Jubilee
JEP Jubilee Editions
Saturday 2 June: Guide to Celebrations
Wednesday 6 June: Souvenir of Events
View The Queen in Jersey supplement
Travel
To, from and around the Island
Airport Arrivals/Departures
Harbours Arrivals/Departures
Bus Information/Timetables
This is Jersey
Jersey Evening Post
Useful links
Why all the fuss now I wonder?
Hasn’t it always been the case that Liberation Day falling on a weekend means that we “lose” a day’s holiday?
Sorry, don’t understand this at all …. which usually means that there is a sub plot to this mallarky.
Report abuse
I think this is pure electioneering by Monty.
He knows that a third of the work force in Jersey is paid for by the private sector the latter coming under immense pressure. My opinion is that he is irresponsible here, but perhaps not, l call it buying votes with other people’s money, it seems to work.
Report abuse
We are not loosing a holiday, just not getting an extra day off. The Liberation day holiday has always been restricted to May 9th.
It is unfortunate that the States did not change with tradition and give an additional day this year but contrary to what Deputy Tadier appears to imply this was because the more responsible members in the assembly are putting the welfare of the Island ahead of buying votes. But the subject was properly debated and a tough decision made. I believe that Jersey is facing very tough times and there are now a lot more important issues to discuss. Deputy Tadier appears eager to attack every decision of our parliament but devoid of ideas himself. Such “popular” proposals must be very easy to make so long as the proposer does not have responsibility to raise the taxes etc required to pay for them. To say that business will not be hit is ridiculous and the cost to the public purse can be easily assessed by the cost of paying every public sector worker an additional day plus whatever overtime is required to make up the work.
Public finances are already stretched and new taxes and cut backs already being proposed. Whilst a day off sounds nice I anticipate that the public who will inevitably have to pay the cost of this day off will be again complaining when taxes rise and services are cut, hitting pensioners and those in need the hardest – just remember at the next election whose contributed to these extra costs.
Report abuse
The Deputy says “it is the workers that suffer – many paying increased rents and rising food and energy bills – they should now be expected to make do with one holiday fewer than in previous years”. Hello, what’s the connection? The cost of living in Jersey is indeed high and we don’t have as many public holidays as many other European countries but how does his proposal really solve anything? Sniffs of getting ready for next year’s elections to me.
Report abuse
The deputy needs to get his priorities sorted out. If he and his other elected officials dealt with the vast waste of public money instead of worrying about another day off they could actually make everyone on the Island better off by tackling head on the rising high tide of tax burden that is about to crash onto our shores. Perhaps however it pressure from States workers or the belligerent, self centred trade union on the Deputy for an extra day off, that triggered this daft motion?
Report abuse
The “Grabbers” are at it again, looking for something for nothing. For those of us who were here Liberation Day was on May 9th and that’s when, and only then, can it be celebrated.
Report abuse
Monty is just looking for votes again. Liberation Day is the 9th and always will be when people are being made redundant we can’t afford an additional day off. Monty should be getting on with more important matters if he can.
Report abuse
The JDA members seem to have some strange priorities. There are far better things for salaried States members to be doing than campaigning for an extra days holiday. If Montford cannot see that, I think he should consider not standing again
Report abuse
Am i missing something? surely the whole point of liberation day is for people to celebrate and remember the date in history.
Its only right that if the day happens to fall on a week day, then that day should be given as a day off to allow all those that would not normally get to be involved in the celebrations a chance to do so.
Thankfully on this rare occasion the date falls on a sunday, which thanks to Jersey Law is a day of rest anyway, with pretty much all shops and businesses shut for the day. thus allowing all those workers the opportunity to join in.
If office workers and bankers want a monday off then i suggest using up some of your holiday allowance, thats what its there for.
I for one enjoy having bankholidays off but in this case i think liberation day should stay exactly where it is and not become another token bank holiday
Report abuse
We voted for Monty in the last elections because he really convinced us at the hustings that he would do something to change Jersey. His party ‘Time 4 Change’ was named in a way to really make a stance. But his proposals so far in office are just leaning towards desperate. I run a business and I do not support closing Friday down to support something which is meant to only be celebrated on a specific day. I hop the States reject this.
Report abuse
Id like to see what percentage of people moaning about their “extra holiday” being taken away actually attend any memorials or take a trip to Liberation Sq to celebrate. If its greater than 10% the drinks are on me. Lazy moaning islanders.
Report abuse
I’ve got it! Have a days holiday, celebrate your independence and freedom and then donate that days pay to your Victim Support! There, everybody wins…don’t they?
Report abuse