Tony’s Notes on Chief Minister and Centeniers

Chaperoning the election

The procedure notes for Election of Chief Minister just say:

"Members are reminded that, in accordance with Standing Orders, the Greffier of the States will read out the nominations and the Presiding Officer will then draw lots to determine the order in which the candidates will address the Assembly. Each candidate will address the Assembly for up to 10 minutes followed by up to one hour of questions from members. When one candidate is being questioned the other candidate must withdraw from the Chamber to a place where he cannot hear the proceedings. "

In 2005, when the rules were devised, both wifi and the accessibility of the internet was not an issue. I think that now that it is, those standing should take adequate precautions to ensure not just that the contest is fair, but that it is seen to be fair, and would be so in the eyes of any outside observers of the process.

While I am sure the candidates standing are both men of honour, the question of what they may do with their time, and what other members within the Chamber may do, is of concern to me in order that the proceedings may proceed in a fair manner.

What is not mentioned is that great care is taken with the process. The Greffier, Dr Mark Egan reassures me that precautions are taken:

“The candidates are chaperoned by Greffe staff to make sure they don't listen to or watch the debate or look at email or social media. We're pretty strict.”

Centenier Crisis and unfair discrimination?

As Bailiwick Express reports:

“A Parish which has previously been fined for failing to attract Islanders to join its honorary police force has been taken to the Royal Court again, as it has been unable to fill the role of Centenier.”

“It is not the first time Mrs Le Sueur-Rennard has appeared before the court following a failure to fill her parish’s quota of Centeniers. In 2015 the Royal Court imposed a £5,000 fine after the parish failed to fill two vacant Centeniers’ positions.”

The Parish of St Helier seems to have no trouble finding 10 Centeniers – however, it has an advantage over every other Parish. As the law states:

“CENTENIER - a person standing for election must not, on the day of nomination, be less than 20 years of age or have attained 70 years of age (Honorary Police (Jersey) Regulations 2005) and must be resident in the Parish in which they are a candidate (but see also Honorary Police (Parochial Domicile) (Jersey) Law 1999); however the Parish of St. Helier (Qualifications for Office) (Jersey) Law 1976 permits persons who are ratepayers of the Parish to be eligible even if they do not live in the Parish of St Helier.”

Why can’t matters be changed for all Parishes? St Helier has an unfair advantage, and if it is fine for St Helier to have ratepayers who do not live in the Parish (but who may have businesses there), why can’t other Parishes?

As with many matters in Jersey, the status quo just continues without thinking about it, but given the crisis – and not the first – in St Saviour – perhaps being able to widen the net would help? May the Constable could bring a proposition to the States to that effect?