tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9095270985170721876.post1489242440313764557..comments2024-03-24T23:22:43.753+00:00Comments on Tony's Musings: Guernsey: The Decline of the ParishTonyTheProfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10486414706261508994noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9095270985170721876.post-18661161948884832562013-01-22T11:49:03.464+00:002013-01-22T11:49:03.464+00:00We have to recognise that the Parishes are undemoc...We have to recognise that the Parishes are undemocratic and unrepresentative. They are run by a small clique of those that like to exercise authority. No attempt is made to widen that group or engage further. The demise of the Jersey Parish system will be no loss, only an advance for democracy. <br /><br />What is desperately needed are States Members who can think constructively about island issues. Constables usually think no further than the horizon of their parish. Such parochialism is a detriment to wider policy making. It’s a real problem for the Establishment, concerned as they are about the fate of Finance. Constables do not share that interest instinctively and are kept on side by virtue of their general social conservatism. They are a guaranteed voting block for the ruling group and its policies in pursuit of business interests generally and Finance in particular. Essentially this is why Option B is the one government supports. The Chief Minister, Ian Gorst, expressed his opinions clearly to a specially convened meeting of the Electoral Commission on 8th August 2011, where he clearly supported the retention of Constables. We must assume this is the government line, even though expressed as a personal position.<br /><br />The Referendum questions have been designed to ensure that Option B triumphs. A significant vote for B will be used as an argument that the public have legitimised the retention of Constables. This in spite of the fact that their retention drives a coach and horse through the principle of equal size of constituency and equality of votes. The Venice Convention, first highlighted by academics reporting to the Commission, have made this point clear. What is good for New Democracies like Kosovo or Bosnia should apply equally to places like Jersey and the Channel Islands in general.<br /><br />Legitimation through the Referendum will be used as a device to deflect possible legal action in the UK Courts (a la Sark), the Privy Council and European Court of Human Rights. Constables will be retained as part of the “margin of appreciation”.<br /><br />The fundamental criticism remains: those in District 5, the wealthy Country Districts of St Ouen, St Mary, St John and St Lawrence, will have 9 representatives – 5 New Deputies elected by the District and 4 Constables. This is manifest over-representation of the Country and the social interests that dominate there. By contrast the Town of St Helier will have 10 New Deputies and 1 Constable. So it gerrymandering all round.<br /><br />So far, those with whom the decision ultimately rests, that is States Members, have remained remarkably quiet. There were quite a few present at the final presentation by the Electoral Commission, so they are attentive. Just watch the Turkeys make a Dogs Dinner out of the recommendations and Referendum, once they feel the butcher’s knife call Christmas.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9095270985170721876.post-82990712034800283152013-01-22T11:37:54.801+00:002013-01-22T11:37:54.801+00:001.
Tony,
A few things you haven't taken acco...1.<br /><br />Tony,<br /><br />A few things you haven't taken account of here -<br /><br />Firstly, whilst most commentators agree that the Parish system in Guernsey has been in decline for the past few years, they also point to the fact that the Parish system was much less a part of life in Guernsey to start with than it is in Jersey. You rightly point out that they don't have the tradition of honorary policing in Guernsey. That won't die out in Jersey just because the Constables aren't in the States.<br /><br />Secondly, if reform Option A goes through, all the Constable elections will be held on the same day as the general election. That will boost turn out in a way that doesn't happen in Guernsey. But even with the status quo, our election turnouts for other Parish roles are still pitiful. I remember an election in my Parish for some ambiguous role that I specifically chose to abstain in because I was just not well informed enough to make a decision (and this comes from someone who usually pays very close attention in all elections). I recall the JEP later reporting the turn out to be at around 2% (can't verify that, just going from memory of course).<br /><br />So the Parish system in Jersey still suffers from that apathy even though there is that link to central government. The reason for this is because the Parishes aren't vibrant and exciting enough to enthuse the people to take part en masse. That is their biggest problem, not the threat to their link to the States. In fact, there is a good argument to say that if the link is severed, they can use it as an excuse to re-energise and re-invigorate the system in a way that is desperately needed. If they fail to do that, it will be their own fault, which is why I want in the next few months for the Comité des Connétables to come up with some sort of document/ vision of what the Parish system could look like if it was separated from the States. Though I suspect they won't bother because they'd rather not inadvertently convince people to vote for Option A.Senator Sam Mézechttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04072393815446147249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9095270985170721876.post-88474476424504386532013-01-21T21:41:52.694+00:002013-01-21T21:41:52.694+00:00So does this mean you prefer B or if not C to Opti...So does this mean you prefer B or if not C to Option A? <br />Personally I'd rather have real democaracy (C) than more of the same (C) or a set up that reduces it (B).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com