A Short History of Guernsey: The Constitution of Guernsey

A Short History of Guernsey: The Constitution of Guernsey

From the Channel Islands Directory, 1981. I have kept in the adverts on the pages as they are rather fun, and also added a codicil bringing the position up to date.

The Constitution of Guernsey

In Roman times a rough and ready form of Government prob-ably existed in Guernsey in the form of the Gallic tribal moot; island chieftains were probably subject to discipline by the Roman consular or pretorian legate in Constantia (the modern town of Coutanches).

In the Dark Ages and until long after the Norman colonisation of Northern France, small communities of inhabitants on the island probably had no allegiance to anyone, and were ruled over by a head man.

In pre-Norman Conquest times the Channel Islands together formed one of the seven great bailiwicks of Normandy, and each island was controlled by a warden or custodian representing the Duke or his fief-holders. Local government, such as it was, took place at small feudal courts.

At a date unknown, but between 1066 and 1216, a King's Court was established in Guernsey; a Charter of the reign of King John (circa 1213) confirms the existence of a Royal Court and Twelve Jurats in the island of Guernsey. The original Charter is lost but a 13th century copy of it exists in the records of the Tower of London. The King was represented from 1204 to 1470 by a "Warden of the Isles" responsible for both Jersey and Guernsey, but later a Captain or Governor was appointed to each island, and from those times stems the present day office of Lieut-Governor.

It was the duty of the Lieut-Governor to look after 'military affairs and all matters appertaining to the Crown', and it was the function of the Royal Court of Jurats to administer the island's civil matters. Towards the end of the 15th century the Royal Court had co-opted the services of the rectors of the ten parishes of the island together with other men called Constables drawn from the `douzaines' or parish councils, and this enlarged body thus constituted became "the states", 'les etats' (the estates) exactly on a pattern with the system operating in France before the Revolution. The three "estates" comprised 'the nobility, the clergy and the third estate.

 

The body making the laws also judged the laws; there has never entirely been a 'separation of powers' of the legislative, the executive and the judiciary under the Guernsey constitution.

In the 18th century conflict arose between the 'old guard', the members of the Royal Court, and the clergy and constables. The latter contended that the Jurats had no right to participate in the making of laws and in the government. But this opposition died down and the constables had to content themselves with the voting of money only.

Reform came at the end of the 18th century when St. Peter Port parish was given larger representation in the States.

More reforms came in 1846 resulting from recommendations of a Select Committee of the Privy Council. The Parish Constables in the States were replaced by chosen 'delegates' and six extra seats were awarded to St. Peter Port parish because that parish contributed more than two-thirds of the island's revenue.

In 1899 a further Reform Law was passed adding eighteen People's Deputies to the States, serving for a period of three years and elected by limited franchise. After the First World War the franchise was widened so that non-ratepayers as well as ratepayers had the right to vote. Women over the age of thirty also qualified to vote.

Two years after the Second World War came more agitation for reform. A Royal Commission set up to examine the constitution of Guernsey, made recommendations for drastic change. Jurats and Rectors were banished from the States. 

The office of "Conseiller" was set up; 12 wise men, indirectly elected, forming a sort of Upper House. The number of People's Deputies was increased to 33 elected on the basis of universal adult suffrage. Thus under the Reform Law of 1948 the directly elected representatives now having a majority in the States of Deliberation and Guernsey is slowly coming into line with other democratically governed countries.

Her Majesty's representative in the island, His Excellency the Lieut-Governor, has a seat in the States; he may speak but he has no vote. 'The two Crown Law Officers, Her Majesty's Procureur and HM Comptroller, speak on matters of law but do not vote. Two representatives of the island of Alderney speak and vote only on matters relating to their own island. Sark and Herm have no representatives in Guernsey's legislative assembly.

My Update to Modern Times

While the Reform (Guernsey) Law 1948 remains the "basic constitution," several "drastic changes" have evolved since the 1981 description. As of March 2026, the States of Deliberation operates with the following structure:

1. Composition of the States

The 1948 concept of "Conseillers" (the 12 indirectly elected "wise men") was abolished in 2000 to move toward a more direct democracy.

People's Deputies: The number has increased from the 33 mentioned to 38 Deputies. Since 2020, they are no longer elected by parish districts but via a fully island-wide electoral system.

Alderney Representatives: There are still two representatives from the States of Alderney. Crucially, they now have the right to speak and vote on all matters (both Bailiwick-wide and Guernsey-only), not just those relating to their own island.

Bailiff: Continues to serve as the President of the States and the island’s chief justice.

2. Governance and Executive Power

Guernsey has moved away from a purely committee-based system toward a more centralized executive: Policy & Resources Committee. Established in 2016, this is the senior committee of the government, responsible for coordinating policy, external affairs, and the Government Work Plan.
Parish Representation: The Douzaine representatives (one from each of the 10 parishes) previously had seats in the States of Deliberation but lost their seats and voting rights following further reforms in 2004 to ensure all voting members were directly elected.

A Short History of Guernsey

This is taken from the Channel Islands Directory, 1981. I have retained the adverts which punctuate the pages.

A Short History of Guernsey

Guernsey, the second largest of the Anglo-Norman or Channel Islands, is situated almost in the centre of the Great Bay of Avranches, that corner of the English Channel embraced by the Cherbourg and Brittany peninsulas. Only 28 miles from Cap Flamanville on the Normandy coast, Guernsey is important as the administrative and communications centre of its Bailiwick which comprises the outlying islands of Alderney, Sark, Herm, Jethou and Brechou.

Guernsey is nearly in the shape of a right angled triangle, about thirty miles around the coast, with an area of 25 square miles; it is noted for the friendliness of its inhabitants, the neatness of its dwellings and the number of its winding, twisting roads. Its population at the 1971 census was 51,351, which is only a comparatively small increase on the figure at the turn of the century.

The earliest inhabitants were men of the later Stone Age and Bronze Age and evidence of what is thought to be their settlements and religious cults are to be found in the numerous dolmens and monoliths dotted over the island, particularly on the west coast and in the low lying areas of L'Ancresse in the north. Numerous objects were unearthed in these graves by F. C. Lukis and T. D. Kendrick.

 

Almost nothing is known of Roman influence on the islands of the Guernsey Bailiwick. Some experts believe that parts of the Jerbourg "lines" were thrown up by Roman galley crews as a fortified shore-base, and Roman coins have also been dug up from the foundations of a building in St. Peter Port. Such coins were the daily currency of the Gallo Romano traders who sailed over from Normandy.

The Roman name for Guernsey was almost certainly `Lisia' (vide transactions of La Societe Guernesaise 1962); it was not Sarnia as is commonly supposed.

In the 6th century St. Sampson, a Breton saint and missionary, came to the island of Lesia, the Lisia of the Antonine Itinerary. In Lesia, it was recorded, he preached to a considerable congrega¬tion. His church was established on the northern tip of the island. A Celtic legend relates that monks who followed St. Sampson set about christianizing the numerous pagan stones-of-worship by im¬printing them with the cross.

By the first half of the 10th century several village settle-ments had been established : at Les Camps, St. Martin's, Val au Bourg, Le Bourg, Forest, Trinity, St. Peter Port, La Fontaine and Anneville in St. Sampson's, and Les Buttes, St. Saviour's. These hamlets were surrounded by corn land and from them and their natural territorial confines have developed five of the island parishes. 

These five parishes, St. Martin, Forest, St. Saviour, St. Peter Port, St. Sampson were in existence in the 9th century A.D. Their inhabitants were Celtic rather than Norman, dark haired rather than blond, short rather than tall, speaking a language akin to Gaelic. At the same time the Northmen or Normans in long ships were attacking Normandy and in 911 A.D. the King of France acceded half of that vast province to Rollo, the leader of the Vikings. Rollo was given the whole of the north shore region of Nenstria, nearest to the islands.

Twenty years later Rollo's son, William Longspear, attacked and conquered Brittany and incorporated the islands of Guernsey, Alderney and Sark into his possessions.

In the second half of the 10th century the remaining Guernsey parishes came into existence so that for administrative purposes the island was divided into ten units each with a douzaine or parish council.

In 1055 William, Duke of Normandy granted by charter to the abbey of Marmontier near Tours six of Guernsey's parish churches: "ecclesia Sancti Petri de Portu, ecclesia Sancti Andee de Patenti Pomerio, ecclesia Sancti Martini de la Berlosa, ecclesia Sancti Marie de Tortevalle, ecclesia Sancti Sampsonis Episcopi, et ecclesia Sancti Trinitatis de Foresta".

 

Probably about the time of the Norman Conquest of England Guernsey became subdivided into manorial feifs. More than one hundred such administrative enclaves are known to have existed and seventy have survived to the present day. Some of the followers of the Counts of Normandy and other influential Norman abbots were rewarded by the grants of fiefs in Guernsey from which they could levy taxes. Each fief had its own Seigneural Court at which rough justice was administered. To this day the Seigneurs of the Fiefs in Guernsey enjoy some special financial privileges so that manorial properties are much sought after by speculators and estate agents.

William the Conqueror defeated the English at Hastings in 1066, and so the Duke of Normandy became King William I of England. But it was Henry I in 1106 who was emphatically the first sovereign of these islands. He had ruled the islands as Compte du Cotentin before he acceded to the throne and he had a personal knowledge of the islands. In 1111 he made a new grant to St. Sampson's church to enlarge the building already erected in 1055. Peace and good government prevailed in Guernsey until the revolt of the Norman barons in 1204.

During the reign of King John in 1204 Guernsey possessed a small garrison. This garrison, under Peter de Preaux, gave help to John in his effort to crush the Baron's rebellion. When John had lost Normandy his Channel Islands were in the hands of a licensed free-booter named Eustace le Moine who had been com¬missioned by the King at Gillingham. This monkish adventurer was unreliable. He was replaced by Philip d'Aubigny, a worthy supporter of King John, and thus the islands were retained for the Crown, and have remained British ever since.

 

Throughout four long centuries the legal disposition of the Channel Islands was in dispute between Britain and France, both countries laying claim to them, and the French made several savage attacks on Guernsey. During the 78 years from 1295 to 1373 the island was attacked eight times. Raiders burned the town of St. Peter Port, its church and houses and standing crops. Enemy oc¬cupation lasted two years on one occasion.

In 1373 Yvan de Galles, a Welsh prince serving under Charles V of France attacked Guernsey with a mixed army of Spaniards and Welsh, landing at Vazon Bay. His army was defeated and he himself drowned while attempting to flee.

There are records of attacks on Guernsey in Henry IV's reign and again in Henry VI's reign a Guernsey naval force was much praised for its skilful attack on a French fleet in which five hundred prisoners were taken.

Two ancient Charters dated 1465 and 1468 bear testimony to the reliability of Guernseymen : "how valiantly, manfully and steadfastly the said peoples and communities of the said islands of Guernsey, Sark and Alderney have stood out for us" wrote the Royal hand at Westminster.

In 1483 a copy of the Papal Bull signed by Pope Sixtus IV was nailed to the doors of Canterbury cathedral and simultaneously affixed to the door of the Church of St. Peter Port, Guernsey. This document declared the Channel Islands neutral and threatened ex-communication on anyone who should violate them.

 

In the year 1564 Queen Elizabeth I transferred Guernsey from the bishopric of Coutances in Normandy to the bishopric of the Protestant See of Winchester and from that time the Roman Catholic Church lost its influence over the island.

Guernsey played a dual role in the Civil War, 1642-1651. Grievances against Charles I who owed a debt of £4,000 to islanders, the tyranny of the Governor, Sir Peter Osborne and the widespread teaching of French Calvinism had the combined effect of forcing the people of Guernsey into the Parliamentarian camp. The members of the States themselves were doubtful about the validity of the Parliamentarian cause. Parliament had sacked the Bailiff, set up a body of 12 commissioners to replace the Royal Court of Guernsey and sent an expedition of 500 Parliamentary soldiers to the island. The Parliamentarians, although not popular with the poorer people, remained in control of Guernsey until the Restoration of Charles II in 1660. Then the prominent men of the island speedily petitioned the King acknowledging their guilt and craving pardon.

 

Throughout the eighteenth century Guernsey was on a war footing, living constantly under fear of invasion. By the end of the century there were in the island sixteen forts of various sizes, fourteen Martello towers, and 58 batteries, but although in 1794 many islanders witnessed Admiral Lord de Saumarez's thrilling naval action off the west coast the French never again made a serious attempt at landing.

The Victorian accession ushered in a period of calm and contentment. Guernsey, which had prospered greatly in the 18th century due to the profits of privateering, became even more prosperous. On Monday, 24th August, 1846, Her Majesty Queen Victoria and Prince Albert visited Guernsey. The Queen was welcomed by the Lieut-Governor, Major General Napier, members of the States of Guernsey, and an "assemblage of some seventy young ladies belonging to the principal families, who were mostly arrayed in white." The Royal Guernsey Militia and the regular garrison, some 2,500 soldiers were on parade. It was a grand occasion, the first time that a reigning sovereign had visited the island since the age of King John. On departure Her Majesty "expressed her entire satisfaction with the arrangements made."

During the First World War, the Royal Guernsey Militia, the island's trained band that traces its history back to the Hundred Years War, was temporarily formed into a light infantry battalion. Men whose ancestors, some claim, saw service with William the Conqueror's knights at Hastings, once again fought for king and country at Ypres, Cambrai and Passchendale.

The Nazi tyrant Adolf Hitler cast his greedy eyes on Guernsey. In June 1940 a small German airborne force captured the island without a shot being fired and for five years the peaceful inhabi¬tants endured the rigours of a hateful occupation. Memories of this nightmare still endure in the minds of those who suffered, but time has healed most of the wounds, and the only visible scars that remain are the towers of steel and concrete around our coasts, monuments to a madman's folly that will stand for a thousand years.

The End.

Electricity and Explosions in the Bailiwick of Guernsey

I’ve been looking at some stories in the Guernsey Press recently on Alderney and Sark.

Is the future for Alderney electrifying?
“A FRENCH tidal power project which would pave the way for a much larger scheme in Alderney waters moved a step closer yesterday. Manuel Valls, the French prime minister, announced that following a rigorous selection process, naval shipbuilding giant DCNS had been chosen to partner in the development of a pilot tidal turbine array off the coast of Normandy. ”

“The project will see the installation of seven tidal turbines in the Raz Blanchard which will stay there for 20 years. Alderney Renewable Energy, which is part-owned by Open Hydro, a DCNS company, wants to build a 150-turbine 300MW tidal array in the powerful currents of the Alderney Race by 2020. That project would also see a France to Alderney to Britain inter-connector installed under the Channel.”

This news about Alderney is most welcome – with the Island transport links already fragmented and the population in quite steep decline, Alderney needs some commercial incentives and a boost to the economy to draw people there.

If Alderney can benefit from tidal power, it may well also be in a position to sell power cheaply to the other Channel Islands, putting its economy on a firm footing, and perhaps being able to subsidise better transport links.

One of the comments on the Guernsey website was as follows:

“Good on Alderney for having the bottle to see a golden opportunity - shame guernsey politicials have done nothing but prevaricate over alternative power. A shame but what we've come to expect.”

In Jersey, the late Dan Murphy, Constable of Grouville, was Chair of the Tidal Steering Group, tasked with looking into energy from maritime resources. I don’t know what has happened to that since his death, but whatever has been going on has been so low key it could well have sunk without trace. Nothing has appeared in the media.

Here is surely an opportunity to become more self-sufficient and less dependent on a critical lifeline to France for our electricity, but since 2011, I can find no mention of “Jersey Tidal Group”. There is a January 2011 document entitled “Tidal Power for Jersey: The Next Steps”, but this seems to have turned into a dawdle, if not stationery.

Technology has moved on considerably since 2011, when it was deemed too expensive, and perhaps now is the time for a second look.

Explosive Times in Sark
“AT LEAST 60 German mines - a number of which are live and filled with explosives -were yesterday uncovered by bomb disposal experts in Sark. Two officers, Simon Hamon and Stuart Allan, have today been digging out the buried Second World War S-mines, found in a field near the Belair pub when they were ploughed over the day before. The number of mines, which each contain 360 ball bearings, remains unknown, as they continue to find more buried deeper. Pc Hamon said they had never come across such a large quantity of mines in one area - including around a dozen that were live.”

Isn’t it extraordinary that even today, nearly 70 years after the end of the Second World War, we are still finding mines or unexplosed shells in the Channel Islands

Of course, given the recent decision to close all the Barclay Brother’s hotels in Sark next year, this has prompted a flurry of comments:

Whispers from that bastion of truth the "Sark Newspaper" say these mines were planted by the Seigneur's stormtroopers in response to the recent hotel closures.

It`s a Barclay`s message, Sark`s MINE, MINE, MINE, MINE, and the sooner you all realise that then the sooner we reopen Sark.

Throw them at Brecqhou.

Shouldn't Sark invite Mrs Merkel to send over a few disposal officers? I'm, not sure why Channel Islanders should take that risk on. "After all, Miss - THEY started it..."
(and maybe they could give Michael Beaumont a few tips on running a regime like 1930s Germany, while they were around?)
I wonder if the Barclay brothers have a sense of humour. The Barclay Brothers funded Sark Newspaper, which Private eye recently reports on, likens the Seigneur, Michael Beaumont to a Nazi ruler. Two recent examples will suffice:

“Most German civil servants were willing to accept and work with the new regime, which made a strong appeal to the nationalist, anti-democratic, authoritarian traditions of the service.” “Civil servants were prominent among those seeking to insure their positions and pensions by joining the Nazi Party.”* Sark’s civil servants are willing to accept and work with Michael Beaumont’s regime for the same reason.-

“With clear parallels to 1930’s Germany, Mr Beaumont and his feudal fundamentalist supporters dis- tort reality and manipulate the truth into lies and propaganda in order to discredit and criminalise people with opposing views as well as to persuade Islanders and the world at large that Sark’s par- ticular form of feudalism is merely a benign tradition and that the recent rounds of law reforms have given the People of Sark democracy - when these reforms in effect have enhanced the autocratic feu- dal lord’s already considerable powers.”

I wonder if anyone takes this nonsense seriously. In the normal course of events, it would probably be seen as the ravings of a political crank, but as it appears to be funded by the Barclay Brothers, it gets airtime, although none of this relentless diatribe ever finds its way into the more sober Barclay owned Daily Telegraph, Now isn’t that odd?

Jersey and Winchester: The View from Guernsey

On 30 November, 2013, under a headline of "Sex complaint row threatens church split", the story broke that "Guernsey may leave the Diocese of Winchester in a protest move, it has emerged."
 
This was a statement made by the Vice Dean, who said that Guernsey would follow Jersey if a current dispute with the diocese resulted in "divorce". As the Guernsey Press reported it:
 
"Vice-Dean the Rev. Kevin Northover acknowledged tensions were high between the Jersey church and the diocese following an investigation into how a sexual misconduct complaint was handled by the Jersey Deanery. If the relationship cannot be patched up, it has been suggested that Jersey might look to withdraw from the diocese, potentially moving to one in Europe. While neither Mr Northover nor the Dean, the Very Rev. Canon Paul Mellor, wanted to speculate on the potential pullout, the former said the Channel Islands would in all likelihood stick together. 'If, for example, Jersey chose to go in a certain direction it would be silly for us not to as well,' Mr Northover said."
 
This provoked some interesting comments.
 
"Dani" said that: "My gut reaction is irrespective of the practicalities of staying with Jersey it is better reputation wise we distance ourselves from the Jersey on this one completely. There is nothing positive about sticking together with them or being associated with them on this matter. It concerns me actually our local reverend is taking this stance."
 
And she came to the core of the complaint, citing almost verbatim the Korris report:
 
"A vulnerable adult called HG (26) disabled through autism began attending a church in Jersey then began living with the church warden and his wife. The dean of that church had said he had previously spoken to the church warden about the fact he is too tactile, stands too close to women, touches too much/inappropriately. His manner was deemed to be inappropriate to such an extent that he was chaperoned within the church when in close proximity to women."
 
It is interesting to note the focus on this, because the safeguarding issue about the churchwarden and his inappropriate behaviour - not just with HG, but other women - has been pretty much overlooked in Jersey. The focus of attention there is whether there is any blame associated with the clergy, and the churchwarden does not even seem to have featured in the Steel report, as far as press releases go.
 
Dani goes on to summarise the case:
 
"H.G. wrote an email attaching a lengthy, detailed, account of unwelcome and potentially abusive behaviour she had experienced at the hand of church warden. This included emotional manipulation by being described as his "adopted daughter" but then later rejected, and an unwanted and inappropriate physical intimacy. This was sent to the church dean."
 
"Now how her complaint was dealt with in my opinion completely failed her. She was questioned in an aggressive manner by several church personnel about her account. Now in my opinion as soon as anyone says they have been abused you say I BELIEVE YOU. Not attack them or query them. You then make a police complaint immediately for it to be investigated. This stuff is serious. It took the dean 25 days to tell this heavily autistic person who solely looked to the church to go to the police - and that was only after they had gotten legal advice. Truly disgusting and shocking."
 
"Anyhow I haven't been keeping up to date with this case but HGs mental state diminished (used later to undermine her accounts) and she ended up being deported to UK and is reported to have been homeless and penniless."
 
"There are safeguarding procedures issued for a reason to make sure things are dealt with properly. I don't want us to be associated or seen to endorse what happened in Jersey."
 
Deputy Ellis Bebb made a comment after this:
 
"I think that the question we should ask ourselves is whether Winchester is the right diocese for Guernsey. I think that what happened in Jersey poses a lot of questions, but I'm convinced that as with any breakdown in relations, there's plenty of blame to go around for everyone. One small correction, the woman wasn't deported but bound over by the Jersey courts; the decision to do so was at the courts discretion & nothing to do with the church. "Regardless of how we got to this situation, I think that it affords Guernsey the opportunity to ask whether the diocese of Winchester is the best fit for the Deanery. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't, but given that Jersey are looking at the issue, it's logical for us to do the same."
 
Deputy Bebb seems unaware that while it was the civil courts who made the decision of binding over, it was the clergy who were the complainants, and who supplied statements to the police. So to say it was purely a civil matter is overlooking the wider chain of events.
 
Dani came back - very politely (a lesson to Jersey, I feel) - with this remark:
 
"Elis, I respectfully disagree but thank you for engaging. First I will say it is always good to continually ask what is the right set up for any organisation and to look at the benefits for the users. Those are the people that matter. In respect of the churches I believe many users can be vulnerable and that they go their to find acceptance, help, support and love from the church community/god/christ. They should be safe. Clearly the Jersey procedures did not work and they resulted in a very poor outcome for a vulnerable person. There seems to be no valid reason to reject these safeguarding principles and this is what it is all about."
 
"I have heard no other local person ever before speak of wanting a split from Winchester and the reality is the split would in these circumstances be driven from wanting to carrying on in an outdated way in Jersey where concern for the vulnerable is not prioritized. No records were even kept by these people. You would think that was a minimum requirement. It definitely does pose a lot of questions why such a fuss on their part!"
 
"HGs deterioration in mental health unfortunately led to criminal offences that resulted in her being sent to the UK with no money and no-one to meet her. What kind of experiences bring on mental health deterioration?"
 
And Dani has evidently been reading Korris, because she cites these paragraphs:
 
From the independent report: "The Church let H.G. down. Despite the difficulties of her background and disablement, and struggle with some everyday practicalities, H.G. was none-the-less in employment, pursuing hobbies, socializing and wanting to be accepted in the church community. Over the next three years H.G.'s life changed from having no history of being in trouble with the law, to having a police record and being a displaced person, homeless on the streets of the mainland."
 
Following on how she felt: "H.G. felt disbelieved and publicly humiliated. In reaction to her sense of getting no adequate response to any of the issues she raised she appealed to the higher authority of the Bishop, to Lambeth Palace, and to the media in the form of BBC Jersey, all to no effect."
 
Her conclusion:
 
"I believe it is disingenuous to thus pretend that the church had nothing to do with the outcome of her resulting mental state and actions especially when they have such issue with implementing procedures to stop it ever happening to anyone else. It is incredibly easy to see how this all happened. It is all very much related unfortunately and nasty business."
 
"As much as it may seem logical to look at the issue in isolation it is not the reality, and will not be perceived as such. It definitely makes me wonder why such eager support is put forward straight away to Jersey with no critique. Very pally - no critical analysis in regards to a move on the face of it."
 
"Surely as good as it is to stay with Jersey there are other complications from change and aligning with EU institutions. It is not straight forward. None of that was mentioned in this press release. I think it is perfectly valid to stress Jerseys association with child abuse, what has happened and how our churches react should take all of this into account."
 
"Clearly I agree with you in essence - always best to think about how to move forward but to me. it doesn't look like Jersey is doing that at all. So following them in their path does not look like a good move."
 
Deputy Bebb replies as follows:
 
"Dani, I don't wish to engage particularly on this case as I know that there are a number of contentious points & I don't have the full details to make a public statement about the specifics of the case. One thing that I would note, I've heard it suggested even during Bishop Michael's time that Winchester was not the best fit. It would seem that it is even less so under Bishop Tim. This doesn't mean that we have to or should move diocese, but the question is being posed & it would be foolish not to take the opportunity to consider the options. The devil is in the Detail"
 
A contributor called "Heaven's Eye View?" then makes these points:
 
Mostly fair comment Elis. but just "One small correction". Ex Metropolitan policeman and Jersey States Member Bob Hill MBE has done a series of very informative blogs on this. Let's not be hiding behind the detail of contrived situations or language, at the expense of the bigger picture.
 
EVERYTHING that happened to the vulnerable woman IS church related.
-The safeguarding issues,
-the botched complaint,
-the autistic lady's backlash,
-the dubious reporting to police to prevent her potentially making a scene at a church service,
-the alleged mistreatment and further safeguarding issues after attest/snatching from her home,
-the even more dubious refusal of bail for someone of good character on a minor charge potentially engineered to soften up the vulnerable woman & make here loose her job and her home.
..right to the choice she was then given in court go back in to prison or be leave the island ("constructively DEPORTED" should we say) with no money and no home and no provision for her immediate or long term care.
 
"The first winter was the worst but she has learnt survival and where there is a meal to be had and she is now brightly facing her forth winter on the streets. She is autistic but she is far from stupid as her abusers are finding out to their cost. She sometimes sleeps at friends houses. Because of her Autism compounding the trauma of her mistreatment she is now quite difficult to help beyond this. She says she prefers to sleep outside because being inside gives her claustrophobia and panic attacks because it is like being in a prison cell again. Unsurprisingly she now finds it very difficult to trust anyone. Hopefully she will get better over time because this is not a good situation and could end very badly indeed."
 
"She has been writing 3 blogs over several years now. 2 of these have recently been open to the public. She remains a committed Christian and her main religious blog is showing over 4,000 visitors. Mostly CI & UK and also worldwide CoE/christian countries, to even places like Japan! All from a peripatetic existence utilising ad-hoc Internet cafes and libraries. Awesome. Many people who call themselves "Christian" could learn a lot from her. she has covered many subjects including forgiveness."
 
"Due to her Autistic nature her blogs are highly variable; They can be odd or insightful, light or heavy going. Guernsey must NOT tether itself to Jersey on this one - bad mistake!"
 
Deputy Bebb comes back with some interesting points about the peculiar relation between the Channel Island Churches and Winchester:
 
"I think that we're all agreeing on this one, just with different views. One thing that I'd like to highlight. Guernsey wouldn't tether itself to Jersey any more than it is at the moment. Both deaneries are part of the diocese of Winchester & were one deanery to consider moving, it makes sense for the other to pose the same question. But even if both deaneries were to move to the same new diocese, we would still have our separate ecclesiastical law. We're not tethered, we just may be thinking of moving from the current same field to the same new field. Of course, the grass isn't always greener, but it may be. Worth thinking about."
 
"It's not exactly following Jersey for the sake of it. Relations between Jersey & Winchester are poor (to put it mildly) and part of this is frustration that ecclesiastical law in Jersey is different to that in the UK. Given that Jersey are looking at their relationship with Winchester it affords us an opportunity to do the same. We're also anomalous to the diocese of Winchester."
 
"The reason that the diocese of Europe seems to have some logic is that each & every part of that diocese is different; therefore anomalies are the order of the day. This isn't to say that the diocese of Europe is the only answer available or that we should necessarily move from the diocese of Winchester, just that it affords an opportunity to pose the question & consider the options."
 
A writer called PLP agrees but asks why this case should be the cause of a review:
 
"A process of constant review is healthy but using a case of alleged abuse in Jersey as a catalyst for that process seems rather a bizarre (and potentially dangerous, not to mention insensitive) way to go about it. Surely the focus should be for the Diocese of Winchester / Jersey Deanery to resolve this case and ensure appropriate support is given to the person involved. Until that happens, the Guernsey Deanery would do well to keep their fingers well clear lest they get burned."
 
Here Elis Bebb makes a point about the Bishop and his comment is interesting, in that it shows how it is the Bishop's actions in looking at both Jersey and Guernsey that have caused the problems. If he had focused purely on Guernsey, then the issue of a break with Winchester probably would not have surfaced
 
"This wasn't a choice of the Guernsey Deanery; it was a choice of the Bishop of Winchester to include Guernsey in the process from what I understand. Conclude from that what you may."
 
Tim South has some rather cutting remarks about Jersey:
 
"To be frank some of the channel island church leaders and powerful political supporters are displaying small island egotistical mentality, hardly a mention of" HG" the victim. The focus should be about the appalling care of an intelligent, but vulnerable lady whom the church and police thought they had got rid of, by giving her a choice in court after being locked up for two weeks, more jail or a plane ticket and banned for three years from Jersey. She took the ticket."
 
"Back to the spin. The Dame Heather Steel report has not been released because it is not finished, but Senator Bailhache in Jersey says the Dean has been completely absolved. Which is interesting because not only has the report not been release, it is being kept secret. So how would he have this information?"
 
"Even more interesting is, why the Dean apologised? if he has done nothing wrong apart part from refusing to take part in the Korris report which found him badly lacking in several areas."
 
"BBC: Dean Key said: "I regret mistakes that I made in the safeguarding processes and I understand that, upon reflection, it would have been more helpful if I had co-operated more fully with the Korris [safeguarding} Review."
 
That is a very sharp point. How can the Steel report "exonerate" the Dean to use one headline, or again, looking at the JEP say "Dean cleared" and forget that Bob key himself said that he made mistakes during the safeguarding process, and had not co-operated fully with the Korris review.  The actual statement from Winchester notes that:
 
"What I can state at this point, based on Dame Heather's findings to date, is that I will not be taking disciplinary action against any member of the clergy in relation to the handling of the safeguarding complaint in question or the subsequent review process."
 
That's not the same as saying that there were no mistakes made, and the note of triumph in the local press seems to overlook the Dean's own declarations on that matter.
 
In reply to Tim, Elis Bebb also notes that:
 
"Just a few corrections. Guernsey's arrangements regarding vulnerable adults are different to Jersey's. The pay of the Rev. Northover is from the Diocese of Winchester along with any healthcare or travel expenditure, that's part of the reason the congregation pays a parish share to the diocese. The Vale rectory is the property of the Church of England & therefore isn't supported by the ratepayers. Apart from the above points, as I've said previously, I don't know the details of the case to make a public comment, but your points make interesting reading, thank you."
 
And he also summarises why Guernsey has been drawn into the net with Jersey - the Bishop's review:
 
"You're right that a change of diocese is not usual. But I don't think that there's a hidden agenda. As you'll see from the posts and without going into detail, there's been a breakdown in relations between the Deanery of Jersey & the diocese of Winchester. Both the Deanery of Jersey & the Deanery of Guernsey are anomalous to the rest of the diocese as they have different & independent ecclesiastical law."
 
"There's a review being undertaken to consider the options for Jersey & Guernsey are being included in the review. There are a number of options available, one of which is to stay in the diocese of Winchester, another is to move to another diocese with the diocese in Europe being one of those options. If you know something else or believe thee to be another agenda, I'm interested to hear it."
 
"Just to let you know that the ecclesiastical court in Jersey is very different in its formation & functions to the ecclesiastical court in Guernsey."
 
"Personally I believe the decision to include Guernsey in the general review at this early a stage has led to a lot of confusion over the issues. Maybe we should only have been included at a later point when arrangements in Jersey are more advanced."
 
"Given that the specific case that has led to this point happened in Jersey and that their arrangements on safeguarding vulnerable adults are very different to those in Guernsey, I don't believe my time is best spent going into the full details of what happened in another jurisdiction and then making public statements on that situation. I look forward to the publication of the Steel report and will continue to work for appropriate arrangements concerning vulnerable adults here in Guernsey."
 
Which is as good a way as any of a politician saying that Jersey's arrangements were clearly deficient, and Guernsey's are better, although he is also saying that there is always room for improvement.
 
In conclusion, the general tenor of comments coming from Guernsey are that Jersey and Winchester have a very bad relationship at present, and this is in part because of the case of HG, which highlighted failures in safeguarding - in particular concerning the churchwarden - in Jersey. They don't seem to have a very high opinion of either Winchester or Jersey, and they don't think Jersey authorities - either ecclesiastical or civil - acted particularly well.
 
The editor himself has just also decided to write about this in the leader comment in the Guernsey Press:
 
"No one reading the Korris report into allegations by a vulnerable adult parishioner who complained about abusive behaviour by a churchwarden in Jersey can fail to be disturbed by a catalogue of failures by the Church of England there in dealing with the situation. Yet it is being questioned on its role in what is little short of a scandal - the alleged victim ended up being hounded off the island and dumped in the UK with no accommodation or money and is now living rough - that appears to have triggered Jersey's desire to leave the Diocese of Winchester. That the established church in Guernsey is considering siding with Jersey and similarly splitting from Winchester is therefore worrying."
 
And they ask:
 
"Can there be any credible reason why Jersey does not demonstrate complete adherence to the safeguarding procedures put in place by the Diocese of Winchester?"
 
The leader writer of the Guernsey Press even goes so far as to suggest that the only reason for a split from Winchester for the Church of England in Jersey and Guernsey would be to consolidate and hold onto power, and not be answerable to any higher authority. That's something which has not been raised by the Jersey Evening Post.
 
For all the glowing headlines in Jersey, most of the Guernsey people glancing across the water, see a very different picture from that portrayed in our media, with lots of unanswered questions, failings by church and civil authorities with regard to HG, and a dispute which may well cause a review of their own position with Winchester. And there is a much stronger focus on safeguarding issues as well, and the churchwarden at the heart of the complaint is not forgotten.
 
References
http://www.thisisguernsey.com/news/2013/11/30/sex-complaint-row-threatens-church-split/
http://www.thisisguernsey.com/comment/gp-opinion/2013/12/03/row-is-over-holding-on-to-power/

Guernsey Internet Watch

Perils of the Internet
 
Peter Roffey has an interesting piece on the Deputy Bebb remark that went viral, looking at "the perils of politicians using internet forums but behaving as if they're only talking to a small group of acquaintances."
 
In this case Deputy Bebb called locally born Guernsey people "inbreds". Peter Roffey remarks that he should have realised that "innocent joshing of a colleague, with whom he's probably on friendly terms, was bound to go public if made as part of an exchange open to all States members." Deputy Paint, however, who complained about it, has himself not exactly been devoid of prejudice: "After all, he's been pretty robust in his language towards non-locals in the past. Not long ago, on a Sunday phone-in, he told a long-term resident campaigner for better disability provision that if he didn't like Guernsey the way it was 'there's a boat from the end of the White Rock every day'."
 
He comments that "I only wish that Deputy Bebb had had the sense to realise that sending his response to 47 States members was very different to pulling the leg of three or four local friends."  It is a sentiment that one or two of our local politicians, and aspiring politicians, might do well to remember. To paraphrase the old war time saying, "careless talk costs votes".
 
Skyping Off or Skiving Off?
 
Guernsey States members have decided to allow themselves to "attend" committee meetings remotely by video link or Skype. Peter Roffey asks: "Is it a sensible use of modern technology, allowing busy members to be in two places at the same time? Or just a dereliction of their duty to turn up at these important meetings in person?"
 
He asks whether it really matters if they're not physically in the room, and are meeting in a virtual environment. He takes the view that it does:
 
"I think it does. While video conferencing in its various forms is better than no meeting at all, it's no substitute for real debate around a committee table. Particularly when discussing complex and emotive issues such as school closures, welfare reforms or how best to run our health service. "It's not just a question of missing body language or non-verbal communication. It's more that real debate, where policies can be decided and refined, relies on interaction, cut and thrust, and occasional polite interruption."
 
I tend to agree. If it is one to one, Skype is excellent, and you can see the person you are talking too with ease. But more than one person, and it all becomes rather disembodied little picture on monitors, even big monitors. Something is lost, the nuances, the physical space involved.
 
I suppose it depends what the meeting is all about. Meetings can so often ramble on, incessantly, taking an age to discuss anything, and trickle down the agenda with the speed of a glacier. For those meetings, a virtual self might be preferable, and who knows, if the technology advances, you can even have a video of yourself nodding sagely, rubbing your chin, scratching your head, while you can go off to the gold course, or down the pub.
 
But he does make a very good point about privacy. Who is listening in? Where is the security that someone, out of sight, may be within earshot?
 
"If a States committee was considering my application for a housing licence, or funding for my cancer treatment, or an appeal against my child's 11-plus results, I would want that done in total privacy. I would not be impressed if one or more committee members were in a hotel foyer - or even in their hotel room, with their spouse half-listening in the background."
 
Blogging
 
Two local teachers who set up class blogs to interact with pupils and parents were been short listed in a national education competition. They didn't win, but did come in the top ten shortlist, quite an accomplishment. Peter Curtis and Jerry Thomas (both of Vauvert school) entered each other's work for The Education Blog Awards 2012 after seeing it advertised.
 
School related blogs seem to be quite a big thing in Guernsey, for example:
http://blogs.grammar.sch.gg/blogs/
http://misslepagesclass.primaryblogger.co.uk/
http://mrcurtisclass.primaryblogger.co.uk/
http://misswhiteheadblog.primaryblogger.co.uk/
 
Then there are general interest blogs
http://guernseygirlie.blogspot.com/
A personal blog, with very much a recent history theme, some press cuttings, and interesting personal and charming stories that are not the kind of bad news you get in the newspapers. Worth a dip.
 
http://blog.redcarnationhotels.com/location-guernsey/
Tourist related, good stuff on Guernsey locations, well written.
 
http://guernseyliteraryfestival.wordpress.com/
A well written literary themed blog.
 
On the whole, there seems to be a huge amount of effort to get pupils at schools engage with writing blogs very much as personal diaries of what they are doing, and their interests.
 
There are really only a few political blogs.
 
Ebenezer Le Page is snappy, and does snipe at the Barclay brothers - "the brother's Grimm", "two vindictive old men" etc., with very short and well targeted little pieces, nothing long, just "Reader's Digest" size pieces. He also is critical of the editor of Guernsey Press, which seems to be getting fed stories by Kevin Delaney (according to him), and also of its coverage of stories in general. It is closest to some of the Jersey political blogs, but very different in tone. It is mostly focused on Sark.
 
http://ebenezerlepage.blogspot.com/
 
25 Square Miles is longer, but very occasional, the last post being 2011! It's well laid out and argued, but no name calling, or mocking of politicians except in general non-personal terms - "incompetent sitting deputies who in all likelihood stand to lose their seats should the change cause a rush of able candidates to put their names forward next time."  I think we have some of those here too!

http://25squaremiles.blogspot.com/
 
Ellis Bebb has recently started a blog
http://www.elisbebb.com/blog/
 
In which he says "Given that I'm not known for being a timid wall flower (well I don't think so anyway) and given that I get rather frustrated with people's view of the political discussions I thought it time to start presenting my view in the round rather than the narrow view that's so frequently presented in the conventional media". He is disparaging about the BBC, Guernsey Press and CTV for playing safe in politics. His own blog is by degrees critical, intelligent, informative, and well-argued. He writes well, and doesn't engage in name calling, and so far covers quite a wide range of local issues. And you won't find the word "inbreds" anywhere in sight! Definitely one to watch.
 
Deputy Ogier has a website but with blog like posts, on recent political news:
http://deputyogier.com/
Post are not frequent, but there is one from September 2013. Well written, critical of aspects of government but in a constructive way - issues such as climate change, population policy. A very chatty style, reads well.
 
http://www.sustainableguernsey.info/blog/
This blog is very much the Guernsey equivalent of Mark Forskitt's excellent blog, with a strong focus on sustainability, alongside comments on climate change which would warm the heart of Nick Palmer. Some of it is very much a cut and paste job, but it serves a useful purpose in collating recent news stories together (again like our very own Green Man, Mark Forskitt, with his "daily news"). A nice design, and tabs make it easy to navigate.
 
http://guernseypolitics.com/
Is just a placeholder blog, one entry "Hello World"! Disappointing.
 
It is interesting that Jersey has a group of very political bloggers, but the same landscape seems altogether absent from Guernsey. I think that has to do with Haut de La Garenne and its aftermath, which galvanised bloggers onto going online - for the record, I started blogging in 2006, before that. But Stuart Syvret's blog, and the various "Voice Blogs" (although under "common ownership"), Rico Sorda's Blog, The Jersey Way, and Tom de Gruchy (alias Mike Dun) all seem to have taken their impetus and focus on Haut de la Garenne.
 
The absence of that from Guernsey has meant that their blogging culture is entirely different. Political blogs are few and far between, and tend to cover a wider more diverse range of issues than Jersey ones. 

Remember, remember, the fifth of November

"Remember, remember, the fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and plot."

In 1908, Edith Carey writing a letter to Folklore magazine, described the late arrival of Guy Fawkes celebrations in Guernsey. She wrote:

"To the best of my belief there were neither November bonfires nor Guy Fawkes celebrations in Guernsey until the beginning of the nineteenth century. What customs may have prevailed over here in the days before the introduction of the Reformation and the Puritanical spirit, I do not know. But after that date, in 1565, 1567, 1581, 1582, and 1611, "Ordonnance" after "Ordonnance" was passed by the Royal Court forbidding songs, dances, and all "jeux inlicyte," under penalty of the culprits having to do penance in church on the following Sunday, with bare heads, legs, and feet, wrapped in a winding sheet and holding a lighted torch. These restrictions, which were framed to put an end to aught that savoured of "la superstition" as well as of "le viel levain de la Papaulte," effectually put a stop to all our primitive festival customs." (1)

In fact, the only remaining custom was one which had its celebration on New Year's Eve, where  in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, "boys still dressed up a grotesque figure, which they called the "vieux bout de l'an," and buried or burnt with mock ceremonies in some retired spot. But that practice also fell into abeyance "

It was apparently not until the second quarter of the 19th century that an English family of small farmers introduced Guy Fawkes celebrations to the Island.

 "To the country people the name "Guy Fawkes" meant nothing, while they had a confused recollection of the earlier "bout de l'an" celebrations; so to them the "Guy" was invariably known as "bout de l'an" or "budloe" (as they spelt it), though without any real idea of what the name conveyed. Therefore, I think that it was the veritable "bout de l'an" of New Year's Eve which is referred to in the term "bout de l'an," and that any November fires-if any there were-had been abolished far too long to be remembered." (1)

But Guy Fawkes even in English history remains the most obscure of villains. He is more of a symbolic figure to be burnt, a part of a fire ritual, than a real person. As Dewey D. Wallace notes:

During the twentieth century, the anti-Catholicism of the event receded, and the "guy" was simply a means for the extortion of candy and coins by children unaware of Guy's original significance." (2)

The conspiracy is well known, and is succinctly stated in Nigel Balchin's essay on the subject:

"The King and Parliament were to be blown up. The Princess Elizabeth and the little Prince Charles were to be seized. Various Catholic gentry were to be rallied. Princess Elizabeth was to be proclaimed Queen. So much was reasonably clear. But just what was ever intended to happen after that was far less so. Indeed, amongst all the conspirators there does not appear to have been a man whose brains rose much above the level of undergraduate rugby toughs organising a November 5th rag" (3)

It was presented by the Attorney General Coke as a fiendish plan of devilish cunning, thwarted only by one letter sent to Lord Monteagle, warning him against attending Parliament, and the perspicacity of James I in divining that this was a plot to assassinate him. But it was instead, probably well known to Sir Robert Cecil, James I's chief "spymaster", who simply gave the conspirators enough rope to hang themselves, and played a waiting game to see who exactly was involved before they were ready to be caught in his net.

As Balchin notes:

"There are a number of other aspects of  the whole matter which certainly are very odd indeed, and which seem to suggest not only naiveté but positive co-cooperativeness on the part of the authorities. The conspirators are able to rent a house belonging to the Crown next door to the House of Lords. When their plan for a mine fails, they are able to rent the cellars of the House itself. Percy, who arranged these things, was well known to be an ardent Catholic; and in each instance another tenant had to be ejected to make room for the conspirators. The authorities could hardly have been more helpful!"

"Again, when Monteagle receives the mysterious letter, he has it read aloud, and one Ward, who was present, at once warns Thomas Winter of the letter's existence and of the fact that it is in the hands of Cecil. If Ward, who was not a conspirator, knew that Winter would be interested, how many other people knew ? Indeed, it appears that via Ward, via Monteagle, the conspirators were, throughout, kept in touch with what the authorities were thinking-or appeared to be thinking-about the whole business."

"Further, when, after several weeks' absence Fawkes returned to his post in the cellar on November 3rd, his return corresponded almost exactly with the time fixed by Cecil for an examination of the cellar. Yet no step was taken to apprehend him or even to question him very closely. The Lord Chamberlain took surprisingly little interest in him and his heap of fuel, and he was able to warn the other conspirators that everything' was getting uncomfortably hot."

"Finally, though Fawkes was a desperate man who would not have hesitated, on his own statement, to blow up the place and himself with it to avoid arrest, he was in fact surprised and taken by the party which, ostensibly, only came to make a rather more thorough search of the cellar than the Lord Chamberlain." (3)

And a fortnight before the arrest, Cecil penned this cryptic note:

"I spend my time in sowing so much seed as my poor wretched fingers can scatter, in such a season as may bring forth a plentiful harvest. I dare boldly say no shower or storm shall mar our harvest except it should come from beyond the middle region."

What can one conclude? I concur with Balchin's thesis, that the conspirators were outfoxed, outmanoeuvred, and finally entrapped by Cecil. Their half-baked schemed was doomed from the start, and they were pawns on the chessboard, or amateurs taking an expert on at poker:

"It seems to me fairly obvious that from some indefinable but quite early stage in the whole drama, Cecil knew that a plot was going forward, and was playing his characteristic waiting game with the conspirators, giving them enough rope to hang themselves. Whether the Monteagle letter was genuine, or a part of the whole process, we shall never know. But throughout one gets the impression that the conspirators were being almost ostentatiously warned of their danger, in order to make them reveal themselves by flight or precipitate action. The most likely explanation appears to be that while Cecil knew of the plot, he needed time to learn the details and the identity of all those concerned. The irresistible impression is of a game of poker between a silent expert and a set of reckless novices. " (3)

The event was enshrined in memory, and as Dewey D. Wallace notes, the Church of England played its part in keeping that memory alive:

"Following the plot's discovery and the seizure of the conspirators, Fawkes and others were brutally executed and the penal laws against Catholics harshly enforced, in spite of the moderation of King James I. But in the aftermath of the plot the focus was on keeping it alive in memory, and the next three chapters describe that remembering: on the anniversary of the plot's discovery, parishes of the Church of England were to have annual services of thanksgiving for England's deliverance, the service for the occasion not being removed from the Book of Common Prayer until 1859. "(2)

But by 1901, the anti-Catholic propaganda element was fading, and the figure of the "old guy" was taking on a more symbolic aspect, more detached from history, more a feature of a fire festival. The rhymes themselves while remaining, were also becoming corrupted. A writer to Folklore noted that the formula shouted by parties of boys carrying "Guys" down the street in Kensington was becoming debased:

"Please to remember
The fifth of November
Should never be forgot.
Guy, Guy, Guy!
Hit 'im in the eye !
Stick 'im up the chimney-pots, and there let 'im lie !"

And as Balchin sums up Guy Fawkes:

"It is as a symbol only that he really exists. As a man, we have no individual picture of him. He might, on the facts we know, have been any one of thousands of brave, simple, ardently religious men who have very pardonably found the larger moral issues beyond their grasp, and have expressed the hot confusion within them by desperate action. The cloaked figure lurking in the shadows of the cellar with its gunpowder and its slow match is at once menacing, farcical and pathetic. But it is not the man Guy Fawkes. It is the Old Guy - and the Old Guy is not a person but an idea, which the writer of Morality Plays would perhaps have recognised and understood more clearly than we do. When the Devil is unsuccessful (as always in fiction, but not always in life), he becomes not only laughable but mildly pitiable. The cards were so clearly stacked against him. It is only when he succeeds that he need be taken seriously. Evil, to most of us, is still partly an event, and not merely an intention." (3)

References
(1)   Folklore, Vol. 19, No. 1, 1908, pp. 104-105
(2)   Church History, Vol. 76, No. 4 (Dec., 2007), pp. 854-855
(3)   The Anatomy of Villainy, Nigel Balchin, 1950

Guernsey Watch

A look at a few news stories in our sister Island...
 
Crimewatch Guernsey
 
Guernsey Police were investigating a robbery which occurred at about 5:30am yon the morning of Tuesday 15th October at the Longstore Handy Stores, St Peter Port. Two young men entered the store. They had covered their faces. They are described as being tall and thin, wearing black clothing. No one was physically injured during the incident. Police in Guernsey have arrested two men in connection with an alleged armed robbery in St Peter Port. Breaking news is that Police in Guernsey have arrested two men in connection with that incident.
 
This is in fact the second incident of this sort this year. There was a robbery at 2.50pm on Tuesday 26th March 2013 at Union Street Stores, St Peter Port. During the incident, the proprietor of the shop was assaulted and a male stole the shop till and made off from the premises. The till was later intact found at Constitution Steps, as was some clothing worn by the offender. The suspect was described as being a white male, in his 20's, wearing the jacket pictured over a navy blue hoody, blue joggers and trainer. I've not been able to trace any reports of the arrest of the individual concerned.
 
One thinks of Guernsey and Jersey as safe compared to the UK, and in relative terms of violent crime they certainly are, but every now and again incidents like this remind us that robbery can occur anywhere.
 
Get your DABS all over this!
 
"The BBC's national digital radio services are being extended to Guernsey. It is part of a move to bring the Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) service to 2.5 million people in the British Isles before the end of 2015. Local radio services will not be available on the DAB transmitter but the existing FM and MW services will continue to operate. Previously it was thought the island would not get DAB before 2017." (BBC News)
 
Jersey has apparently had DAB radio from June 2011although I've been unaware of the fact, as I listen to local radio channels or radio 4 on my car radio, and that does not have DAB radio. Apparently you can get DAB radio fitted to a car if you want. In fact, I had little idea of the merits or otherwise of DAB. Apparently DAB reception quality degrades rapidly when the signal strength falls below a critical threshold, whereas FM reception quality degrades slowly with the decreasing signal. That probably means that the some of the more distant coastal regions or valleys may have more of a problem with the signal. As one commentator said: ". my new, expensive Roberts radio purchased from the JEC fails to even squeak in the digital mode".
 
According to the UK Free TV website looks at local DAB gaps:
 
BBC Guernsey: No plans to add digital services to 93.2 FM and 1116 AM.
BBC Jersey: No plans to add digital services to 88.8 FM and 1026 MW.
 
But Guernsey's independent radio station, Island FM, seems to show no problems with lack of DAB coverage, and is as popular as ever as it celebrates 21 years of broadcasting. It began in 1992.
 
It makes one wonder if the move towards DAB radio is driven not by popular demand but by commercial and ideological reasons.
 
Bebbgate
 
In a debate by email, which has now been leaked, referering to group called the "Singers" seeking permission to perform on Herm, a Guernsey Deputy referred to local people as "inbreds"
 
From Elis Bebb: "I believe the inbreds are entitled to a vote these days."
 
This prompted a backlash from Barry Paint:
 
Barry Paint wrote:
 
Dear Deputy Bebb
 
"I'm fairly positive that you are well aware of the great offence you have caused to many local Deputies by your comments on the Deputies website, referring to local people as "inbreds". You have not been in the States for very long and it may be the sort of language you are used to using in your previous occupation but it is not what is expected from any member of the States whether they be local or, as you are a guest in this island, even in jest. The island as a rule welcomes people from all walks of life and from many different cultures and places around the world. The local people do not expect to be insulted by anyone fortunate enough to be able to live here. Should what you have stated be put in the public domain, there can be no doubt that there would be a very adverse reaction to the comment, by local people and from all the good people who come here to work, which you are one. I would respectfully ask you to give a full apology for your comment to all locals who are able to view this site immediately."
 
There were some comments on this saying that this was just part of the rough and tumble of politics, but Barry Paint was having none of it:
 
"I have to say that I'm surprised that some of you that have responded to my request for an apology has been received in the way it has. The use of the Deputies distribution web site for personal insults and inappropriate language must be close to, if not breach the code of conduct passed and agreed by the States as a whole. This site is a private site, as we all well know, but I have to point out, as you are all very well aware that some are only too pleased to leak information when it suits them."
 
This has, of course, been leaked to the Guernsey Press, although it is not clear by whom. And it has provoked a variety of online comments, ranging from those who Bebb's comments see it as something you might expect in a large company, and no more than "banter" and a humourous riposte, to those who wondered if this discussion was "from the States of Guernsey or the infant school council".
 
There's been news of the finding of a suspected depth charge that has been hidden in the Guernsey harbour mouth for 70 years. Let's hope Deputy Bebb's remarks don't turn out to be another hidden depth charge for him!
 
Breaking news on that story is that the Royal Navy Southern Diving Unit have dived on the find, and found that access is difficult. Until the find has been properly assessed by Royal Navy experts it is unknown if the find is an unexploded charge or shell.
 
Pension Pots
 
Unite have rejected the States final offer on pension reforms. Their regional officer said that "without a doubt' if the States refused to make any changes to the proposals, the island could expect to see a mass protest march, as seen in the UK when it made similar changes."
 
Deputy Allister Langlois will still be taking proposals to the States. The pension liability stood at £503m back in August this year, and changes could effect around 16,000 islanders. Reforms are looking at increasing contribution rates -proposed from 6.5% to 8%., a rise in the age of retirement to 65 from 60and reducing benefits.
 
I suspect that Jersey will be watching very closely to see what happens, and decide its own strategy later, probably - says the cynic in me -after the 2014 elections. It is also interesting to see how Guernsey will fare with attracting specialists. In comments on the Jersey situation, Sarah Ferguson said:
 
"Major changes in 1987 mean that pensions are not automatically inflation proof and that the actual amounts are lower. It is necessary to maintain parity with some UK schemes because we have to employ specialists from the UK. If our pension scheme is significantly different we will not attract people."
 
But final salary pension schemes are unaffordable in today's economic climate, and most private sector ones have long closed. My preferred suggestion is to retain it in the interim, but with a cap, so that the rock face worker on £20,000 or so receives a full sum, while Chief Officers have it capped to a certain fixed limit. Clearly a final salary pension on a low income is something needed to keep the wolf from the door, but cutting back on Chief Officers to a fixed limit would still leave them with far in excess of average pay.
 
On the Buses
 
There may be an industrial dispute between drivers and CT Plus in Guernsey. Bob Lanning, Unite representative was in the Island for talks after the driver's representatives rejected a 1% pay offer from CT Plus. He said: "1% is not viewed as acceptable. But I do not want to see a strike, I have told them  quite clearly to give the Guernsey system a chance."
 
Comments meanwhile highlight the fact that the public sector workers have had a pay freeze, and are envious of the drivers getting a 1% offer.
 
Man with a Suitcase
 
The Vale Power station saw a call for Guernsey bomb disposal experts after a black suitcase was found at the back of the building. According to CTV, the suitcase was apparently filled with "general rubbish". I have no idea what this means. What is "general" rubbish? 

 

Fortunately the Guernsey Press gave a few more details - "The contents of the suitcase turned out to be nothing more serious than a few blankets."
 
That would seem quite specific rubbish to me.

Guernsey Watch

Every so often I like to glance across the waters at our sister island of Guernsey, to see what is going on over there.
 
Rather like Rob Duhamel's statement that Planning in Jersey is reviewing the use of old greenhouse sites for housing needs. These are just sitting there, derelict, and Guernsey's Environment department are rethinking what might be done with them.
 
"VINERY owners are keen to see redundant sites put to good use and not just become 'wasted land'. Those spoken to yesterday welcomed Environment's potential change of heart on derelict greenhouses as part of its new planning consultation. The department is looking to create a new development footprint that could see some redundant vineries used for small-scale businesses."
 
"The owner of the Rocque Poisson vinery along Les Marais in St Peter's said he bought the site on the proviso he could build on it, but was later refused permission. The man, who did not want to be named, has owned the site for the past 40 years. 'There are a lot of houses that could be put on vinery sites - they are just wasted land,' he said."
 
On environmental and business matters, Guernsey seems to be stealing a march over Jersey with regard to investments into renewable energy sources:
 
"A NEW Guernsey fund is being hailed as a first in the UK. Bluefield Solar Income Fund, a closed-ended fund listed on the premium segment of the London Stock Exchange earlier this month, will focus on investing in large-scale agricultural and industrial photovoltaic solar assets."
 
However, renewable energy is not in place on the roof of the German Occupation Museum, where a project to install solar panels has been delayed because the company contracted to do it has gone into liquidation. There's a gap been a renewable energy fund, and companies that actually supply the machinery for renewable energy.
 
In terms of more general finance, Andrew McLaughlin, group chief economist for RBS Group, has been painting a rosier picture of Guernsey weathering the economic recession than the UK or Jersey:
 
"'In Guernsey, people should take confidence from how well the island coped during the mother of all financial crises. When the crisis hit, the mainland economy of the UK lost 7% of its national income, Jersey lost 4%. Guernsey went in later, was hit less hard and is coming out of it in line with the UK. That is not a bad picture."
 
However those commenting on the story take a more jaundiced look
 
"There is little future for the Guernsey Financial Industry if the island government doesn't turn fine words into action and make the necessary and overdue broadband investments that are required."
 
They may be right. The Education Department says that children's leaning is suffering because of the high cost of broadband in the island:
 
"In response to the regulator's consultation on a review of internet costs for business, the department has launched a scathing attack on the service it receives. Because of the cost it was unable to buy sufficient bandwidth to meet demand, causing poor user experience, said the department. Teachers used the internet with 'some trepidation' as the poor user experience caused discontent and disruption in the classroom and to teaching and learning. It said the cost of broadband in Guernsey was more than four times higher than in the UK and almost double what Jersey's Education Department was paying."
 
And the supplier of broadband services over there - broadband service is provided by JT as part of its contract with the States. It seems strange that one telecoms company is charging double in Guernsey. What is the difference between Guernsey and Jersey which causes that kind of difference?
 
There's a wonderfully vitriolic comment after this story:
 
"We are all paying to much for broadband, what I don't understand is why this rip-off company needs to be told by the regulator that we are paying to much for a truly abysmal service, constant variation in speed and outages. The other thing with all these services is the term up to 8 Meg; you would not go to the pub if you were told £3 for up to a pint but if the demand is too much you may only get a dribble in the bottom of the glass."
 
It is worth noting that the much noted Fibre initiative in Jersey will mean that people can download faster, but unlike the UK, there will be very restrictive download caps in place, so don't imagine you can use Netflix or a similar service. One film and you will probably have used up your internet quota for the week, and more comes at premium prices.
 
And to end on a story about police rapid response:
 
"A BOUNDARY dispute between two St Martin's neighbours led to one of them being arrested by armed police while he was in bed. Donald Hamilton, 62, who lives in Route des Cornus, said officers 'armed with machine guns, Tasers and side-arms' turned up at his house and accused him of brandishing a 'long-barrelled firearm'. He was locked in a cell for two hours before being released with a letter of caution which does not mention a firearm."
 
In fact it was what is called a BB gun, which deploys gas to fire pellets, what is called an "airsoft gun", which can still inflict discomfort, but not danger unless hit in the eye. Nonetheless, the site on BB guns does warn the users: "If someone is hurt by a pellet hitting them, it is an assault. Depending on the injury it will be dealt with as Common Assault, Actual Bodily Harm, or in the case of a 15 year old girl shot in the eye, Grievous Bodily Harm". But in fact, there is no report of him actually aiming the gun at the neighbour at all:
 
"Mr Hamilton, who has lived in the road for about 20 years, said that there had been an ongoing dispute over the boundary, including with previous owners. He said he was sitting at his garden table with a gas gun, but was not aiming it at his neighbour's property or her, when she came home. 'I asked her if she wanted me to show her where the boundary was but she just walked in."
 
Mt Hamilton explained in more detail what was happening:
 
"There was no heated discussion. I was sitting with my back to her property. She had no reason to be afraid she has seen me using the guns in my garden on numerous occasions with no problems. She is currently trying to get three feet of my land to erect a fence on. Ulterior motive would you say? From the time I sat at the garden table with my air rifle and my bb gun, my air rifle was empty, I shot 6 bb, s into my target board. I was there no longer than 6 minutes and went inside, what was she doing staring at me in my garden."
 
'Next thing I am getting out of bed because the police turn up, cars and vans, they had machine guns, Tasers and side-arms. It was the full Monty.'
 
Well, it may have been the full Monty. It rather depends on whether he wears pyjamas in bed, or prefers to sleep "au naturele"!
 
 
Links
http://www.thisisguernsey.com/news/2013/07/31/vinery-owners-don%E2%80%99t-want-their-land-to-go-to-waste/
http://www.thisisguernsey.com/business/2013/07/30/renewables-fund%E2%80%99s-success-indicative-of-growing-trend/
http://www.thisisguernsey.com/news/2013/07/25/broadband-costs-are-affecting-learning/
http://bbguns4less.co.uk/pages/BBguns-and-the-Law.html
http://www.thisisguernsey.com/news/2013/07/25/armed-police-arrest-man-in-bed-over-a-fence-row/

Guernsey Watch

I've been glancing over the sea to our sister Island of Guernsey, to see what's been going on over there.

The current scandal in China is rat meat sold as lamb. However, mouse would appear to be on the table in two Indian restaurants in Guernsey. The Guernsey Press reports of the closure of two Indian restaurants "after a string of hygiene problems". Pictures taken of the contamination include shots of a dead mouse, droppings and congealed dirt and grease.

The Environmental Health Office said: "I've had other establishments in Guernsey where there have been health problems. However, in these instances the problems have been very acute. On this occasion we had a number of issues that were brought together to make very poor standards and a definite risk of contamination and risk to public health generally.  It was particularly bad."

Meanwhile, there's a pay freeze being mooted for manual workers. They want a full, independent tribunal to set their wages. A minority have even threatened strike action.

The States, for their part, want to impose a wage freeze, while being happy to accept a pay rise of their own, tied to the movement in average wages. Writing in the Guernsey Press, columnist Peter Roffey says "I warned it would come back to bite them when they rejected a proposal to freeze their own pay just when they needed to severely restrict all other public-sector pay deals." Sounds familiar?

On the 16th May, the chief ministers of Guernsey and Jersey will be held one of their regular meetings in Guernsey today. Regular readers of the voting record will have noted "Out of Island" alongside Senator Ian Gorst's name recently, and now we know why. Whether it is proper for a States member to be absent during sessions of the States is a moot point; I do wonder why inter-Island meetings could not be scheduled for days when the States does not meet.

There was a call by the Chief Ministers for even greater unity between the islands, but this did not set any timeframe to establish a Channel Islands confederation. It seems clear that Peter Harwood, in particular, wants to increase working together without signing up to a particular ideology of confederation. He said that the move would take time, and needed to involve the backing of the other islands of Guernsey's Bailiwick.

Taking time was certainly the life choice of Thomas who died recently in Guernsey, aged 130. Thomas was a female tortoise, evidently named before her sex was determined. 130 years ago takes us back to 1883, which means that she survived the 2nd Boer War, the Great War, and the Second World War. She narrowly missed being hit by a bomb during the Blitz. Sadly, it was not old age but the infected bite of a rat which led to her death.

Delays are also hitting the buses. According to some users, there is little or no punctuality: "Revised routes were launched on Sunday but users have complained about the lack of clear information and late arrivals." Frank Villeneuve-Smith, communication director for the CT Plus, said delays were the result of an "unlucky inconvenience" as the new revised bus schedule launched in the same week as heavy road works. Jersey's new timetable has yet to be launched. Watch this space!

The business section of the Guernsey Press revealed some rather nasty mobile charges creeping up: "Commerce and Employment yesterday announced its plans to introduce legislation so it can charge 5% on all revenues earned by mobile operators from the use of spectrum. This is including, but not limited to, second-generation (2G), third-generation (3G), fourth-generation (4G) and fixed wireless access services" 

It is almost a foregone conclusion that any charges would end up hitting the pockets of the end consumer. Quite how this is justified is unclear, and one rather sarcastic commentator noted that "In a follow up statement, C & E. have announced plans to introduce a Spectrum tax for the general public, based on the amount of daylight absorbed into homes and the amount of fresh air breathed in by Guernsey residents per annum!"

And on a lighter note: "Legoland buildings and traffic lights all over the place - that's Guernsey, says Neil Ross' Emile. And how long before Sark has armed response tractors and horse drawn carriages with bullet-proof plating?"

Guernsey Watch

I thought today I would take a brief look across at unfolding news in our sister Island, to see what has been happening there of note. The first breaking story was one on autism:

CLAIMS from a bio-medical businessman that his company could cure cancer and autism sparked a passionate debate at a Chamber of Commerce seminar yesterday. Immuno Biotech CEO David Noakes suggested that the use of GcMAF could repair  the body's immune system and act as a 'rifle-shot' to cure the diseases. Mr Noakes claimed that more than 50 research papers had shown GcMAF, which is extracted from healthy human blood, could cure the diseases. One doctor, who wished to remain anonymous, criticised the evidence presented by Mr Noakes. 'You've cherry-picked the research to support what you're saying, and the  journal that has been published is very poor quality, whereas you have  Cancer Research UK saying "if it sounds too good to be true it probably is",'  he said. But Mr Noakes responded: 'Cancer Research is a front man - it's rubbished  the research saying it all depends on one person, but there are 119 other eminent scientists who have done their own research too.' (1)

Autism is a peculiar condition in that its causes, while having a strong genetic component, are by and large unknown, so that it is described and diagnosed in purely behavioural terms. There are a number of theories which associate it with some kind of compromised immune system, most notably a compromise of a genetic weakness by childhood vaccination, but the immune link is unproven and autism remains defined by behaviour.

As a result, there may be a cluster of different causes which converge to produce similar behaviours, which would explain why anecdotal evidence of "cures" often seems initially strong, yet becomes bafflingly elusive when applied to all autistic children. From a brief survey of the literature, so far this product has only small scale studies done, and some anecdotal evidence in forums indicates improvement, and others increased challenging behaviour. As one might expect, even the increase in challenging behaviour is cited as "evidence" of increased normal functioning, so I would say the evidence for the claims to date is relatively poor. Parents of autistic children are often desperately trying to find a cure, which is why they latch onto the slightest change in behaviour as proof that a new cure is working.

COMMERCE and Employment could have a solar power plant up and running in three months if it were not for planning laws, its minister has said. Deputy Kevin Stewart, pictured, explained his department was currently  working with Environment to advise it of the strategic opportunities that creating a photovoltaic panel site would have. He had announced previously at an Institute of Directors presentation that the department had already identified a disused vinery site that could be used as a test bed solar power plant, but this change was blocked by planning laws. 'It's bonkers that we cannot set up a pilot project that will give a 6-7% return on capital employed because we cannot do it under the laws,' he said at the time. (2)

A "green" story, but blocked by problems with Planning. Given the current state of the weather - increased cloud cover and rainfall last year, I would be interested to know just how much power could be generated by a solar power plant. But it does show that Guernsey - like Jersey trying to get wind speed trials on the Ecrehous - is serious about  alternative forms of energy to fossil fuel. Ironically, in Jersey, it is some conservationists who are blocking progress; in Guernsey, it is their planning department.

CT PLUS has backed down over its rota changes to avoid mass industrial action. Bus driver representatives met yesterday with the company and Unite regional  officer Bob Lanning to continue discussions about a compromise. Speaking afterwards, Mr Lanning, pictured, said that the company and drivers had agreed to hold regular meetings to avoid any further upset.  'It's all peaceful now,' he said. 'What they were upset with was the loss of the four-day weekends and cuts to the signing off and signing on time. That has been put back to what it should be.' (3)

CT Plus seem to be getting a well known in Guernsey for changing bus routes, buses missing stops, last minute alterations not adequately conveyed to the public. They've had the bus company there since last April, so you might expect any "teething troubles" to be over!

Unlike Jersey, Guernsey bus drivers terms and conditions were not published online, so we have no idea how they compare, or if there are limits on weekly working hours. CT Plus have been remarkably coy about mentioning that, which is strange, considering their criticism of working hours in Jersey; you might expect them to say - well, we have done it in Guernsey too. In Jersey, I hear they have been messing about with shifts too, and I may post further on that later. One thing which also seems to be the case is that the time allotted to "turn around", for instance with the Corbiere bus stopping and waiting at Corbiere, has been radically cut, so that when there are delays due to traffic, this vital period to enable to bus to catch up to timetable is diminished, making it more likely that the bus will be late.

Deputy Lester Queripel has been writing about a sex offenders register:

WRITE to endorse the sentiments expressed by Sharon Munn in her excellent letter (Guernsey Press, 20 December), under the heading, 'Still no sex offenders register?' In her letter, Ms Munn was seeking clarification as to whether or not we  actually have a sex offenders' register. Also, if we do, why don't the public have access to it? 'After all, don't we have a right to know who our neighbours are?' was the essence of Ms Munn's letter. I agree with Ms Munn because, in my opinion, we have every right to know if  our neighbours are convicted sex offenders or not. However, after undertaking extensive research, I have now been informed that type of 'freedom of information' is unlikely to be made available to the public. There appears to be two main reasons for this, which are:

1. Sex offenders' rights.
2. The fear that vigilante groups might persecute the families of convicted sex offenders.
My response to those two points is as follows:
1. Didn't a sex offender forfeit their rights when they destroyed someone else's life?
2. Would it not perhaps be an idea for a family to publicly disown a relative who is a convicted sex offender? Surely by doing so they would then eliminate the possibility of the family being persecuted.

The law, as it stands, offers protection, counselling and rehabilitation to a convicted sex offender. I can understand that to a certain extent in the case of a 'first offender'. But a 'repeat offender' is such a danger and a continued threat to the community that surely it's only logical they should be treated as such? So, even though I have been informed that it is 'unlikely' that the current law regarding public access to the sex offenders' register will ever be amended, I will continue with my research. I will do so because the word 'unlikely' means there is still at least a semblance of hope. It is not a lost cause.

In tandem, I will also continue my attempt to amend certain conditions within the Common Travel Area law, which allows convicted rapists and pedophiles to travel freely between the UK, the Republic of Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, without having to inform the relevant authorities of their intention to travel, or their destination. I see it as my duty as a deputy to campaign for issues such as these, in an attempt to ensure the wellbeing and safety of the community. The wellbeing and safety of the community is, of course, the responsibility of any government throughout the world. And even though it could be said that many governments fail miserably regarding that responsibility, it doesn't mean that we have to follow their example. Or even simply do as they  say. We have human rights as well. (4)

I'm still not sure whether the legislation (which was approved by the States of Deliberation) has actually been passed yet. It was approved in 2011, but there may have been a need for a period of consultation, which as we all know, can be slow. It would certainly, as in Jersey, rule out the USA's "Megan's Law", which I think is sensible. The USA has problems with vigilante action there.

However, I can see no mention of the much more limited, but commonsense and prudent approach of the UK which is loosely termed "Sarah's Law".  Following a decision by Ian Le Marquand last year, Jersey has now also adopted that approach. "Sarah's Law" allows restricted access in circumstances such as

a personal relationship (like a single mother and her new boyfriend) or someone who had regular, unsupervised contact with their children, they would be able to contact the police and "register an interest" in that person. The police would first determine whether the person of interest had any child sex offense convictions. If the person of interest was a convicted child sex offender, the police would next evaluate whether he posed a serious risk of harm to the children of the person who registered the interest. If the offender posed a serious risk of harm, the police would subsequently disclose the offender's information to the requestingperson (5)

I notice in the Guernsey decisions about the law that:

The legislation will create a requirement for convicted sex offenders to register with the Police and to keep relevant agencies informed of their whereabouts and other relevant information whilst in the Bailiwick

Wouldn't the introduction of a joint scheme of registration be a good idea? One area, perhaps where the Channel Islands could pool information? As it currently stands, a convicted Guernsey pedophile could move to Jersey where they would have no information on file for the offenses over there, and would have a lower risk. I suspect, however, that someone at police HQ probably keeps a beady eye over the water to Guernsey. 

Given the geographical proximity of the Islands, and the fact that you can cross between the Islands in 20 minutes, wouldn't a more co-ordinated approach be a good start to the Channel Islands working together? Something, perhaps, for Ian le Marquand to consider with his Guernsey counterpart.

And on that subject, would a joint Channel Islands Police Commission would also be a good way for a move away from any suspicion of partisanship, and make a more politically independent body.

Links
(1) http://www.thisisguernsey.com/news/2013/01/24/cancer-cure-claim-sparks-heated-debate-at-seminar/
(2) http://www.thisisguernsey.com/news/2013/01/24/planning-law-stops-solar-power-plant-seeing-light-of-day/
(3) http://www.thisisguernsey.com/news/2013/01/24/ct-plus-halts-changes-%E2%80%93-strike-threat-lifted/
(4) http://www.thisisguernsey.co.uk/discus/messages/11779/12367.html?1358347899
(5) http://digitalcommons.pace.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1749&context=lawfaculty