Parishes “need to be freed from outdated communications strategy”

Friday 29 October 2021

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There will only be two contested douzaine elections next Wednesday, which has reignited calls to reform laws that force the parishes to spend ratepayers' money advertising in La Gazette Officielle.

St Peter Port has seven candidates for six douzenier positions, while St Martin's has five contenders for four vacancies.

All other candidates for parish constable and douzenier roles will be nodded in unopposed on Wednesday 3 November. 

La Gazette Officielle is published exclusively by the Guernsey Press. That is based on a 1948 Law which stipulates the notice of an election must be published "in two daily newspapers in the English language or, if there be only one such newspaper, then in that newspaper".  

Women in Public Life Chair Shelaine Green – whose group promotes a wide range of roles across the community to increase public engagement – said that law is restricting the parishes in their efforts to appeal to new members.   

"Parishes are currently compelled by law to advertise their elections in La Gazette Officielle. That's costly and not in keeping with modern methods of reaching and inspiring islanders.  

“The sooner the parishes can be freed from a communications strategy that was set for them by the Reform Law of 1948, the more island-wide marketing they will be able to do and the better Guernsey's chances of competitive elections will be."

Pictured: The requirement to advertise douzaine elections in the Gazette Officielle is set out in a 73-year-old law. 

Ms Green said that last year’s island-wide election inspired fresh interest in the parish elections that followed shortly after.  

That momentum has not continued 12 months on, despite significant efforts to promote the volunteer positions at the heart of the island community. 

"Our activities to promote the elections, and the number of women we've supported as they've considered becoming a candidate, have been the same this year as last year,” said Ms Green. 

“The parishes have actually increased their marketing with more drop-ins, banners and ads on social media. So it seems the key difference is that last year's election was held just after the general election.” 

The Douzaines are a cornerstone of local democracy, according to Ms Green, who says the importance of their role cannot be understated. 

"Guernsey's Douzaines are democracy at the grassroots level, making sure our local areas are safe, tidy and well-run. 

“So while everyone who has put themselves forward in this year's elections is to be thanked and applauded, it's disappointing to see so few contested elections, they're an important part of the democratic process.” 

The candidates for Guernsey's vacant douzaine seats in full:

St Sampson

Office of Constable (1 seat available)

Leonie Ann Le Tissier

Office of Douzenier (2)

Adrian Geoffrey Dilcock

Joseph William Abbotts

 

St Pierre Du Bois

Office of Douzenier (3)

P Domaille

T Langlois

S Fell

 

Torteval

Office of Constable (1)

Tracy Ann Bisson

Office of Douzenier (3)

Tim Channer Corfield

Conor Alan Burke

Stephen James Brehaut

 

Castel

Office of Douzenier (3)

Joanne May 

Barry John Edward Paint

Robert Peter Falla

 

St Peter Port

Office of Douzenier (7 candidates for 6 seats)

Anthony Paul Holland

Simon John De La Mare

Diane Elizabeth Mitchell

Zoe Carmen Candida Lihou

Evita Bormane

Charlotte Long

Thomas Benjamin Moore

 

St Saviour

Office of Constable (1)

John Louis Gillson

Office of Douzenier (4)

John Louis Gillson

Peter Raymond Harris

Sophie Marguerite Betty

Susan Mary Watson

 

Forest

Office of Constable (2)

Clive Le Tissier

Jane Corinne Eleanor Niles

Office of Douzenier (3)

Jonathan Le Moignan

David Reginald Barrow

Richard Ernest Breban

 

St Andrew

Office of Constable (1)

Martin John Thwaite

Office of Douzenier (3)

David Michael Prosser

Kulvinder Singh

Philip Charles Retz

Office of Douzenier (one seat for one year term)

Matthew David Toussaint

 

St Martin 

Office of Constable (1)

Jeffrey Francis Wilkes-Green

Office of Douzenier (5 for 4 seats)

Peter Nigel Dorey

Ben Edward Gregg

Charlotte Le Tissier

Andrew James Castle

Cynthia Meryl Cormack

 

Vale

Office of Constable (2)

Richard Alan Leale

William Harold Cohu

Office of Douzenier (4)

Rosemary Anne Henry

Terrance Ives Ashworth

Jonathan Bond

Anne Bernadette Setters