What does a douzaine do?

Wednesday 09 February 2022

President John F Kennedy once urged Americans to “ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country”. And the St. Peter Port Douzaine is now echoing him at a parochial level.

Douzenier Mary McDermott organises parish drop-ins and one is due to be held this coming weekend - at the Constables' office in Lefebvre Street between 10:00 and 12:00 on Saturday 12 February.

Mrs McDermott is concerned that not all parishioners are aware of the role the douzaine plays in the parish and she wants people to use the drop-ins to find out more.

She also wants the douzaine to ask “how can GY1 assist you?”

“It’s not what you can do for your parish, but what can your parish do for you?”

Mrs McDermott said this theme will be the main topic of this weekend’s parish drop-in.

She and her fellow parochial politicians want to know what they can do to help Town residents and discuss what residents can do to help their parish.

Pictured: Douzenier Mary McDermott has channelled a famous message by the 35th US President, John F Kennedy (image from Pixabay), in encouraging parishioners to attend the St. Peter Port douzaine drop-in this coming weekend. 

"The role of the douzaine is defined as a body of people who look after the interests of the parish,” said Mrs McDermott.

"But what does that really mean?

“We have a wide and varied role and this drop-in is an excellent chance for parishioners to come into the office and find out more.”

She is aware that, for many people, douzaines deal with day-to-day concerns, such as rubbish collections, but she wants to ensure more people know they can also help with other queries which ultimately need to be dealt with by the States or a third party.

“We’ll also be on hand to assist with other parish concerns, such as the collection of refuse or street lighting or perhaps you have a comment about scaffolding around the Town or the state of our highways.

"No topic is off limits and we will do our best to answer queries or direct the inquiry to the correct department."

Pictured: The Charter between the States and the douzaines can be read HERE. 

Guernsey has ten parishes which each have their own douzaine with a Dean and varying numbers of douzeniers.

A charter exists between the States and the douzaines outlining their relationship. It was signed in 2011 by Deputy Lyndon Trott, who at that time was the island's senior-most politician. On behalf of the States, he agreed to give douzaines opportunities to comment on matters of policy which would affect their parishes before the States made decisions about them.

The States also pledged to work in partnership with the douzaines to “promote sustainable social, economic and environmental policies for the benefit of the parishes”.

Today, the States have a Douzaine Liaison Group, which is made up of Deputies Heidi Soulsby, Sue Aldwell, Aidan Mathews and Nick Moakes. They try to ensure that States' committees “work within the spirit of the States of Guernsey/Douzaine Charter”.

The Douzaine Liaison Group also acts as a reference point for the douzaines to “facilitate communication between States' committees and parish authorities”.

Pictured: The St. Peter Port Parish website has information about the douzaine's responsibilities.

St. Peter Port has 20 douzeniers and two constables.

The parish boasts the island’s youngest elected politician, Charlotte Long, and the island’s first Latvian politician, Evita Bormane, both elected in November 2021.

Douzaines have direct responsibilities for a variety of matters. In St. Peter Port these include dog waste, kerbside recycling, bornements and streams and many other areas of business.

More information and contact details for the douzaine can be found HERE.

Pictured top: A St. Peter Port douzaine drop-in is being held on Saturday 12 February at the Constables' Office between 10:00 and 12:00.