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STATES OF JERSEY
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DEAN OF JERSEY: CESSATION OF MEMBERSHIP OF THE STATES
Lodged au Greffe on 15th March 2005 by Senator E.P. Vibert
STATES GREFFE
PROPOSITION
THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion
to a g ree, in principle, that from the date of the retirement of the present incumbent the Dean of Jersey
should no longer be a member of the States of Jersey, and to charge the Privileges and Procedures Committee to bring forward for approval the necessary amendments to the States of Jersey Law 2005 to give effect to the proposal.
SENATOR E.P. VIBERT
REPORT
The Dean of Jersey is currently a member of the States and his role is to represent all the Churches of Jersey. It would appear that the Dean's position was created at the time the Rectors were removed in 1948.
It was felt at the time that there was a need to maintain this connection with the Church. As a matter of interest, Guernsey did not follow Jersey in this respect when they removed the Rectors and the Dean has not had a place in their States since then.
It is clear that in 2005 this is an anachronism. Even though he cannot vote, the Dean is entitled to speak, which means that he is allowed to try to influence members of the States. Modern democracy frowns on unelected people being in a Parliament with a right to influence how politicians should vote.
My proposition asks for the Privileges and Procedures Committee to bring forward for debate the necessary amendment to the law to allow for his removal from the Assembly.
This is an opportune time to move forward with this proposition as the current Dean has announced his retirement and a new Dean will be appointed shortly. By passing this proposition the new Dean will be aware that he will not be expected to attend States meetings in the future, a proposition that I am sure will be of great relief to him.
There are no financial or manpower implications for the States arising from this proposition.