This content has been automatically generated from the original PDF and some formatting may have been lost. Let us know if you find any major problems.
Text in this format is not official and should not be relied upon to extract citations or propose amendments. Please see the PDF for the official version of the document.
STATES OF JERSEY
r
COMMISSION AMICALE: APPOINTMENT OF
PRESIDENT AND CHAIRMAN
Lodged au Greffe on 26th April 2005 by the Policy and Resources Committee
STATES GREFFE
PROPOSITION
THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion
to a g ree –
(a ) th a t a new position of President of the Jersey delegation to the Commission Amicale should be
created and that the Bailiff should be appointed to the rôle;
(b ) th a t Senator Jean Amy Le Maistre should be appointed as Chairman of the Jersey delegation to the
Commission Amicale.
POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE
REPORT
The Commission Amicale is composed of Members of the States of Jersey and the Conseil Régionale de Basse Normandie and the Conseil Général de la Manche. It was established by the States on 31st January 1995, following the closure of the French Consulate in Jersey in the early 1990s, with the aim of reinforcing cultural and commercial links between Jersey and France. The Bailiff acts as Chairman of the Jersey delegation.
In April 2003 a Working Party was established by the Policy and Resources Committee to carry out a review of how best to maintain and develop relations between Jersey and France, both in the transitional period leading up to the ministerial system and once the ministerial system has come into effect. The Working Party's Report was adopted by the Policy and Resources Committee in April 2004, following consultation with relevant States Committees and other interested parties. Paragraphs 6.8 to 6.9 of this report dealt specifically with the Commission Amicale and the rôle of the Bailiff as its chairman.
In line with a recommendation in the Working Party's report, the Policy and Resources Committee is proposing that the Bailiff should be appointed as the President of the Jersey delegation to the Commission Amicale. The office of Bailiff is held in high esteem by the French government and officials, and the Committee believes that it is to the Island's advantage that the Bailiff should continue to lead the Jersey delegation at formal meetings of the Jersey Delegation of the Commission Amicale with their French counterparts. Unlike the Chairman of the French delegation, the Bailiff is not an elected representative, and in these circumstances the Committee believes that it would be preferable if the Bailiff were to be designated as the President of the Jersey Delegation, and that an elected member of the Jersey delegation should be appointed as its Chairman. Under these arrangements the Bailiff would not take part in discussions of a political nature and would have no executive functions in the Commission Amicale; these would be the responsibility of the Chairman and members of the Jersey delegation.
In respect of the position of Chairman to the Jersey Delegation, the Committee is pleased to be able to nominate Senator J.A. Le Maistre. Apart from the Bailiff , Senator Le Maistre is the only other current member of the Commission Amicale who has been a member of the body since it was first established in 1995. He has been actively involved in developing Jersey's relations with Normandy since the joint meetings between the Region and Jersey began in 1980. In addition he has been heavily involved in forging important links with Members of both the Senate and the National Assembly in Paris which resulted in the high level meetings held in Paris in November 2004. His knowledge in this area is of particular importance at the present time as the Island authorities seek to strengthen their already good relations with France, not only at a political level but also in the commercial, cultural and educational fields.
The other current members of the Commission Amicale are Senator M.E. Vibert ; Senator P.F.C. Ozou Connétable K.P. Vibert of St. Ouen; Deputy F.HJ. ill, B.E.M. of St. Martin; Deputy -JA. Bridge of St. Helier Deputy C.H. Egré of St. Peter and Deputy M.A. Taylor of St. Clement. It is felt that these members represent interests of those Committees who work particularly closely with France and there is therefore no need to add any additional new members at this time.
Following the move to a ministerial system, it is suggested that the membership of the Jersey delegation will need to include at least 2 or 3 of the ministers or assistant ministers whose departments will have a strong involvement with French matters. In bringing forward nominations for new members, the Chief Minister, as the minister responsible for international relations, will take soundings from both executive and non-executive members. It is not felt that the members of the Jersey delegation will need to be drawn exclusively from the executive: the Jersey Delegation is a parliamentary body, and it is more important that there should be a balance of representation, including members of the executive and other members of the States.
Financial and manpower implications
There will be no additional financial implications arising from this proposition, nor will there be any requirement for additional staff.