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2015.03.24
4.1 Deputy R. Labey of St. Helier of the Chief Minister regarding plans for the forthcoming commemoration of Liberation Day:
Could the Chief Minister, in his capacity as a member of the Bailiff 's Consultative Panel, update the Assembly on plans for the forthcoming commemoration of Liberation Day?
Senator I.J. Gorst (The Chief Minister):
The commemorations for the 70th anniversary of Liberation Day will begin on Friday, 8th May, with a service of thanksgiving and remembrance at the Town Church to which all Islanders are invited. On the day itself the current plans include the slave workers memorial service in the morning and a shortened re-enactment ceremony in Liberation Square. People's Park will then be the central venue for the afternoon's events, which will include a States Assembly sitting, a freedom ceremony, a liberation poetry recital and a period montage performance. The afternoon will also feature a grand parade, a royal gun salute from HMS Iron Duke and a fly past of 1940s aeroplanes. As Members will know, the celebrations in People's Park will take place in the presence of Her Royal Highness the Countess of Wessex.
4.1.1 Deputy R. Labey :
I am grateful to the Chief Minister for that, and it is an unenviable task organising this event, I am sure. I applaud the initiative to put Occupation survivors at the forefront of it. Does the Chief Minister think there was enough consultation though with Occupation survivors on the programme?
Senator I.J. Gorst :
That is a very good question. In effect there is an officers' cross-departmental working group that makes suggestions to yourself, Sir, and they are then considered by the Bailiff 's Consultative Panel, and there was also consultation with the Comité. Perhaps something we have learned from where we are in this process, that we need to develop a mechanism that perhaps would consult with survivor as well and therefore we might have had much more buy-in to what I believe is going to be a very exciting weekend.