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.
STATEMENT TO BE MADE BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE LEGISLATION COMMITTEE ON TUESDAY 16th MARCH 2004
As members may be aware, the 9th May, Liberation Day, falls this year on a Sunday and, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Holidays and Bank Holidays (Jersey) Act 1952, is not therefore defined as a Public or Bank Holiday. I am making this statement to inform members and the public that the Legislation Committee, which has responsibility for bringing forward proposals on the fixing of dates for public holidays, does not intend to propose that Monday 10th May 2004, should be made a public holiday in lieu of 9th May.
The Bailiff 's Consultative Panel considered this matter some time ago and the Legislation Committee as previously constituted concurred with the views of that Panel. The 9th May is, of course, an extremely significant date in the Island's calendar and one that evokes many memories, particularly for those Islanders who were in Jersey on Liberation Day in 1945. It is, therefore, considered that the commemoration and celebration of our liberation should take place on 9th May and not on any other day. Members will be pleased to know that detailed planning is already taking place for the commemoration of Liberation Day in the manner that has become traditional in recent years. I would point out that the Committee's decision not to propose any additional public holiday is consistent with the decision of the then Legislation Committee in 1999 when Liberation Day last fell on a Sunday.
On a different but related matter I would like to take this opportunity to inform members that, as Christmas Day and Boxing Day fall on a Saturday and Sunday, the Committee is proposing to take steps, once official confirmation of the UK position is received, to ensure that Monday 27th and Tuesday 28th December 2004, are given as Public Holidays in lieu. In a similar way we will be proposing that Monday 3rd January 2005 should be a Public Holiday in lieu of New Year's Day 2005.