Assistant Chief Minister Richard Buchanan has spoken out following the comments made by Children and Housing Minister Sam Mézec to say that the Senator’s criticism was ‘misinformed’ and showed a ‘lack of understanding’ about the parish system.
Mr Buchanan, the Constable of St Ouen, said that the parishes were ‘inclusive’ and kept parishioners and ratepayers informed about parish elections.
Senator Mézec said on his blog that the parishes, with the exception of St Helier, hold the vast majority of their meetings behind closed doors. He also claimed that parishes were not the ‘beacons of democracy some think they are’ and that they need to ‘modernise and get with the times, or become an irrelevancy’.
However, Mr Buchanan has disputed those claims, saying: ‘I think they are misinformed. It shows a lack of understanding of how the parish system works. He was claiming, for example, the roads committee meetings are closed. No one has ever asked to come to one. I don’t think I would say no to be honest.
‘There is nothing being decided at these committees that are secretive and clandestine. Anyone who wants to see the minutes can do.’
Senator Mézec also said that the parishes have failed to provide information about elections which are due to be held next month for the post of Procureur du Bien Public.
Mr Buchanan said there was ‘plenty of information’ about the upcoming elections. ‘Most people who are interested [in a parish/honorary role] come into the parish hall and chat to people. The parish secretary will take them through the role.’
He also said that the nomination dates for the roles of Procureur and Centeniers are published in the Jersey Gazette.
Mr Buchanan added that parishioners and ratepayers were entitled to attend parish assemblies in order to vote on issues relating to their neighbourhood.
And he said that ‘sooner or later’ people would be able to vote online about parish issues, although he admitted that the parishes would have to look at the logistics first. Mr Buchanan stressed that it was important that people attended parish assemblies to hear both sides of the debate about issues before they voted on a matter.
He said that the parishes were not ‘complacent’ when it comes to reaching out to parishioners. ‘We are inclusive,’ he said. ‘We are not exclusive. Maybe we could do more to get online. We are trying to engage on social media – we are not complacent.’
