From Hazel Haines
I HAVE recently been re-reading a book with a title of Toujours Jeune which is a record of the memoirs of former Senator Reg Jeune.
His observations seem to be very relevant to events in the States recently, in particular during this week. He compares the States giants of yesteryear with the dwarves of today and he wonders if the lack of people of a high calibre standing for election is the result of payment of States Members.
He does not believe in payment for States service, except for reimbursement for lost earnings and expenses. He feels that payment encourages people to stand for election who have had no experience of life or of running a business, although he believes that Jersey should not be run as a business and he deplores the use of the expression ‘Jersey Ltd’. However, he does feel that some experience in business is necessary.
He writes of being delighted as a young, inexperienced Deputy being asked to serve on committees alongside such giants as Senator Cyril Le Marquand, Farley, Krichefski, Shenton, Binnington, Averty and Deputy de Veulle. He also mentions Senators Ralph Vibert, John Le Marquand and Clarence Dupré, although I must take him to task for not mentioning two lady Senators who were also giants, Gwyneth Huelin and Jane Sandeman.
He complains about the lack of control of expenditure, of which he uses the word ‘deplorable’ and warns of other places which have spent themselves into a deficit because of being carried away by their own success and getting ‘too big for their boots’. In this regard and also generally, he has a very high opinion of Colin Powell. As you may gather from the tone of my letter so far, I concur with most of what he writes.
I believe present States Members can learn a great deal from the past, not least how to conduct themselves with dignity and also not to whinge about workload. Possibly it is the lack of mental ability and stamina coupled with a lack of self-discipline and organisational ability which is the cause, or it may be a ploy to keep their high salaries, which most would not be able to earn elsewhere.
As it is only ten years since Mr Jeune’s retirement from the States, I am sure the workload has not increased that much. Mr Jeune, by his own admission, is a man from a poor background. By his own efforts, he has achieved a great deal in his life, being a practising lawyer, sitting on the board of two banks and being a lay preacher in the Methodist Church, as well as being a trustee of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Centre and involvement with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. He has been honoured twice, firstly with an OBE, followed later by a CBE. How many of today’s Members will be worthy of that?
I cite him as an example as his book has provided me with information about his life which I would otherwise not have had, but many of his contemporary States Members have similar ability and experience. The same cannot be said of many sitting Members today, and it is highly likely that this is the cause of voters’ apathy. There are very few, if any, worthy of a vote.
Flat 1,
Carteret Court,
Bagatelle Road,
St Saviour.
