But, never, ever, have I heard a States Member speak as passionately about this particular subject as St Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft when he talks about the Madeiran capital, Funchal.
For many years he has been heavily involved in developing ties between his parish and the Portuguese city and today that work is due to finally pay off when the Mayor of Funchal, Dr Miguel Albuquerque, signs a twinning agreement alongside Mr Crowcroft at the Town Hall.
Of course, the agreement is just a piece of paper, official confirmation of a twinning that many people believe already exists. However, it is also the culmination of many years of hard work, passion and perseverance from many individuals, both in Jersey and in Madeira.
It represents more than just a link between the two places – it marks an important step for relations between Jersey and Madeira as a whole.
And, it is hoped, it will lead to greater tourism between the two places and better cultural, economic and educational opportunities, too.
As a result, all of those involved in the process since the beginning should be praised. As well as Mr Crowcroft and the mayor, they include the late Mike Wavell, former Bailiff and now Senator Philip Bailhache, the Madeiran president Alberto João Jardim and Jersey’s Portuguese consul, Carlos Santos-Costa.
They include also Jersey’s Catholic Dean, Monsignor Nicholas France, who heads up the Catholic Church in Jersey which is central to Island life for many Madeirans, and former Deputy Debbie de Sousa, who is married to a Madeiran and works hard to develop ties between the two places.
But let’s not also forget the many other people, the everyday islanders in both places, who have played their own part. From those people in Jersey who donated money to the Jersey Side by Side Madeira appeal in the wake of the floods there in 2010, to Father Bernardino Trindade and his parishioners in Ribeira Brava on Madeira’s south coast who welcome anyone from Jersey with open arms, and everyone in between – we should be proud of what today stands for.
At a time when immigration is fast climbing to the top of Jersey’s political agenda, today also serves as a timely reminder of the positive role people from other jurisdictions can play in our society and the opportunities that their decision to move to our little Island can bring.
Thanks to the thousands of Portuguese and Madeiran people now living in Jersey, the Island boasts some of the best, and most plentiful, Portuguese restaurants you will find outside of the country itself.
Islanders have also been exposed to other aspects of Portuguese culture such as traditional fado music, the Madeiran dance Bailihno, large, close-knit families who get together as often as possible and frequent celebrations based on religious days that many of us wouldn’t have heard of otherwise.
There is more we can experience, more we can embrace and more we can learn from, Portuguese literature being just one vast, rich area.
But there is more to all of this than being able to eat espatadas, drink poncha and appreciate the mournful tones of fado music. Jersey’s links with Portugal and Madeira have, over the decades, taught an Island traditionally characterised as inward looking and, at worst, self-centred, to become a more accepting place to live.
Yes, the relationship is still to this day not without its problems and children of migrants are still bullied at school, racism still exists and many Islanders still view any form of immigration fearfully, but this is no longer the norm.
Jersey has a rich history of immigration that goes back long before the first Portuguese and Madeiran workers began arriving here. Yet attitudes towards migrants have changed more in those last few decades than they ever did in the past.
And that is largely because of the work of people like Mr Crowcroft and others, both politicians and non-politicians.
So today, as the city of Funchal and the parish of St Helier put pen to paper to formalise their bond, let us all, whether we are born in Jersey, Madeira or wherever, whether we live in St Helier, Funchal or wherever, allow ourselves to feel proud about what this day stands for.
We should appreciate what it means for Jersey to have got here and be excited by the opportunities that lie ahead. Even if you don’t think that it really affects you, I am sure you can see the value in a society that is more welcoming, tolerant and cosmopolitan.
Of course, the relationship between Jersey and Madeira, and in some instances Portugal, too, is totally unique and cannot be recreated.
But it is an inspiring example of what the beginnings of a ‘great’ relationship can look like.
