Addressing hundreds in Liberation Square, Sir William Bailhache put modern problems into context by citing the heroism of Louisa Gould, who paid the ultimate price for helping a Russian slave worker, and others who endured so much, including mental ill-health, as a result of war and occupation.
‘Younger women had to bear a great stress in the war years, concerned with providing for their families and children and the older generation had time to worry about those close to them who were exposed to the risks of war, whether they were those left behind in occupied territory or those who had evacuated to the United Kingdom,’ he said.
‘The deportees in Bad Wurzach had to suffer similar stress, but in addition, the particular restrictions on their freedom, the lack of privacy in every respect during their incarceration and the lack of dignity that goes with it. Unsurprising that there was such depression in those years.’
He said that Liberation Day was a time to remember how hard won and precious the freedoms Islanders enjoyed today were, adding: ‘Today and each Liberation Day, we remind ourselves of the importance of freedom, of an independent court service, and of our right to self-government including the right to determine our own laws consistently with our long-established laws and privileges.’
Listening to his speech in the square were UK politicians from the Channel Islands All-Party Parliamentary Group, which promotes a better understanding of the issues facing the Channel Islands.
The Bailiff touched upon various issues locally which are currently dividing the Island.
He said: ‘So when today we find ourselves collectively worrying about the issues of today, whatever they are, whether they be international issues concerning the environment, pay disputes, the make-up of elected representatives in the States Assembly, the new hospital or indeed the role of the Bailiff, all of which are relevant to people in Jersey in one way or another, let us not forget that Liberation Day is a day to come together as one community, a day to prompt a common way forward; above all else a day to remember that the essential freedoms which we have were secured 74 years ago at great cost to the Allied forces and to our own people.
‘Let us forge ourselves again as one community, standing together to find solutions to whatever problems come our way.’
