Proposal for Jersey to have an extra bank holiday

Proposal for Jersey to have an extra bank holiday

On 28 September 1769, hundreds of Islanders protested in the Royal Square against food costs, with the Lieutenant-Bailiff, Charles Lemprière, accused of exporting corn to increase the demand for and price of wheat, which was a lucrative crop for landowners of the time.

Following this event, known as the Corn Riots, reforms were put in place to establish Jersey’s parliament – the States Assembly – as the sole law-making body in the Island. Prior to this the Royal Court also had legislative powers.

In 2012 the States approved a proposition lodged by former Deputy Trevor Pitman for the date to be officially recognised as ‘reform day’.

Seven years later Deputy Montfort Tadier has lodged a proposition calling for the States to honour this decision.

His proposals include 28 September becoming an extra bank holiday from 2021 onwards and for up to £10,000 to be allocated each year to fund ‘entertainment and commemorations’ on the day.

The Deputy would also like to see the history of the day taught as part of the school curriculum and an open day of the Royal Court and States Assembly to be held on each anniversary.

The report outlining the proposition says: ‘On 20 November 2012, the States Assembly agreed part (a) of. P.107/2012 [the proposition] lodged by former Deputy Pitman, to agree that 28 September should be recognised annually by the States of Jersey as “Reform Day” to mark the anniversary of the events in Jersey of 28 September 1769.

‘However, the other parts of the proposition were lost, leaving the States in a position where they had agreed to officially recognise the day, but had not agreed how or what to do to mark it. Subsequently, nobody in the States took responsibility for recognising it formally.

‘Seven years later, I am pleased to say that, following collaboration between the States Greffe, the Bailiff’s Office, the Privileges and Procedures Committee, Jersey Heritage, Jersey Archive and myself, as assistant minister with special responsibility for culture, the date will finally be marked officially.’

The report adds that the bank holiday, if approved, would not be introduced until 2021 as this would mark the 250th anniversary of the parliamentary reforms being enacted and also give businesses two years to make preparations.

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