In an open letter (published on page 12 of Monday’s JEP) Magda Chmielewska has said that the decision only to allow families to gather on Christmas Day and Boxing had ‘excluded’ 25% of the Island’s population.
Roman Catholic communities, which include a number of Portuguese and Polish citizens, traditionally hold their most important festive celebrations on Christmas Eve.
‘There was no consultation with minorities on the subject, especially bearing in mind that 25% of the Island’s community celebrate on 24 December,’ wrote Ms Chmielewska. ‘It was very disappointing that their religious beliefs were not taken into consideration before the decision was made. The people who have contacted me did not ask for more freedoms or special treatment; they just wanted to be treated equally and felt that they had been excluded from the guidance.’
She added that she had received reports that landlords were abusing government guidance by forbidding visitors to properties altogether during the festive period, unless they were relatives.
‘A number of people were also calling me saying that their landlords had told them that they weren’t allowed to bring anyone at all over for the whole Christmas period other than relatives,’ she said.
‘On Facebook there was even a publication of one such letter to Polish tenants, which I found shocking. We need to remember there are certain members of the community who have no relatives in Jersey and who couldn’t travel back home. People are lonely, even more so during the Covid-19 pandemic, so they rely on their friends who often become part of their family.’
She added that members of the communities who had publicly opposed the government guidance on Christmas gatherings had been subject to abuse, including of a racial nature.
