Last year 153 Islanders were nominated for one of 14 awards. After 36,887 votes were cast – surpassing the 27,397 submitted the previous year – the three individuals who received the most votes in each section were placed on a shortlist of Pride of Jersey finalists.
Plans were made to hold the postponed ceremony this spring, where the winners in each category would be announced, but the continuing pandemic restrictions have made this impossible.
All 42 finalists have been contacted via email and made aware of this decision. One of the finalists in the Ambassador of the Year category, Hugo de Castro, died last month at the age of 57.
JEP editor Andy Sibcy said: ‘We are committed to holding an event when able to do so as a welcome celebration of new-found freedoms and a return to normality. It has been a long and challenging 12 months, but there is also much to celebrate thanks to the way so many business, organisations and individuals have come together to support each other.
‘As this year has so clearly shown, Jersey is lucky to have such a strong community with so many people prepared to go above and beyond to help one another.
‘Pride has always been a collaborative initiative and that is true this year more than ever given the extraordinary situation we find ourselves in.’
When the awards are able to take place, a judging panel – comprising a previous champion, a representative of the award’s sponsor and a JEP staff member – will select a winner in each category. They will each receive a prize worth £1,000 from their category sponsor.
‘Although once again contingent on the rules being sufficiently relaxed and an event being logistically possible, we are looking to hold a judging event in the summer and the awards ceremony in September,’ said Mr Sibcy.
‘Further details will follow as soon as is possible.’
