A VERY SUCCESSFUL AGM

Our AGM held last week was very successful and we had as many people there as we had at AGM’s of several years ago-a most encouraging result and a slap in the face for those who felt that the JDA was dead because of events of the last three months

A new council and officers were elected.

The meeting unanimously passed a motion to change the constitution to allow the Party to appoint a president. This was unanimously approved and Ted Vibert, the former Senator and founder of the JDA, was unanimously elected to that position.

Other posts filled were:
Chair-person: Christine Papworth
Treasurer: Tomi Owen
Secretary: Anne Southern
Council Members: Christian Robertshaw, Chris Riley, Caroline Powell, Rory Thun, Maurice Le Cocq, Pat le Masurier.

A second change to the Constitution was to bring to the top of our aims and objectives, the implementation of the Clothier Report which would see the States of Jersey consist of 44 single type of members, elected on parish based boundaries. In making the proposition, Ted Vibert argued that we would never be successful in winning our policies of social reform, progressive taxation, or a fair society under the current government system. Clothier had been a panel made up of very eminent UK judges and lawyers as well as prominent local people who had heard 196 submissions before deciding that the States of Jersey was totally undemocratic.

The other aims and objectives of the JDA are:
To formulate and promote political policies that adhere to the following principles:
• Government in Jersey should be open, honest and transparent.
• The public interest will be paramount at all times.
• Government in Jersey will be open, honest and transparent.
• Trade unions will be recognised as an important part of Jersey society.
• The role of States members is to do the greatest good for the greatest number.
• The JDA believes that Jersey is a special place with unique laws and customs, countryside, traditions, language and privileges and that these must be preserved and maintained when it is clear that their retention is appropriate.
• To ensure that policies put forward promote the values enshrined in the European Convention of Human Rights.

We have now added to those our number one aim which is to reform the States along the principles of Clothier.

This alteration was carried unanimously.

FINANCIAL POSITION IS SOUND
Our new treasurer, schoolteacher, Tomi Owen, reported that the funds of the Party were in reasonable shape and sufficient for the next few months. Ted Vibert commented that the new council will have to set up a fund-raising committee as next year would be election year and we would need considerable funds to contest the seats we feel could be won by good candidates

TRAINING PROGRAM.
In discussions under ” any other business” the president outlined that he had prepared a training programme for new members who are prepared to stand under the JDA banner in the forthcoming elections)( details of this programme is published in another section).

He also outlined that the Party was now searching for candidates for next years’ elections. There was a chronic shortage of women in the States(10 out of 53) and he was currently researching why so few women were prepared to come forward to take part in Jersey politics. He was attempting to arrange meetings with womens’ organisations such as Women’s Institutes and the Standing Conference of Women’s Organisations. Ted Vibert said that he hoped to shortly organise a special conference for selected women to try to thrash out why women are not standing and what can we do about it

WE INTEND TO CONTEST BETWEEN 14-17 SEATS
If we can find the right candidates we believe that we can win between 14-17 seats which includes those seats already held by Deputies Southern as well as those held by Trevor Pitman, Shona Pitman and, Debbie de Sousa. Regardless of the fact that Trevor, Shona and Debbie are no longer part of the JDA, they still support all of our objectives and we will not be putting up candidates against them. In my view, they will have no difficulty in retaining their seats.

We also have Judy Martin, Alan Breckon, Daniel Wimberley, Mike Higgins, Bob Hill, Paul le Claire, Alan Breckon and Monty Tadier, who are not JDA members, but generally support our positions on most things. If we can get another 10 seats we will start to be an effective political organisation. We think that it is entirely possible.

THE PRESIDENT’S CLOSING SPEECH
President Ted Vibert closed the meeting with a speech that covered future plans for the JDA and especially with the run-up to next years’ elections. He hoped that in all the constituencies where we felt we had the opportunity to win seats, that local parish councils of JDA members could be formed to carry out campaigns for voter registration, postal votes, postering in the area etc.. Hopefully, each council would have a campaign manager to organise the differing jobs that would need doing. Work should commence as soon as possible and candidates, once chosen, should begin personal calling. If candidates start early enough it will be possible for them to doorstep several times during the year.

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et the JDA Noticed - Click here to find out about promotional material and badges

PATRONS May 2009
The Jersey Democratic Alliance is proud to announce two of the most outstanding figures in Jersey politics in the last sixty years as our Patrons. Not only is this our way of honouring them, but we also are honoured even more by their acceptance. Sadly, one of these Emile Collins has just died at the age of 98

Chris Wakeham, apart from being a campaigner for political progress and reform for six decades, has been a real achiever, who has improved life for thousands of young islanders over the years by her tireless work in founding and managing first youth facilities, and then child care provision. The Centrepoint nurseries allow hundreds of mothers to work for a decent standard of living, when they would otherwise be impoverished dependants. Her leading role in the Jersey Democratic Movement is really the aspect of her life's work that we have celebrated in inviting her to be one of our Patrons, however. Chris's huge experience and wisdom will continue to be a valued source of advice for the JDA Council.

Emile Collins - was an outspoken and articulate critic of “The Jersey Way” ever since the Second World War. A founder member of the JDM, he continued to write prolifically for the JEP “Letters” page, although he complained that they do not dare to print many of his letters. He was also familiar to those who follow Jersey affairs by local radio, as the voice the Ministers' fear to hear on the phone-in programmes. Emile was the very first member of the public signed up by Ted Vibert when founding the JDA, and continued to play an active part in the party, both manning street stalls and speaking at all major meetings.

Although the JDA sees engaging youth in Jersey politics as one of its most important tasks, the appointments of Chris and Emile as our Patrons signaled the party's recognition that there is an older generation who still care about where Jersey is going, and can bring a lifetime's worldly wisdom into their political thinking, and that they must be part of the Alliance, too.

JDA LAPEL BADGES PROVE A GREAT SUCCESS

Fashioned in the red, white and blue of the party’s colours on a silver background we are pleased to be able to report that these have proven far more popular than we had anticipated.

What next we wonder – JDA tee shirts on the beaches of Ibiza? If you’re off on your holidays in the next month or two keep your eyes peels. Who knows, maybe we could even make this a regular spot on the website with prizes for the most exotic sighting! In the meantime we are pleased to be able to advise that we now have a second batch of the badges available. Still priced at just £1 they can be obtained by contacting this website or the 24/7 JDA number.

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