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To help put a face to a name in this section we asked any member of the  JDA Council who wished to do so to provide details for us to write a brief, ‘potted’ biography outlining such things their role within the party, their background and personal interests. The first few members to respond to this request are detailed below. The section will be added to and updated as further information from other Council members is provided.

However, please note that though wholly committed to playing a role in bringing about positive electoral reform with the JDA, due to concerns with regard to employers a small number of individuals felt unable to publicise their personal efforts: a sorry indictment of Jersey 2008 to be sure. Unfortunately this remains the reality in which all that dare to challenge the status quo and Jersey’s self-appointed wealthy elite must work for change.

Though playing no official role within the day-to-day operations of the JDA we will shortly also be including in this section brief details of the party’s Honorary Patrons: well known figures in political circles in their own right for their many years of work on behalf of community and democratic reform. Keep watching this space – you well be quite surprised!

TED VIBERT - PRESIDENT - Click here to go to "Things you didn't know About your President Mr Ted Vibert"

CHRISTINE PAPWORTH CHAIRWOMAN

Christine has lived in Jersey since the beginning of the eighties, with her husband and three children. She is employed by the States and has also been involved with Union work as a Shop Steward for her departmental colleagues for several years.  Chris tells us she has been drawn towards becoming more and more involved in politics recently because of a growing feeling of dissatisfaction with the way our island has been run.  

Chris explains: “My reason for joining the JDA was very simple. I have a passionate desire to see social justice in society. We are very lucky in this beautiful island to have a very buoyant economy with vast amounts of wealth, enabling the majority of Islanders to enjoy a very comfortable standard of living. We are also fortunate to have a very flexible and mobile workforce,” she continues, “welcoming in workers from Europe and the UK, enabling our farms and other local businesses to be as profitable as they undoubtedly are.”

“But with this comes responsibility,” Says Chris. “I believe that we have a duty to provide decent living conditions for all our inhabitants, and to provide equal access to all the things we take for granted – such as decent housing and a decent wage for working a reasonable number of hours. “

Perhaps as you might expect as someone working within one of the island’s care industries Christine is passionately concerned about looking after those people in society who are less able to look after themselves – the elderly, the disabled and, what she describes as her own particular concern – children and young people.

“I believe strongly that it is the responsibility of us all to create a community here in Jersey which nurtures and values its children and young people. After all, they are the future and it is in everyone’s best interests to look after the people who will be our future leaders, workers and parents.” Looking after our young people now will inevitably lead to a safer community, she points out. “Its just basic commonsense – like so much of the JDA’s thinking that drew me to become involved: if people feel valued and part of the community, they will be less likely to damage it – this begins in childhood and remains with us for ever.

Christine also has a strong interest in Green issues stating that our environment should be of concern to every one of us. Pressed to enlarge upon this she adds that this should include:

• A properly sustainable, comprehensive and subsidised public transport system

• safer cycling and less emphasis on use of cars

• Increased recycling of our waste

• More emphasis placed on promoting healthy lifestyles - including better access for all to sport and leisure activities – not just for those who can afford it.

“So many people just moan yet do nothing,” says Chris. “But I believe that it is possible to change the way Jersey is governed and this is why I have joined the JDA – as working together, we can make change happen.

GEOFF SOUTHERN - STATES MEMBER

Deputy Geoff Southern must have one of the most interesting academic backgrounds within the States emerging from university specialising in metallurgy and French! A former school teacher, it is perhaps this background that has led to his reputation for research in both his propositions and Scrutiny work that has earned him the respect of both colleagues and opponents alike. Widely believed to be in contention for the accolade of having asked more questions, and brought more propositions than any other present Member, as well as being the current Chairman of the Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel Deputy Southern is also Vice-Chairman of Income Support and a member of the Migration Policy sub-panel. 

Another member of the JDA’s Council tracing their political interest all the way back to their youth, Deputy Southern also echoes the views of so many of his colleagues in seeing politicians working together wherever possible, rather than focussing on differences as being the key to achieving a Jersey that values all the members of its community. Geoff’s first attempt at bringing together a broad-based coalition of people to work for social and democratic reforms was with the Rainbow Alliance in the mid 90’s. A decade later, having himself since been elected to the States in February of 2002, he co-founded the Jersey Democratic Alliance with his friend and political colleague, former Senator Ted Vibert in 2005.

Recalling the party’s beginnings Geoff says that if there was a major flaw within the original set-up it was probably that in 2005 too many people had been drawn to the concept primarily out of dissatisfaction with the government of the day, rather than shared political ideals. This is something he sees as being quite different to the JDA of the present day.

“I think the Chairman is quite right on this – in many ways the JDA of today is exactly where we should have begun from in 2005, Today we have a group of people on the Council all singing from effectively the same hymn sheet, and I think that is transmitting itself more and more to the people now deciding to join. Of course we are a broad church, and long may that continue,” the Deputy continues, “but it is those shared core centre-left values of social justice, transparency and political accountability that makes the JDA of 2009 such a pleasure to work with: commonsense politics for commonsense people indeed!”

Outside of his political work Geoff is another Council Member who tells us that reading and music plays a big part in his attempts at relaxing. He is a particular fan of the American singer-songwriter Tom Waites. “he is very much an acquired taste, “ says the Deputy, “but his words have a way of drawing you in, body and soul, to the story he is weaving. Undoubtedly the man is a genius.”

 Quote from Geoff prior to 2008 elections:

“We have heard it so many times come election time that Jersey is ‘at the cross-roads’ – usually from politicians who simply want to con people into voting for more of the same,” says the Deputy: “but in 2008 that cliché is finally very close to the truth. People have a choice – they can buy into the same old ‘spin’ from those who have let ordinary people down so badly with issues like GST and the waterfront. Or they can use their vote to bring about real positive change as advocated by the JDA. It really is that stark a choice and that simple.”

CHRISTIAN ROBERTSHAW – COUNCIL MEMBER

Christian is 36 years old and works for RBS International as a bank messenger.  He states that his reasons for deciding to join the Jersey Democratic Alliance are quite simple. “I joined the JDA because they, like me, want to see policies in place that care for everyone who lives on this island – not just the privileged few.”

Explaining this in greater detail Christian told us: “I joined because the JDA want to see our island’s environment preserved for future generations, not sold off to whichever developer pays the most money with no consideration as to the long-term impact. Like me they (JDA) want to see people able to live properly rather than in tiny rooms with little or no privacy; they (JDA) want to see our elderly treated with the dignity they deserve rather than having to worry that their meagre pension isn’t going to be enough to afford their heating bills.”

Christian also states that he feels the JDA offers the best way forward for young people to be able to fulfil their potential, and to contribute to the island’s future rather than being constantly seen by all too many as a problem.  “I also want to see the contribution of immigrants to the island recognised,” he goes on, “instead of them being able to be ripped off by greedy and unscrupulous landlords”.

Adding that there are many, many more things that he could mention Christian settles for telling us that: “The record of the JDA’s politicians does, I believe, speak for itself. They have been true to their election promises, unlike so many, and they seek consistently to serve the interests of ordinary people. That is why I joined the JDA.”