Castel Matters, Issue 22 - Winter 2019 / Spring 2020

CASTEL
Welcome
from the Dean
Mike Fooks
Dean of the Douzaine
As we approach Christmas and the
New Year we can reflect on another
busy year in Castel and, at the same
time, look ahead to May and June
next year when two quite different
events will be taking place.
In early May we will be celebrating
that momentous occasion 75 years
ago when the Channel Islands were
finally liberated from 5 long years of
occupation. Plans are progressing
well and included in this edition you
will find a brief schedule of events
in the run up to the main island
celebrations which will be held in St
Peter Port on Saturday 9 May.
On Wednesday 17 June 2020
as a consequence of our own
referendum, Guernsey will hold
its first island-wide elections
which brings with it the demise
of Parish/electoral district based
representatives. We are assured
that the States Assembly and
Constitution Committee are working
hard on the practicalities associated
with island wide voting not least of
all on how to navigate one’s way
through a ballot paper containing
multiple candidates in order to
arrive safely and more importantly
accurately at your preferred choice
of up to 38 candidates. The success
or otherwise of island wide elections
remains to be seen. Castel Douzaine
has always encouraged active
engagement with our Deputies
particularly in the run up to States
meetings or when a local issue needs
Government intervention to resolve
and we hope this commitment is
not lost. We value your opinion and
are always keen to engage with our
Parishioners.
What will the future bring; is there
perhaps scope for the Douzaine
with its wide range of business
acumen and the voluntary status
of its elected members, to absorb
more responsibility for day to day
matters through what may well be a
very changed States of Deliberation
pledged no doubt to controlling
costs on a whole range of fronts?
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