Flag campaign splits island down middle

GUERNSEYMAN John Bourgaize has sparked an island-wide debate by saying the island's flag does not accurately reflect its constitutional history.

The 72-year-old came up with his own design, which includes two green panels and the three lions as depicted on the 1279 seal given to Guernsey by Edward I.

Shoppers on the Bridge had mixed views about the idea. Boat-builder John Cluett, 72, said he would like to see a change.

Weighbridge operator John Le Cheminant, 47, thought the island should stick with what it has got.

Our online poll on www.thisisguernsey. com was a close one, with voters evenly split. We asked: 'Should Guernsey adopt the green-and-white flag featuring the Bailiwick seal, or keep the current gold-on-red cross design? Our poll received a total 214 votes, with 109 voting for the new flag (51%) and 105 wanting to keep the current one (49%).