Charges on parishioners paid for Christmas parties

Enquiries by the Guernsey Press revealed that the shindigs for St Sampson's and the Castel were funded by income from dog tax, bornement charges and liquor licence fees.

St Sampson’s junior constable Adrian Dilcock confirmed the parish also paid for the meals and drinks consumed by douzeniers’ partners, but Castel senior constable Kelvin Hudson said that his parish required partners to pay their own way.

Seven of the other eight parishes said they either did not hold a party this year or held one which was entirely self-funded by officials and their guests.

St Peter Port did not respond to enquiries.

‘It pre-dated me, but the tradition is that the douzaine holds a function at the end of the year by way of a thank you,’ said St Sampson’s junior constable Adrian Dilcock. ‘It builds up over the year and so far it has been sufficient to cover these things.

‘None of this money comes from from the remede, the parish rates.’

Mr Dilcock insisted that funding the douzeniers’ Christmas party out of parish taxes and charges was ‘a democratic decision’ voted for by members of the douzaine which officials had in no way tried to hide, although he refused to say how much it had cost.

‘It represents odds and ends that aren’t collected from the parochial rates. The parish has tried its very best to be open and above board,’ he said.

But he admitted that criticism from a parishioner was forcing St Sampson’s officials into a re-think.

‘Whether or not we’re going to continue with this practice will be discussed in the new year,’ said Mr Dilcock.

St Sampson’s has two paid members of staff. Everyone else volunteers and paying for their Christmas party was seen as a way of rewarding their efforts.

Partners were invited as a thank you for the number of phone calls and other enquiries which parish officials were said to receive from parishioners at all hours.

Mr Dilcock said that 22 people attended his parish’s party at the Puffin and Oyster. Mr Hudson said there were more than 20 people at his parish’s event.

St Sampson’s also used theirs to thank retiring senior constable Leonie Le Tissier and a long-serving member of the Cemeteries Committee who had stepped down.

What the other parishes said...

Vale – no Christmas party this year.

St Martin’s – held a Christmas party, with each person paying for themselves.

Forest – held a party in November, with people paying for themselves or their guests.

St Peter’s – held a party at the Longfrie Inn, with each person paying for themselves.

St Saviour’s – no Christmas party this year.

St Andrew’s – held a Christmas party, with each person paying for themselves.

Torteval – would be having a Christmas event in February, with each person paying for themselves.