The idea of re-instating regular meetings between parishioners, douzeniers and deputies based in the Vale was suggested at the parish meeting in November by former Vale deputy Mary Lowe. She said that she was concerned that the introduction of island-wide voting in 2020 had brought about ‘a huge disconnect’ between voters and politicians.
Constable Richard Leale confirmed that the parish had been in touch with the eight deputies elected in 2025 who lived in Vale at the time of the election, but none had come forward to participate.
‘Deputies were not really interested in taking part in regular meetings,’ he said. ‘But we are still considering reintroducing surgeries with douzeniers, and we are at the planning stage for them to restart.’
He added that he believed the lack of positive response was due to deputies being approached differently now than in the past.
‘I think a number feel they can be contacted directly through email or social media now so there is less need for face-to-face meetings,’ he said.
Garry Collins, who had been on the Vale douzaine until he was elected as a deputy last year, said he had written to his fellow deputies living in the Vale to ask if they would attend meetings but had not had a positive response.
‘I haven’t pushed it and it was just a quick email, but the island-wide voting system is not really designed for deputies to engage with the parish they live in. That traditional route to talk to your local deputy about a problem has largely disappeared.’
Mr Collins, who lived in Vale at the time of the election, but is currently in the process of moving down the road into St Sampson’s, is the vice-chairman of the States’ douzaine relations group, which is chaired by Deputy Steve Falla.
‘I was the only one to apply for that position which I think says something about the situation and that disconnect,’ said Deputy Collins.
‘The change to island-wide voting has probably made douzaines seem less important.’
Mr Collins was a previously a Vale deputy between 2012 and 2016.
‘We used to have a public surgery before a States debate and then a meeting with the douzaine. There is nothing like the one-on-one contact with the public that there was when I was last a deputy,’ he said.
‘Now you get emails addressed to all deputies, or people approach the deputy on the committee responsible for that area – for example, if you have a housing issue you go to someone on the Housing Committee. And perhaps that is quicker.’
He added that he understood why deputies might not want to attend meetings just because they lived in that parish.
‘The douzaines all meet on the same night, and if you are representing everyone on the island, why would you choose to go to the one in your own parish and not another?’
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