Taking transparency seriously
PARISH volunteers are often the unseen heroes that the island takes for granted. Checking hedges and moorings, speaking up on parish planning issues, maintaining abreuveurs, organising events – every parish has its own responsibilities, but they all involve unpaid workers, often receiving little reward beyond the satisfaction of improving their surroundings.
The story we published just after Christmas when two parishes admitting using fees and charges to fund an end-of-year meal for its volunteers provoked strong reactions on both sides.
One thing that definitely proved, however, was this was a story, despite those who went to lengths to claim it wasn’t. And it certainly led to some confusion. Why two parish officials, both of whom were quite prepared to pay for themselves at their own events, would then head to social media to attack the newspaper’s coverage quite beggared belief.
We know that while there was a demonstration of support for the work of unpaid parish officials, there is also unhappiness within some douzaine rooms at the idea of using parishioner funds for self-reward.
Many parishes spoken to were surprised that the question was being asked, so obvious did they think the answer would be.
Encouraged maybe by what appears to be public opinion, if parishes want to reward volunteers, then the ratepayers should be asked to back that.
In public office, transparency can’t be an optional extra. It is the bedrock of accountability.