though I had worked alongside a States Member for five years and had witnessed


come in a variety of ways -by phone or mail, personal contact or in one case, as a


on the Planning Applications Panel or Legislation Advisory Panel, for example. In addition, every Member of the


Assembly has the right and opportunity to bring propositions in their own name on any matters of concern to them. One comment I have heard quite often is that the workload involved in, for example, the scrutiny function is such that it reduces the amount of time available to be devoted to this "private" work. There is no easy solution to this as each Member works differently. I made a decision to become involved


in as many areas as possible to gain wide experience. I am Vice-Chairman of the Privileges and Procedures Committee, the Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel and the Jersey Section of the Assemblée Parlementaire de la Francophonie. I was recently appointed as a Member of the Planning Applications Panel. My life over the past two years has been varied and busy by choice.


The famous Jersey cow is found throughout the island’s farming communities.


his workload, I remain amazed just how busy I am. I keep thinking that next week will be easier, time-wise; but somehow it never is! My youngest child still attends the


parish school and so, simply by being a parent, I meet a large cross-section of the community on a regular basis and routine things such as having a meal at the parish pub or going to a church service invariably mean that I will bump into someone who has something to discuss. I have always considered this to be part and parcel of the "job" - if truth be told as a Parish Deputy, especially in the rural parishes, you are never really "off-duty". Being accessible and known socially


means that most people do not feel inhibited about approaching me with their concerns. For many parishioners I am the first


person to contact when they have a problem and often political intervention is not required. All I have to do is put them in touch with the right person at the relevant department. Whenever there is a particularly


contentious issue to be debated, I can rely on receiving the comments of a number of parishioners. Sometimes the views can be similar, but quite often opposing opinions are put forward. These


bundle of newspaper clippings with comments appended pushed through my letterbox "anonymously" (I know who does it, and he knows that I know!) at regular intervals. Generally, however, I would say that most of the people who contact me for advice or assistance do so because of a particular issue that concerns them personally - usually in my experience, either the speed of traffic or a planning application.


Wide-ranging activities On an island as small as Jersey, "local" is a relative term. There is nothing to stop me being approached for assistance by any islander, perhaps because they know I have a specific interest in their problem area or perhaps because they know me from a former life. Some of the issues I have helped with have no connection with St Mary at all but, like States Members generally, I will always try to help whenever possible. My life over the past two years has


certainly been varied. Having not put myself forward for any executive role, I am what is now commonly referred to as a Backbencher. The majority of Backbenchers have some formal position in the Assembly, on one or two of the panels or committees referred to above or


28 The Parliamentarian 2008/Issue One - Jersey


A gender issue? A question I am often asked is how being a woman affects me as a States Member. The answer is "not a lot"! We have 11 women out of 53 Mem-bers. I have been the only female candidate in each of the three elections I have contested but have never felt that put me at any particular advantage or disadvantage. I certainly don't feel that it makes any difference to how I am regarded within the Assembly. Furthermore, it is no harder for me to


function as a working mother in this environment - as ever it all comes down to planning! Being a States Member actually has its advantages as sitting dates are determined in advance, with scheduled continuation days built in. Problems arise when Members decide to change these "on the hoof" without notice but these problems affect many Members for different reasons, not just the working parent.


A chance to serve So, to answer the riddle. What am I: parish Deputy, new Member, female politician or Backbencher? The answer is: All of the above. These are all complementary parts of my role as a Member of the States of Jersey. I feel immensely proud to be a part of


one of the oldest Legislatures in the Commonwealth and to have the chance to serve my island in this way.


The Role Of A Member


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