Deputy Peter Roffey has proposed switching to CET in Guernsey - now Jersey is investigating the idea.
A REFERENDUM could be called in Jersey to see if the island wants to move to Central European Time.
Just six weeks after outgoing Health minister Peter Roffey failed to convince States members to agree to making such a move by March next year, Senator Jim Perchard is lodging a proposition to hold a referendum on moving Jersey’s clocks forward on 15 October – the same day as its senatorial election.
Guernsey’s States agreed that the possibility of moving to CET should be investigated, as a result of Deputy Roffey’s requete in February, and the findings are due to be reported to the House by February 2009. ‘I think what will emerge over the next few weeks is that the enthusiasm that is clear in many areas in Jersey will develop – and that includes its finance sector,’ said Deputy Roffey.
‘I hope the people in Guernsey who said we could not do it because we would be out of kilter with Jersey will see what they’re doing. And if Jersey does decide to go down this route, then I hope they will stand by what they said and look to follow.’
If a June debate goes Senator Perchard’s way, a formal referendum proposition will go back to Jersey’s States. Should it go ahead, it would be a Channel Islands first.
Deputy Roffey said a referendum in Jersey was an interesting idea.
‘Despite the passion of some opponents, I have had some very positive feedback and I would like some formal way to test general opinion in Guernsey if Jersey was to go with it.
‘I think the new States will wait to see what emerges from Jersey because if it gets the thumbs down, it would be a struggle for the Guernsey States to go it alone.
‘But if Jersey says yes, then I hope Guernsey will consider joining it.’
When Senator Perchard first mooted the idea more than a year ago, it reportedly got a good reception from the finance industry and people keen to have an extra hour of daylight after work. He said that if the move went ahead in Jersey, he hoped Guernsey would follow suit.
‘I am aware that this subject was recently debated by the States of Guernsey, where I understand a great deal of support was expressed for the principle of moving to CET, confirmed by the agreement to prepare a report and consult the Guernsey public and the Jersey and other Channel Island authorities.
‘Concerns were expressed in the Guernsey debate about Guernsey “going it alone”. I would expect us in Jersey to have similar concerns. Therefore, I would hope that any move into line with the CET zone would be a joint initiative.’
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4 Article Comments
This idea should be buried once and for all. Not a single one of the arguements stand up to scrutiny - or common sense. Our geographical position is closer (longitudinally) to London (Greenwich). The percived benefits relating to lighter evenings during would be equally countered by the negative effects for the 6 months over winter.
Best advice: leave well alone, and find another cause to support!!!
So why not move the clocks forward 2 hours in the spring and backward 2 hours in the autumn ? Winter daylight would be exactly the same as it is now, and we’d get the full benefit in the summer. In other words, Double Summer Time rather than Central European Time. It would also have the effect of underlining our independence, i.e. not following either the UK or Continental Europe as we are not part of either.
I make no apologies for disagreeing with the arguement that this move should be made to “have the effect of underlining our independence”. Yet again, I believe this to be a risky route since, for centuries, we have had certain, specific, constitutional ties with the UK how much some Guernsey people do not like to acknowledge this.
I’ve been always told that:- “Time is but an Illusion”. As yet I have been given no evidence to convince me otherwise.