Honourees and dignitaries celebrate the Queen's Birthday, and those named in the Honours List, at Government House in the summer. No islanders were named in the New Year Honours list.
Jersey has received four while the Isle of Man gained one.
Although this island saw three people gain MBEs and the Bailiff receive his knighthood in June’s Birthday Honours, today’s news will reinforce local concerns that the process is becoming increasingly unpredictable at a UK level.
While Government House will not comment on these matters, a number of prominent islanders will have been recommended for awards and their names forwarded to the Ministry of Justice in Westminster.
After a further vetting process, the ministry submits its list of priority candidates for 10 Downing Street to endorse – or not.
The process is the same in Jersey and the Isle of Man.
There is a growing feeling that when island recommendations reach No. 10, the selection criteria becomes more random.
Article posted on 31st December, 2009 - 2.29pm
17 Article Comments
Looks like the British Government wish to continue with the Status Quo then.
Report abuse
What a load of nonsense!
Nigel – if you have evidence then bring it out, but with a community of 60,000 getting 4 honours in a year – a ratio of 1:15,000 compared with the whole of the 60 million UK residents getting 1,000 – a ratio of 1:60,000 then your point is poorly made.
Islanders have 4 times the chance of mainlanders.
Report abuse
Hear Hear Roy Bisson!
If there’s any evidence then bring it out. If not this article should be consigned to the trash bin of conspiracy theories!
Report abuse
We have become accustomed to the occasional non-news item in the GP. I hope we do not have to become accustomed to items like this – designed only to stir up the uniformed.
Report abuse
Maybe Guernsey folk are more honest that those in the other Crown dependencies and didn`t pay corruption money to get one. Or,(did anyone think of this), perhaps nobody in Guernsey deserved one!
Report abuse
@ Roy and Paul,
I absolutely agree. What a useless, and unintelligent news report.
Report abuse
Good article Nigel…….Dont takes any notice of Bisson and Le Page what do they know…….
Report abuse
Pete Burtenshaw
I don’t know much but I do know that 2 + 2 doesn’t equal 5….unlike the author who seems to have put a few facts together and made up a conspiracy.
I am happy to be proved wrong, as I’m sure Roy Bisson would be. Just produce the evidence….
Report abuse
A complete non story about a meaningless system of patronage. The ones I really respect are the ones we never hear about who respectfully decline these silly little gongs for silly little people. CBEs, OBEs, MBEs, knighthoods – they’re all about as meaningful as the CDMs that were awarded by Cadbury’s when I were a lad in the 60s.
Report abuse
I for one am in favour of islander’s receiving gongs for the years of good work they may do for both the island and its people. I am against gongs being given because of ‘who you know’ and ‘what school tie’ one wares. My wife and I know islanders who deserve such an award because of the massive amount of work and good they do in the island for vulnerable members of our community.
Report abuse
Guernsey is a small island with a small population that I know, from experience of travelling widely on business, is well off the radar for most people who live elsewhere. It is of only passing interest to the UK Government, and then only in the context of our tax status. Although I have no time whatsoever for Gordon Brown and his rabble of a Government I think that people here delude themselves if they really think that the British Government spends any time whatsoever thinking about how to offend Guernsey! It should be said that there are so many quiet, modest people in the Island who contribute enormously to our society and who deserve recognition, probably much more so than the so called ‘prominent islanders’ the Guernsey Press article refers to (one assumes that means the Establishment), which, in Guernsey, appears to be a rather small, cosy, self perpetuating clique who in many cases have membership of one or two less than transparent societies. I think that no one should lose any sleep over this except to feel sorry for the many low profile, unsung heroes who are seldom, if ever, recommended for awards that they only too richly deserve. Maybe if they were, then more, genuinely deserving local people would receive awards.
Report abuse
Want to change the UK honours system apply for the jobs – Two vacancies exist… read on
Latest News – vacancies on Honours Committees
Some vacancies have arisen on a number of specialist honours committees. Details can be found on the vacancy notice below.
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/secretariats/honours.aspx
The closing date for applications is 15 January 2010
Report abuse
I cannot understand why anyone should get churned up over our apparent exclusion where the system has become so discredited that it could be seen to be a greater honour to have been passed over. Sadly those who ride with them already must feel that they are little more than the tin badges that pop out of crackers!
Report abuse
i’m with tim chesney, what a lot of fuss about nothing. when you see some of the people who are rewarded the award is diminished, (sir alan sugar,sir fred goodwin,one for jenson button etc.)why would we worry about what trinket someone who dosen’t know the person thinks they sjhould be given.as for dave jones thinking of doing our own, ridiculous, why must people want awards all the time?
Report abuse
I hadn’t seen or heard anything about Dave Jones thinking that we should give out our own awards, but there must be plenty of people who are worthy. How about these for a start:-
Deputy Trott – services to the travel industry
Deputies Flouquet and McNulty-Bauer – ensuring that different departments work extremely closely together
Deputy Jones – contributions to the Frossard House swear box
Report abuse
I actually see it as a compliment who wants to be honoured by that feckless bunch!
Report abuse
Phil the idea I put forward didn’t come out very well, what I would like to see is an allocation of 3 or 4 honours given to both islands with the decision on who gets them being made locally rather than by some faceless bod in an office in the UK.
Me swear, you must have me confused with someone else.
Report abuse