Ministers move for extra bank holiday

Thursday 13 June 2019

Islanders might get to enjoy an extra three-day weekend in May 2020, after Ministers started a push for another bank holiday to commemorate 75 years since the end of World War Two.

Led by Chief Minister Senator John Le Fondré, the Council of Ministers is proposing to make Friday 8 May 2020 a public holiday to mark the 75th anniversary of not only Liberation Day, but also Victory in Europe (VE) Day.

Monday 4 May will still have the bank holiday on but, if the proposals are approved, this would give islanders an extra public holiday on Friday 8 May.

Although it falls on a Saturday, Liberation Day would also remain a public holiday under the plans.

Pictured: The potential day off would make both Liberation Day and VE Day.

Explaining the decision, Senator Le Fondré, said: “The Council of Ministers has decided not to replicate the UK or Guernsey. We have agreed to add an extra day on Friday 8 May as an additional public holiday, subject to the agreement of the States Assembly. 

“This will allow islanders to mark the island’s liberation on Saturday 9 May, as well as VE Day the day before.” 

The extra public holiday is subject to approval from the States Assembly. A formal proposition will be published next week and debated later this year. 

It comes after a new petition campaigning for an extra public holiday began this week, and quickly gained traction online with nearly 500 signatures at the time of writing.