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What were you doing eight years ago? If you’re having trouble remembering, perhaps today’s feature in our review of the decade might refresh your memory.
On the second day of our 10-part series, the focus is on 2011...
Politically, the biggest story of the year was what has gone down in history as Jersey’s first general election - although technically it wasn’t.
Yes, Deputies, Constables, and some Senators were all elected on the same day, but six of the Senators did not have to seek re-election having been given a six-year term in 2008. In the past, the senatorial elections had usually been held about a month before the Deputies’ elections, and Constables’ elections had happened on an ad-hoc basis depending when their three-year term expired. It wouldn’t be until later in the decade - 2014 - that Jersey experienced its first true general election.
Pictured: 2011 has gone down in history as the year of Jersey's first general election, although this isn't strictly true...
A combination of a higher than normal number of politicians standing down - seven - and a higher than normal number of surprise defeats - nine - saw probably the biggest shake up in the make-up of the Assembly in the post-war era. Proof, said the critics, of the need for reform.
Amongst those politicians who choose not to seek re-election, were Chief Minister Senator Terry Le Sueur as well as Senators Ben Shenton and Jim Perchard.
In terms of the 'shockers', those who lost their seats included Terry Le Main – who’d been a politician for more than 30 years – who missed out by just 100 votes, ‘Foreign Minister’ Senator Freddie Cohen, and Transport Minister Mike Jackson.
The poll-topper, winning 11 out of the 12 parishes, was former Bailiff, Sir Philip Bailhache, standing for Senator 40 years after being a Deputy for St. Clement. Sir Philip only lost out in St Helier to Senator Francis Le Gresley.
When the States met for the first time in November, more than a quarter of Members were taking up the job for the first time, and there was much talk of a new decade in local politics.
Despite his popular support, States members didn’t elect Sir Philip as Chief Minister - opting instead for the island’s number two, Senator Ian Gorst. Perhaps, they were worried about having Sir Philip as Chief Minister and his brother, Sir William Bailhache, as Deputy-Bailiff, and - as it eventually turned out - their one day Bailiff.
Tragically, the year will also be remembered for one of the most shocking crimes the island has known: the brutal murder of six people in a St. Helier flat on 14 August. In a frenzied attack using two kitchen knives 31-year-old Damian Rzeszowski stabbed to death his wife, daughter and son, his father-in-law, a female neighbour and her daughter.
Pictured: The Rzeszowski murders are still remembered as the most shocking crime the island has ever known.
The attack happened at a barbeque that Rzeszowski’s wife, Izabela, had decided to hold, to mark the family’s return after having been to Poland for a holiday to get their lives back on track after a particularly rocky period. In the 15-minute attack, many of the victims were stabbed more than a dozen times, and neighbours even saw some of them being chased as they tried to escape. Rzeszowski then repeatedly stabbed himself. Police and medics were on the scene less than five minutes after the alarm had been raised. All those attacked died, but hospital doctors managed to save Rzeszowski. In 2012, he was sentenced to life imprisonment after admitting manslaughter due to diminished responsibilities. In March 2018, he was found hanged in a UK prison cell after seemingly taking his own life.
Other people whom the island said ‘goodbye’ to were some time politicians, Mike Wavell and Mike Vibert; the first had been a staunch supporter of the honorary system and had spearheaded the island’s HIV and AIDS awareness campaigns, whilst the latter had taken on political responsibility for sport in the island having already had a distinguished career in both teaching and journalism working at both the Jersey Evening Post and BBC Radio Jersey; artist, musician, teacher and rugby lover Bob Tilling; and inventor Ron Hickman, who made his name with the Black and Decker Workmate, and lived in a striking modernist house in St Brelade.
Also leaving Jersey was the island’s Lieutenant Governor, General Sir Andrew Ridgway, who had been knighted in the 2011 Birthday honours, and his wife, Valerie. Amongst the initiatives he’ll be remembered for was the formation of the Jersey Bobsleigh Team. In their place, another army man, General Sir John McColl, and his wife, Gene took up residence at Government House.
Whilst Sir Andrew and his wife said they were waving goodbye the island with many happy memories, others were smiling as they left its shores having been given substantial golden handshakes. States Chief Executive Bill Ogley was allegedly £800,000 better off, and health Chief Mike Pollard, £500,000, having decided to leave their jobs early.
Pictured: 2011 was a year of departures, including those preceded by a healthy golden handshake.
The island also prepared to say goodbye in 2011 to Low Value Consignment Relief. It had originally been introduced to help the agricultural industry by allowing low value items such as flowers and produce to be ‘waved’ into the UK VAT-free so that they wouldn’t be held up at customs and perish. But, the loophole, was spotted by ‘fulfilment’ companies like 'Play.com' who used it to export VAT-free CDs and DVDs from the island undercutting mainland companies. An outcry of unfair practices prompted the UK government to legislate and plug the hole, ending what had been a very lucrative local industry.
Probably the biggest change to the face of St. Helier in 2011 was the opening – more than a decade late – of the Town or Millennium Park on the site of the former gas works off Bath Street near the old Odeon cinema. It had first been proposed by Senator Stuart Syvret in the mid-1990s and soon gathered much public support with more than 16,000 people signing a petition.
But, had it not been for an ‘accident’ which has gone down in history as the infamous 'ring-binder vote’ it might never have happened. Having debated funding the project States members were asked to vote. This is when the Economic Minister, Senator Alan Maclean, who was against the idea, ‘accidently’ voted in favour because he knocked his ring-binder which activated the ‘pour’ button. The Bailiff refused to let him change his vote and the decision stood. Work started in January 2011, and the park was officially opened in October.
Whilst St. Helier got a new park, other infrastructure plans sunk without trace, including a scheme to bury La Route de la Liberation, the road stretching from the bottom of Gloucester Street to the tunnel, and to put flats on offices on top. It was no longer deemed financially viable and being likely to cause a great deal of disruption whilst it was being carried out was thought not to be worth the hassle.
Finally, with Christmas looming, the new police Chief Mike Bowron, sent out Christmas cards to known drug dealers, burglars and shoplifters reminding them they were being watched, and wishing them season’s greetings. It was never revealed if he signed them, or got any back.
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