St. Helier votes in favour of twinning with Ukrainian city

Wednesday 22 February 2023

St. Helier residents have this evening unanimously voted in favour of twinning the parish with the Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv.

Islanders - including members of the Ukrainian community - gathered at St. Helier town hall tonight where they voted in favour of the decision proposed by St. Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft.

"[After] the reception from the community and the growing desire for the community to have a twin town in Ukraine, there are a number of reasons in support of the twinning," he said, going on to note that both had a zoo and are located in the south of their respective constituencies.

"The Mayor of Mykolaiv and I have chatted over Zoom - I would have gone out there but I'm not as brave as [Joe] Biden," added the St. Helier Constable.

Former Procureur du Bien Public Geraint Jennings spoke about the history of twinning projects during the debate.

"When twinning projects were developed after the Second World War, they were not only to recognise former enemies such as Bad Wurzach in Germany, but also to twin towns which had suffered... with ones which had been spared.

"I think adding to our portfolio of international friends, adds a lot for us, we can do a lot for friends with twinning [projects]."

Parish Assembly @StHelierJsy this evening approved proposal for twinning with Mykolayiv (I had the pleasure of speaking in favour as seconder of the proposition); recommended a number of liquor licensing appplications; (election of Constable's Officer was postponed)...

— Geraint Jennings (@GeraintJennings) February 22, 2023

Speaking earlier this week, Mr Crowcroft said of the twinning initiative: "Parishioners have shown such incredible support for those impacted by the devastating conflict in Ukraine and this twinning would symbolise our ongoing connection and commitment to supporting the people of Ukraine and, in particular, the residents of Mykolaiv."

Mykolaiv is a major shipbuilding port in the south of the country, with a pre-war population of 470,000. It is also part of Ukraine’s agricultural region. The town’s digital sector was flourishing before the invasion, and Mykolaiv has a range of educational and cultural institutions.

Friday marks the one-year anniversary of the Ukraine invasion.

More to follow...