Names of Proposers and Seconders
- Sharon Tanya Ward
- Robert James Ward
- Caitlin Charlotte Ward
- Gary Anthony Feltham
- Alyson Parkin
- Kelly Kennedy
- Gaël Mézec
- Abigail Louise Mézec
- Jacob James Zadal
- Geoffrey Peter Southern
I have served as a States Deputy representing the Parish of St John since the election in May 2018, and my motivation for standing then, as now, was to improve services within the parish and make a difference for people and their families.
Before moving to the island in 1990 I was a Health Service Nurse Manager, then a Management and Commissioning Consultant to businesses setting up Residential and Nursing Homes in the private sector.
I continued this work in the Island, managing a Nursing Home and then commissioning a Residential Home. In the mid 90s I became the General Manager for The Shelter Trust, moving back to clinical practice at the Jersey General Hospital in 1999. I retired from civilian employment in 2013.
Whilst managing Mental Health Services in Cambridge, I successfully applied to join the Army Medical Services Reserve, and was commissioned in 1979, retiring from the role in 2006, having attained the rank of Major.
In March 2004 I was mobilised to serve with the Army Medical Services in Iraq, returning in November, when I was elected Honorary Police Centenier, a role that involved dealing with offenders at Parish Hall Enquiries and presenting cases in the Magistrates Court. I held this office for 13 years until elected Deputy in 2018.
My training and work in Health Services have given me an understanding of a broad spectrum of people from a diverse range of backgrounds. I have an acute sense of the need for social justice and my experience has proved invaluable in the roles that I have undertaken within the States. In my term of office I have played an active part in the process of scrutinizing Government as a member of two panels, Health and Social Services, and Education and Home Affairs. In addition, I was a member of a panel reviewing progress with the development of children’s services in the wake of Jersey’s Historic Child Abuse Enquiry.
In December 2020 I was appointed Assistant Health Minister and also Assistant Children’s Minister with specific responsibility for mental health in both roles, as the Island’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services fall within the remit of the Children’s Minister.
During my current term I have been able to assist a significant number of people in the parish, and island wide, to resolve issues they have encountered as service users. There has been considerable additional investment in mental health services with a measurable improvement in their delivery, but there remains a long way to go.
Given that, in advance of the forthcoming election, a number of independents decided to form political parties, I chose to align with Reform Jersey, given that I share their aspirations for a more just and equal society. I am seeking election in St Helier North as the needs of the residents are similar to those in my current parish but I feel I can do more to support those in St Helier.
Please consider me for one of your votes.