Parish officials ask to resign over 'difficulties' with Constable

Monday 07 February 2022

Both of St. Mary's Procureurs have asked to resign after less than a year in the role as a result of difficulties in their relationship with the Constable.

Helen Mills and Peter Le Rossignol were sworn in as the Parish's financial guardians on 9 April and 10 September 2021 respectively to serve a three-year term of office.

But, less than 12 months on, both have recently written to the Greffe to express their wish to resign from their office, prompting the Attorney General to make a representation before the Royal Court on Friday (4 February).

Responding last week, Deputy Bailiff Robert MacRae said he was “very reluctant” to accept their resignation as they had taken an oath to discharge their duty to the Parish before the court.

He said it was important for Constables and their procureurs to work together but added that the Court would not want “to extend indefinitely a situation that may seem impossible”.

Pictured: St. Mary's Constable, John Le Bailly, first came to office in 2018, unseating the incumbent, Juliette Gallichan.

He asked for the matter to be adjourned for two months and invited the pair, along with Constable John Le Bailly, to contact the Chair of the Comité des Connétables, St. Lawrence Constable Deidre Mezbourian, to see if “she can help resolve matters”. 

Constable Le Bailly said he had two potential candidates for the role of Procureur “waiting in the lines”.

The Deputy Bailiff said it would be helpful if an election is required, but said the Court hoped the matter could be resolved.

He then turned to Ms Mills and Mr Le Rossignol to ask them whether they were satisfied with the outcome, but Mr Le Rossignol said he found it “very difficult to work with the Constable”.