Bailiff: 'We were liberated to live the Jersey way'

Jersey's Bailiff gave a speech to crowds in Liberation Square, and talked of the island's identity on Liberation Day.

Mr William Bailhache said despite the changing make up of the island, the Jersey way of "being tolerant, being competent, showing integrity and compassion" should be shared because "that is what we were liberated for".

He added that the traditions of speaking Jèrriais, eating Jersey Royals and drinking Jersey milk should be upheld.

Representatives of the Portuguese and Polish community were at the celebration, Mr Bailhache thanked them for attending and explained the day is as much for them as anyone else.

The Bailiff highlighted the 67 different nationalities that applied to live in the island last year and said "Liberation Day brings us all together: evacuees, deportees, those who lived under the Nazis, and later generations of all nationalities.

"It brings us all together, as something which helps to forge our identity."

Institutions of Jersey were also talked about including the States, the Royal Court and Clergy, with Mr Bailhache saying islanders should "clasp these institutions to our hearts as part of our identity".

He added that: "It is popular these days...to be critical of politicians, perhaps sometimes without spending too much time bothering to find out what the facts are.

"But the fact is this...the States is there to make the best decisions it can for the welfare of our community."