NEWS

RELEASE

 

Ref: SA08/05

 

Two ladies take up top positions in the States of Alderney

Alderney, 26 April 2005:  2005 heralds a year of significant changes for the States of Alderney and the island’s senior civil service. The changes were prompted by the findings of the Robinson Report issued in 2003 and accepted by the island’s government in December 2003 which recommended several major changes as to the  responsibilities of senior civil servants, in particular  the Treasurer and the Clerk of the States, as well as the appointment of a CEO and the re-instatement of the office of Greffier.       

 

After appointing its first ever CEO, David Jeremiah OBE, QC,  as Head of  Alderney’s  Civil Service  who took up his position in January 2005,  Alderney will have  its first ever Greffier  for many generations, as well as a new Treasurer.  And, for the first time in the island government’s history, ladies will fill these senior positions. 

 

At the Alderney States Meeting on Wednesday 20^th April 2005, which was attended by the Lt. Governor of Guernsey, Sir John Foley, the President of the States of Alderney Sir Norman Browse announced the appointment of Advocate Sarah Kelly , the present Clerk of the Court, as Alderney’s  Greffier  and the promotion of Assistant Treasurer Kerry Hatcher-Gaudion to Treasurer. Both appointments take effect as of 1^st May 2005.  

 

Alderney’s new Greffier: Sarah Kelly $

The resurrected office of Greffier will combine the responsibilities of the Clerk of the Court and the Clerk of the States of Alderney when acting as a legislative assembly.   Consequently,  in her new role as Alderney’s Greffier, Sarah Kelly will provide  legal and procedural advice to the Jurats of the Court of Alderney and the States of Alderney when sitting as the legislature – i. e. in  States Meetings -  a function  until now  carried out by the Clerk of the States.  In parallel, she will continue to carry out all current posts of Clerk of the Court - including Company  Registrar, Land Registrar, Registrar of Births Deaths and Marriages.

 

Having  re-enforced the three basic government departments - legislature, judiciary and executive -  the Government of Alderney Law 2004 now provides Alderney with a constitution. “This means that the States functions are clearly defined and separated”, explains Sarah Kelly. “The civil servant in charge of the executive and the civil servant  in charge of the judiciary and legislature must also be separate. Thus, the title of Greffier is used to define the person with responsibility for judiciary and legislature.  This new role presents new challenges and is a logical step forward for the island’s government. I look forward to implementing the new changes”.

 

Sarah Kelly  (aged 37) brings with her an impressive legal background. 

She first worked as a Magistrates Clerk in Birmingham studying law part-time and in 1997 qualified with distinction as a Solicitor of England and Wales. In 1999 Sarah Kelly and her husband Boyd moved to Alderney and Sarah became Alderney’s first lady Clerk of the Court.  From  2002 to 2004 she pursued her career in Guernsey  while qualifying as an Advocate of the Royal Court of Guernsey and returned to Alderney in 2004,  once again taking up the position of  Alderney’s  Clerk of the Court and, as of 1^st May 2005,  Alderney’s Greffier.  

Sarah Kelly can be contacted on (01481) 822817 for interviews.

 

·            New Treasurer: Kerry Hatcher-Gaudion

The responsibilities of Alderney’s first ever lady Treasurer, Kerry Hatcher-Gaudion   - who started her civil service career in 1980 in the General Office of the States - 

will encompass the management and administration of Financial, Human and ITC resources of the States of Alderney and the administration and management of some of the transferred services, such as tax and social security, that are provided in Alderney by the States of Guernsey. She will also provide advice to the Policy & Finance Committee and the Chief Executive of the States of Alderney on all financial and budgetary matters and will report directly to the CEO of Alderney and the Chief Officer of the Treasury and Resources Department  in Guernsey

 

Commenting on her promotion to this top post, Kerry Hatcher-Gaudion, said: “I  look forward to taking on this role and the new challenges ahead. The organisation has already undergone major changes this year and  I believe the States is moving forward as a whole” .

 

42-year old Kerry Hatcher-Gaudion is an islander and is married to Philip Hatcher and can be contacted on  (01481) 822811 for interviews.

Editor’s Contact: Ilona Soane-Sands

States of Alderney Public Affairs & Marketing Manager 

Tel 01481 824267   E-mail: marketing@alderney.net