Guernsey

Guernsey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Dukedom of Normandy, which held sway in both France and England. The islands were the only British soil occupied by German troops in World War II. Guernsey is a British crown dependency but is not part of the UK or of the European Union. However, the UK Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation.

noun:

Channel Islander(s)

adjective:

Channel Islander

at birth:

1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years:

1.07 male(s)/female

15-24 years:

1.04 male(s)/female

25-54 years:

1.02 male(s)/female

55-64 years:

1 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.83 male(s)/female

total population:

0.99 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

conventional long form:

Bailiwick of Guernsey

conventional short form:

Guernsey

etymology:

the name is of Old Norse origin, but the meaning of the root "Guern(s)" is uncertain; the "-ey" ending means "island"

name:

Saint Peter Port

geographic coordinates:

49 27 N, 2 32 W

time difference:

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

daylight saving time:

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

chief of state:

• Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
• represented by Lieutenant Governor (vacant);
• note - Lieutenant Governor Air Marshall Peter WALKER died 6 September 2015;
• Bailiff Sir Richard COLLAS becomes acting lieutenant governor

head of government:

Chief Minister Jonathan LE TOCQ (since 12 March 2014); Bailiff Sir Richard COLLAS (since 23 March 2012)

cabinet:

none; note - the Policy Council, elected by the States of Deliberation, functions mainly as policy coordination body

elections/appointments:

• the monarchy is hereditary;
• lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch;
• chief minister indirectly elected by States of Deliberation election last held on 12 March 2014 (next to be held May 2016)

election results:

Jonathan LE TOCQ (independent) elected chief minister; States of Deliberation vote - 22 of 42 votes

description:

• unicameral States of Deliberation (47 seats - 45 People's Deputies and 2 representatives of the States of Alderney; members directly elected by majority vote to serve 4-year terms);
• note - non-voting members include the bailiff (presiding officer), attorney-general, and solicitor-general

elections:

last held on 18 April 2012 (next to be held in 2016)

election results:

percent of vote - NA; seats - all independent

highest resident court(s):

• Guernsey Court of Appeal (consists of the Bailiff of Guernsey, who is the ex-officio president of the Guernsey Court of Appeal, and at least 12 judges);
• Royal Court (organized into 3 divisions - Full Court sits with 1 judge and 7 to 12 jurats acting as judges of fact, Ordinary Court sits with 1 judge and normally 3 jurats, and Matrimonial Causes Division sits with a 1 judge and 4 jurats);
• note - appeals beyond Guernsey courts are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)

judge selection and term of office:

• Royal Court Bailiff, Deputy Bailiff and Court of Appeal justices appointed by the British Crown and hold office at Her Majesty's pleasure;
• jurats elected by the States of Election, a body chaired by the Bailiff and a number of jurats

subordinate courts:

• Court of Alderney;
• Court of the Seneschal of Sark;
• Magistrate's Court (includes Juvenile Court);
• Contracts Court;
• Ecclesiastical Court;
• Court of Chief Pleas

• white with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) extending to the edges of the flag and a yellow equal-armed cross of William the Conqueror superimposed on the Saint George cross;
• the red cross represents the old ties with England and the fact that Guernsey is a British Crown dependency;
• the gold cross is a replica of the one used by Duke William of Normandy at the Battle of Hastings

name:

"Sarnia Cherie" (Guernsey Dear)

lyrics/music:

George DEIGHTON/Domencio SANTANGELO

note: adopted 1911; serves as a local anthem; as a British crown dependency, "God Save the Queen" remains official (see United Kingdom)

lowest 10%:

NA%

highest 10%:

NA%

domestic:

fixed-line and mobile-cellular services widely available; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 100 per 100 persons

international:

country code - 44; 1 submarine cable (2011)

• multiple UK terrestrial TV broadcasts are received via a transmitter in Jersey with relays in Jersey, Guernsey, and Alderney;
• satellite packages are available;
• BBC Radio Guernsey and 1 other radio station operating (2009)

males age 16-49:

12,493

females age 16-49:

12,272 (2010 est.)

male:

354

female:

342 (2010 est.)