Guernsey

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:

0.99 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.83 male(s)/female

total population:

0.99 male(s)/female (2016 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

history:

unwritten; includes royal charters, statutes, and common law and practice

amendments:

new laws or changes to existing laws are initiated by the States of Deliberation; passage requires majority vote (2016)

chief of state:

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Lieutenant Governor Vice Admiral Ian CORDER (since 14 March 2016)

head of government:

• Chief Minister Gavin ST.PIER (since 6 May 2016);
• Bailiff Sir Richard COLLAS (since 23 March 2012);
• note - the chief minister is the president of the Policy and Resources Committee and is the de facto head of government;
• the Policy and Resources Committee, elected by the States of Deliberation, functions as the executive;
• the 5 members all have equal voting rights

cabinet:

none

elections/appointments:

• the monarchy is hereditary;
• lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch;
• chief minister, who is the president of the Policy and Resources Committee indirectly elected by the States of Deliberation for a 4-year term;
• last held on 6 May 2016 (next to be held in 2020)

election results:

Gavin ST.PIER (independent) elected president of the Policy and Resources Committee and chief minister

description:

• unicameral States of Deliberation (40 seats; 38 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 27 April 2016 (next to be held in 2020)

election results:

percent of vote - NA; seats - independent 38

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 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

international:

country code - 44; 1 submarine cable (2015)

• 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)