A fine jar, which is added to whenever a Jersey politician’s phone or tablet beeps during a States debate, has racked up £385 for charity.
The majority of that comes courtesy of Senator Sarah Ferguson who is notorious for forgetting to switch her devices onto silent or vibrate during parliamentary sittings.
Today the States Greffe confirmed both the total raised during 2017, and that it is the Senator who was responsible for the majority of that sum.
It will be donated to the Jersey Christmas Appeal.
The presiding officer of States debates, the Bailiff Sir William Bailhache, made reference to Senator Ferguson’s propensity to leave the volume up on her devices during his Christmas summing up speech, which included a look ahead to the likely highlights of 2018.
He said: “We can also look forward to more significant contributions to charity which is only likely to be reduced if Senator Ferguson learns how to make her laptop quiet over Christmas.”
The official advice from the States Assembly says: “States Members incur a £10 fine each time their mobile phone rings in the Chamber.”
It does raise the question of whether somebody got away with a reduced-rate fine at some point this year, as the final tally isn’t a round number!
