Darius J. Pearce
Encyclopedia
Darius James Pearce is a Jersey
politician.
Pearce was born in the City of London
. He was educated at De La Salle College, Jersey
. In 1997 he graduated from the University of Plymouth
, where he read politics and criminal justice. In 2000 he qualified as an accountant
and was appointed directorships in companies in Jersey involved in online marketing
, fulfillment
and accountancy. On 1 March 2009 he purchased his family's jewellery business outright.
, he stood for Deputy in St Helier 3 & 4 districts, polling 459 votes (25%). Subsequently, he was one of the founding members of Progress Jersey
, a charity and pressure group whose aims include to encourage electoral turnout and voter knowledge - a group he served as Treasurer, until his resignation in May 2007. He is also currently editor
of Parish Matters, a quarterly newsletter produced by Progress Jersey for residents of the Parish
of St Helier.
Elected to the Municipality
of the Parish of St Helier, Jersey, in December 2005, he currently serves as a Roads Inspector
for the Roads Committee
and has been a member of the Constable's Accounts Committee
. He is also active in age of consent
debate
s on sexual offences, and the effects of their interpretations in local law
, European law
and international law.
He has made submissions to various Scrutiny Panels. This includes a submission regarding Jersey's tax changes, in 2005 he noted that the EU would oppose the tax changes that the Jersey government subsequently introduced. In 2009 the EU duly noted their objection to the revised tax codes adopted by Jersey. He also presented the idea of a Business Premises Tax, which was adapted into the "Blampied proposal".
As a founder member, he has worked for Progress Jersey
on a number of key issues including submissions made and accepted regarding the introduction of Abuse of Trust legislation, the review of changes to Jersey Taxation, Social Housing, Civil Partnerships, Legitimacy Laws and Overseas Aid.
The proposition was accepted by scrutiny in June 2006 and the matter referred to the Legislation Committee. In January 2007, following the introduction of the Human Rights (Jersey) Law 2000 a case was bought before the Royal Court
by a local lawyer who claimed that her illegitimate child was being discriminated against as he could not take the name of his father and that the fatherhood was not allowed to be recorded.
In June 2007 as part of her announcement to step down from office, the Home Affairs Minister Wendy Kinnard
indicated that it was her intention to bring a change to the Legitimacy Law.
In January 2008 the States of Jersey voted to introduce DNA tests where paternity of a child was contested, and Home Affairs Minister Senator Wendy Kinnard publicly stated that she supported the introduction of the right of unmarried parents to name their child after the father.
He was a member of the Centre Party (Jersey)
and ran the successful election campaigns in the 2005 elections for candidates Paul Le Claire
and Kevin Lewis.
In May 2007 he revealed he was working towards rebranding as the Jersey Conservative Party, and stated his desire to contest the 2008 Jersey elections as a representative of that party. On 17 July the Centre Party announced that it would fight the next elections as the Jersey Conservative Party.
He is also a member of the UK Conservative Party and has expressed a desire to foment stronger links with the United Kingdom Conservative Party
. A spokesman for the UK Conservative Party stated that Mr. Pearce, whilst not yet an official representative of the Conservative Party, had approached the party expressing an interest in re-establishing the Channel Islands branch of Conservatives Abroad and that he had been invited to talks in London.
coverage of the idea of the Jersey Conservative Party, Pearce submitted a complaint to the Press Complaints Commission
citing eighteen significant inaccuracies or misleading statements. The matter was resolved through mediation following the expansion of the debate on the importance of political parties in the revised Jersey constitution and an assurance from the JEP's editor of fair treatment in future.
The matter added to the pressure that eventually led to the introduction of party names on Jersey ballot papers.
Pearce subsequently apologised, explaining that it was a private joke which had been blown out of proportion by the Jersey Evening Post but expressed concerns with regard to a bias in the paper in favour of former managing director and then Chief Minister Frank Walker
based on e-mail correspondence with the Chief Minister and the editor of the JEP, Chris Bright.
Jersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
politician.
Pearce was born in the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
. He was educated at De La Salle College, Jersey
De La Salle College, Jersey
De La Salle College in Jersey is an independent Catholic school taking its name from St John Baptist de la Salle , who founded the Brothers' Order in France.-History:...
. In 1997 he graduated from the University of Plymouth
University of Plymouth
Plymouth University is the largest university in the South West of England, with over 30,000 students and is 9th largest in the United Kingdom by total number of students . It has almost 3,000 staff...
, where he read politics and criminal justice. In 2000 he qualified as an accountant
Accountant
An accountant is a practitioner of accountancy or accounting , which is the measurement, disclosure or provision of assurance about financial information that helps managers, investors, tax authorities and others make decisions about allocating resources.The Big Four auditors are the largest...
and was appointed directorships in companies in Jersey involved in online marketing
Internet marketing
Internet marketing, also known as digital marketing, web marketing, online marketing, search marketing or e-marketing, is referred to as the marketing of products or services over the Internet...
, fulfillment
Fulfillment house
A fulfillment house is a company specializing in product fulfillment services, on behalf of the product owner.- Fulfillment house overview :...
and accountancy. On 1 March 2009 he purchased his family's jewellery business outright.
Political life
Darius Pearce first became politically active in November 2005 and has acted generally in opposition to the government of Jersey. As a leading member of the Centre Party (Jersey)Centre Party (Jersey)
-Party ideology and policies:In the 2005 elections, the Centre Party's policies were:*Against the proposed 3% Goods and Services Tax *Against the continuation of the 20% income tax*Abolish the Vehicle Registration Duty for smaller cars...
, he stood for Deputy in St Helier 3 & 4 districts, polling 459 votes (25%). Subsequently, he was one of the founding members of Progress Jersey
Progress Jersey
Progress Jersey is a charity and pressure group in Jersey. It was formed in November 2005 by Darius J. Pearce, Daren O'Toole and Gino Risoli. The original aim of Progress Jersey was to encourage electoral participation however it soon became a regular contributor to the Scrutiny process and has...
, a charity and pressure group whose aims include to encourage electoral turnout and voter knowledge - a group he served as Treasurer, until his resignation in May 2007. He is also currently editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
of Parish Matters, a quarterly newsletter produced by Progress Jersey for residents of the Parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
of St Helier.
Elected to the Municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
of the Parish of St Helier, Jersey, in December 2005, he currently serves as a Roads Inspector
Roads Inspector
A Roads Inspector is a statutory office in Jersey responsible for the maintenance of public highways.The Parish Assembly elects two Roads Inspectors for each Vingtaine [or Cueillette in St Ouen] for a three-year term of office in accordance with the Loi sur la Voirie...
for the Roads Committee
Roads Committee
In Jersey, the Roads Committee is the highway authority for Parish roads in each Parish. In accordance with the Loi sur la Voirie it superintends the repair and maintenance of by-roads in the Parish, establishes boundary stones, issues Choses Publiques licenses, examines planning applications...
and has been a member of the Constable's Accounts Committee
Accounts Committee
The Accounts Committee of each Parish in Jersey is responsible for ensuring that appropriate accounting methodologies are employed in the preparation of the annual Constable's accounts in order that the Parish Assembly can rely on the information provided in order to set the Parish Rate....
. He is also active in age of consent
Age of consent reform
Age of consent reform refers to efforts to change age of consent laws, whether to raise or lower or abolish the age of consent, or to change the ways in which the laws are applied. Another issue has been homosexual vs...
debate
Debate
Debate or debating is a method of interactive and representational argument. Debate is a broader form of argument than logical argument, which only examines consistency from axiom, and factual argument, which only examines what is or isn't the case or rhetoric which is a technique of persuasion...
s on sexual offences, and the effects of their interpretations in local law
Law of Jersey
The Law of Jersey has been influenced by several different legal traditions, in particular Norman customary law, English common law and modern French civil law. The Bailiwick of Jersey is a separate jurisdiction from that of the United Kingdom, and is also distinct from that of the other Channel...
, European law
European Union law
European Union law is a body of treaties and legislation, such as Regulations and Directives, which have direct effect or indirect effect on the laws of European Union member states. The three sources of European Union law are primary law, secondary law and supplementary law...
and international law.
Political activity
Pearce has opposed a number of government propositions.He has made submissions to various Scrutiny Panels. This includes a submission regarding Jersey's tax changes, in 2005 he noted that the EU would oppose the tax changes that the Jersey government subsequently introduced. In 2009 the EU duly noted their objection to the revised tax codes adopted by Jersey. He also presented the idea of a Business Premises Tax, which was adapted into the "Blampied proposal".
As a founder member, he has worked for Progress Jersey
Progress Jersey
Progress Jersey is a charity and pressure group in Jersey. It was formed in November 2005 by Darius J. Pearce, Daren O'Toole and Gino Risoli. The original aim of Progress Jersey was to encourage electoral participation however it soon became a regular contributor to the Scrutiny process and has...
on a number of key issues including submissions made and accepted regarding the introduction of Abuse of Trust legislation, the review of changes to Jersey Taxation, Social Housing, Civil Partnerships, Legitimacy Laws and Overseas Aid.
Abuse of trust
He was responsible for the withdrawal of the initial proposition to lower the age of homosexual consent, this was later passed once the Abuse of Trust provisions were added to the amendment.No disorderly conduct offence
In 2007, he was involved with the successful campaign against the proposed Crime (Disorderly Conduct and Harassment) law, which was withdrawn amidst fears that it extended police powers too far.Reform of Jersey Legitimacy Laws
Darius Pearce on behalf of Progress Jersey made a submission to Jersey Scrutiny highlighting the inconsistency of the Legitimacy (Jersey) Law 1973, as amended with the position of Jersey as a signatory to the European Convention of Human Rights.The proposition was accepted by scrutiny in June 2006 and the matter referred to the Legislation Committee. In January 2007, following the introduction of the Human Rights (Jersey) Law 2000 a case was bought before the Royal Court
Politics of Jersey
Politics of the Bailiwick of Jersey takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic constitution.As one of the Crown Dependencies, Jersey is autonomous and self-governing, with its own independent legal, administrative and fiscal systems.The legislature is the Assembly of...
by a local lawyer who claimed that her illegitimate child was being discriminated against as he could not take the name of his father and that the fatherhood was not allowed to be recorded.
In June 2007 as part of her announcement to step down from office, the Home Affairs Minister Wendy Kinnard
Wendy Kinnard
Senator Wendy Kinnard was Home Affairs Minister of Jersey 2005-2008.-Biography:Wendy Kinnard was born on 23 March 1959, Jersey.From the Open University, she gained a BA in applied Applied Social Sciences, and a Dip.H.E...
indicated that it was her intention to bring a change to the Legitimacy Law.
In January 2008 the States of Jersey voted to introduce DNA tests where paternity of a child was contested, and Home Affairs Minister Senator Wendy Kinnard publicly stated that she supported the introduction of the right of unmarried parents to name their child after the father.
Charged With Assault On His Wife
In November 2007, he appeared in the Magistrates Court, charged with assault on his wife (Catherine Pearce) which took place at his home. He was released on conditional bail and advised he must not go near his home or wife. However, he disregarded this order, and, on 10th September 2008, the Jersey Evening Post reported his imprisonment for two months for contempt of court, effectively finishing his career in local politics.Party politics in Jersey
Pearce is a supporter of the introduction of political parties to Jersey.He was a member of the Centre Party (Jersey)
Centre Party (Jersey)
-Party ideology and policies:In the 2005 elections, the Centre Party's policies were:*Against the proposed 3% Goods and Services Tax *Against the continuation of the 20% income tax*Abolish the Vehicle Registration Duty for smaller cars...
and ran the successful election campaigns in the 2005 elections for candidates Paul Le Claire
Paul Le Claire
Paul Vincent Le Claire was a member of the States of Jersey from 1999 to 2011. He represented the Saint Helier District No.1 constituency and between 1999 and 2005 had an island-wide mandate as a Senator.-Biography:He was born in 1963 in Jersey...
and Kevin Lewis.
In May 2007 he revealed he was working towards rebranding as the Jersey Conservative Party, and stated his desire to contest the 2008 Jersey elections as a representative of that party. On 17 July the Centre Party announced that it would fight the next elections as the Jersey Conservative Party.
He is also a member of the UK Conservative Party and has expressed a desire to foment stronger links with the United Kingdom Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
. A spokesman for the UK Conservative Party stated that Mr. Pearce, whilst not yet an official representative of the Conservative Party, had approached the party expressing an interest in re-establishing the Channel Islands branch of Conservatives Abroad and that he had been invited to talks in London.
Party name on ballot paper
Following the Jersey Evening PostJersey Evening Post
The Jersey Evening Post is a regional newspaper published six days a week in the Bailiwick of Jersey. It was printed in broadsheet format for 87 years, though it is now of compact size. Its motto is: "At the heart of island life".-History:The Evening Post was founded in 1890 by H.P...
coverage of the idea of the Jersey Conservative Party, Pearce submitted a complaint to the Press Complaints Commission
Press Complaints Commission
The Press Complaints Commission is a voluntary regulatory body for British printed newspapers and magazines, consisting of representatives of the major publishers. The PCC is funded by the annual levy it charges newspapers and magazines...
citing eighteen significant inaccuracies or misleading statements. The matter was resolved through mediation following the expansion of the debate on the importance of political parties in the revised Jersey constitution and an assurance from the JEP's editor of fair treatment in future.
The matter added to the pressure that eventually led to the introduction of party names on Jersey ballot papers.
Press resistance to party politics
In July 2007, immediately following the announcement that the Jersey Conservative Party would be established in opposition to the incumbent government, the Jersey Evening Post reported that he made an accusation that photos picturing Senator Frank Walker with Gordon Brown and Ian Paisley were faked to insert Senator Walker in a letter to Gordon Brown. However, Progress Jersey reports described the photo as simply suspicious, they further indicated that no letter had been sent.Pearce subsequently apologised, explaining that it was a private joke which had been blown out of proportion by the Jersey Evening Post but expressed concerns with regard to a bias in the paper in favour of former managing director and then Chief Minister Frank Walker
Frank Walker (Jersey politician)
Frank Harrison Walker OBE was the first Chief Minister of Jersey, 2005-2008.-Career outside politics:In 1973 Walker became managing director of the Jersey Evening Post . He later took over chairmanship of the Guiton Group, owners of both the Jersey Evening Post and Guernsey Evening Press...
based on e-mail correspondence with the Chief Minister and the editor of the JEP, Chris Bright.