 The Anglican church fears Sunday trading may change island life |
The head of Jersey's Anglican Church has condemned plans to open island shops on a Sunday. The Very Reverend John Seaford says island life could change irreversibly if plans by Senator Ted Vibert are approved.
Mr Vibert wants new rules to allow all shops in the island the right to open on any day throughout the year including Sundays.
The only exception would be on Christmas Day.
No discrimination
Mr Vibert said: "Any shop that wants to open throughout the whole year on a Sunday, which is an added trading day, will have to pay for the privilege.
"There's nothing wrong with that, it happens everywhere else.
"Basically a small shop will pay about �100 and it will go up to about �1,000 for shops over 10,000 sq ft.
The law would ensure nobody would be discriminated against if they decided not to work on a Sunday, but the Dean - who leads the island's Anglican community, feels that will not be the case. Mr Seaford said: "It's total bunkum. Any company will discriminate against somebody who doesn't want to work on Sundays.
"For instance he won't get promotion. If he's not prepared to be a manager on a Sunday, he won't become a manager on a Saturday.
"It's complete pie in the sky to suggest that if you upset your employer by not being co-operative, that you'll get treated as well as somebody who will be co-operative."
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If he's not prepared to be a manager on a Sunday, he won't become a manager on a Saturday 
