It Is Time For Change
St Mary is not just where I live, it is part of who I am.
My family's roots here stretch back centuries. I remember growing up in these lanes as a child, where the sense of community was so strong you could almost hear the heart of the parish beating. At Christmas, the spirit of the community felt so present you could almost reach out and touch it. People looked out for one another, and there was a deep sense of pride and belonging in the place we called home.
That spirit is still here.
I still feel it every time I stop and speak to parishioners, every time people come together to support one another and every time I see pride in this parish shining through.
But we are also living through a period of enormous change. The decisions made over the next few years will shape not only our parish, but the future we leave our children and the next generation.
What kind of St Mary do we want to hand on to the next generation?
From Mark Anthony Baker
A Personal Message
Many of you know I stood in the last election and made the difficult decision to withdraw.
Between my wife and I, we lost three brothers, a sister and a father in a short period of time. Then, just before the election, I underwent emergency surgery to remove cancerous cells from my throat.
At that moment, my family needed me most, and I had no option other than to withdraw.
Not because I lacked commitment to this parish, but because family comes first.
Now, I am stepping forward again, stronger, clearer and fully committed to serving St Mary.
As David Johnson recently said in his Jersey Evening Post interview:
“I felt a younger person should have the opportunity to take the helm.”
I believe he is right.
Now we need leadership prepared not just to manage change, but to protect the values, identity and community spirit that make St Mary special.
Listening. Accountability. Action.
- I believe leadership is about listening, bringing people together and having the courage to act, not simply saying the right things.
- Everyone says creating homes for people with parish connections is a priority, yet in the last 12 years there have been no meaningful attempts to make this a reality.
- I would be the kind of Connetable who is open to the thoughts and ideas parishioners have and want for their parish. I do not care who tells me, I simply want to know, because collectively we are a team.
- No one person knows everything. But as a community of people who genuinely care about St Mary, I believe we can achieve great things together.
My Priorities For St Mary
The Wider Issues Facing Jersey
The decisions made at island level will directly affect the future of St Mary, our families and the opportunities available to future generations.
More and more people are questioning whether Jersey is becoming unaffordable, overcrowded and increasingly difficult for ordinary islanders to build a secure future here.
Young people are wondering whether they will ever be able to afford a home. Families are feeling the pressure of rising living costs. Many islanders feel the character and identity of Jersey is slowly changing before their eyes.
This is not necessarily about stopping our children from exploring the world and expanding their horizons. It is about ensuring they can still find a path back home to the island they love, if they choose to return one day.
These concerns are real, and they deserve honest conversation and practical action.
I believe we must protect not only the future of St Mary, but the future of Jersey itself.
I support:
- Stronger action to address housing issues and improve opportunities for first time buyers.
- Affordable housing policies that help keep Jersey families together and prevent future generations from being forced to leave the island.
- A meaningful and sustainable population policy that balances economic needs with the long term wellbeing of the island.
- Protecting Jersey from excessive overdevelopment and unsustainable pressure on infrastructure, roads, healthcare and public services.
- Maintaining qualification periods that protect opportunities for local people and preserve fairness for those who have contributed to island life.
- Exploring a fair and controlled points based immigration system focused on skills, contribution and sustainability.
- Supporting opportunities, apprenticeships and future career pathways for Jersey's young people.
- Tackling the rising cost of living and the growing pressures facing working families, pensioners and young adults.
- Protecting green spaces, agricultural land and the unique character of our island from unnecessary development.
- Stronger action against dangerous driving, anti social behaviour and declining parish standards.
- Supporting cleaner roads, better maintenance and greater pride in our shared environment.
- Supporting proper enforcement against fraud and abuse of public systems, ensuring fairness for honest taxpayers.
- Supporting stronger vetting processes where appropriate to help protect community safety and social stability.
- Supporting the Honorary Police and encouraging greater community involvement in parish life.
- Ensuring Jersey remains a place built on fairness, responsibility, opportunity and community spirit.
What kind of island are we handing to the next generation?
Because preserving the spirit, identity and future of Jersey is not someone else's responsibility.
It belongs to all of us.
Accountability
Matters
Too often people only see candidates when they want votes, then hear very little from them again once the election is over.
I want to change that.
If elected, I will remain visible, accessible and accountable to parishioners throughout my term in office. I will continue listening, engaging and working with the community, because leadership should never be distant from the people it serves.
St Mary does not need a caretaker. It needs energy. It needs clarity. It needs leadership. And above all, it needs action.
Proven Leadership.
Real Community Action.
“Mark's passion for our parish is unwavering, and it would be hugely beneficial to the parish to have someone with his skills as Connetable.”
David Tomes, St Mary ParishionerBusiness
- Mark Anthony Baker has spent over 30 years working in leadership, communication and business strategy, and is one of the UK's leading business speakers.
- He ranked in the top 1% of financial advisors globally.
- Commissioned by the Government of Jersey to train its communications team in advanced communication skills.
- Author of two books on resilience and the power of belief.
- He pioneered executive coaching in Jersey in 1994.
- Inventor of the only physical tool in the world designed to help children develop healthy self belief.
Community
In 2003, alongside his family and supporters, Mark founded the St Mary Youth Club and helped create one of the island's most successful youth clubs.
For the past 13 years, he has organised Santa's Bikers, raising funds for Jersey Cancer Relief and the Variety Club of Jersey, with every penny staying in the island community.
Mark has coached and counselled over 500 cancer patients, both locally and globally, at no charge since 2012.
Mark also invented the only physical tool in the world designed to help children develop healthy self belief.
St Mary Youth Club at the Village Hall: archive newspaper clipping.
Santa's Bikers community fundraising and parish action.
Family and parish heritage by the sea, grounded in community values.
Speaking with parishioners at sunset: community first, always.
As David Johnson said, it is time for a younger person to take the helm. I respect him for acknowledging this.
I am ready to step forward to represent our parish with courage, clarity and conviction, and I would be honoured to have your support.
Mark Anthony Baker
The Accountable Connetable
Vote Mark Anthony Baker for Connetable of St Mary
If you have any questions or would like to meet in person, please do not hesitate to reach out. I look forward to hearing from you.
votebaker.info vote.mark.stmary@gmail.com 07700 700880
It is time for change, and you hold the key to it.