Paul Routier - Minister
Senator Paul Routier
Minister for Social Security
Senator Routier has been a member of the States of Jersey and a member of the Employment and Social Security Committee from 1993 to 2005, and then in 2005 he became the first Minister for Social Security. Indeed when the past President, Senator Terry Le Sueur asked him to join the Committee it was to be one of his first jobs in the States and one that he says still gives him a great deal of satisfaction to this day.
When you talk to Paul you get a very real sense that he cares deeply about social issues; evidence of this is the fact that he has been a member of Jersey Mencap for since 1979 and either Chairman or President since 1990.
Paul has undertaken considerable work on the Employment Trust and he was one of the prime movers in the move to draw together all the Special Needs agencies. He considers the work in this area is extremely important and will recieve more development in the future.
Paul married Pauline nearly 35 years ago. They have three sons, Simon, Adam and Thomas. Born and bred in St Helier, he has also spent most of his working life in the town and more specifically in Bath Street in the men’s fashion business!
The General Clothing Store, Paul’s current enterprise is located at the corner of Bath Street and Queen Street and buying for this busy company takes him all over Europe.
When asked about his own first job, Paul laughed as he recalled his time spent as a butcher’s boy, making deliveries on a bike with a basket. Perhaps not exactly terribly hygienic, by today’s standards but good fun, nevertheless.
There is really only one leisure activity that Paul tries to do every week and that is to play table tennis at the headquarters of the Table Tennis Association at F B Fields. Paul is Vice President of the Association and although he is extremely modest, I got the impression that he is a super player!
Our final question: how would you like to be remembered?
This is always difficult, but Paul had little hesitation in answering it “I would like to be remembered for the work I have put in with Jersey Mencap and as a States Member”, he said.
I do not think he needs to worry on that score, Paul’s record speaks for itself and it has only been twelve years in the States so far!
