TOO few business people are among those seeking election to the new-look States. Moves to double members’ pay and change the system of government have done little to attract candidates.
Former Chamber of Commerce president Simon Howitt, who backed the changes, was disappointed, but not surprised, at the lack of businessmen and women coming forward.
Chamber and other business organisations campaigned for change last year and great play was made of the need for managers to be encouraged to seek election.
‘It is quite disappointing that more are not standing, but probably not unexpected,’ he said.
‘Being a States member takes an increasing amount of time, so that any business leader being elected would either need to work extremely hard or significantly reduce the amount of time that they devoted to their job.’
He was critical of the chances of many of the candidates achieving anything in government.
Mr Howitt said that the States could be broadly divided into three categories; those who:
n take an active and positive role on one or more committees;
n moan about those who do something; and
n do not do very much at all.
‘The problem with the current list of candidates is that there are probably too few who are willing and able to take an active role on a committee and actually achieve anything in that role,’ he said.
‘And there are too many who would not be capable of achieving anything themselves but are keen on criticising those who do take an active role.’
Just over a quarter of candidates are new to politics despite a better pay deal for members.
Mr Howitt said that some might have been attracted by the money.
‘Whether they are the right people, only time will tell,’ he said. ‘I believe that the pay levels are about right. Others believe that the former ones were sufficient.
‘However, for someone who is a full-time politician, they clearly were not for someone who had no other source of income.’
Mr Howitt said that while he felt it would be a good thing to attract more business people into the States, he would not want to see them dominate the House.
‘There are clearly people who have never been in business who make perfectly good States members and likewise some business people would make terrible politicians,’ he said.
‘The States is not, and should not be, run as a business, albeit that many of the qualities which go to making a good business person also go to making a good politician.
‘Some business people, used to fast decision-making without consultation, would perhaps find it very difficult to fit into the political system where it will always be a somewhat slower and more contemplative process.
‘We’ll just have to wait and see whether the new system works. Undoubtedly, we’re likely to see most of the same people in charge as in the past, but the new system should lead to the decision-making process being rather more efficient than it is at the moment.’
Institute of Directors chairman Tony Gallienne said that it had supported more pay for States members so that everybody could feel that they would be able to afford to stand for election.
‘Everybody is able to stand and it is up to the electorate to see if they are worth voting for. Ideally people from all walks of life will be putting themselves forward for nomination,’ he said.
‘The States needs a range of people who represent the community but hopefully the people who are standing are able to carry out the responsibilities of political office.’
Mr Gallienne added that he was pleased that each district would have a contested election.
‘It is good to have a wide choice of people in elections.
‘I am glad that there will be a contested election in each electoral district because it is not good for democracy if that is not the case.’
Article posted on 26th March, 2004 - 12.00am
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