DEMAND for accountability and transparency in the States ran high at last night’s Island People’s Meeting.
About 50 people turned out to express concerns on issues ranging from possible school closures to the money spent by the States on consultants.
Calls were made for greater freedom of information as well as tighter controls within the States to prevent mismanagement.
The panel of six included Deputy Mary Lowe, who not only wanted a freedom of information act similar to the UK’s, but also penalties for deputies who breach their code of conduct.
‘There is no point in having a code of conduct if there are no penalties for breaking it. The idea of simply naming and shaming a States member who goes against the code is not enough.
‘Just to say, “oh, that’s a pity” is not acceptable any more
and deputies need to know they will face consequences and could be putting their career on the line.’
Deputy Lowe said other jurisdictions imposed a monetary fine for a serious breach of conduct and some even imprisoned politicians.
At the meeting was former Le Rondin School head teacher Jane Stephens, who was found by an employment tribunal to have been unfairly sacked by the Education Department.
She said that if harsher penalties had been in place then she might not have found herself in that situation and other examples of gross mismanagement such as the Fallagate affair could have been avoided.
‘No one wishes things like Fallagate or my personal circumstances to occur again. If there were penalties for politicians who do cross the line, and they were applied, it would save a considerable amount of money for the taxpayer.’
The meeting’s other panellists included Deputy Scott Ogier, St Peter’s douzenier Shane Langlois, auctioneer Clive Maides and Advocate Peter Harwood, with Gillian Tidd in the chair.
One issue that kept resurfacing was how much the States spent on consultants. One member of the audience argued that Guernsey had the necessary expertise already within the top level of civil servants, who call in outside consultants only to avoid taking responsibility themselves for any controversial decisions.
He wanted less reliance on consultancy firms and better contracts with them that made them liable for any bad advice.
Mr Maides agreed and got the first applause of the night with his comments on the topic.
‘I find the subject entirely frustrating – the amount of taxpayers’ money that is spent on consultants makes my blood boil.
‘We do have experience in our civil service but it seems no one is prepared to put their head above the parapet.
‘Look at St Sampson’s Harbour, with no one taking responsibility for its problems – I just hope the focus of our new States will be on correcting the procedure as to how they engage with consultants.’
Other topics discussed were the suggestions to move to Central European Time and to introduce P-plates for novice drivers.
Both were dismissed by most of the panel and the audience as being costly time-wasting ideas, with no one at the meeting expressing support for either.
Article posted on 21st February, 2008 - 2.29pm
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