This Is Guernsey

By Tom Edwards

CGI chairman Phil Duquemin

BUSINESS leaders have called for the next chief minister to have more power to sack ‘rogue’ ministers who do not follow States economic and policy strategies.

Confederation of Guernsey Industry chairman Phil Duquemin said the Environment Department was ‘dysfunctional’ and a problem for economic growth.

‘There is resistance from Environment towards economic priorities,’ he said.

‘It needs to fulfil its corporate agenda and not just its environmental one. There is a lack of understanding of the needs of the business community.’

Mr Duquemin was speaking at an Institute of Directors seminar at the Duke of Richmond Hotel on Friday afternoon.

It was the first time members of the CGi, Commerce and Employment, the Guernsey International Business Association and the Chamber of Commerce had got together.

Mr Duquemin said Environment was not following the States’ economic strategies and should be made to.

‘I want to see them moving their priorities from parking and plastic bags to our needs.’

His concerns were echoed by deputy Commerce and Employment minister Carla McNulty Bauer, who said Environment needed to fulfil its wider mandate.

‘At the moment Environment has a very green focus and that’s not a bad thing, but it needs to address its economic responsibilities as well,’ she said.

‘For example, land issues in Guernsey are a priority but nothing has happened. Small businesses are the lifeblood of the island and it should not be these people who are struggling. Otherwise they will go out of business and we will have to buy in their services from elsewhere at great cost.’

Deputy Jack Honeybill said the worst thing you could have in the Environment Department was an environmentalist.

‘It should be renamed the Planning Department,’ he said.

‘It’s down to the electorate to get people into the States to apply common sense.

‘Unless you have a decent team working with the planning officers, you will never get change to support all the dynamic business people around the island who want to expand without necessarily employing more people.’

Environment minister David De Lisle could not be contacted for comment about the criticism of his department.

Housing minister Dave Jones agreed that the new chief minister should be able to sack ministers.

‘We need island-wide voting and a chief minister who has more power,’ he said.

He did not, however, go as far as suggesting a Cabinet style of government for Guernsey.

‘Show me a government in the world where a Cabinet style actually works… there simply isn’t one.’

Chamber of Commerce president Mark Trenchard said there were too many deputies in the States.

‘There is real progress being made, but I am concerned about the threat of reversal of policies after the election,’ he said. ‘I’m worried about who will be standing and I think a step towards executive government is inevitable.

‘Guernsey plc should be run as a business, notwithstanding the social responsibilities we have.

‘There are some massive issues to deal with, but we need the right people there and a chief minister who can lead the way.’

Attracting business people to stand for the States was also discussed during the seminar, as well as the population issue, training, housing licences and the negative image of business.