AN ADVERTISING campaign in this newspaper by the owners of Brecqhou have touched on two issues – freedom of information and the role of the Crown Officers – that some Bailiwick residents believe is none of their concern.
And at a ‘not for publication’ level we have received some criticism for running the full pages urging the States swiftly to implement FoI legislation. Yet this reaction rather misses the point.
Implementing a cultural shift within government in which disclosure and transparency is the norm is actually, to use the States own jargon, a workstream currently being pursued.
Yes, the chief minister appears to have ruled it out but the Scrutiny Committee’s ‘end of term’ report makes clear the need for governmental accountability and this is an issue as highlighted by the hospital clinical block and successive overspends that will not go away.
Like global warming and plastic bags, the tide is turning and islanders no longer have confidence in government acting as gatekeeper on what information should be in the public domain.
Similarly with the role of the Crown Officers. While no one questions the integrity of the individuals past or present, the role sits uncomfortably with the reforms already introduced by the States.
Parish, or douzaine, representatives were excluded from the chamber because, to use the shorthand, they were not fully elected and had no place in a modern House. Yet unelected Law Officers have far more influence in debate than any douzenier ever had.
The office also fails the accountability test because St James’ Chambers is answerable to no elected individual or body in Guernsey. If it has any direction, that comes from the UK’s Lord Chancellor and always in secret.
In addition, as legal draftsman to the States of Guernsey it experiences little effective scrutiny but as the Bailiwick’s prosecuting authority it enforces and interprets the laws it has already put in place. That is not a sustainable position and has to change.
It is not a question of whether FoI and Crown Officer reform should happen –
Reform is on the way
AN ADVERTISING campaign in this newspaper by the owners of Brecqhou have touched on two issues – freedom of information and the role of the Crown Officers – that some Bailiwick residents believe is none of their concern.
And at a ‘not for publication’ level we have received some criticism for running the full pages urging the States swiftly to implement FoI legislation. Yet this reaction rather misses the point.
Implementing a cultural shift within government in which disclosure and transparency is the norm is actually, to use the States own jargon, a workstream currently being pursued.
Yes, the chief minister appears to have ruled it out but the Scrutiny Committee’s ‘end of term’ report makes clear the need for governmental accountability and this is an issue as highlighted by the hospital clinical block and successive overspends that will not go away.
Like global warming and plastic bags, the tide is turning and islanders no longer have confidence in government acting as gatekeeper on what information should be in the public domain.
Similarly with the role of the Crown Officers. While no one questions the integrity of the individuals past or present, the role sits uncomfortably with the reforms already introduced by the States.
Parish, or douzaine, representatives were excluded from the chamber because, to use the shorthand, they were not fully elected and had no place in a modern House. Yet unelected Law Officers have far more influence in debate than any douzenier ever had.
The office also fails the accountability test because St James’ Chambers is answerable to no elected individual or body in Guernsey. If it has any direction, that comes from the UK’s Lord Chancellor and always in secret.
In addition, as legal draftsman to the States of Guernsey it experiences little effective scrutiny but as the Bailiwick’s prosecuting authority it enforces and interprets the laws it has already put in place. That is not a sustainable position and has to change.
It is not a question of whether FoI and Crown Officer reform should happen –
it is simply when.
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