This Is Guernsey

Deputy Jean Pritchard will not be seeking re-election in April.

SOCIAL Security minister Diane Lewis and Scrutiny Committee chairman Jean Pritchard are the latest deputies to say they will not be standing in the next election.

Nominations open on Monday at 9am, but already a wealth of States members with more than 200 years’ experience between them have decided against running.

So far, 14 have confirmed they are stepping down, including Chief Minister Mike Torode, Education minister Martin Ozanne, Public Services minister Bill Bell and Health minister Peter Roffey.

Deputy Lewis said her health was the main reason she was not standing.

‘I’m still having dialysis and that’s very time consuming.

‘I don’t think it’s possible to give the States the time it deserves because of that.’

She had thoroughly enjoyed her time in the States and wanted to carry on.

‘Sadly, at the moment that’s not possible,’ she said.

‘I’m sure a lot of the people I have got to know while being in the States will stay friends.’

She added that highlights have included the smoking ban and the introduction of zero-10.

And the main challenge for the next House will be prioritising projects with so little money around, she said.

Deputy Pritchard said the last four years had been the toughest for her, mainly for personal reasons.

‘The first time I thought I really had to reconsider was the tsunami, that was a big life changer in itself.’

Along with Deputy Peter Roffey, she was caught in the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami while on holiday in Unawatuna.

Deputy Pritchard has been a States member since 1985.

‘It’s time to do something different. Quite what, I don’t know, but I’m going to spend a while just doing nothing,’ said Deputy Pritchard.

Having lost out in the race to be Social Security minister in 2004, she was offered the chairmanship of Scrutiny.

‘It was a major, major challenge setting it up.

‘It was really difficult for a few years just creating the foundations with something completely new.’

Other members praised her work with Scrutiny during this month’s States meeting.

Deputy Claire Le Pelley also yesterday declared she would not be running.

Reports suggest that former chief minister Laurie Morgan was considering standing again.

Deputies Sam Maindonald, Stuart Falla, Brian Gabriel, Graham Guille and John Gollop have not yet publicly declared their intentions.

Nominations can be made at the Bailiff’s Chambers from 9am on Monday until 4pm on Wednesday 26 March. Forms are available from the Bailiff’s office, the constables of each parish and Sir Charles Frossard House.