ON SATURDAY we suggested that one of the priorities for the new House should be considering ways of making the role of deputy as attractive as possible to encourage as wide a selection of candidates as possible.
A generation or so ago, the complaint was that the States was dominated by businessmen, chiefly successful growers, and was thus not truly representative of the ordinary islander.
Much of the preceding changes that led up to the reforms of 2004 were aimed at countering that, and it is one reason why serving the island first attracted payments. To a large degree, government has been successful in widening the appeal of becoming a member.
Far from the rank and file feeling excluded, the business sector is lobbying for its interests (and, it would argue, those of the island) to be properly understood and reflected by the new House.
That would not have been necessary a comparatively few years ago, so perhaps representation has come full circle.
What makes a good deputy is largely a point of view: one man’s champion of the people is another’s wrecker of zero-10. Where there is common ground, however, is over the basic requirement to be able to take the right decisions for the benefit of the community.
This newspaper has argued for diversity in the Chamber but also for members who in some way reflect the various interests here.
And one of the enduring complaints members have is about how long it takes to achieve anything. Timescales for the States seem to be radically more elastic than in the private sector and the process of debate can be protracted.
For individuals with a desire to serve but limited time, the sheer inertia of the States of Deliberation can be as off-putting as any other of the claimed reasons for not standing and warrants change.
A streamlined House with a greater focus on strategy - a start has been made through the Government Business Plan - rather than day-to-day implementation would be attractive to many more potential candidates.
Make the job more attractive
ON SATURDAY we suggested that one of the priorities for the new House should be considering ways of making the role of deputy as attractive as possible to encourage as wide a selection of candidates as possible.
A generation or so ago, the complaint was that the States was dominated by businessmen, chiefly successful growers, and was thus not truly representative of the ordinary islander.
Much of the preceding changes that led up to the reforms of 2004 were aimed at countering that, and it is one reason why serving the island first attracted payments. To a large degree, government has been successful in widening the appeal of becoming a member.
Far from the rank and file feeling excluded, the business sector is lobbying for its interests (and, it would argue, those of the island) to be properly understood and reflected by the new House.
That would not have been necessary a comparatively few years ago, so perhaps representation has come full circle.
What makes a good deputy is largely a point of view: one man’s champion of the people is another’s wrecker of zero-10. Where there is common ground, however, is over the basic requirement to be able to take the right decisions for the benefit of the community.
This newspaper has argued for diversity in the Chamber but also for members who in some way reflect the various interests here.
And one of the enduring complaints members have is about how long it takes to achieve anything. Timescales for the States seem to be radically more elastic than in the private sector and the process of debate can be protracted.
For individuals with a desire to serve but limited time, the sheer inertia of the States of Deliberation can be as off-putting as any other of the claimed reasons for not standing and warrants change.
A streamlined House with a greater focus on strategy - a start has been made through the Government Business Plan - rather than day-to-day implementation would be attractive to many more potential candidates.
Article posted on 1st April, 2008 - 2.00pm