IN his interview in the Guernsey Press Inside Politics column today in page 14, Deputy David De Lisle reflects that he will probably do a better job as a deputy now that he has lost his job on the Policy Council and become a ‘back-bencher’.
The former high-profile Environment minister says that he ‘will have more freedom now to make a larger contribution to States affairs, to express opinion more openly and represent the people’s interest more broadly’.
He also goes on to say that there were times when as minister and speaking about politically sensitive issues - such as telecommunications masts, for example - ‘it was not always possible to express a personal opinion’.
How must his electorate feel about that one?
Clearly there had been a groundswell of opinion in the West against the rising number of masts, not just in that district but throughout the island.
Indeed, one of the No More Masts protest group’s most vocal campaigners, Gloria Dudley-Owen, was elected as a new deputy in the same district partly on that ticket - and will doubtless continue to make her views heard, though now from the floor of the new States.
Interestingly, the new Environment minister and Chief Minister’s selection, who beat Deputy De Lisle to the hot seat by just one vote, also hails from the same district.
Just three months into the new States, how Deputy Sirett will juggle the demands of the Policy Council with those of his voters remains to be seen. But islanders will wonder whether he will face the same dilemmas.
What Deputy De Lisle - and probably other council ministers - experience when they land a post is a challenge faced by many government policy group members.
They may often be torn between island-wide needs and the wishes of those in their districts.
Yet how often and why? Sadly, the deputy who also dealt with recycling, the incinerator and energy and strategic land planning during the last term doesn’t expand on his remarks - except to say he will now be able to speak from the floor ‘without restraint’ and get to spend more time on constituency issues.
Perhaps the good news for his electors is that having been on the Policy Council will make him more effective and better able to express an opposing view.
Permission to speak
IN his interview in the Guernsey Press Inside Politics column today in page 14, Deputy David De Lisle reflects that he will probably do a better job as a deputy now that he has lost his job on the Policy Council and become a ‘back-bencher’.
The former high-profile Environment minister says that he ‘will have more freedom now to make a larger contribution to States affairs, to express opinion more openly and represent the people’s interest more broadly’.
He also goes on to say that there were times when as minister and speaking about politically sensitive issues - such as telecommunications masts, for example - ‘it was not always possible to express a personal opinion’.
How must his electorate feel about that one?
Clearly there had been a groundswell of opinion in the West against the rising number of masts, not just in that district but throughout the island.
Indeed, one of the No More Masts protest group’s most vocal campaigners, Gloria Dudley-Owen, was elected as a new deputy in the same district partly on that ticket - and will doubtless continue to make her views heard, though now from the floor of the new States.
Interestingly, the new Environment minister and Chief Minister’s selection, who beat Deputy De Lisle to the hot seat by just one vote, also hails from the same district.
Just three months into the new States, how Deputy Sirett will juggle the demands of the Policy Council with those of his voters remains to be seen. But islanders will wonder whether he will face the same dilemmas.
What Deputy De Lisle - and probably other council ministers - experience when they land a post is a challenge faced by many government policy group members.
They may often be torn between island-wide needs and the wishes of those in their districts.
Yet how often and why? Sadly, the deputy who also dealt with recycling, the incinerator and energy and strategic land planning during the last term doesn’t expand on his remarks - except to say he will now be able to speak from the floor ‘without restraint’ and get to spend more time on constituency issues.
Perhaps the good news for his electors is that having been on the Policy Council will make him more effective and better able to express an opposing view.
Article posted on 18th August, 2008 - 2.30pm