A contemplative Deputy Bernard Flouquet on his way to yesterday’s States meeting, during which he again apologised for his golliwog joke – but it was not enough for many members. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0676701)
DEPUTY CHIEF MINISTER Bernard Flouquet is facing a vote of no confidence after deciding not to resign yesterday following his golliwog ‘joke’.
He said he had expected to receive such a challenge from States members after announcing that he intends to remain in the post.
Deputy Flouquet reiterated to the Assembly his apology for making a racist remark at a press conference last week but said afterwards that he did not think it was a resignation matter.
He claimed he still had support from the majority of the Policy Council members, including the chief minister, and from the majority of deputies.
But Deputy Leon Gallienne does not believe that is the case. He has drafted a letter which he intends to hand to Deputy Flouquet at the conclusion of this morning’s States sitting asking him to resign.
By the end of yesterday’s meeting he had collected 16 signatures, including that of one minister.
‘At the moment we have 16 signatories but there are some more members who are reflecting on the situation this evening,’ he said yesterday.
‘Also, I know some members haven’t signed because they are on certain committees or boards and feel doing so could conflict at a later date.
‘Two minister have also said they will not sign the letter, but if there was a debate about his position then they would vote in favour of him going.’
Deputy Gallienne said the letter was an attempt to put off such a debate, which he said would not benefit the island or its government.
‘I have spoken to Deputy Flouquet and he is aware that this letter is in circulation and I have told him it is going to be available for people to sign until 12.30pm [today].’
‘The signatories understand it is a difficult time for the deputy chief minister, but feelings are running high and this correspondence is all about trying to cool the situation.’
Deputy Flouquet did not believe his comments had caused damage outside Guernsey.
‘The States of Deliberation elected me to the position and I believe it is they who should remove me from it if they feel it’s appropriate,’ he said.
Chief Minister Lyndon Trott would not say whether he supported his deputy or not.
‘I have declined to comment on the matter throughout and my reason for doing so is that I’m dealing with some very pressing issues about the wellbeing of this island,’ he said.
Deputy John Gollop said that by staying in his post, Deputy Flouquet had inflamed the situation and he feared it could now become ‘Fallagate Two’.
‘I was expecting Bernard to resign as deputy chief minister or for the Policy Council to have made a decision for us,’ he said. ‘I thought his apology lacked the depth to satisfy a substantial number of States members.’
He added that most of the roughly 15 people present when he had been in the members’ room yesterday lunchtime wanted Deputy Flouquet to resign as deputy chief minister and three or four had wanted him out of the States altogether.
‘I think they no longer trust his judgment. His position as deputy chief minister has become fragile and he needs to recognise that.
‘I think if he doesn’t go now, he will lose his seat on the Policy Council for the second time in his career.’
‘He should have resigned’ Page 2
Comment Page 22
In the House Pages 30 & 31
Article posted on 27th November, 2008 - 2.30pm
31 Article Comments
16 signatures? Is that it? On any day of the week, you would probably get 16 signatures for a confidence vote on any of Policy Council on any given subject.
This is starting to smell like a witch hunt.
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Congrats to the person who came up with the name ‘Gollygate’. You’ve earned your salary for the year right there.
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Come on we all need to lighten up a bit, Bernard Floukkk meant no harm… (tumble weeds & stony silence), not very PC I hear you cry – to which Mr Flouquet himself would reply: ‘But it’s still a joke, nevertheless’!!!! For goodness sake, resign and let us all move on Bernard.
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Bernard Floukkk! – it’s / he’s still a joke!
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Deputy Flouquet’s statement was wrong and not acceptable. However, how can the supposed housing of workers in greenhouses be ignored.
Clearly actions are worse than words and the blatant disregard for the welfare of other human beings to such an extent is reprehensible. Personal profit at the expense of others is Dickensian and above all disgusting.
How come we are prepared to ignore such a situation whilst we play out personality politics in the media? Let’s face it, this is unfortunately the root of the apparent disgruntlement of many of those complaining, rather than striving for equality. For if these people were for equality this abusing of migrant workers would be the headline story.
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Come on own up how many of you laughed at that joke? The Deputy was only repeating something he had heard, he didn’t actually write it. Give him a break. I just wonder how many of you have made a comment about foreigners in your life, How many of you have called a Jerseyman a ‘Bean’ or a Guernseyman a ‘Donkey’ it all boils down to the same, I know I have and I don’t claim to be a racist.
Some things have to be laughed at.
Stick on in there Deputy Le Flouquet
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Flouquet’s utter failure to acknowledge the ridicule he is pouring on Guernsey politics is the most damaging aspect. Our politicians are supposed to give us a voice, a foothold to bigger decisions, a collective rationale.
It is not the fact that what Flouquet said may be construed as racist. I believe he didn’t mean it to be so. It is the fact that, despite warnings, he deemed himself a better judge of public intent than prevailing attitudes and so he blurted it out.
It is this arrogance in a small community that riles people so. Nowhere else would it be tolerated. I don’t believe for one minute he has overwhelming public support.
That aspect, and the fact he scored poorly at election time, and now his refusal to be accountable for so much bad press, is turning people against the political system. This means poor turnouts, poor understanding of the processes and less public control of public destiny.
It is unfortunate that this has happened bearing in mind the bigger issues. I just don’t want those bigger issues decided by people that can make such incompetent errors.
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16 signatures represents around a third of the elected members of the States of Deliberation and I challenge Jackie to mention a name (apart from one other)that would produce a letter with that many signatories.
I’m guessing that the vote when it comes will be close. That will be the very worst possible result whichever way it falls. How will it look if a large minority (or small majority) of the legislators in Guernsey think it’s alright for a senior minister to talk like this in front of the media? Much better for Mr Flouquet to resign with whatever dignity he can salvage.
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16 Signatures that a joke.. that means there are 31 other states members think he should stay ?.
Gollygate…
Yes that the truth of the matter.. Who care if he’s any good at his job or the damage it would do sacking him for a silly joke.
This is now a witch hunt to burn him at the stake.
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Bemused
We’re not talking about nick names for other countries (although Flouquet was again cringing at the IoD debate when referring that he would not want to do a deal with Jersey ‘crapauds’ on waste disposal – that wasn’t funny either and many business leaders find this approach very disconcerting), but about the racial stereotype that black people are sub human and of little intelligence.
If he can do that in jest, what happens when he’s arguing our corner? Will all self control dissolve and a flood of racial invective spew forth? I just don’t have the confidence anymore, not that there was much to begin with, and that is the main issue.
I’d say 16 sigs is a good start for a debate on the matter. Maybe we will find out the true opinions of our elected representatives on issues of public comportment and what it means to be a spokesperson for the electorate.
Read his pre election manifesto -
“There is still much to do, changes to make and goals to achieve.
The first is to preserve Guernsey’s responsible, stable and mature democracy, fiscal independence, legislative competence and independent judiciary, thereby maintaining our right of self-determination and a separate “Guernsey” identity.”
and later
“When approached by parishioners with specific problems, I have always endeavoured to resolve them satisfactorily and to alleviate peoples’ concerns……I shall continue to seek a wider opinion from you before entering each States debate if elected.”
Really?
We must have confidence in the system.
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This scandal (once again) makes a mockery of Guernsey’s ‘democracy’. A one-party political system never was and never will be a democracy, and this kind of blatant disregard of public opinion and lack of accountability is what makes it little more than a dressed-up dictatorship. Lyndon Trott and his hard right-wing government will have their come-uppance eventually. The people of Guernsey will surely tire of this ‘finance is all that matters’ ideology that prevails and start thinking about the humanitarian issues at the heart of our society that really count, such as the eradication of discrimination and the care of the sick, the needy and the underprivileged, instead of this constant pandering to the already affluent.
It is not just Bernard Flouquet who is flawed, there are many of them, Trott being the worst. Flouquet’s scandalous remark is just the tip of the iceberg. If that is the kind of contempt he holds other ethnic groups in publicly, just imagine what gets said and thought in private. And it won’t just be the ethnically varied that are the target of such scorn, you can bet it will be the poor, the sick and the uneducated.
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Sorry this now just a witch hunt..
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Lawrence| November 27, 2008 at 11:05 pm
“Flouquet’s utter failure to acknowledge the ridicule he is pouring on Guernsey politics is the most damaging aspect”
NOBODY OUTSIDE OF THIS ISLAND CARES!!!!
Most people in the UK have never even HEARD of Guernsey, let alone care that ONE politician in one TINY island made ONE bad joke.
I am not racist, I did not care for the joke myself, however, I also see no need to keep on and on… and ON about such an insignificant piece of news that in all fairness should have died down the day it all started.
Concentrate on something important.
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Ref Deputy Flouquet joke it is probably not the best he ever had in the politicaly correct time we seem to find ourselves, but if every states member can stand up and say they have never said or did anything they later regreted, with hand on hart,let them stand and accuse if not sit down and shut up.
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You just don’t get it do you? He is liable to keep making these mistakes. Why protect him? What has he done for you? An incompetent employee of the public must be accountable to the public.
He must resign or be sacked.
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What does Me mean by a witch hunt? Perhaps he or she could define
Reactions to events arise for various reasons and those that have chosen to voice their opinions both for or against must be respected for the integrity of their personal attitude.
Objectively, if one can ever claim the quality, the incident is purely one of mechanics. Careless words from a senior minister have threatened the Island’s reputation at a crucial period and it is not just the community that has been defaced but potentially our value abroad. In the short term the Island must be seen to act swiftly and effectively. Regrettably for the Minister it means abandoning his job forthwith. I can accept that he must feel wretched at this time but it has not been helped by not acting expeditiously thereafter. It follows that States members who assist in prolonging his presence become tarred with the same brush to the further detriment of the community. A community from whom many of their elected representatives strangely and surprisingly withold their opinion.
It really is as simple as that. The offending deputy may not be finished for ever. Although the grace he might get for resigning will be seriously diminished as it was like pulling teeth. He has had to stand down before but there is always the possibility of a comeback alla Mandelson should the electorate find his absence just too painful!
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Surely only racists make racist jokes. And this was a racist joke, no matter what spin some may choose to put on it. We all make mistakes but we don’t all repeat racist jokes. He is the Deputy Chief Minister for crying out loud. Doesn’t this island care how he conducts himself? Is he not accountable to the electorate? Such a bad mistake should lead to him standing down, at least as DCM. Rightly or wrongly I’m afraid all I see when I see him on TV or in the paper now is a racist.
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Reading many of the threads on this topic makes me wonder if a number of posters don’t like Deputy Floquet and are taking the opportunity to give him a good kicking.
His repeating of a poor and distasteful joke was stupid. Even Bernard will now realise that.
But resignation? Seems a bit OTT
If the same principles were adopted across the whole spectrum of public life we would have an empty Chamber for the next States meeting.
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Stephen John
Why is it OTT? Any other poltician in the UK would be sacked and humiliated in the press. What’s so cuddly about this man, what is so special that we should give him deferential treatment? He is liable to do that again. Can the public trust him not to?
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For me this whole saga asks far wider questions than why a senior politician would make such ill advised comments (the mind boggles!).
Guernsey will always be my home but (currently) living away from the island I am always saddened by the casual racism, sexism, homophobia etc. which is accepted on the island. The majority of it is not malicious, just ingrained and borne out of ignorance (see Deputy Flouquets comments).
Let’s face it nobody is guilt free in this, we’ve all made comments we’ve regretted, that we’ve learnt better of. Perhaps the States should use this opportunity to help us all learn what is and isn’t acceptable in the 21st century, to ensure that the next generation of politicians don’t make the same mistakes!
One other thing, I can’t help but wonder what the President Elect of the USA would think about this saga given his political views on offshore tax havens! Enamoured? I think not.
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And now the Royal College of Nursing is lodging formal complaints!! Since when have they been in the business of trying to displace politicians?
It’s good to see that Sandra James lodged their complaint in a low key manner with only a Guernsey Press photographer around to witness the event.
Someone out there is working really, really hard to give Bernard Floquet a right shoeing.
He has apologised. Let’s move on.
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Yeah – let’s get rid of anyone who has ever made such a comment in the media and ‘embarrassed’ us.
To be honest I will miss the Duke of Edinburgh as I think he’s a top bloke, but the people of Guernsey demand that this behaviour is dealt with swiftly and vigourously!
Any of the anti-floquet gang here want to contact the national media about removing Prince Philip?
Just another example of the anti-states media inflaming a situation to sensationalise a cr@p joke to give Guernsey more unwanted negative publicity.
But then I guess they needed the spotlight on us seeing as Jersey had been beating us in that arena for most of the year.
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What utter nonsense from Aeschylus and Realistic.
The Guernsey Press fawns over the likes of Trott. It would be no wonder if the editor is a close friend. The distribution of false numbers before the election and the constant calling for increased powers makes your posts look ignorant.
The national media does not need contacting, it has already run the story and it has been picked up globally.
For goodness sake, it is not about displacing politicians. It’s about securing decent governance. This man is obviously not trustworthy in the public arena. He has tried (and failed) so often to get his name on the brass plaque that it is of utmost embarassment to the island that he can’t even take the advice of his friends not to open his mouth and spill nonsense. If his friends’ advice is not good enough, how does that measure up to electoral responsibility?
What nonsense. Everyone from nurse and teacher, lawyer, doctor, private equity trader, fund manager, tree surgeon, newspaper seller, contract labourer, Zimbabwean accountant, French croissant purveyor, Latvian bus driver, garage forecourt attendant(that was just yesterday on my travels) is wondering why it is taking so long for this man to resign.
As has been previously said: Why is an apology uttered just to save his job acceptable?
He wants to save his job above the feelings of the electorate. That is the issue, apologists. You all can be as racist as you like in front of your mothers, but don’t bring the public and the world at large into this. Oh and spell his name right, eh?
Amendment to my list of briefly canvassed opinions. One person said to me that they were glad black people were being called wogs again after a few years of ‘PC-ness’. He said they deserved it for all the trouble they bring to the world.
Is this the life?
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I bow to your greater knowledge Slow Robert, I did indeed miss the additional ‘u’ in Flouquet.
By the way, embarrassment has two r’s in it so you better spell check your own ignorant posts before being critical of others ‘eh’!
Who needs the Belle Greve sewage leak when your post contains enough of it to swamp the whole island!
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Realistic
Touché re the spelling!
Please tell me where I am wrong, I wish to be enlightened.
Are you saying that it’s ok for our top politicians to be ignorant and racist? That’s what it looks like.
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Bring back the Golliwog Soft Toy, it made me happy as a Child, as did saving the paper ones to get a real badge. What is the problem, I am neither black, yellow, bronze or whatever, I have to say white so why do you all go exotic holidays to brown as much as possible. What colour do you want to be???
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How many received this joke on their mobile? Along with the Uncle Sam joke, these things go around and is it not about time we all smile and enjoy the occassional un-PC bit of humour?
As in America, it is ok for a black person to tell un-PC jokes but if a white person makes a comment they are a racist.
As for Deputy Flouquet….never open up to the Guernsey media as they are frustrated at never being able to get a real job and any chance to publish on the web….
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Instead of wasting effort debating the rights and wrongs of BFs actions wouldn’t our States be better off trying to sort the financial mess this island is in rather than wasting their time and our money?
Get over it, its yesterdays news!
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The world is in meltdown over finance yet a few self-righteous Guernsey politicians are having a cadenza over a silly joke.
They are the ones who would be held up to ridicule abroad if anyone has even heard of us.
(Most Americans think that the Channel Islands are off California.)
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Their Channel Islands are off the coast of California….they just don’t happen to be our Channel islands. If you use the term British Channel Ilsands they get it right way…even better, tell them it’s Guernsey, we are famous for our cows and much better known than Jersey (that should please the racists!)
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I suppose Deputy Flouquet can breath a sigh of relief now that President Obama has made an on air gaffe about his bowling skills being more akin to the ‘Special Olympics’
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