CHIEF MINISTER Lyndon Trott (pictured) faces another backbench uprising – this time over his decision to give a ‘State of the States’ speech to the Assembly next week.
In response to a question in the States last week, Deputy Trott outlined his plans for the speech covering key aims and goals for government during the next 12 months.
The Policy Council gave the go-ahead despite having received a letter from the States Assembly and Constitution Committee urging it to reconsider.
It claimed the council did not have the right to authorise the move. ‘My committee had concerns about the appropriateness of giving such a speech,’ said SACC chairman Deputy Ivan Rihoy.
‘We do not have Cabinet government, so we do not think that any one member – even the chief minister with the support of the Policy Council – should seek to communicate in the Assembly the aims, aspirations and achievements of government and the challenges and plans for the future.’
The council will meet on Monday to decide the wording of the speech and Deputy Trott claimed it sat within its mandate.
‘The Policy Council has considered the idea of a “State of the States” statement and by a significant majority supports the idea as a means of reassuring islanders of the likely issues that the States of Guernsey will address over the next 12 months,’ he said. ‘I see it as an example of government acting in a responsible and helpful manner. It is not in any way a personal wish list, nor will it be a list of new policy initiatives.
‘Simply highlighting issues that the States will deal with does not bind members into a decision – I believe it will help to inform the public, particularly in difficult economic times.
‘The statement I intend to make will be nothing more than a statement made in accordance with rule eight,’ said Deputy Trott. ‘I will be making this statement on behalf of the Policy Council and it will be confined to matters that sit wholly within the Policy Council mandate.
‘If the committee feels a special rule is needed to allow for such statements, that is a matter for it to bring to the States. Its role is to bring proposed rule changes for debate, not to interpret the existing rules.’
Deputy Rihoy criticised the chief minister for ignoring the committee’s concerns.
‘It is not within the Policy Council’s mandate to talk about the aims and aspirations of government,’ he said.
‘It’s all gone back to this power struggle game. It should not be like this, should it? We are just being bulldozed into a corner all the time.’
nÊA letter produced by Deputy Matt Fallaize in support of the SACC and signed by more than 20 backbenchers is expected to be delivered to Deputy Trott today.
‘Bad call’ Page 4
Article posted on 5th December, 2008 - 2.30pm
7 Article Comments
I have heard tales that in schools, bullies were sometimes made prefects in an attempt to harness their enthusiasm for power.
Judging by Mr Trott’s behaviour, it seems such a policy has been applied to the States as he bears a passing resemblance to the school bully who has been promoted to Head Prefect, tasted the power and now can’t get enough of it.
Perhaps it is time to remind Mr Trott that true greatness in leadership comes with a measure of humility.
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It appears that Trott is trying to bring our parliament into the 21st century. No bad thing.
If we’re going to play with the big boys, we should be prepared accordingly. A grown up government is long overdue. He is trying to do his best for our island.
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In theory, B. L. Cumner, but the democratic system needs sorting out first if we are to have ‘leaders’.
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B.L. Cumner nicely clarifies the problem with “play with the big boys” so let me remind him, and Mr Trott, what the job is all about.
Mr Trott was losing his democratic support in St Sampsons and barely scraped in at the election. “Genuinely surprised to get in” Mr Trott moved from humble pie to run for the Chief Ministers job, where did he get the confidence so quickly?
Word was out, nobody named, that Trott was right for the job due to his “great international connections”.
Just to remind everybody islanders have been for the past 8 years sick to the back teeth with a States that does not represent them, but the bnig boys of finance. Trott himself was architect of the biggest black hole in the States finances, Zero-10, to be paid by fleecing locals from every angle for even more tax (ie. reducing our living standards).
And this States looks set on a course for not representing locals once again. Trott is a jet setter. Riling against local democracy and trying to rest it from what little democracy there is in the States.
Mr Cumner and Mr Trott needs to eat humble pie every day until the little man that now pays all the taxes and gets treated like a cash cow is treated with respect and their needs met. Until then “the big boys” can join in the cue behind the little guys who’ve been waiting 8yrs plus to get a word in edgeways into the arrogant bunch of fat cat smoochers that the States represent.
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I agree with BL Cumner that Guernsey’s government needs to be brought into the 21st Century. I also agree we need grown up government – not a Chief Minister who threatens a fellow deputy (the schoolyard bully) or a Deputy so completely out of touch with the present social climate that he makes gollywog jokes.
Let’s have grown up government, when we’ve got grown-ups in place to lead it! What Guernsey desperately needs are some international calibre statesmen at the helm to represent us on the world stage.
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I would also like to see people in power that deserve to be there.
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Paul, I think “deserve” is a subjective opinion. Despite our shared reservations about the calibre of the CM and DCM, both Lyndon Trott and Bernard Flouquet “deserve” to be in government because they stood for the States and were elected. Now, we can argue about the merits of Guernsey’s electoral system (I have done so) however without the support of the electorate in their areas, they wouldn’t be in power – simple as that.
Personally, I don’t have an issue with either Lyndon Trott or Bernard Flouquet being a deputy however the matter of ministerial positions is a different matter altogether. Both these gentlemen have demonstrated by their actions that they are unsuitable for the higher eschelons of government, or representing Guernsey on the international stage.
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