THE news that ‘Sark’ had actually made a complaint to the Press Complaints Commission, let alone had one rejected, came as a surprise to everyone I have talked to about it.
Most of them regard the matter as a bit of a joke, which is a pity really, because my experience is that such complaints are taken seriously by the commission and that is best illustrated by the often extremely time-consuming requirements they make of publishers, who are obliged by their code of practice to take them seriously.
I know no more than I have read in this newspaper about the complaint made by General Purposes and Advisory chairman Charles Maitland (pictured) about an article containing criticism by Kevin Delaney of how Sark’s finances were portrayed in recent Budget documents.
As I understand it, Conseiller Maitland was complaining that Sark treasurer Wendy Kiernan was not given an opportunity to respond to Mr Delaney’s criticism.
That matter has been resolved by the rejection of the complaint against the Guernsey Press but that does nothing to allay my fears about Conseiller Maitland’s line of thought.
The budget documents, in common with all other documents, are presented to Chief Pleas by politicians and my own view – which accords with established practice in all other jurisdictions of which I know – is that they should be defended if necessary by politicians and not civil servants.
Whether people like it or not, Mrs Kiernan – excellent treasurer that she may well be – is a civil servant and as such is employed to provide administrative support for the politicians elected to Chief Pleas. It is those politicians who are answerable to the public and, in turn, their administrative support is answerable to them.
To suggest, as Conseiller Maitland appears to have done, that somehow an unelected official should be responsible for responding to political criticism amounts to little more than an abdication of his own responsibilities as an elected representative and committee chairman.
I feel the same about something similar which happened earlier this week when Chief Pleas committee secretary Brian Garrard used the monthly newsletter Sark Scribe to pen a letter, which appeared to defend the Development Control Committee against recent criticism.
I would argue – once again – that Mr Garrard’s function is that of providing administrative support to Chief Pleas committees and not, however well-intentioned, to defend his political bosses from criticism.
DCC chairman Tony Dunks is an articulate and intelligent man, as are members of his committee, and it is he or them who should provide a response to criticism if they consider such a response is necessary, and certainly not someone who is, to all intents and purposes, a civil servant.
Many members of this Chief Pleas, including Conseiller Maitland, are new to politics so this comment is intended to help rather than criticise – something which I hope he and others accept.
Older children at Sark School start lifesaving lessons today as part of the Royal Life Saving Society’s Rookie Lifeguard Scheme, the aim of which is to teach water safety, rescue techniques and resuscitation.
Education Committee chairperson Helen Magell attended a three-day course in Guernsey during the summer and is now qualified to help teach the pupils – a hands-on approach by a politician if ever I heard of one.
Sark Medical Officer Dr Peter Counsell is also involved, as is the Fire and Rescue Service’s Kevin Adams, as well as RLSS lifeguard trainer Andy Remfrey from Guernsey.
I shall be writing more about this splendid initiative as the course progresses in the coming months.
Sark’s Christmas lights will be switched on in precisely four weeks’ time. I’m told by Chamber of Commerce president Peter Tonks that Father Christmas will be doing his usual stuff on 4 December, assisted this year by Channel Television’s Oscar Puffin.
* The email address for comment is fallesark@sark.net
Article posted on 6th November, 2009 - 10.00am
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