ALDERNEY States members have been attacked for making a mockery of the island’s government over their decision to issue a censure motion against one of their colleagues. Richard Willmott has been accused of breaching confidentiality following a letter published in last week’s Alderney Journal revealing information about an August meeting of the Policy and Finance Committee.

Members John Postlethwaite, Barry Pengilley, Richard Cox and Ralph Burridge tabled the motion on Saturday.

But they came under pressure to withdraw it at a special people’s meeting held yesterday morning.

About 60 attended to show their support for Mr Willmott and also called for an end to secrecy in government.

‘You have gone to the extreme to publicly humiliate him,’ said June Vizard. ‘I don’t think Richard Willmott has done anything wrong at all. You simply do not want the public to know what is going on. What you actually want is a bunch of sheep instead of people who stand up for themselves, because if they do, they are hounded by a bunch of bullies.’

Some islanders accused the States of launching a ‘personal vendetta’ against Mr Willmott, who has been a States member since January. Others feel that his involvement in Vision Alderney – a forum set up to engage the public in the running of the island – might have riled some of his colleagues.

‘There is only one word that springs to mind out of all of this and that is derision. You’re making a laughing stock of yourselves,’ said former States member Colin Williams. ‘What does it take to get the States to act quickly? Is it housing, the sewers, waste disposal? No, it’s simply that someone has committed a trivial offence that offends the egos of some States members.’

Policy and Finance deputy chairman John Postlethwaite argued that the wording of Mr Willmott’s letter, which discussed how money from the Gambling Commission would be allocated, was likely to be misinterpreted by the public.

‘The letter makes it look as if only two members of the committee made the decision on capital allocation,’ he said. ‘But the matter was discussed at great length between the Policy and Finance and General Services Committees. The August meeting of the Policy and Finance Committee was simply to ratify the decision that had already been reached. The reason for this meeting today was to bring it into the public domain because we felt the public would be misled by the comments in his letter.’

Former States member Louis Jean said: ‘Is it necessary to come at him with such full force? Could you not have dealt with it in another way? I would like to see this motion withdrawn. If it is not, then this island is going to be very unhappy and Richard Willmott deserves our full support.’

After the meeting, Mr Willmott said: ‘I was overwhelmed by the number of people who attended and the strength and depth of support at today’s people’s meeting.

‘If 60 people can take time out at very little notice for a 10am meeting on a weekday, then something has to be seriously wrong with the way we conduct our business.

‘I seriously hope that the States will reconsider before the next States meeting and withdraw its motion so we can put this matter behind us, move forward and introduce procedures that will avoid a repetition of this charade happening again.’

* The States meeting scheduled for today was yesterday put back a week because of illness and absence among top civil servants in the island.