ENVIRONMENT minister Bernard Flouquet has hit out at suggestions his department is in disarray. The accusation was made by Deputy Charles Parkinson after Deputy Flouquet abstained from voting on Environment’s proposal to export waste, while deputy minister Ivan Rihoy voted against it.

The three other members, Deputies Chris Brock, David de Lisle and Janine Le Sauvage, voted for the report, which was rejected by the States.

‘In the States, my department voted by majority in favour of the report,’ said Deputy Flouquet. ‘The department supported its own report. There is nothing wrong with that.’

He said while the vote was not unanimous, it did not have to be.

‘We operate under a democracy, not a dictatorship. To suggest that a democracy is in some way wrong and that departments that operate under a democracy are in disarray is quite abhorrent.’

He added that the issue of export to landfill in France, which would have been an interim measure to extend the life of Mont Cuet, was always in the balance for him.

‘On the one hand I always felt that exporting our problem was morally wrong and always felt the price too high,’ said Deputy Flouquet.

‘However, on the other, I also knew that there is no other way to get the required additional life from our existing landfill.’

He was happy for the report to go forward because the department had been tasked by the States to investigate.

‘I went into the States supporting the department’s report, but with a great degree of concern,’ he said.

‘However, during the debate it became clear to me just how many States members shared my concerns and I was persuaded by the arguments against export. I felt it wrong to vote against the report and hence I abstained.’

Under the new Control of Environmental Pollution Law passed by the States last Wednesday, the Public Services Department, as the waste-disposal authority, would have to locate any necessary landfill needed to deliver the waste strategy.

Deputy Parkinson questioned whether the new law shifted responsibility for the strategy from Environment to Public Services and said the issue needed to be cleared up.

Deputy Flouquet said it remained his department’s responsibility to continue with its work to set out the proposed strategy, or waste-management plan, and for Public Services to implement that plan once the States has endorsed it.

‘If the plan requires facilities or sites, it is for Public Services to procure those facilities or locate those sites,’ said Deputy Flouquet.

‘In doing do so it must of course come to my department with any planning issues and we will want to see any necessary planning inquiries or environmental assessments carried out.’

Last week’s decision not to export had no impact on how Environment moves forward but meant a means of prolonging the life of Mont Cuet had been rejected, he said.

‘My department will continue to work up its proposed end-strategy and draft a waste-management plan. We remain on target to bring that to the House in December.’