THIS is not the worst States ever – the job has just got more complex. Deputy Stuart Falla entered the House three years ago and is currently Commerce and Employment minister and deputy chief minister.

He fended off the suggestion made previously by Deputy John Gollop that this was the worst government in Guernsey’s history.

‘Is this the worst States ever? No, it’s not. Are they performing less competently in the minds of people than in the past? Possibly they are, but it’s because the job is, unfortunately, more difficult.’

Deputy Falla admitted that he used to think the calibre of States members had fallen significantly since the Second World War.

But even before he became a politician, he had been persuaded by the late Deputy Mike Burbridge that that was wrong.

‘It appears there’s less calibre, but the reality is the job has got more complex,’ said Deputy Falla.

Previous administrations had to concern themselves with selling the island’s products, such as tourism and flowers, and that was where it stopped, he said.

‘What’s happened, particularly over the last 25 years since the finance industry got a real hold in Guernsey and people started to notice us, is that it’s become more complex.’

And that complexity had increased again in the last three years.

‘Before this, States members and departments, could always say ﾓYesﾔ because they could get the chequebook out and solve the problem. They had almost unlimited resources.’

That had happened throughout the last up to 25 years, he said.

‘Sadly, three years ago the chequebook was put back in the cupboard. They couldn’t use it because of the impending 2008 tax changes and black hole. As it loomed, it meant for the first time that instead of saying ﾓYesﾔ, they had to say ﾓNoﾔ.’

Saying no was more difficult, he said.

The tax changes were a major difference.

‘Nobody knows what the solution is. I don’t even know now if anybody could absolutely predict the outcome – we’re in a world of unpredictability.’

Having changed the tax system as fundamentally as the States had meant there was no option of going back, he said.

The leadership hierarchy had also changed.

‘The States doesn’t like leadership, but suddenly with the idea of departments and ministers there’s at least a hierarchy of leadership,’ said Deputy Falla.

And the latest States also had to cope with more-intrusive media attention.

‘Whether that is right or wrong doesn’t matter. There’s a greater level of criticism and a greater level of speculation that goes with it.’