FORMER chief minister Mike Torode (pictured) said yesterday that his mandate as chief minister would not have given him the ability to sign a framework agreement without States approval.

He made the same point in a letter he sent to Deputy Al Brouard on 7 June last year and said that this position had not changed before his departure from the States four months ago.

‘It was 12 months ago so, so it’s not the easy to remember, but if that’s what the letter says then I’m sure that’s what I said because of advice I was given by the Law Officers.

‘It was there to sign off but, if my memory serves me right, it wasn’t signed off because of problems with Sark. It was suggested that it be put on the back-burner and that’s where it stayed. But it’s a matter for the government of Guernsey and whether that is put in the hands of the chief minister, the Policy Council or the States chamber is still to be decided, by the sounds of it.’