Panellists think chief minister needs to be given more power
Friday 3rd October 2008, 2:29PM BST.
THE majority of IoD panel members felt that the chief minister needed more power to lead the island effectively.
Ernst and Young partner Graham Parrot (pictured) said he wanted to see the role changed. ‘I would give our chief minister more authority,’ he said.
‘I think it’s crazy to have a leader who cannot lead. I would give everyone two votes – one to vote in deputies and another to appoint the chief minister.
‘But it’s fairly easy to see what is wrong with the system and not so easy to suggest ways to make it better.’
Mel Carvill agreed, saying he thought Guernsey’s government needed to find ways of moving more quickly. ‘We do not do anything quickly and I think that leads to problems,’ he said.
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Both Graham Parrot and Mel Carvill make very good points.
It is very necessary for the Chief Minister to be granted more powers.
It is also very necessary for the States to be able to move significantly more quickly.
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Therefore it is very necessary to have decent leadership. If not decent, then at the very least, popular and democratic.
If not completely popular, then with a clear mandate that has to be adhered too.
What we don’t want is an unpopular character, volatile in pressurised situations, with a dim grasp on Island sentiment, with no attachments to the ‘ruling elite’ in smoking rooms and ‘power lunches’, prone to gaffs, who does not command respect among their peers.
Granting authoritative powers needs to be considered, but under a new political set up. It would quickly turn from ‘benign dictatorship’ into an unaccountable mess.
For this end Party Politics would serve us best. We would know where the CM would stand for and we would be able to judge on merit rather than through the press.
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The chief minister should NOT be given any extra power. He was NOT elected by the general public to be chief minister and should not have any more power than any other deputy. If we had true democracy, (Island Wide Voting), I doubt our current chief minister would have even got elected. All deputies were elected to have an equal say and equal power. If he is given more power this will give him the power to dictate over other elected deputies, by passing the democratic process.
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The Chief Minister couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a boat, let alone make decisions that affect the welfare of Guernsey autocratically.
Neil makes several valid points and to provide the CM with further powers would be giving him carte-blanche to do as he saw fit.
Remember Guernsey that Mr Trott oversaw capital spending on States developments between 2001 and 2007 – in this period the States coffers were reduced to pennies and consequently the black hole now looms.
Would you trust this man to dictate your lifestyle? I know I wouldn’t.
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If the Chief Minister is to have more power then we would need another election, the one we have is very unpopular and wouldn’t have been elected in an island wide vote. His past speaks for itself, one mess after another. The job he has as cm must massage his ego enough without allowing him any real power, thankfully. Although being represented overseas by him sticks in my throat at least it keeps him out the way. At least Laurie Morgan came over as a good man not a patronising so and so like Torode and Trott.
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Here here to Darren and Neil, completly agree with your comments.
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So they (IOD), and people like them can operate his strings?
No thanks.
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More power?… it would only go to this particular individuals’ head. Trott says that “in 2008 the CM should be given more power” (or words to that effect). Where would that leave democracy?
Consider for instance the Golliwog Gaffe: supposing the CM were to be granted “hire and fire” powers but the majority of States members wanted Flouquet to resign, the Chief Minister could still overrule that democratic vote.
A dangerous and slippery slope…
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Darren
You seem to blame Trott for the 2001 – 2007 overspends. I wasn’t aware that he had any more votes in States debates than any other deputy when those costly projects were passed.
Lawrence
You want Party politics,but isn’t that akin to people with half a brain cell doing the bidding of someone with three quarters of a brain cell ?
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Ray
Answering for whoever; no not really why?
What it does is allow people of similar viewpoints to club together a common public face in order to garner support for a shared vision on political futures.
Then you can vote for that viewpoint.
In this system, you get a load of chancers promising nothing and delivering nothing except for whatever industry is in charge. In our case it is a rabid finance industry that has no care for the island and will as soon as leave on the slightest discomfort (their words) than muck in and make this a better place. Let’s not get this argument wrong. We deliver an excellent service, but to say we are above criticism is Flouquet-esque in its arrogance.
There is no opposition to decisions made apart from disjointed amendments and loose coalitions. At least if we could vote for a ‘party’ then any oppositional voters could accept a ‘term’. This way we get the same manipulators time and time again, no respite from the flunky-ism of arrogant clingers-on.
Witness the parlous state we find ourselves in the media. Proud, are we?
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Fast Robert
I make a habit of watching the half hour comedy show known as Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesdays at noon.
I have no idea why it’s called PMQ’s as, just like liar Blair,Gordon Brown only gives a straight answer to the toady planted questions from his own side.
If party politics is so good why do the people with three quarters of a brain cell need so many whips to keep those with only half a brain cell
on message ?
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Ray
You desperately need to take stock! Are you speaking of yourself with reference to a fraction of a braincell?
You attack people whose views are valid and well worth taking the time to read whilst not making any reference to the topic in hand!
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Ray
Ah, still on with the Dave Jonesisms. What good has his view of the world brought us? Selling off State assets to unaccountable private companies, a pathetically unworkable system of import of labour (soon it will be fund managers and accountants living in mouldy greenhouses as there is nowhere else)(not entirely Jones’ fault but he loves to protect it), appalling external relations rhetoric (it must be habit forming), nonsense about ‘keeping landlords happy’?
Instead of cheap jibes at the UK parliamentary system, why not pick holes in our decrepit ‘democractic’ system?
No, you are probably one of the few that is benefitting from this minority rule. I can tell you right now that the workers that run our finance industry are not enamoured by useless politicians, sure they like the gifts we give them, but their reputation is sullied by the oafs that beat their way up to the top tables.
The days are gone when respect is earned by ‘putting oneself about’. Intelligent disposition, clear policy and integrity are the future for Guernsey. There are a few in the States already and they garner popularity. It is only the old dry sacks that support the cronyistic parlour games of the past.
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