‘Deputy chief should go’
Thursday 27th November 2008, 1:00PM GMT.
Beleaguered Deputy Chief Minister Bernard Flouquet was not without his supporters yesterday, including Mike Chandler outside the Royal Court. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0677142)
THE deputy chief minister’s refusal to quit over his ‘golliwog joke’ angered many of his fellow States members yesterday.
A substantial number thought Deputy Bernard Flouquet had compromised his ability to represent Guernsey in the international arena and wanted him to step down. Many thought resignation would have brought closure to the matter and feared it could now drag on.
Deputy Jane Stephens wished to disassociate herself from Deputy Flouquet’s failure to respect and reflect anti-discriminatory attitudes.
‘I hoped that his statement today would demonstrate appropriate and proportionate responses to the expressed concerns of members of the public,’ she said.
‘There will be many who lack confidence in Deputy Flouquet’s ability to continue in his out-facing roles and I feel he should have relinquished those today.’
Deputy Barry Brehaut said he had signed Deputy Leon Gallienne’s letter calling for resignation and hoped Deputy Flouquet would reflect on his decision.
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A lot of the deputies are jumping on their high horses for their own personal gain…
1, Most of them are jealous & would love Mr Flouquets position within the States.
2, If they are seen to condem Mr Flouquet then they come accross as politically correct & look good in the media.
What he did was silly but dont tell me that we are all innocent… Everyone at some point will have laughed at & told an Englishman, Scotsman & Irishman joke… that is just as discriminatory as his Golliwog reference.
When I was younger I collected badges from Robertsons jam jars – I still have them – am I a racist?
Its time for everyone to grow up & get on with their lives – the island is in a bad enough state – lets put our time into fixing that rather then hammering a guy that made a comment which quite honestly was quite amusing.
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you know had this been say for example a sexist joke to what extent would all this nonsense have been kicked up.. i would suggest much less so. and had it been a black guy making a joke about a white guy and calling him “snowflake” .. would it have been reported at all ? Its as if a racist comment about a black guy is the worse thing that can happen to someone. seriously ! what utter nonsense you are all full of. the guy apologised now please shut up !
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Well if you found the “joke” amusing Mr Bonney you have answered your own question.
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Mr Bonner seems to have a sensible perspective on the matter.
It was silly of Bernard Floquet. It wasn’t even a good joke.
As a politician would say “Let’s draw a line undr it and move on”
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As a possible Englishman, Scotsman & an Irishman through my ancestory i don’t find such jokes offensive. But there again my ancestors didn’t go through what black people have had to go through in the past.
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