The way to govern back in spotlight
Monday 15th December 2008, 2:29PM GMT.
SUPPORT is growing for the States again to debate how the island is governed.
The current system, which abolished committees and replaced them with fewer departments and a Policy Council to coordinate work, was introduced in 2004.
But members are now talking about forcing another debate as Chief Minister Lyndon Trott goes public with the view that his role needs more ‘tools in the box’.
Deputy John Gollop (pictured), one of the few supporters in the States of executive government, said he would be willing to lead or sign a requete calling for an independent review of the current system.
‘I felt for some time there had been a need for a leadership role, but I would also say the current mood of States members seems to be not asking “should we give the Policy Council more power or keep it as it is?”, which is perhaps what business and Guernsey Press opinion is, but more along the other way – “should we disband it, get rid of the chief minister and deputy chief minister and go back to pre 2004 – back to more of a committee system?”.’
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The best constitution we ever had was when conseillers were elected island wide. They occupied the top bench and most if not all presided over committees.
The history of the conseillers saw them elected by the electoral college I believe. They were not elected by the general population and because of this there were numurous moves to abolish them, though through staunch support for the status quo by the conseillers themselves it never happened. Not untill the house decided to keep them but elect them island wide did the change come. Unfortunately because of sour grapes from the old school conseillers who either did not get elected as conseiller or whom didn’t stand (knowing they had no chance) they quickly mustered, about turned and threw their weight behind a new motion to abolish them. This occurred before the general populace who for many years were anti conseiller realised that the consieller system had changed in their favour (universal suffrage). That move was directly against the best interests of the island and politics in Guernsey have been sliding downhill ever since.
Have a poll on peoples opinions now and i’m quite sure the majority would like to see the top bench elected on an island wide basis with most of these occupying presidencies of committees.
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Ivan Rihoy wants input from the electorate on the island wide voting proposals but hasn’t explained how we’re supposed to go about putting forward our views
Will he be sending out a circular in the post, or will there be a Press voting slip with room for comments,or do we just phone Radio Guernsey on a Sunday morning ?
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