WAO delivers devastating report on States
Friday 4th September 2009, 4:00PM BST.
A DEVASTATING verdict was today delivered on the States.
An independent report by the Wales Audit Office has revealed significant weaknesses in the way it operates.
‘The weaknesses are the product both of inherent, fundamental structural deficiencies in the way Guernsey is governed and individuals being unwilling to accept the discipline needed to make things work,’ said auditor general for Wales Jeremy Colman (pictured) in the report.
It concluded that the States:
- Does not have a clear strategic direction or agreement on its strategic objectives and desired outcomes
- Lacks the structure for clear corporate leadership
- Has unclear and protracted decision making processes, with decisions not always being underpinned by good quality information
- Does not have effective systems of accountability and scrutiny in place
- Lacks appropriate mechanisms to address concerns regarding the conduct of States’ deputies and staff
The Public Accounts Committee commissioned the report, which examined corporate governance.
Its chairman Leon Gallienne said that there were some important issues that had come to light in the review.
‘The States needs time to reflect on them,’ he said.
‘The report highlights that structures appropriate at the time that they were put in place may not now be suitable in the current economic climate, and during a period of global economic turmoil, it is timely to ensure that the States has good governance in place.’
He will write to the chief minister and Policy Council to ask them to take the findings forward.
- More details in Saturday’s Guernsey Press.
- The full report is available as a PDF and may be downloaded by clicking this link.
- To read Guernsey Press stories in full click here for subscription details. Individual editions are now available online.
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Presumably another expensive expert telling the States what we plebs already new, which most likely will be put away to gather dust although advise on actions are there to correct this.
Problem is as I see it is you need the political will and we know that it is not there.
RFM
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Just as I thought!!!
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At times I wonder, with amazement at times as well what these people who butt into our Island and there ways of Governing; (I know it isn’t good)
But that’s not the point.
When these ‘foreigners’ learn to run their own countries in a satisfactory manner then perhaps (only perhaps) we might condescend to listen;
But until that happens (when Hell freezes over) then we might take hint. in the meantime we, not being in anyway with an ounce of your ways in our blood or system I shall politely ask you to get lost. Clean your own doorstep before criticizing ours.
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That’s what the people of Guernsey have been saying for years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GD.
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The Wales Audit Office Report only eleven months’ too late for Landsbanki-Guernsey depositors.
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Dont know how much this report cost, but I and I suspect a huge number of people who know the island could have told anyone this for say 10,000 pounds! (would have saved the island some cash! and got the same result)
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Another damning report following the Tribal Helm findings. What was done with all those findings and recommedations ? NOTHING
We do not need some Taffy experts to tell us this Island is off the rails.
Us locals have been saying that for years.
Sad state of affairs.
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I love Guernsey and am Guernsey through and through and while it has its faults I am sure not as many as some places I visit. Come on everyone think of the positives Guernsey has to offer instead of knocking this lovely island, we have very good schools for our children, health service which is second to none, not much crime, clean air, breathtaking scenery,beautiful beaches, great air and sea travel, admitted the house prices are ridiculous but that is what you get in a small island so let us be very grateful for what we have and stop knocking everyone and everything. Watch TV when they show people living in inner cities and see how good we have it here. It is a fantastic place to bring up children. Now this report is out, everyone is going to get on the bandwagon saying how bad everything is in Guernsey, but stop and think, how bad is it really? And by the way is Wales really that good!!!!!
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‘What was that noise?’
“oh nothing dear, just another 60k been blown on a consultancy to tell us all what we’ve been saying for year, go back to sleep and i’ll wake you when all the money’s gone, oh hang on -its gone already.”
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Some respondents have missed the point as to what an audit, and this audit in particular, is supposed to achieve. Any system, whether it is government or business, has to be inspected by an independent body to ensure “checks and balances” are in place. When my company is audited we are given a list of items that we have to put right otherwise our customers lose confidence. The same applies here. The people of Guernsey have been handed an even bigger stick to wield against bad governance. The posts complaining that the Brits have got it in for us or that this is a Welsh Assembly hatchet job betray a wilful ignorance.
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Rob
The ignorance stems from the fact that their own country is fooling around.
then they have the audacity to say ours is doing badly( that is true) but why won’t the States listen our OWN, and save thousands of pounds.
The doing and telling us is what’s wrong –.we Know, don’t need some outsider to tell us that.
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Eric
Why are you broadsiding the WAO??
I could see your point if they just came up out of the blue and said “guernsey is rubbish”.
But the fact of the matter is they were ASKED to perform a report on the states practices, not only that, but they were asked BY GUERNSEY.
Yet now Guersey people are critiscising them, for doing something they were asked to do.
On the “one of our own” arguement, there would be nowhere near enough independence for a Guernsey based firm to perform this type of work.
The whole concept of getting an “outsider”, is so that we get an impartial report from an independent body.
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I’m with you Eric!!
Why did the WAO have to come over at our expense to do an impartial review of States practices, when Jack “No conflict of interest” Honeybill was available??
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WAO were probably following up on their previous audit of 2006.
SOG has no effective Internal Audit capability.
It got rid of its Audit Director who was highly qualified (MIIA, IIA, MIRM) as their 5 year licence had run out – had they kept this person on then things would have been quite different I am sure.
No qualified auditor and assurance person = lack of effective Governance.
WAO are just re-litigating old news.
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