No more excuses
Tuesday 8th September 2009, 2:30PM BST.
CGi chairman Peter Budwin, IoD chairman Mark Thompson, GIBA president Paul Meader and Chamber of Commerce president Paul Luxon are urging the States to act on a highly-critical report into how it runs the island. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0837824)
GOVERNMENT must act now to fix the way the island is run, according to business leaders.
A critical report by the Wales Audit Office showed that the States must grasp the nettle, according to Guernsey International Banking Association president Paul Meader, who said deputies would be judged on their actions from here on in.
‘This is not about any personalities involved and must not become a witch hunt,’ he said.
‘This cannot become another report put on the “too difficult” pile to gather dust – it requires action because the long-term prospects for our island are at stake.’
He said the public would now judge current deputies by how they react, show leadership and embrace change.
‘It is time to improve the process of government, to cut States expenditure and to deliver improved services.
‘The GIBA and other business organisations have been looking to the States to deliver this for a long time. From now on, there can be no excuses.’
Mr Meader said the WAO report told islanders and business what they already knew and had said for years, but which was not acknowledged by the States itself: ‘decision making is poor and public services and government delivers poor value for money.’
The Wales Audit Office last week delivered the damning findings of its examination of how local government operates, including that it lacked strategic direction and was not sufficiently accountable.
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Bit rich of banker Paul Meader to accuse the States of poor decision making.
Mr Meader has quickly forgotten the current world crisis was caused by bankers and their poor decision making, based on personal greed and sod everyone else.
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Indeed, Stephen John. Nothing will change. They could sell your grandmother and you’d nod sagely when they explained that you wouldn’t see her again but it was likely to happen even in a well regulated place.
Have you read about the Kaupthing collapse, the one with all the charity and UK council cash? Guernsey is implicated in the panic.
Where were the bankers? Getting fees?
As much as the message is obvious, sort out the crime in your accounts and maybe what you say will mean something, bankers.
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Stephen
Paul Meader is not a banker, but an investment manager. The article wrongly refers to GIBA as the Guernsey International Bankers Association rather than to the Guernsey International Business Association. None of the 4 individuals are bankers. As a result your comments are somewhat inaccurate !
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He is still correct though Stephen John.. “Life is a mirror, and what you see out there, you must first see inside of you..”
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It has been evident for sometime that the current set-up within the States is no longer effective.
It is most definitely time for a change, but in order to do such we, as an island, need to have an open mind and be accepting that change is not necessarily a bad thing.
We constantly refer to previous houses and how things used to be, but we shouldn’t forget that the issues dealt with in years / decades past were significantly different to those we face today. By no means less important, but different.
Like it or not island business is predominantly supported by the finance industry. Every sector and those working within them are affected by it. If you sat down and thought how the finance sector touched your life I would suspect you might be surprised. This encompasses salaries, retail expenditure, charitable donations, public transport, education – the list goes on.
It is true that the unsettled economy has meant the last few months have been difficult, but we still maintain the position of a leading, well regulated offshore jurisdiction and as such we continue to attract business to the island.
Therefore we need a house that fully understands the industry that predominantly supports the island and that is also appreciative of current local and corporate governance.
I agree that accountability needs to start from the top and our Chief Minister should have more responsibility. However, for this to happen we need a complete overhaul of the house – from systems and procedures to the members.
I find it concerning that the House comprises many members who appear to lack the fundamental skill sets required to ensure the smooth running of our island.
For example our current Chief Minister; whilst he was Treasurer we allowed him to make huge decisions relating to the finance of the island, all be some of these decisions supported by the finance industry, yet the gentleman possess mere book skills and is not even a fully qualified accountant. I do not suggest that he is without financial intellect, but I wouldn’t allow the theatre nurse to replace the surgeon.
When he then moved to Chief Minister and his elected treasurer Charles Parkinson took over, the financial choices made by Deputy Trott began to flay. We as an island accused Deputy Parkinson of poor management, lack of intuition and questioned his ability.
It seemed we chose to forget that this gentleman opposed the majority of Deputy Trott’s choices including citing zero 10 as a plan with significant flaws. His alternative might not necessarily have been the better route, but I doubt it was discussed and considered by the house well enough before we elected zero 10.
This is just an example where it appears that the house isn’t fully understanding of the current environment we live in and the necessary choices we need to make.
If we allow our Chief Minister more responsibility we need to be sure he has the where withal to handle it. With out disrespect to Deputy Trott, I doubt he has what it takes. We need a considered approach to governing Guernsey and not a power tripping would be business guru.
In the UK all members entering parliament are required to have at least a basic understanding of governance. I propose that we instigate that rule as well. That those standing for the House must be able to demonstrate a clear understanding of the running of the island and the threats and issues we face. Individuals who can see the bigger picture, learn from other jurisdictions and develop our island.
That greater screening of candidates take place so that when we come to vote we are making informed choices and selecting from people with the intelligence and ability to represent us, not only locally but nationally and in some cases internationally.
It also seems prudent to do away with parochial voting and introduce pan island voting. I care what happens to Guernsey, not just my parish of St Sampson.
I think it would be sensible also to reduce the number of our deputies meaning that the house is not carrying dead wood, but is more aligned and every member is active. After all we pay these representatives they should have to pull their weight and not merely turn up once a month for a States sitting.
I most certainly do not have the answers and I am not in the least envious of the task our deputies are faced with, but I think we need to all start thinking forward.
We pride ourselves on our independent government and the many perks that go with it, but at present we run the risk of looking like country hicks enjoying an existence that for most ended 30 odd years before.
Not matching any of the basic requirements of good governance is very bad press and will have a significant impact on the impression we give other jurisdictions.
It isn’t wrong to be proud of our political history and the decisions our house has made in the past, but it is wrong to expect to continue in that vein. We don’t live in a bubble, we need to see and embrace the bigger picture.
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Mr Meader should be thanking the States for their poor decision making…if it wasn’t for them so wrongly allowing his industry to totally dominate and place a stranglehold on our little island, he probably wouldn’t even hold this position.
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Get busy axing those civil servants! Could get rid of the Chief Minister whilst they are at it….
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Scarlett
What are you talking about ? I am sure you will find that Mr Meader’s role is an honorary, unpaid role.
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David.
Quote, today’s Press, ‘Paul Meader, who is also a prominent figure in the local finance sector’.
Whether he is paid or unpaid in his GIBA role is entirely irrelevant to my point, which is that Mr Meader has the power to be a considerable – and listened to – ‘honorary’ voice in our island because the industry he represents and WORKS FOR essentially runs it.
There’s lots of us here on these forums who have equally valid opinions that we give ‘free of charge’, but do you really think any of us will be considered an authority or make the headlines..?
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