Number two at Health quits post
Wednesday 30th September 2009, 11:30AM BST.
DEPUTY Health and Social Services minister Barry Brehaut resigned yesterday after a States debate on the domestic abuse strategy.
The St Peter Port deputy (pictured), who aimed to remain on the Health board, said the Policy Council’s prioritisation of ‘nice-to-have projects above absolutely necessary social policy’ had caused him to step down.
‘There was a tipping point,’ he said. ‘When I saw the first iteration of the favoured projects for the States Strategic Plan and I saw that nice things like establishing the office in Brussels and being in the British-Irish Council were prioritised over the domestic abuse strategy, I realised I would rather not deputise for Policy Council any longer.’
As deputy minister, he would represent the department on the Policy Council when minister Hunter Adam was absent.
Deputy Brehaut had taken issue with the direction for some time, he said. ‘More and more frequently am I at odds.
‘And it may help HSSD if I am one step removed from that process.’
He felt he might be able to achieve more as a normal member of the board.
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Good for you Barry. You are a prime exactly of what there are precious few of in our nauseating current government, a politician with true morals.
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Fight the good fight particularly against the EU.
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Barry Brehaut is the only politician to show dedication to social issues in Guernsey. I could find little evidence of any other candidate during the election who shared these values after reading the manifestos. It’s about time that the public have a debate about what we expect our politicians to believe in. As far as I’m concerned social policy (ie the welfare of the people) is at the heart of politics and should of course be the priority of any government. I just hope that Barry will find a way to ensure that his views make a difference, and that his resignation will inspire other deputies to concentrate on what is really important to the people they represent.
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Barrio Brehautio when the going gets tough………he surrenders!
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He hasn’t surrendered, he’s resigned a post that would compromise his position.
It’s actually very sensible. Now he can make a fuss about it and not be accused of being awkward for the Health Board.
He’s absolutely right though. What an embarrassment it would be to have an ineffectual post defending tax dodgers whilst our battered spouses rely on piecemeal goodwill and undervalued community support. Or any of the other issues any decent well off society would provide.
It is a farce that the business leaders can demand that these services get shelved whilst show boating and mis-selling takes priority.
When the economy fails because of greed, as it has and will again, at least we can say we tried to look after the vulnerable and didn’t blow it all on a pot plant, a blackberry, and a new suit.
Well off? Civilised? Do me a favour.
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Actually, I think this is pretty shoddy behaviour. Everyone bangs on about government working corporately, but as soon as something happens you’re not happy with… BANG, all the toys get tossed out of the pram.
He wouldn’t accept corporate decisions, so he’s best out of it.
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Ha so Barry Brehaut has thrown his toys out the pram yet again all because he didn’t get his own way. How many more times is he going to do this? If you can’t hack it Barry then don’t play with the big boys!
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Well done Barry for standing up for what you believe to be the right thing to do.
He has not thrown his toys out of the pram at all – he is actually still a member of the Board of Health so can still become involved. I believe he said on the Radio Guernsey ‘phone-in yesterday something along the lines of that he feels he cannot justify being paid the salary of a Deputy Minister whilst disagreeing with the decisions made by the board. He has the moral upper hand here! He is fighting for social issues that are being thrown out of the Government Plan to make way for things that will do Guernsey little good : like an office in Brussels! No doubt a lovely little jolly for someone who is being lined up for the job. We are not part of the EU and do not need an office in Brussels.
I applaud his stance.
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Fighting for social issues?! Try, fighting on popularist causes to get himself re-elected.
I’m fed up with them – always the same bunch. Brouard, De Lisle, Dudley Owen, Brehaut and a few others – always vote the same way, always leaping on whatever popular bandwagon is rolling past.
How about they grow a pair and take the tough decisions?
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