Institute of Directors Guernsey branch chairman Mark Thompson addresses the audience. Listening on the stage are, left to right, moderator Alastair Stewart and panel members Tamara Menteshvili, John Davey, Philip Ozouf and Peter Neville. (0850406)

GUERNSEY will not have deputies of the calibre it wants until the system of government is changed, according to the panel at this year’s IOD debate.

The debate focused on the States for its last question and all panelists agreed that the current set-up was not working.

Jersey Treasury minister Philip Ozouf said he had experienced both consensus and executive government and the latter was far more effective.

Channel Islands Stock Exchange chief executive Tamara Menteshvili said the government avoided making mistakes by avoiding making decisions.

Spearpoint chief executive John Davey said good quality deputies were ‘tortured’ by the system.

‘There is a structural issue with the way the government works,’ he said. ‘It does not work and needs to be reviewed.’

Former deputy John Roper was in the audience and said the sort of people who brought the money into the island were not well enough represented in the States.

Former Jersey politician Andrew Lewis, who was a panellist last year, questioned how many people in attendance would be prepared to stand for election.

About 20 raised their hand when asked by moderator Alastair Stewart.

States economist Andy Sloan said it was clear there were improvements to be made in the public sector.

However, he said, running a government was not like running a business.