Calls for Home President to step down

Wednesday 26 June 2019

The under-fire Home Affairs Committee "should do the right thing and resign" according to some Deputies.

However, other Deputies have thrown their support behind Deputy Mary Lowe and her Committee, praising the integrity of the island's longest-serving politician.

Deputies Rob Prow and Richard Graham have already stepped down from the Committee in order to better contest a governance report that criticised Home on almost every front.

Deputy Shane Langlois said its comments were "extraordinary". 

"It is obviously fairly damning and they are going to have to consider their positions but that it is up to them to decide," he said. 

Deputy Barry Brehaut went further, saying the remaining members should resign and stand again for re-election so the States can decide their fate. 

"My expectation was that the President would resign. That was quite a reasonable expectation when you read the report.

"It holds the rest of government back. We don’t want six-eight weeks of “Will they, won’t they?”

"I think a simple refresh is needed. The report identifies significant failings and I would hope they would reflect on that in the next few days and do the right thing."

Support for the Committee and its President, who has been accused of bullying, harassment and issuing job threats, came from Deputy Carl Meerveld (pictured above). 

"Anybody who knows Deputy Lowe knows she is an extremely strong-willed woman and I can imagine her being very direct with officers, as she has been with me on occasions," he said. 

"However, something which nobody can question is her integrity or her commitment to this island as our longest-serving Deputy.

"While I can imagine her approach grates on members of the uniformed services, I don’t believe she would do anything that is detrimental to this island and our community. Personally I am glad that she hasn’t chosen to resign."

Home has criticised the reviewer for interviewing a former member of staff, Patrick Rice, as part of the report. Deputy Neil Inder said this approach to the governance reviews sets a precedent that has to be followed if the new government scheme is going to be consistent. 

"I don’t have any comment on Home Affairs - my comment is that the next report should be Education and that they interview ex-members of Education as well to make it fair and balanced."

Pictured top: Deputies Barry Brehaut and Shane Langlois.