Deputies Soulsby & St Pier progress plans to improve island government

Friday 09 March 2018

Two of Guernsey's senior politicians have said they're setting up three separate work streams with a group of interested members of the public to improve the way the island is governed.

Deputy Gavin St Pier and Deputy Heidi Soulsby met with 40 members of the public last week, after inviting anyone interested in working together on a new format for the States of Guernsey to contact them. They have also confirmed to Express that a second meeting has been held, which fewer than half of Guernsey's States members were invited to, and attended.

Following on from the initial meeting which was open to members of the public who had previously expressed an interest, discussions between the two politicians and those attending have continued with a further update issued by the Presidents of Policy and Resources and the President of Health and Social Care.

In a joint statement Deputies Soulsby and St. Pier said their work is progressing. Deputy Soulsby said specifically they are looking at three different work streams:

“Having reflected on what we heard, we have decided on three specific initiatives. 

“Following our meeting, we have contacted our database of interested members of the public, to seek volunteers to participate in each.  The first is a group to work through the options available in the Island Wide Voting referendum later this year, with a view to identifying a preferred outcome.  The second is a group tasked with thinking about policy priorities. The third will be a pilot workshop to help identify the behaviours and values necessary to improve the conduct and effectiveness of politics and government in the island.”

Deputy St. Pier added: “Seeking to organise politics from the bottom-up, from the community, is a new experience for us all.  It’s not been tried before in Guernsey, so we are feeling our way.  We are not sure right now where this will end-up but we are not in any hurry, so we are happy to try a few things out to see if they work.  And we remain interested in hearing from anyone who is interested in what we are trying or wants to help.”

On being asked if this work is likely to lead towards the introduction of a political party in Guernsey prior to the 2020 election, and whether the pair are currently planning to stand in the 2020 election themselves, Deputy St Pier replied "don't know" with Deputy Soulsby saying she concurs. 

Both told Express the work they are doing on this project is not affecting their work as P&R or HSC President. 

Deputy St Pier said it is only taking up minimal time as they are mainly handling it outside of normal office hours, while Deputy Soulsby added "this is not, and will not, impact on the work we are doing for our respective Committees, and neither are we rushing into doing anything in response to others."

Express was also told that the separate meeting, which was not publicised, and was held earlier this week was only attended by a small number of deputies on an "invitation only" basis. 

The pair said the meeting was open to all "non-Charter Association members". In reply to questions from Express, Deputy St Pier said:

"All non-Charter Association members were invited to a briefing from Heidi and I on Tuesday afternoon. 11 members attended.  Heidi and I updated those who attended about the purpose of the public meeting and our thoughts on next steps."