Questions asked about 'termination' of former States CEO's contract

Monday 27 September 2021

Formal questions are being asked about the circumstances behind Paul Whitfield being 'fired' from his role as Guernsey's top civil servant.

Mr Whitfield’s immediate “moving on” was announced on 26 August by Policy & Resources. Requests from Express for how much it has cost the States and the circumstances behind Mr Whitfield's departure have been rejected.

He has since been replaced on an interim basis by Strategic Lead for People and Place Policy, Mark de Garis, who will stay in the role for at least six months while a replacement is found.

Express asked a series of questions to the States of Guernsey following his departure, including how much it has cost to remove Mr Whitfield before the end of his contract and whether this information would be made publicly available.

We were told ‘no comment’ on all lines of inquiry.

A States’ Deputy is now leading the charge for answers, with former P&R President Deputy Gavin St Pier posing several questions to the States' senior committee. 

Have submitted questions ahead of next week’s States’ meeting in connection with sacking of Chief Executive. There is likely to be a significant cost to taxpayers; and there are legitimate questions to ask about whether followed due process (which helps mitigate financial cost.) pic.twitter.com/9TMdj42Bkx

— Gavin St Pier ???????? (@gavinstpier) September 21, 2021

Pictured: These questions will be put to the President of P&R, Deputy Peter Ferbrache, at the next States’ debate (29 September).

Deputy St Pier and Mr Whitfield worked closely together during the beginning of the pandemic.

“It is disappointing that government has declined to put up spokespeople to address the obvious questions that the media will understandably have on behalf of the taxpaying public, who will be bearing the cost of this decision to change the leadership of the public service,” said Deputy St Pier when the news first broke.