Deputy reflects on recent times in the States

Wednesday 02 January 2019

Deputy Peter Ferbrache has sent a letter to all of the members of the 2020 Assocation reflecting on recent States meetings and decisions.

Over the last 12 months, he has vocally criticised the lack of activity of this States Assembly, and in his letter he continued to do so.

It is now Deputy Ferbrache's intention to issue one of these statements every month, to discuss what could be coming at the next States sitting. 

Speaking about the Assembly, which was elected in 2016, he said: " It is undoubtedly comprised of well-intentioned and decent people. Sadly though, in my view, the make up of the States is such that we as an Assembly have not addressed in any satisfactory way the real issues of the day, save for Education where I believe the States made a poor decision.

"I say from experience that the 2020 Association, if we are to be meaningful, will need to have a significant number of credible candidates standing in 2020. Without that there will be no sensible changes. So, although I and others value all the background assistance, we will need people to stand up and risk being counted in 2020. A Politician’s lot in a small community is not an easy one but is necessary."

Deputies Jan Kuttelwascher, Peter Ferbrache and Joe Mooney founded the 2020 Association after the latter two quit the Islanders Association. 

Deputy Ferbrache is one of the founding members of the 2020 Association, which was born from the ashes of the Islanders Association. He also founded that. The groups are the first emergent bodies in the States which could develop into parties. Deputy Ferbrache has said he wants them to be vehicles to make the States more effective and efficient at decision making.

But the 2020 Association has only just launched, and is still recruiting membership. If it goes to plan for them, they will field a number of candidates in the island's first Island Wide Election in 2020 - hence the name. 

Looking ahead to before that election, Deputy Ferbrache said: "For the January States Meeting two of the key issues (and there is also a debate on the Poverty Issue) are (1) The HMIC report on the Guernsey Law Enforcement Services and (2) the refurbishment of the Alderney Airport Runway.

"As to the HMIC Report, its debate was proposed by members of the Home Affairs Committee. I see lots of navel gazing and a bashing of the Committee for no good purpose.

"As to the Alderney Airport Runway, STSB are going for the middle ground which will still have a bill of over £12 million. In my view that is vital for Alderney’s future. Alderney will never be able to justify that economically (just 55,000 passengers travelled to and from Alderney/Guernsey/Southampton in 2017) but it is part of the Bailiwick and we must do our best for it. P & R criticised STSB saying there was no proper business case for it (and in reality there never can be) and said STSB should have looked into a sea ferry type service (which in my opinion is a nonsense in that context)."

To read more about the 2020 Assocation, and Deputy Ferbrache's involvement, click here. 

Pictured top: Deputy Peter Ferbrache, President of the STSB.