"I will continue to give a voice to the voiceless" says defiant St Pier

Friday 25 October 2024

Deputy Gavin St Pier has struck a defiant tone after being formally reprimanded for breaching the States Members Code of Conduct.

The sanction followed complaints after he named Dr Sandie Bohin during a critical speech about the regulation and appraisal of medical professionals in April 2022.

Deputy St Pier has responded by criticising the length of the process, praising a changing of rules, and by stating he will continue to “give a voice to the voiceless”. 

“The process dragged on for two and a half years, which was absurd," said Deputy St Pier.  

“Parliamentary privilege is an ancient and key principle of parliamentary democracy.  It exists to enable truth to be spoken to power without repercussion.  An ‘abuse of privilege process’ exists to discourage elected members from abusing their privilege. 

"It was never intended that the code of conduct process be used in respect of what is said in the Assembly, so I am pleased that rules have now been changed.  This means the right to free speech in the Assembly is protected and no other member of the Assembly will ever be subject to the double jeopardy of simultaneous complaints under two different processes for the same words spoken.  

“The coverage arising from this case in the media and on social media has been extensive since April 2022.  Each time the story is told, more individuals have come to me with their own families’ concerning experiences.  We all know there is an inherent imbalance in the relationship between patients and their medical practitioners which prevents many people speaking out.  I have been elected to represent the community and that includes giving a voice to the voiceless, which I will continue to do so long as I serve in this role.

“The debate was a missed opportunity for the States to acknowledge the trauma experienced by too many families, and accordingly apologise to them.”

Three separate code of conduct complaints were made by Dr Bohin, the MSG, and the Guernsey and Alderney branch of the British Medical Association.

Deputy St Pier unsuccessfully appealed against an original finding that he breached the code.

Separately, he was cleared of abusing parliamentary privilege. 

In a vote of whether he should be formally reprimanded this week, 32 States members backed the sanction, none chose to oppose, three abstained, two did not vote at all, and three were absent.

Deputies Mark Helyar and Chris Le Tissier called for Deputy St Pier to resign.

Pictured: States Members voting records can be found at gov.gg.

You can read more about the calls for resignation, the original submission of the complaints, and how the reprimand unfolded in the States Chamber earlier this week.