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One of the Executive Leads for the Education committee confirmed an order for Lisia School uniforms just an hour-and-a-half after the States voted to "pause and review" the reforms, three Deputies have claimed.
The three Deputies who led the "pause and review" requête - Andrea Dudley-Owen, Carl Meerveld and Rob Prow - said they have evidence that the committee has ignored the States resolution, which they said gave "explicit direction not to enter into any contractual obligations or procurement processes for implementation of any elements of the one-school on two-sites".
"On 3 March States directed the Committee for Education Sport & Culture Committee not to enter into any contractual obligations on behalf of the States or continue with any associated procurement processes for implementation of any elements of the one-school on two-sites plan," they said.
"A review of the one-school on two-sites plan against other previously presented, viable non-selective models of education was also required.
"It is shocking and disappointing to learn that these States instructions have been at best misinterpreted, at worst ignored by the Committee. Not only have orders for uniforms been progressed but there is a clear intention to continue with the purchase, in direct contravention of the explicit instruction of the requête that purchases or contracts not proceed in relation to implementation of the Lisia School plan."
Pictured: Illustrations of what the proposed Lisia School uniform would look like were disseminated by Education in July last year.
According to the three Deputies, confirmation of the new Lisia School uniform order to proceed was given by one of the Executive Leads for the Committee "within an hour and half" of the 18-17 vote in favour of a pause and review.
"On seeking clarification after the vote, a local uniform supplier was given further confirmation of the order on 10 March," they said. "Evidence of which we will be forwarding to the Scrutiny Committee.
"The Committee is not only ignoring States Resolutions, but it is our opinion that they are also bringing the States into disrepute. A principal committee ignoring clear instructions from the States Assembly presents an unprecedented situation for democracy in Guernsey and one that cannot be allowed to continue."
Deputies Dudley-Owen, Meerveld and Prow said these actions "clearly illustrate [Education's] intention to undermine or subvert the States decisions" and show that the committee is "ploughing on regardless".
Pictured: The pause and review requete passed in the States last week, directing Education not to proceed with its plans for one school split across the Baubigny and Les Beaucamps sites.
"We left the debate in good faith, expecting the members of the Committee for Education, Sport and Culture would, however reluctantly, comply with the clear instructions given by the States," they said, 'However, it has now become clear the Committee has taken nothing away from the debate and is ploughing on regardless with their intended Lisia School model.
"We feel that because of this, they have shown themselves to be incapable of holding back on the implementation of the Lisia School plan and further, will be unable to produce the objective and unbiased comparisons required to enable informed decisions in consultation with teachers, support staff and other stakeholders.
"All of this brings into question whether this Committee is fit to continue serving or whether it would be in the best interests of our community for them to step down. This will allow the formation of a new Committee for Education, Sport & Culture to enable trust and confidence to be rebuilt with professionals and the broader community."
Pictured top: Deputies Andrea Dudley-Owen, Rob Prow and Carl Meerveld.
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