Is it time for a complete and total reform of the States?

Tuesday 16 October 2018

Island wide voting's success in the referendum should be a catalyst for a total review and reformation of the mechanics of Guernsey's States, according to the Option A campaign group.

The Islanders Association has said the referendum result is a significant milestone in creating a more "decisive, effective and efficient" government, but only one step on the road towards the system "Guernsey needs and deserves".

Now, they want that result to be the catalyst to drive change forwards.

"[We want] a broad sweeping review of the machinery of government through which we should re-evaluate not only the way in which our government is run and operates, but also how it supports our community and economy," a spokesperson for the Association said.

"The referendum result on its own won't change how Guernsey is governed. What is needed is a review of the machinery of government." 

The Association said the States that it thought would best suit Guernsey would be one that was more economically efficient, and one which emphasised development and diversification.

Much like island wide voting, these have all been discussed within the States for many years, but, according to the Association, have not come to anything.

Pictured: Paul Whitfield, who recently announced plans to reform the civil service. 

All of this comes just a week after the States' Chief Executive Paul Whitfield announced he would be conducting a review and consolidation of the island's civil service, which will see 200 jobs cut. First, a voluntary redundancy scheme is being launched, then specific jobs could be targeted if not enough money is saved. 

Mr Whitfield's current management team, for example, is ear marked to be cut from 13 people to six by the end of this year. 

While the Association said it supported this idea, it was concerned a voluntary redundancy scheme would be expensive and target the wrong people.

"This needs achieving through a permanent restructuring of the management and procedures within the Civil Service, but not through rounds of expensive voluntary redundancies, often targeting the wrong people, as has happened during similar previous initiatives, and certainly not by then re-hiring some of the same 200 people later, on an expensive consultancy basis," the spokesperson added.

Pictured: Deputy Carl Meerveld after Option A won in last week's referendum, the first of its kind on Guernsey.

Now, the Association is hoping members of the public and Deputies alike will support them in pushing for this reform.