Islanders Association Committee "tried to resolve differences amicably"

Wednesday 24 October 2018

One of the founding members of the Islanders Assocation, has said he still believes in the body even though he resigned from its executive committee just days ago.

But Deputy Peter Ferbrache said despite this belief, he, Deputy Joe Mooney and Deputy Carl Meerveld could not resolve the differences they had in how the Association's administration needed to be run.

Deputy Ferbrache and Deputy Mooney, alongside the Chairperson, Harvey Marshall, resigned from the committee earlier this week in a shock move. Deputy Carl Meerveld, the third founding member, admitted he had no idea his two fellow members would be leaving, and only found out when Express contacted him for comment.

Pictured: The clear divide between the founding members of the Islanders Association was publicised earlier this week. 

"We expressed the reasons we were resigning in the press release Harvey Marshall issued earlier in the week - it was a matter of balance, and we were not just talking about how the referendum was conducted, but the overall administration of the Association," Deputy Ferbrache said.

That press release said: "we have come to the conclusion that, while we are, ourselves, united in co-operation as to the way forward, we will not be able to progress the management of the Association as we would wish with the Committee in its present form. We have therefore, regretfully, decided that the only solution is for us to step down from the Committee.”

Deputy Ferbrache added: "We do intend to stay members, as was made clear in the release. I do beleive it is a good body, but we tried to resolve our issues amicably and didn't get anywhere."

He did admit the move he made was not going to be good for the Islanders Association, but hoped as a member, he will still be able to influence the policy of the Association for the 2020 election. He still stood by the line that the group was not a party, but a platform for election candidates to stand on and share said policy. 

In the press release Mr Marshall issued, they stated the three men were resigning because of irreconcilable differences. In local media interviews, it came out the men had asked Deputy Meerveld to resign himself, but after he refused, they decided to step down instead.

The future of the Association is as yet, unknown - with just two remaining committee members and an unknown membership total. 

Pictured: Deputy Marc Leadbeater.

Deputy Marc Leadbeater remains the only other member on the Association's executive committee along with Deputy Meerveld.

He said he is considering his position amid all the public infighting the Association has been exposed to.

"It’s disappointing that the committee finds itself in this position after what was a fantastic win for democracy in the Referendum," Deputy Leadbeater said. "Because of the recent resignations, I am considering my position on the committee. I am not going to make a knee-jerk decision though, and I will speak with the current and former committee members, which as yet I’ve not had time to do, before I make any decision.

"The committee has a duty of care to the association members and, going forward, there may be merit in considering asking them how they think the committee should be constituted."

Pictured top: Deputy Peter Ferbrache.