Scrutiny "still waiting" on documents request

Monday 27 January 2020

A much-delayed independent review into the controversial appointment of a Head of Curriculum & Standards has been stifled again, with Scrutiny unable to obtain unredacted documents.

A new senior role in the Education Department was given to Clare Sealy last summer after a local applicant, who had been offered and accepted the job, withdrew from the process.

Leaked emails alleged that there was political interference in the recruitment process by Deputy Matt Fallaize, who was accused of threatening to resign if Ms Sealy was not brought to the island to fill the role.

That committee has repeatedly said it has nothing to hide, saying that data protection issues are the main cause of delays in providing information. 

SMC had wanted to carry out a formal tribunal into the situation, to find out exactly what happened, but those proposals were thrown out by the States when they were debated in September. 

Pictured: Deputy Matt Fallaize has been criticised for his alleged role in the recruitment of a civil servant. 

Redacted documents were then supplied by Education and Policy & Resources, who made the appointment, in December. 

That information has been passed on to Scrutiny's independent reviewer, Deputy Chris Green confirmed to Express. 

"We received redacted information which we have now submitted to our independent reviewer," he said. "We have asked for all material that was redacted, but the committees came back saying they need more time and are raising other legal queries."

Deputy Green said they were determined to get to the bottom of the issue, saying this situation was exactly why his committee called for a Tribunal of Inquiry, which would have had full legal powers and privileges. 

"All the delays are at the door of someone else," he lamented. "Which is obviously frustrating, but we are not going to give that up and the review will start in earnest very soon." 

Pictured top: Scrutiny President Chris Green.