Should Guernsey be investing in its politicians?

Saturday 24 October 2020

Now that the new deputies have officially taken their seats in the States Assembly, a local webinar is posing the question of whether or not the island should be investing in our politicians' professional development.

The virtual meeting, which will take place at 08:00 on Monday, will feature a keynote address from Associate Professor at the University of Auckland, Dr Jennifer Lees-Marshment, who will explain more about the lack of similar investment across the world.

She will then hand over to Advocate and former Deputy, Chris Green, who will give his observations from a Guernsey perspective, before opening the webinar up for discussion.

"Following the General Election of 7 October, Guernsey has a new States of Deliberation and an inbox piling up with urgency issues," said former senior civil servant, Jon Buckland, who is hosting the event. "Whilst Guernsey has been able to manage successfully the public health emergency within its borders, designing the economy recovery is more of a wicked problem.

"At the same time, Brexit and the climate change crisis continue to race towards us. Guernsey is not alone in facing these challenges and politicians around the world will require courage, compassion and skilled judgements and decision making.

Pictured: A new assembly was voted in earlier this month in Guernsey's first fully island-wide election. 

"Now as never before, the new government will need to act with decisiveness and at pace - these are not characteristics typical of Guernsey's political system.

"To further hinder the government's ability to navigate this turbulent environment we, as a community, have no in the past invested in any of our politicians. Interestingly though, we are not alone in this regard and few jurisdictions do.

"We all have an interest in ensuring our politicians are successful and deliver policies which meet our needs and yet it is strange that we don't invest in them.

"This webinar explores the reasons for this lack of investment and the content of any courses that would ensure our politicians are properly equipped to address the complex range of issues the new government is likely to face in the coming years."

To register for the online event, click HERE.