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Whoever was behind the repeated swearing and mumbling heard during last week's States meeting is still shrouded in mystery, with the matter set to be discussed by SACC members amid concerns over how it was able to happen in the first place.
States members and court officials have microphones so they can be heard by each other, as well as by people listening through the live Teams feed and the BBC Guernsey live coverage of the States sitting.
Last Friday as the States discussed the future of Herm School, a female voice could be heard sighing before calling someone a "d*ckhead".
A few minutes later a female voice could be heard loudly exclaiming and swearing about staples.
Other mumbles which were not as clearly audible could also be heard during the debate.
Above: The two instances of swearing can be heard above. The Teams feed was still available on the States website at the time of writing with the swearing and other disturbances audible.
On Monday, a spokesperson for the States of Guernsey said:
"The problem arose from a Teams feed being open. It is a problem that is easily resolved, won’t reoccur and on this occasion was probably compounded by the recent installation of a new sound system in the Royal Court Chamber, which is still bedding in."
Deputy John Gollop was speaking in the debate when the female voice could be heard exclaiming about staples.
He told Express that he had been sent a link to it but he has not pursued it himself. He said it will be raised at a Thursday afternoon meeting of the States Assembly and Constitution Committee which oversees procedures in connection with the island's constitution and government including States members conduct.
Deputy Gollop is a member of SACC along with deputies Simon Fairclough, Liam McKenna and Lester Queripel. Deputy Carl Meerveld is President of SACC.
Deputy Queripel was giving his speech on the Herm School requete when the female voice could be heard saying the word "d*ckhead".
He does not know who it was and he isn't sure if whoever was heard swearing was referring to him.
Pictured (clockwise from top left): SACC President Deputy Carl Meerveld and committee members Deputies Lester Queripel, Liam McKenna, John Gollop and Simon Fairclough.
"As it stands at present, whoever it was that swore during the debate hasn’t been identified," Deputy Queripel confirmed to Express.
"It certainly wasn’t any of the eight female members of the States because we would have heard it in the Chamber had it have been. And I think the same applies to whoever it was who said ‘d*ckhead’ when I was speaking, because I didn’t hear any of my female colleagues say that WHILST I was speaking, and I’ve listened to the recording a dozen times now, and I can’t marry the voice to any one of my female colleagues.
"And anyway, how do we know the person who said it was referring to me?" he added.
While Deputy Queripel sits on SACC alongside Deputy Gollop he is unsure what the committee can do within its remit overseeing the States Assembly and Constitution.
"I honestly don’t see what SACC can do about it to be honest, short of introducing a new rule perhaps, and we’re a long way away from actually reviewing the rules this term.
"As much as I’d like to, I doubt if we’ll be in a position to do that for at least another year, which is a great shame as I have a whole raft of suggestions."
LISTEN: States meeting interrupted by swearing
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