Updated: Education President collects petition

Wednesday 26 February 2020

Deputy Matt Fallaize accepted a petition against his committee's one school plans from protesters on his way into the States this afternoon.

Protesters against the one-school model were left feeling disappointed and disrespected" this morning after the President of Education did not meet them on the court steps to accept their petition.

Deputy Fallaize has since explained that he could not make it into the States this morning because of a personal appointment which could not be avoided. 

Around 150 protesters made their feelings known outside the States this morning, chanting "pause and review" at Deputies as they arrived.

The People Power Guernsey-led protest also saw campaigner Mark Mauger hand over copies of their petition, which has over 5,700 signatures, to lead "pause and review" requerant Deputy Andrea Dudley-Owen and Policy & Resources President Gavin St Pier. 

Mr Mauger had been in contact with Deputy Fallaize ahead of the protest and they had discussed the ESC president collecting the petition from him and student campaigner Angel Perkins.

"I am disappointed," said Mr Mauger. "He is obviously in the Court but he didn't want to listen to the public. He isn't somewhere else on the island, he is here, he just didn't want to face us."

However, Deputy Fallaize responded to this by saying he had made the organisers aware he was unavailable. 

“On Tuesday I received an email from the group which I believe has organised an online petition in support of Deputy Dudley Owen’s Requete. I advised I could not accept the petition on Wednesday morning and offered a range of other times and days, including after the States meeting or during the lunch adjournment on Wednesday or on Thursday or Friday mornings. Of course I’m happy to accept a copy of the petition and would do so respecting the views of the people who have signed it. 

"A personal appointment which I could not avoid kept me away from the States of Election this morning.  I will be present in the Assembly from Wednesday afternoon for the States of Deliberation meeting and of course will be there for as long as we sit, which may be some days."

Deputy Matt Fallaize was not present in the States of Deliberation for the morning session, but did arrive in time for the afternoon sitting, having collected the petition from Angel Perkins on his way in. 

The States meeting commenced this morning, with a Jurat election, ahead of a packed agenda including a debate on changes to sexual offences legislation. The education debate is unlikely to start before late on Wednesday or on Thursday. Read more on that HERE.