Guernsey’s Public Services Minister Scott Ogier and Health and Social Services Minister Paul Luxon have suggested that an investigation should be carried out into the benefits of aligning the date of Guernsey’s general election more closely with Jersey’s, to give both islands more opportunity to work together and ‘synchronise pan-island working streams’.
Deputy Ogier explained that in the past it had been difficult to co-ordinate meetings and projects: ‘I often hear that we will need to wait a while to have a meeting because either one island or the other is just about to be elected.
For: Deputies Brehaut, Langlois, Rob Jones, Le Clerc, Gollop, Sherbourne, Conder, Lester Queripel, Stewart, Le Pelley, Ogier, Dave Jones, Spruce, Duquemin, Green, Paint, Le Tocq, James, Inglis, Soulsby, Luxon. 21
Against: Kuttelwascher, Bebb, Gillson, Trott, Fallaize, Laurie Queripel, Lowe, Dorey, Brouard, Wilkie, De Lisle, Sillars, Quin, Hadley, Alderney representative Jean. 15
‘This is because two years into the Jersey term, Guernsey politicians are being elected, and two years into Guernsey’s term Jersey politicians are being elected.
‘There never seems to be a straight run at joint policy development throughout the term as there are either new politicians on either side, or one team is two years into policy development already.’
Yesterday the Guernsey politicians agreed, by 21 votes to 15, that the States Assembly and Constitution Committee and Policy Council should now jointly investigate the idea and liaise with politicians in Jersey.
One matter currently under negotiation is the possible burning of Guernsey’s waste in Jersey’s energy-from-waste plant, which has spare capacity.
But so far Guernsey has said that Jersey’s price is too high, with Jersey’s Transport Minister Eddie Noel maintaining that a lower price for Guernsey would mean that Jersey taxpayers would be obliged to subsidise that service.
Jersey’s Privileges and Procedures Committee chairman, Constable Len Norman, says that although he is happy to discuss election dates, he believes that inter-island co-operation is more about ‘willingness’.
‘We have just moved into a four-year election cycle and we are quite happy to discuss it with them, but personally I do not think this has been the problem in the past,’ he said.
‘In some areas there has been a lot of good talking, but a lack of willingness – hopefully that will change, but it has nothing to do with the election cycle.
‘There has been a lack of evidence of that willingness being there for the past 15 or 20 years.’
Constable Norman said there were plenty of areas where the two islands could benefit from closer co-operation, including education and tourism, as well as regulation.
‘There is some co-operation in regulation now – but look at the way they are trying to chuck our fishermen out and change their quotas. The election cycle has nothing to do with that.
‘But I am happy to look at it,’ he said.
MANIFESTOS of candidates could be distributed to islanders by email at future general elections, after deputies agreed that the idea should be investigated.
Deputy Arrun Wilkie led the successful amendment directing the States Assembly and Constitution Committee to consider measures that would allow the electronic distribution.
He called on the States to embrace new technology to engage with the electorate.
‘Technology is moving faster than ever before in human history,’ he said.
The proposals faced some opposition, which included a warning from Sacc chairman Matt Fallaize that they would have to consider data protection and other legislative issues.
While Deputy Fallaize said they would investigate the measures, he said he doubted whether it could be introduced in time for next year’s general election.
Deputy Jan Kuttelwascher said allowing electronic versions of manifestos to be posted on the States website could be a solution and Deputy Fallaize said he was in fact planning to suggest to the Home Department at their next meeting together, that a dedicated election website, or part of the States website, could be created.
Commerce and Employment minister Deputy Kevin Stewart suggested the idea of an ‘election app’.
However, Sacc member Deputy Elis Bebb said some deputies, like himself, already had their own websites, which acted as electronic manifestos and could be secured for around £70 a year.
Many deputies spoke in support of the amendment and embracing technology.
Deputy Rob Jones, who seconded the amendment, said it would be another ‘string in our bow’.
Deputy John Gollop agreed that the States must move forward with the digital age.
