Sir Philip Bailhache, as president of the States, ruled in the morning that rank and file Members could not lodge amendments to the plan which has been lodged by the Council of Ministers.
The Plan will govern the political, economic and social direction of the Island for the next five years.
Sir Philip told Chief Minister Frank Walker of his ruling yesterday morning, and sources say that the decision had horrified Ministers – who realised that it would effectively disenfranchise the 30 politicians who are not in the Council.
The ruling could have driven a further wedge between the political ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’ in the new system of government.
At their fortnightly meeting yesterday ministers agreed with the chairmen of the scrunity panels that they would issue a joint statement saying that the Plan would not be debated until a way could be found to enable all Members to lodge amendments if they wished.
However, in the afternoon, word came through that Sir Philip had had a change of heart.
Senator Walker told the JEP this morning that he believed that the Bailiff had acted entirely properly, but it was ‘absolutely unthinkable’ to have a debate on the Strategic Plan at which amendments were not allowed.
