Members backed Chief Minister Frank Walker’s move to dismiss the Senator by a 35 to 15 margin, effectively deciding that his attacks on his own staff, other civil servants and politicians over the recent child protection rows had been unjustified. The debate was the first of its kind in the ministerial era and brings to an end Senator Syvret’s near eight years at the head of the Health and Social Services department – first as committee president, then as minister. It hinged on whether Senator Syvret’s strong criticism of named officers in various e-mails was justified, given alleged failures in the Social Services department, and whether or not after he had been in charge of the department for nearly eight years the failings were his responsibility. But after the debate – and after exchanging handshakes with Senator Walker and some of his ministerial colleagues – Senator Syvret said that his would not be the only head to roll. Speaking about the two other ministers with responsibility for child protection – Education Minister Mike Vibert and Home Affairs Minister Wendy Kinnard – he said he expected them to have to resign when the Williamson Review into child protection standards was published at the end of the year.
