AN attempt to end the Bailiff’s dual role as chief judge and ‘speaker’ of the States has been overwhelmingly rejected by the States.
Members yesterday voted by 46 votes to five to reject the proposal by Deputy Shona Pitman (pictured) that would have given the States reform committee up to three years to appoint an elected speaker of the States Chamber.
She argued that the Bailiff’s position as head of the judiciary and president of the legislature was not an effective way to provide checks on power. ‘An independent speaker offers a further positive step down the road to a truly transparent democracy,’ said the Deputy. ‘We can no longer afford to fudge the issue.’
Several Members – including Chief Minister Frank Walker and Health Minister Ben Shenton – said they agreed there should be a debate about the role of the Bailiff, but said it should be left over to a full review by the Members of the next Assembly after the elections. Housing Minister Terry Le Main, Deputies Roy Le Hérissier, Carolyn Labey and others spoke against, saying there was not enough in the three-page report to justify such a profound change.
