A real hope for political change

From Marianne Sunier.

I AM writing in response to the letter written by Don Filleul (JEP, 2 September) regarding Sir Philip Bailhache’s decision to stand as a Senatorial candidate in the forthcoming elections on 19 of October.

I have a great deal of respect and admiration for Mr Filleul and indeed had the privilege of working as a trustee of the Jersey Heritage Trust under his excellent leadership as our chairman.

It is because of this regard that I am saddened that he could be so wrong in his comments regarding Sir Philip Bailhache’s bold and selfless decision to step down from an extremely well paid position as a judge to allow himself to become a candidate for political office and to continue to serve the Island and the Jersey people that Sir Philip so transparently cherishes.

Mr Filleul states that Sir Philip’s ‘competence and ability can be in no doubt’ and also that he ‘cannot understand why one who has already achieved the very peak of status and authority in both Court and States, and acknowledgement by his Queen, would want to expose himself to the farrago of personal and political wrangling which has characterised the recent Assembly’.

Mr Filleul then goes on to highlight the disappointment that he had felt and that retiring Senator Ben Shenton feels, regarding the poor quality of the vast majority of our present States Members who make decision-making tortuous and prolonged as we can all quite clearly see to the point of preventing the States from operating in an intelligent, timely and efficient manner.

This has led to the position that States Members in general are not held in respect or trusted which is a dreadful state of affairs.

This Island should be able to expect such minimum standards of government as intelligent, timely and cost effective decision making derived from factual analysis and mastering of political briefs from its political representatives, whether Senator, Deputy or Constable, and the fact that it can’t shows that we have too many of the wrong people in place and we have to do something to attract the type of people who can provide what the Island requires and attack the political rot from within.

This is why I am delighted that Sir Philip is standing. The fact that he is prepared to sacrifice a position that pays substantially more than a States Member’s ‘salary’, has in his past already served as a Deputy for his parish so is familiar with the work, has presided over the States as Bailiff so has all the knowledge and continuity associated with having had to closely follow States proceedings for the last couple of decades and also has a strong knowledge of the people and subject matters he will be dealing with all culminates as very clear evidence to me that he is totally the right sort of person we want to have in the States to change the culture and in doing so attract other high-quality candidates to come forward for office.

It would seem to my very simplistic mind that as we are currently looking at reform of the States that we could use the undoubted skills, knowledge and expertise of Sir Philip to lead the charge on States reform. Good Lord we wouldn’t even have to bring in legal experts and pay them. As my Nan used to say: ‘Never look a gift horse in the mouth.’

So yes, the State’s current political position is bleak but if we always do what we always did then we will continue with the same outcome. Thankfully the type of candidates like Sir Philip coming forward can start the hard process of changing that picture.

Who knows we may even get to a position in the future where becoming a politician in Jersey is seen as a position to aspire to and be treated with respect. Now wouldn’t that be worth striving for?