ENVIRONMENT Minister Steve Luce has become the latest senior politician to confirm they will be seeking one of the Islandwide Senator seats at this summer’s election.
Deputy Luce was first elected to the States Assembly in 2011, serving as St Martin Deputy for 11 years, before securing one of the three seats available in the combined St Martin and Grouville district four years ago.
The Senatorial seats are returning this year after a four-year absence.
Explaining his decision to seek an Islandwide mandate, Deputy Luce said: “As someone who has always voted for the return of Senators I felt it right to put my name forward for that position. I also believe that Ministers should hold Senatorial roles wherever possible.”
“If re-elected, I would then seek to continue in the position of Environment Minister. I feel that, as a government, we’ve achieved a lot in only two years but there’s a huge amount more to do.”
Last week, Deputy Luce successfully brought new food laws introducing mandatory allergen labelling, updating and consolidating of existing food-hygiene legislation and the introduction of a food-licensing scheme. He also brought a proposition which greatly widens the Island’s marine protected areas.
“For myself, I want to be part of a ministry that, in the next four years, among a long list of other work, delivers a new Island Plan, develops the Marine Spatial Plan, and brings forward both an Energy Strategy and a Water Strategy, all things that have started but need more time to finish,” he said.
The Deputy also stated he felt that the continued development and diversification of the rural and marine sectors were “top priorities”.
Deputy Luce also served as Environment Minister between 2014 and 2018. He has also previously chaired both the Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel and the Environment and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel.
He becomes the fifth current minister to declare for the Senatorial election, after Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham, Treasury Minister Elaine Millar, External Relations Minister Ian Gorst and Housing Minister Sam Mézec. Former Home Affairs Minister Helen Miles will also seek an Islandwide mandate.
