Use of consultants is a hot topic at hustings

Use of consultants is a hot topic at hustings

With some attendees being forced to stand in the foyer to watch proceedings, Constable Len Norman remarked on the turnout and said he thought he may have inadvertently called a meeting to raise parish rates.

After all 17 candidates made an opening speech, questions began to be taken from members of the audience.

Lieutenant-Colonel John Pinel, commander of St John Ambulance Jersey and St Clement parishoner, asked what the candidates would do to improve trust and confidence between the States and the voluntary sector.

Responding, Deputy Sam Mézec said that he often used voluntary organisations when helping constituents with issues and did not know where Jersey would be without them.

‘I think one thing that would help many voluntary organisations that receive funding from the States is to extend the length of time that funding is guaranteed for,’ he said.

‘Rather than offering funding on a yearly basis, do so on a three- or five-year basis instead. That way it enables those organisations to have the certainty to know what they are going to do.’

Deputy John Le Fondré said that he had experienced first-hand the lack of communication between the States and voluntary organisations.

‘There have been times where we have been in front of a department and you feel like they just do not rate you or value you quite as much because you are in a voluntary capacity and there are some times that you feel like you are in an unpaid arm of the States,’ he said.

‘What I have come across in Scrutiny on a number of occasions is a theme of a lack of consultation or the half-hearted consultation that’s going on.

‘The level of engagement is not there and that is certainly something I would be committed to changing if you decide to elect me.’

Gino Risoli said that Jersey would not need some voluntary services if the Island’s wealthy paid more tax.

‘Charitable organisations often exist because governments do not fund public services properly because some people in society believe they are more special than others,’ he said.

‘Several hundred international service entity companies believe they should not pay their share of bills. The richest people on the Island do not pay GST.

‘You wonder why this Island needs so many [voluntary organisation] services, you are just producing mental patients because these people [the rich] are driving the Island mad.’

Gordon Troy simply said that the charitable sector needed more support.

‘We are very fortunate here because the voluntary sector often fills in the gaps where the government fails and do a lot of great work and I think the government should be doing more and giving more support,’ he said.

‘I do not know how this connection works at the moment but it definitely needs support for the wonderful work they do.’

Later, Islander Tom Bunting received a mixed response from candidates when he asked if they would be willing to stand in political parties.

Giving his response, Senator Lyndon Farnham said that although he was sceptical over the viability of party politics, he wanted States members to work more as a team.

‘We have had parties since the reforms in 1948 but they have never really taken off and the best effort so far is the Reform party. They have three members and are aiming to get more but people are not queueing up to join parties over here,’ he said.

‘I fought against collective responsibility on the Council of Ministers because it does not work and we should not be coerced into agreeing things that we do not agree with.’

St Clement Deputy Simon Brée also raised concern with the idea and claimed the creation of party politics could stop States Members co-operating.

‘Whether it is the right thing for an Island this size I’m not sure,’ he said.

‘The problem is when you create a party-political system under ministerial government you immediately have an opposition. Some of you will take the stance of being the opposition to government.

‘I think we need to learn how to work together better rather than putting a barrier between co-operation and Members of the States, so I will always remain an independent.’

However, St Brelade Constable Steve Pallett said that although he was ‘comfortable’ standing as an individual candidate he thought the eventual evolution into party politics was inevitable under a ministerial system of government.

‘The opportunity at elections to put a full manifesto out and clearly state what you are going to do as a party before you get elected is a positive thing and something I would support.

‘I have no issue with party politics and it is an inevitability, I am afraid.’

Candidates also fielded a question from another St Clement parishioner who asked if the States use of consultants was acceptable.

He also cited a report published on Monday which revealed that a private company was being sought at a cost of £400,000 to advise the States on how best to deliver reforms of the public sector.

Stevie Ocean was the first candidate to answer, and claimed that the use of overseas consultants was not necessary as there were plenty of capable Islanders who could advise the States instead.

He said: ‘Why do we have to have consultants come over from the UK when there are plenty of people in this Island quite qualified to do the job?

‘These people rub their hands together and say, “We are going to come to Jersey” and we have got “mug” written on our foreheads because we are going to pay them thousands of pounds when we have the people here who are qualified to do that job.’

Deputy Tracey Vallois was also critical of the use of consultants and said that it had previously led to a culture of unaccountability among senior civil servants.

However, she, along with a number of other candidates, expressed their respect for the States chief executive, Charlie Parker, who is leading the reform process.

She said: ‘I have every respect for Mr Parker who has come in and he has a huge job to do in the public sector.

‘We are way behind the times in the way in which the States works and we need to modernise and I believe, with regards to what he is doing with consultants for the public sector, will in the long run draw up a great deal of benefits for the Island.’

Former St Clement Deputy Gerard Baudains also praised Charlie Parker, saying that senior civil servants were paid well and questioned why they were not able to carry out the advisory work themselves. He said he was glad the chief executive was ‘on the case’ as his predecessor had done very little.

Frank Luce criticised the use of consultants to help advise the States in their efforts to build a new skatepark.

‘The important thing is if you are going to use consultants, listen to what they have to say,’ he said.

‘There is no point in spending tens of thousands of pounds but when they
bring up “propositions” they are totally ignored.

‘Basically, we don’t need all these consultants, certainly not to build a skatepark.’

Chief Minister Ian Gorst moved to reassure Islanders over the latest use of consultants. ‘I read it every day in the JEP about a dysfunctional government that is wasting money, that is not serving Islanders, that is working in silos, that is not joined up,’ he said.

‘We are making progress but one person cannot do it. This is an organisation of 7,000 employees, one billion pounds spent every year. I believe that the savings we will make out of the programme that we will deliver will make you pleased that we finally got to grips with this issue because it is in everybody’s interest.’

Mos Scott responded to a question from Mark Godel about what she would change in the States. She thought it was ridiculous that Scrutiny were treated as the opposition and called for a more inclusive government.

‘I would like to change its culture. I would like it to be less us versus them – I think it is ridiculous Scrutiny are treated as opposition, they have a role to play,’ she said.

‘I have heard comments that no one has anything useful to say in Scrutiny which disappoints me, so I would like to see more leadership and less of a boys’ club.’

Senator Sarah Ferguson added that she thought the former States committee system worked better than the current ministerial format.

She also criticised the use of consultants, saying there was no one to blame when ‘it all went wrong’.

‘As a farflung hope, I would quite like to go back to the committee system as it was very inclusive, everybody knew what was going on and I think the public knew what was going on because the representatives told them,’ she said.‘It was very much more open.’

During a ‘quick-fire’ round of questions towards the end of the hustings, Jackie de La Haye asked candidates what they would do to control the population and if they were in favour of work permits.

Phil Maguire said: ‘I am all for work permits. As one of the candidates said, nobody should be allowed here without a job otherwise what the hell are they doing here?’

Home Affairs Minister Kristina Moore said that a methodical well-rounded immigration scheme was needed.

‘A skills-based scheme which is simple to manage and one that does not just focus on high-value jobs but instead on what we need to fulfil the needs within our society is what is needed,’ she said.

Anthony Lewis gave an opening speech but due to his speech aphasia [communication difficulties suffered after a stroke ten years ago] was not able to answer any questions. He instead said that he would respond to written questions on his social media pages and via email at alewisjersey@gmail.com.

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