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Tony Webber
Guest
| | Posted on Monday, April 05, 2010 - 10:24 am: |   |
I REFER to the letter by Sir Norman Browse, President of the States of Alderney, published in the Guernsey Press on 27 March.
In it, Sir Norman rightly pointed out that the system there has changed a little in that in early November there is an extra plebiscite in Alderney for the electors to choose who they want to become their representatives in the Guernsey States. While this is undoubtedly an improvement on the previous situation (where just the elected members of the States of Alderney chose from their number the two people who would represent them in the States of Guernsey), there are still flaws in the system of representation.
Firstly, Sir Norman accepts that the only people eligible to stand for office as Alderney representatives on the States of Guernsey are the 10 elected members of the Alderney States.
Sir Norman stated that this came about after a consultative process and was for obvious reasons. I suggest that this needs to be thoroughly revisited. How can it be right that only 10 of the whole population of Alderney are eligible to stand? There needs to be reform so that any resident of Alderney is entitled to stand, not just a select few.
Secondly, we also have another flaw in the system by which Alderney representatives are chosen to attend and vote at the Guernsey States of Deliberation. Currently there is a provision that if one of the elected representatives is not available to attend the Guernsey States meeting, an alternative Alderney States member may attend in their place.
At the last Guernsey States meeting, Alderney representative Bill Walden was replaced by Alderney States member Liz Bennett. Although she has previously stood for election as Alderney representative on the States of Guernsey and was not successful, and did not stand at all for the last election as Alderney States members Richard Wilmott and Bill Walden were elected unopposed, she clearly was attending as a representative of the Alderney States and not the Alderney people.
During the six years (1994-2000) the Bailiwick of Guernsey and Alderney had democratically elected conseillers, the electorate of Alderney could vote in 12 conseillers out of 57 States members (approximately one sixth of States members).
Now they elect two representatives out of 47 States members, approximately one-twelfth of the members - quite a reduction. Guernsey electors, in contrast, vote for six or seven States members. Is it justifiable to give some voters in the Bailiwick more votes than others, in this case Alderney? Sir Norman referred to the issue of no taxation without representation. To follow this through, the voting and representative rights have to be equal.
This can be achieved by having all Guernsey States members elected on a Bailiwick basis, and allowing Alderney residents to stand for election (amazingly they were not allowed to stand for the office of Bailiwick conseiller).
Another way is for Alderney electors to have the same rights as those in Herm and Jethou and to be part of a Guernsey electoral district.
Alderney also needs to make its rules on eligibility for standing for elected office to be in line with those in Guernsey to make it easier for returning Alderney people, who have been off the island, to stand for election. There also needs to be a change to allow Guernsey people to stand for the States of Alderney. Guernsey, likewise, needs to change to allow Alderney people to stand for election in Guernsey.
If the States of Guernsey can benefit from the contribution made by people from Alderney, then so too can the reverse be the case. One political example is Deputy John Gollop.
The connections between Alderney and Guernsey are strong politically, culturally, historically and in terms of family and personal friendships and in business. It can only benefit both islands to improve the system of representation and the quality of election candidates.
Sir Norman also stated that the Alderney representatives are full, independent members of the Guernsey States of Deliberation. However, they are not equal in how they are elected or in how they are treated financially. Despite it being originally recommended that they should be treated totally equally, they still are not. The Policy Council recommendations accepted by the States in February 2008 gave the Alderney representatives £10,000 and £1,000 expenses - under half what their Guernsey colleagues receive. They do also now receive the same department and committee allowances. While Alderney States members are paid for duties in respect of the Alderney States, this is totally separate to those who have duties in the Guernsey States as well, where they should have exactly the same compensation package as their Guernsey deputy colleagues.
I have advocated reform and improvement for some years and inch-by-inch, this is being achieved. Now is the time to complete the process. It is up to the States of Alderney and the States of Guernsey to bring about the changes needed.
TONY WEBBER |
Sir Norman Browse
Guest
| | Posted on Saturday, March 27, 2010 - 10:01 am: | |
EVERY time a vote in the States of Deliberation is almost equally divided someone, often a deputy, questions the legitimacy of the votes of the two Alderney representatives. Recently Mr Tony Webber (Guernsey Press, 15 March), while defending our representatives' right to vote, queried their authority by stating that they are not chosen by the people. He is wrong - the situation is quite clear and democratic.
In the week following the biannual election of five States members in early November, we hold a plebiscite to give all the electorate the opportunity to choose the members that they wish to become their Guernsey representatives. The only requirement, agreed after wide consultation and for obvious reasons, is that the candidates should be an elected States member.
Then each January, in accord with the Representation of Alderney in Guernsey Law (1978), which requires the States of Alderney to formally elect its two representatives each year, the States elects the members selected by the people at the plebiscite, having given in 2006 a binding commitment to abide by the wishes of the people.
So the people of Alderney do choose their representatives. Once chosen, they become full, independent members of the States of Deliberation - identical to all other deputies. They are not required to seek the views of the public but do so in the same way as all other deputies. They are not the equivalent of douzeniers, who, I understand, are expected to consult their parishioners before voting.
The right to have two representatives began in 1948 when our islanders returned to a devastated island with very few civil servants to help run their government. When Guernsey kindly offered to supervise Income Tax, Policing, Health and Social Services and Education, it was agreed that it would not be acceptable for Guernsey to set our income tax and supervise the financial control of these services without some form of Alderney representation in Guernsey's parliament - in accord with the old adage, 'no taxation without representation.'
Consequently, when matters arise that solely involve Guernsey, our representatives often abstain, but they are entitled and should vote on any matter that affects Alderney and the Bailiwick, especially if the effect is financial. The waste disposal proposal is such a matter.
Since Health and Safety prohibited the open burning of our waste, we have had to ship our waste to Guernsey and pay for its disposal. Its treatment and disposal in Guernsey is, therefore, a matter of considerable financial concern to us. We know that our representatives will always vote as they think best, not just for Alderney but for everyone in the Bailiwick. They have our full support.
SIR NORMAN BROWSE,
President,
States of Alderney. |
Supt Ian Morellec
Guest
| | Posted on Friday, September 04, 2009 - 04:19 pm: | |
Thank you for providing an opportunity to respond to the views of this correspondent who fortunately, is perfectly correct in saying that it is not against the law to provide entertainment. However, it is not correct to say that the law wasn't being broken, solely on the basis that the event was taking place on licensed premises, within permitted hours - which that night was until 12.30am.
Domestic legislation controlling the management and operation of licensed premises in both Guernsey and Alderney places a responsibility on a licensee and staff to ensure that in essence, noise does not emanate from their establishment in such a manner or volume as to cause annoyance to neighbours. Whether or not noise is excessive is a subjective test and in such situations, whether that noise emanates from licensed premises or private premises, a police officer is usually the initial arbiter. Inevitably, as perhaps in this case, police officers cannot please everybody. Living in small, relatively tranquil island communities, responding to complaints of noise is almost a nightly occurrence for police during the summer months as most people have a need to ventilate their properties by keeping windows open and hence, the problem is exacerbated.
At about 11pm on this particular night, the police officer was responding to a complaint and saw that the windows and door of the premises were open. The noise was adjudged to be quite loud and having spoken to a member of staff, the door and windows were closed, resulting in the noise being reduced to what the officer considered an acceptable level. However, following a further complaint, the officer returned within the hour and saw that the door was open again, held ajar by somebody stood in the doorway. Apologies were tendered, the door was closed and no further complaints were made. At no time did the officer suggest that he would close the premises.
Later that week, the officer facilitated a meeting between the licensee and those residents affected by the noise. This provided both sides with an opportunity to articulate their views, which was appreciated.
As for the opinions and solution expressed by your correspondent, your readers will form their own views.
Some areas of our communities were not designed or intended for the demands of current day living but exercising respect, consideration and tolerance towards one another should help us to preserve the quality of life we all strive for.
Superintendent Ian Morellec,
Guernsey Police |
Dawn Audoire-Jones
Guest
| | Posted on Friday, September 04, 2009 - 04:17 pm: | |
WHAT is this island coming to when it isn't possible to enjoy an evening at your local pub and listen to some country music?
On Tuesday, 18 August, I heard a local band, Eric Pye and friends, were playing at the Coronation in Alderney, so I popped in. It wasn't that crowded and a good time was being had by all. There was no drunken behaviour or shouting in the street as you would expect during Alderney Week - this was a social evening being enjoyed by locals and some few remaining visitors.
At 10.45pm I spotted a policeman at the door, talking to a member of staff. He then made a point of closing the front door and also the window as it had been left open due to the hot summer evening. This made things very uncomfortable for the band as well as their audience, but they continued to play.
At 11.15pm the police were back, now saying if the noise was not kept down, he would be back in 10 minutes to close up.
I'm sorry but since when has it become against the law to provide entertainment? Shouldn't the officer have just said to the person making the complaint that the law wasn't being broken, that this was happening in a licensed property within the time frame allowed?
To the person or persons making the complaint, why did you choose to live or rent in the Town area next to a pub, as this sort of thing is to be expected? If you only visit Alderney for a few short weeks, stay out of the Town area. You will find far worse behaviour in the UK with loud disco music going on into the small hours with drunken behaviour, shouting etc., all year. Don't try to change Alderney - islanders have to make their own entertainment before and after Alderney Week and yes, I do say entertainment, not disturbance. It's not as if it happens every week or even month, mores the pity. So either move, or join in.
DAWN AUDOIRE-JONES,
Alderney. |
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