Law-making freedom plan 'could be more ambitious'
PLANS to give Guernsey greater independence in law-making could go even further and be even more ambitious, a leading advocate has said.
Gordon Dawes, a partner at Mourant Ozannes, said that while new proposals were a further step towards 'greater autonomy' he would like to see more Royal Assent powers given to the Lt-Governor.
'The proposals are welcome and represent appropriate further steps towards greater autonomy,' said Advocate Dawes.
'If there is any criticism it is that the proposals are not ambitious enough.
'I would like to see greater Royal Assent powers given to the Lt-Governor without the need always to refer to London for the making of all laws.
'We remain a long way behind British and former British Caribbean jurisdictions and there will remain a serious democratic deficit, i.e. the situation where Channel Island law-making depends, ultimately, on the UK government of the day, unelected by the islands.'
