Island-wide voting sparks referendum cost concerns
A LANDMARK decision to hold a referendum on island-wide voting has sparked a heated row over its cost – potentially up to £400,000 – with claims it is a waste of time and money.
Home minister Peter Gillson and senior deputy Mary Lowe were among those who hit out at the decision to hold the referendum on the radical electoral reform.
'I think it is very sad we have once again kicked the decision down the road, but this time with a price tag of nearly half a million,' said Deputy Gillson.
He had been behind proposals to introduce full island-wide voting for the 2020 election.
But these were scrapped and replaced with proposals led by Matt Fallaize to make the change subject to a referendum.
Deputy Lowe said she had always been supportive of island-wide voting, but was against holding a referendum and the cost to the taxpayer when there had been public consultation in the past and people's views were well known.
Deputy Fallaize, however, hit back at this claim.
'Even with all of Deputy Lowe's wisdom, experience and knowledge, I don't think she knows how every person feels about the electoral system,' he said.
