Vale four face the electorate

A VARIETY of questions was fired at four potential Vale deputies on Friday evening. From euthanasia to the machinery of government, they answered parishioners' concerns at a pre-election hustings, attended by about 50 people. Graham Guille, Richard Brache, Peter Falla and John McQuaigue were all born in the island and are hoping to fill the seat vacated through illness by Rodney Collenette. Elizabeth Langlois, who has lived in the parish for 27 years, asked candidates for their views on euthanasia. Mr Guille said that as a fireman he had spent 33 years trying to save lives and that it would need a good argument to change his view on the subject. Owner of Internet business MX2 Mr McQuaigue said although the proper safeguards would need to be in place, he understood that people in pain might want to end their own life. Mr he was against it and Mr Brache said he needed more information before making a decision. Issues such as crime, the high cost of housing and the subsequent number of people leaving the island were also put to the panel, chaired by Peter Morgan. Mr Falla, who has campaigned on issues affecting islanders since 1937, said something should be done to stop non-locals buying houses, working on them and then selling them for profit soon after. He suggested a new sales tax to deter people from doing so. Former Guernsey Post commercial director Richard Brache thought that the problem would be lessened in the next few years. 'It is a question of hanging in there.' Next year's changes to the States committee structure and the deputies who currently represent the island also came up during the 90-minute meeting. Mr Falla is keen for annual elections to take place for a limited number of seats. 'In the Harwood report, Peter Harwood said there would be some merit for 12 deputies to stand for re-election every year,' he said. Chairman of the Status Quo lobby group and member of the Vale douzaine for the past six years, Mr Guille believed it would be some time before island-wide voting was introduced. 'We won't see it in the life of this, or probably the next House,' he said. 'The problem is that the people who have the power to make it happen know that they will be the first out.' Even the Bailiff's role came up for discussion. Dave Bradshaw asked the four what they thought about the separation of powers issue. 'It is very difficult in a small community not to have conflict of interest,' said Mr McQuaigue, who. at 39, is the youngest candidate. 'The Bailiff wears too many hats so there has to be a separation of powers.' Mr Falla suggested that the Bailiff should stay as head of the States, but that someone else should be brought in to head the judiciary. Although Mr Brache agreed that there was a human rights issue, he argued that there was a danger in having too many heads in local government. Mr Guille said: 'We also don't have separation of powers at the judiciary stage and I think that has to change.' A full manifesto for all candidates will be published in this Wednesday's Guernsey Press. * The by-election will be held on 9 July.