How Alderney is represented not up to Guernsey

ALDERNEY'S Policy and Finance Committee has complained that Guernsey should keep out of the island's representation in the States of Guernsey. The Procedures and Constitution Committee announced last week that Alderney residents would be given the chance to have their say on how they would be represented in the new-look States. But some States Members believed that the matter was not one for Guernsey to decide. 'I believe that there is the question of the constitutional issue,' said committee member John Postlethwaite. The Guernsey committee wants to find out if Alderney wishes to elect its representatives in the new Guernsey States directly, or to continue with the current system, whereby the Alderney States puts forward delegates on its behalf. 'The committee feels that it is vitally important that the Alderney electorate should have a say in how they will be represented in Guernsey's new style of government,' said Procedures and Constitution Committee president Roger Berry. But Alderney's Policy and Finance Committee was not happy about this. It said that members were 'unanimous in their view that the existing arrangements work well, that a change in current legislation is not required and, consequently, consultation is not appropriate'. Alderney States member Chris Main was in favour of the consultation. 'I've got no problem with the public electing representatives to go to Guernsey, provided they are members of the States of Alderney - if they were outside of the States, it wouldn't work,' he said. Procedures and Constitution Committee vice-president Claire Le Pelley said that the matter did concern Guernsey, because it was about the composition of the its States. 'We are mandated to advise the Guernsey States on the constitution of the States of Deliberation and the States of Election and on the rules of procedure and the practical functioning of the States,' she said. 'This consultation with the people of Alderney is part of that process concerning the way in which they want to be represented in the newly formed Guernsey States. It's quite simply that - a consultation to see how the people of Alderney feel.' Every Alderney household should have received a letter from the committee on the issue. But none has been received in the last week. Deputy Le Pelley said this was simply a postal delay and islanders should receive the letters in the next day or two.