People must judge ministers' conduct

ILL-TEMPERED outbursts are part of the reason the Policy Council is not working, according to a leading Fallagate campaigner. And Deputy Barry Brehaut said islanders must judge whether ministers were behaving appropriately.

He accused Housing minister Dave Jones of a belligerent attitude at Saturday's informal meeting of States members to discuss R. G. Falla's withdrawal of its tender for the hospital contract, which has cost the island £2.4m.

'How people react under pressure can be quite telling. Shouting across a table in the company of 24 other States members and placing postings on an Internet forum is how Deputy Jones usually responds.

'It's up to the public and politicians to decide as to whether that is ministerial-like behaviour,' said Deputy Brehaut.

An independent inquiry into Fallagate by the Welsh Audit Office started yesterday but it is not clear how much it will cost the taxpayer.

'We have been asked by a number of people how much it's going to cost, but it will be impossible to say until after these two days of meetings,' said WAO partner Gill Lewis.

A Public Accounts Committee spokesman pointed out that the WAO was a not-for-profit organisation.

Deputy Brehaut said the Policy Council was not functioning properly.

'As a new member of the States, I'm not alone in feeling like this. We are saying: ?Look, this is our first Policy Council. Is it working?? I'm saying no.

'Some States members should have considered their positions 'over Fallagate' and that remains,' he said.

While he would wait for the inquiry to report, he was certain the tender was withdrawn because of direct political interference.

'The questions about the contract or the appropriateness of 'R. G.' Falla having the contract were raised very late during the process. What minister Dave Jones should bear in mind is that he should have more confidence in the mechanisms of government.

'The tender cleared many hurdles and went through many stringent processes long before it was tabled at Policy Council.'

Deputy Brehaut argued deputies had a right to go public.

'The media is a double-edged sword and you have to respect the freedom of the press. It may give you a sleepless night or two. It seems to me you have only been misrepresented when you don't like what has been said.'

Deputy Jones alleged on a website forum that Deputy Brehaut would have sold several members of his family to get the 'PEH clinical block' contract passed.

'Any politician can say what they like about me but never make a reference, however obscure, to my family,' he said.

Father of the House Deputy Dan Le Cheminant said: 'I personally would not object to any States members expressing views to the media. I have always felt I have been treated fairly by the media.

'Members have got to recognise that Guernsey has been very lucky and we have had a very stable government over the years, which has benefited the people of Guernsey and has been respected by people from outside the island,' he said.

Stressing that he was speaking personally and not as chairman of the House Committee, he added:

'All of us must remember we must try and work together to try and bring about that same stability we have had until recent times.'

'Freedom of speech is something we must value and if members feel they have something to say, they ought to be able to do so. But they must be careful what they say does not destabilise the government and the economy of the island in any way,' said Deputy Le Cheminant.

'I believe we as States members should wait and see the outcome of the review before we make any further comments.'