People have spoken, now let's move on

JUST eight months ago, a handful of determined protesters gathered outside the States chamber to voice their opposition to the incinerator.

With two resounding votes - 30-17 and 32-12 - the deputies inside ignored their protests and rejected first Deputy Dave Jones' sursis to delay the project and then went on to endorse the Suez plant.

What has changed in the interim before yesterday's huge vote against Suez? Has a magic solution come to the fore?

No, the real change is in the people. A whisper of complaint from fewer than 20 people has turned into a roar of disapproval from hundreds. A huge petition, one-sided public meetings, scores of letters to this newspaper and radio phone-ins have all shown one thing: most people despise what this incinerator represents.

Those who would argue that a silent majority backed the burner are ignoring an obvious truth: to win an argument you need to say something.

Deputies, often voted in by less than a quarter of their electorate, should understand that better than most.

Exercising that voice is the people's democratic right. And the scenes outside the Royal Court House yesterday are something the island can be justly proud of.

It is not, as one deputy foolishly dubbed it, mob rule. Getting the people to engage is an essential part of the political process.

So, having won the day decisively, what next?

A new policy is needed. And it had better be a good one. Time is short and firm and intelligent leadership must be shown.

For that to happen 16 years of history has to be swept aside and it cannot be by all the same faces. It needs deputies (and civil servants) who are committed to the ideals of waste minimisation, not just those who feared the voters' wrath.

Deputy Tony Spruce was right to resign. He cannot be a part of that.

If this is to succeed, the Public Services Department must join him and resign en bloc - as soon as possible.

Those up for the task can stand again and see if their colleagues trust them to make this work.