President of Alderney Chamber of Commerce calls for political format modernisation

ALDERNEY'S Chamber of Commerce president has called for modernisation of the island's government structure.

Andrew Eggleston said the political format has not substantially changed since 1948 – unlike Guernsey's and Jersey's governments.

It meant too often that confusion reigned in the States, with members pulling in different directions, he said.

Mr Eggleston, pictured, was writing in the President's report ahead of the Chamber's AGM on Wednesday.

At present, Alderney has 10 independent States members and a President.

Although a political party system would be difficult to sustain on such a small island, Mr Eggleston said, it would improve cohesion within the States if each member signed up to a series of broad policies.

'We have 10 States members who can, and sometimes do, pull in 10 different directions,' he commented.

'How can we pull together and how can we, the electorate, know more accurately what our States members actually stand for?'

He said the party political system had the advantage of clearly indicating to the electorate what a candidate believed in and what he or she would strive towards.

'If there was to be a comprehensive list of mainstream policies that candidates would have to agree to, disagree to or comment on, we would be able to vote in a more positive manner,' he said.

'They would then be more accountable to the electorate for their actions once within the States.'

For people looking in, he said, Alderney's government could look rather confused.

'To many of us outside the States fortress trying to look in, the perception remains of certain discord, cabals and confusion,' he said in his report. 'This does not appear to be joined-up government for the good and well-being of the island.'

Alderney's Chamber of Commerce has a membership of around 500 people.