‘Febrile and toxic system of government needs to change’
GUERNSEY’s top politician, Gavin St Pier, has called for an overhaul in the constitution of the States, describing the current system as ‘febrile and toxic’.
Deputy St Pier attributed the feeling to the ‘highly charged emotions around the politics of the education debate’.
Speaking at the Chamber of Commerce lunch yesterday, the Policy & Resources president said the current method of selecting 38 ‘independents’ was no longer feasible for cohesive government.
‘I think there is a good reason our system is unique and has not been copied by other jurisdictions – while it is pure and has a number of advantages, at its heart it has this inherent dysfunctionality by which our government is chosen,’ said Mr St Pier.
‘Our government will only ever be as good as the capabilities and capacities of the individuals that comprise it.
‘You cannot design bad behaviours out of a system of government and for a number of years I have felt our democracy needs to move to the next stage of its political maturity and development.’
It was at this point Deputy St Pier called for coalitions to be formed between politicians based on policy.
Full story in today's Guernsey Press
