Group to campaign for C ‘the best of both worlds’
THREE of the five options in next month’s referendum now have a campaign group behind them, with the announcement that a group backing Option C is to be launched – and it is looking for volunteers to help ‘change the island’s future’.
This third of the five choices has echoes of the old ‘conseiller’ system, with 10 deputies elected by the entire island once every four years, and the remaining 28 voted for using the current seven districts.
It is described as a ‘healthy hybrid’ by its supporters, who said that it is a tried and tested system. ‘It works well in other elections in other jurisdictions without leading to division between those members elected by either island-wide voting or through the parish system,’ said the campaigners.
‘It is a significant step forward in the democratic process while avoiding the risks of a leap in the dark.
‘It offers adaptability and flexibility in the future, if experience suggests altering the balance between those deputies elected island-wide and those elected from electoral districts.’
The campaigners point out that when the States conducted a public survey in 2009, the hybrid model of Option C came out on top.
‘We ask the Guernsey people – why limit yourself to choosing your representatives only from your parish, why commit yourself to choosing 38 deputies out of over 90 possible island-wide candidates, and why lumber yourself with going to the polls every two years?’
Among the campaign group’s members is Deputy Richard Graham.
‘There are some huge risks with the untested alternatives and we can’t afford four years of ineffective government,’ he said.
‘It is literally the best of both worlds between the other campaigns.’
