P&R says it has total confidence in professor
QUESTIONS about the credibility of the author of a critical report into Home Affairs have been dismissed by the island’s senior committee.
Policy & Resources said that Professor Catherine Staite has ‘unquestionable expertise’ and independence.
Professor Staite wrote the governance review of Home Affairs which uncovered big failings in the committee, and included allegations of bullying and harassment by its president, Deputy Mary Lowe.
Deputy Carl Meerveld wrote to P&R asking if Professor Staite had declared a potential conflict of interest because she is married to the chief executive officer of Alderney States.
He believes it is a ‘glaring breach’ of the principles of good governance, which brings into question the ‘validity and integrity’ of all of Professor Staite’s governance reports.
P&R has written back to Deputy Meerveld saying that Professor Staite is completely unbiased and it has total confidence in her.
‘The committee does not consider that her marriage to a civil servant based in and appointed by the States of Alderney, and who has no formal or informal reporting relationship to the States of Guernsey and no involvement in the work that she is undertaking, is a conflict of interest.’
‘In addition, Professor Staite has not previously worked with the States of Guernsey, and had no prior relationship with any officer or principal committee prior to the commissioning of the work.’
Deputy Meerveld also wanted to know how P&R came to procure the services of Professor Staite, and on what basis she was chosen.
In response, P&R said all the correct protocols were followed.
‘Professor Staite is a resident of the Bailiwick who met all of the criteria for carrying out the review work, including her unquestionable expertise in the area of governance.’
The decision to employ Professor Staite was made by the chief strategy and policy officer in spring last year.
It is highlighted by P&R that Professor Staite engaged directly with Home Affairs in order to agree the terms of reference and the methodology for the review.
‘For clarity, neither the chief strategy and policy officer, the chief executive of the States of Guernsey, nor the Policy & Resources committee, has had any involvement in the specific reviews.’
P&R has put pressure on Deputy Lowe to resign and has indicated it will ask for a vote of no confidence in the whole Home Affairs committee if she does not step down.
