DPA misled for second time as row over VP rumbles on

They were told that the committee which oversees States rules – the States’ Assembly & Constitution Committee – had backed their right to replace their vice-president in the middle of a States term.

But it has now emerged that four of the five members of Sacc have not even considered the issue.

DPA president Victoria Oliver and the member she wants to make her vice-president, John Dyke, told other members of the DPA that advice from Sacc endorsed guidance from some officials that they could throw out Deputy Taylor as number two despite him still being a member of the committee.

Deputy Dyke appeared to confirm this when he told the Guernsey Press: ‘We had officer and legal advice at the time and followed that. Deputy Taylor, not happy with the decision of the DPA, has cast around for alternative legal advice which has been inconclusive. Sacc has now confirmed our original advice. Nothing was botched.’

But Sacc members are not due to discuss their position until they meet next week.

‘I can confirm that following the DPA’s decision to appoint a new vice-president, advice was sought from the senior Sacc officer. That officer’s advice was subsequently supported by the president of Sacc, but at that stage the committee had not had reason to discuss it as part of its formal agenda,’ said Sacc president Deputy Carl Meerveld.

‘As this is topical and the rules are silent on this issue, it has been put on the agenda for consideration by Sacc at its scheduled meeting next week, which the media are welcome to attend.’

In January, Deputy Oliver narrowly won a vote of DPA members to replace Deputy Taylor with Deputy Dyke.

It has emerged that immediately before the vote was taken Deputy Oliver falsely told DPA members there was an alleged precedent for a committee removing its vice-president.

And it has since been unclear whether the vote was even allowed under States’ rules and the States’ ‘blue book’ still identifies Deputy Taylor as vice-president.

The DPA yesterday refused to explain why Deputy Taylor remains listed as vice-president in the ‘blue book’ when a majority of its members claim that he has been replaced by Deputy Dyke.

‘Deputies Dyke and Oliver have made numerous references to advice they have received on this, including from Sacc,’ said Deputy Taylor.

‘They’ve not yet shared any of the advice they refer to, but I understand from contacting Sacc directly that this issue hasn’t even been considered.’

The DPA is due to meet today. Its members are divided on whether they will be able to resolve the weeks-long dispute, which has left both Deputies Taylor and Dyke claiming to be the committee’s vice-president.

The Guernsey Press yesterday asked the States’ presiding officer, Bailiff Richard McMahon, who he currently recognised as the DPA’s vice-president. His chambers said that other commitments meant he was unable to respond by the end of the day.

The other two members of the DPA - Sasha Kazantseva-Miller and Chris Blin – declined to reply to questions about the chaos surrounding their committee. Deputy Kazantseva-Miller said she would comment after today’s DPA meeting.

Deputy Dyke appealed for Deputy Taylor to stand aside as vice-president.

‘Deputy Taylor might take the more elegant approach of accepting the committee decision with good grace. His suggestion that he needs to be on the committee to scrutinise the rest of us is just plain silly,’ said Deputy Dyke.

The States’ senior committee, Policy & Resources, hoped the DPA would resolve the impasse soon.

‘No circumstances have arisen where it has been necessary to recognise a vice-president of the DPA and we have not considered the issue,’ a spokesman said.

‘P&R is aware that this is a matter the DPA will continue discussing at its upcoming meeting and we hope they are able to resolve it quickly and move on.’

Sacc said it hoped the DPA ‘will be able to find a resolution to this ongoing matter, which is diverting the attention of members and officers from far more pressing matters’.