Deputy Leadbeater refused to drop Deputy Curgenven from his preferred list of candidates despite opposition from a group of States members over the weekend. Deputy Neil Inder had even threatened an immediate motion of no confidence in the committee if Deputy Curgenven was elected as a member.
But he was beaten to the fifth seat on Home Affairs by Simon Vermeulen, in one of only two contested elections for a total of 44 members’ seats on 12 States committees, concluded in record time.
‘I don’t know Deputy Curgenven very well as this was his first time standing for election, but he secured enough votes democratically to become a member of this Assembly,’ said Deputy Leadbeater.
‘He is known as a man of the people. He has done a lot of what you would call constituency work already, even though he wasn’t a member of this House.’
States committees: Full line-up of members
Before being elected to the States, Deputy Curgenven was involved in a high-profile claim for damages totalling about £12,000, which was settled only when police officers agreed a deal with him and his wife, after the States and its insurers had paid the officers’ legal bills estimated at between £250,000 and £400,00 over a two-year period.
He went on to advise plaintiffs in several similar cases and campaigned against changes to police complaints processes made by the previous Home Affairs Committee led by Rob Prow.
Deputy Curgenven told the Assembly that Deputy Leadbeater had shown ‘courage’ to nominate him for a seat on his new committee.
‘I have dedicated the past four years to supporting some of our most vulnerable residents who face barriers within our justice system. I have supported and continue to support survivors of rape who felt abandoned, individuals subject to miscarriages of justice, and vulnerable people subject to mistreatment,’ he said.
‘It is difficult to comprehend the extent of injustice unless you have experienced it first-hand. But I stand here not as a victim, but as a reformer with a clear vision for change.’
He said he was a vocal supporter of Guernsey’s new chief of police, Damian Kitchen, and that they had developed a strong and constructive relationship.
But he claimed that victims of crime still felt unsupported and that processes for dealing with complaints and appeals against the police remained outdated and unfit for purpose.
‘I ask for your vote today so that we can build a fairer, more transparent and truly effective justice system that restores public trust in our institutions, together,’ said Deputy Curgenven.
Deputy Inder had claimed that nominating Deputy Curgenven raised a question over Deputy Leadbeater’s judgement and leadership and some States members had asked Policy & Resources president Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez to intervene in the matter. There were heated email exchanges between deputies over the weekend. In one message copied to all States members, Deputy Leadbeater referred to Deputy Inder as ‘a prick’, before later apologising.
Deputy Vermeulen was proposed for a seat on Home Affairs by Deputy Jayne Ozanne. They were both defeated in the election for a president of the committee last week.
She said he had served with ‘diligence, integrity and commitment’ as vice-president of Home Affairs during the previous political term.
‘Deputy Vermeulen can offer experience, continuity and a moral compass that naturally is needed on such a key States committee,’ said Deputy Ozanne.
‘The committee must maintain public confidence in our justice system, ensure our island is safe and secure, support our emergency services, and help shape the kind of community we all want to live in – safe, inclusive and resilient.
‘Deputy Vermeulen understands the weight of this responsibility and what is expected as a committee member.’
Deputy Vermeulen said it was vital for the public to have ‘the utmost trust and respect’ for members of Home Affairs.
He was elected alongside Deputies Munazza Malik and John Gollop and Alderney Representative Alex Snowdon, after Deputy Curgenven fell two votes short of forcing a run-off election for the final seat.
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