One of her members, Haley Camp, said over the weekend that she was considering resigning because of concerns about the leadership and operation of the committee and how differences of opinion are handled.
Deputy Kazantseva-Miller rejected claims that the culture had become ‘hierarchical’ and ‘autocratic’. She also backed Deputy Camp’s right to disagree with other committee members, and insisted there was no need for anyone to resign.
‘Like any committee, members do not always agree on every decision,’ said Deputy Kazantseva-Miller.
‘Deputy Camp has on occasion taken a different view from the majority, which is entirely normal and healthy. Others have also disagreed with colleagues during our meetings from time to time.
‘That exchange of views is part and parcel of how our committee system works, and our decisions are stronger for it.’
A series of policy disagreements since the autumn were known to have strained relations and sources close to the committee said they expected them to come to a head soon, which prompted the Guernsey Press to put questions to the two deputies.
But Deputy Kazantseva-Miller said she was surprised to find out that Deputy Camp was considering resigning and flatly dismissed speculation about the possibility of a proposition asking the States to terminate her membership.
It is understood that one point of tension between them is how free a member should be to speak publicly against policies agreed by a majority of the committee.
The island’s system of government and the States’ rules of procedure make it clear that committee members are not bound by any form of collective responsibility, but in recent years some committee presidents have indicated a wish to keep policy disagreements behind closed doors.
‘Our committee system of government is designed to encourage open and robust debate around the committee table. That debate leads to better decision-making, and it is something I fully support and encourage as president of the committee,’ said Deputy Kazantseva-Miller.
‘When forming the committee, I deliberately sought a diverse group of deputies who could bring different perspectives, challenge the status quo, and help address the significant economic challenges ahead of us. I nominated Deputy Camp precisely because I knew she holds strong views and would challenge both me and other members, and I was pleased that all of my nominations, including Deputy Camp, were supported by the States.’
Deputy Camp said she had been on the receiving end of ‘a pattern of behaviour’ on issues where her views differed from the majority opinion on Economic Development, and that she had experienced nothing like that on other committees.
They included paying external consultants £350,000 for advice on developing the finance industry and handing British Airways hundreds of thousands of pounds a year to fly between Guernsey and Heathrow, both of which Deputy Camp opposed. She was also known to be unhappy when Economic Development requested an additional £1.7m. in its 2026 budget, an increase four times greater than the rate of inflation, at a time when major tax rises are on the horizon.