In a short debate at yesterday’s States meeting, some members expressed some concerns at the potential outcome of the process but were generally supportive.
States president William Tate, an islander for the past 30 years, also expressed his enthusiastic backing for the proposals.
He said that the issues that were likely to be addressed by the commission in regards to Alderney’s relationship with Guernsey ‘had been put in the too-difficult box for too long’. ‘This is an opportunity for all three islands to come together, to put aside the past, and to look to the future.
‘This will work if we as a community enter into this positively. There will be areas we find challenging, it may well be that we have to make certain sacrifices.
‘We want to make sure that our islands and the Bailiwick are sustainable.’
Stuart Clark said that an examination of the relationship between the islands was long-overdue and he hoped it would lead to a better relationship.
Alex Snowdon said that there was concern in the island community about the sustainability of the 1948 Agreement between Guernsey and Alderney.
He said that the key issues for Alderney to consider was what it needed for the community to survive and prosper and ‘that needs to be put at the heart of our thinking’. He also hoped that the work of the commission would not be swayed by the state of public finances in Guernsey and any desire to look for savings.
Mr Snowdon said that he welcomed the establishment of the commission, which includes three former UK politicians, a former high-ranking civil servant and a constitutional academic, and hoped for a ‘sensible outcome’, but he would remain ‘cautious’.
Policy & Finance Committee chair Jeannie Cameron said that the commission would address constitutional, governance, economic and operational issues between the islands in a modern context.
‘It is entirely right that this should be assessed against present-day needs and future aspirations,’ she said.
'This is not just about reviewing the past, this is forward-looking at the evolving relationship between the islands.
The Alderney States has established a new sub-committee to act as liaison on commission issues, she said.
‘We are not simply endorsing this process, this is an opportunity to strengthen relationships, address long-standing issues and ensuring that the Bailiwick is well-placed to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future,' said Ms Cameron.
The commission is expected to begin its work soon and has pledged to produce an interim report later this year before concluding its findings in about 18 months’ time.