But new deputy Haley Camp said yesterday that she wanted to join the senior committee and would challenge Gavin St Pier in an election which is likely to be held at the next States meeting on 20 May.
Deputy St Pier, P&R’s vice-president and treasury lead, announced on Saturday that he intended to resign and immediately seek re-election, after he was re-arrested on Friday on suspicion of misconduct in public office and an offence under the 1948 Reform Law, which followed his previous arrest on suspicion of harassment.
Jayne Ozanne said she was also interested in joining P&R but would want the committee’s backing before standing.
Marc Laine is one of at least two other deputies believed to be considering a bid for the vacancy.
Deputy Camp said she believed she was ‘the right person for the job’ at this time.
‘What I would bring to P&R is a clean slate and, importantly, no baggage, allowing a full focus on the work ahead, rather than the weight of past decisions or ongoing questions,’ she said.
‘At a time like this, there is a strong case for new blood at the centre of government, a fresh perspective, clear thinking and a renewed focus on doing the basics well.
‘I have already shown that I won’t back away from the big challenges facing us and come with experience of taking broken systems and fixing them through meaningful, measurable reform.’
P&R president Lindsay de Sausmarez has not yet indicated whether she will nominate Deputy St Pier in the election, after saying she and her other members agreed with his decision to resign, although they are believed to be reluctant to lose him ahead of a landmark tax and spending debate which he was expected to lead in July.
Deputy Camp thought that Deputy St Pier was operating on the expectation that he already had enough support to return to P&R. As many as 18 members are understood to have indicated that they would be likely to vote for him.
‘However, in any democratic process, there should be a genuine choice,’ said Deputy Camp.
‘That was something the Assembly avoided at the start of this term, but it is a fundamental and healthy feature of democracy.’
Deputy Helyar led proposals for the GST-plus tax package in the previous States term but revealed that he would not be prepared to do so again ‘purely to feed a government system which is, to all intents, broken’.
The States Trading Supervisory Board president said that was not the only reason why he would not stand in the election for a member of P&R later this month.
‘I already have much important work to complete with my team at the STSB, but also for me this is not the right group with which to achieve the kind of things I believe need to be undertaken to get Guernsey back on track, which involves a pressing need for major civil service and government reform,’ said Deputy Helyar.
He hoped that Deputy St Pier would end up not seeking an immediate return to the senior committee.
‘That is a decision which may have been made in haste in light of his recent arrest and should in my view be reconsidered. We should try our best to be focused on what is best for Guernsey,’ he said.
Deputy Ozanne expressed an interest in joining P&R when its former external relations lead, Jonathan Le Tocq, resigned from the States before being jailed for a string of sex offences.
She said she was interested in the latest vacancy on the committee and would discuss it with Deputy de Sausmarez and other colleagues.
‘I would see it as a major honour to serve on P&R, but would only want to do so if I was invited to do so, as I think it important that the committee is able to indicate its preferred candidate,’ said Deputy Ozanne.
‘I must say I am deeply concerned about how these unfortunate events are being perceived by those outside our island, particularly given our need to maintain our international standing and credibility.
‘Given the level of uncertainty in the geo-political landscape, we must do all we can to ensure that “brand Guernsey” retains the international community’s trust and respect so that we can weather the storms ahead.’
Marc Laine is understood to be keen to join P&R. He was recently appointed as its IT adviser and is known to have supporters for a bid for full membership of the committee. But he would be unlikely to want the treasury role, which could potentially be filled by Deputy Charles Parkinson, already a member of P&R, if Deputy St Pier loses his seat on the committee.
Scrutiny president Andy Sloan, who was interested in the treasury role when committees were first elected last July, ruled out standing in the latest election, and criticised Deputy St Pier’s decision to resign and seek re-election.
‘The States isn’t a jury. I think it’s inappropriate of Deputy St Pier to seek a mandate in these circumstances. These are matters for due process, not a political vote,’ said Deputy Sloan.
‘I am not interested in the role in this situation. I have a job to do on Scrutiny.’