Politician heal thyself, to move States forward
WE DO know, perhaps fortunately, that Deputy Peter Ferbrache doesn’t do social media. As a result, he may not have seen the entirely predictable response when we asked, last week, somewhat tongue in cheek, for a three-word response for how islanders rated the performance of the 20-25 States.
Is it coincidence that it takes just three words to write ‘worst States ever’?
Of course that is a harsh and unfair assessment of a government which only truly kicked into action (in terms of policy and projects) in November, and was then derailed by a two-month lockdown.
But is Deputy Ferbrache correct when he says, today: ‘I think generally, on most things, people think we’re trying to do our best’?
The keyboard warriors won’t agree, but he might be right. Our readers often tell us so.
In terms of the impact of government on island lives, the States has secured passage of a plan to move secondary and post-16 education forward. Many didn’t like it, this newspaper didn’t rate the plans, but now, largely, the public, which wanted a three-school model, have got ‘it’, and got on board.
Now other matters are progressing. Deputy Ferbrache recognises his need to move some capital projects forward, particularly those connected with island infrastructure, and it’s frankly puzzling why some obvious projects, identified well before the election, have failed to reach the start line.
Today’s interview with Deputy Ferbrache shows there are plenty of projects lined up for this government within and outside of the Government Work Plan, and many are starting to make progress.
Maybe this government’s greater challenge is healing what appear to be obvious divides within itself.
Deputies this week have celebrated the anniversary while claiming (almost) everyone is good friends, but from the edge of the playing field it still doesn’t seem that way.
In a States where some appear contemptuous of process in the Assembly, where some claim that the men possess an arrogance bordering on disinterest, and where the party lines – even where no ‘party’ exists – maybe the next area this States to look at are its own operations and behaviours.