Bailiff’s dual role is wrong
THE BAILIFF is civil head of the executive government and head of the judiciary. Is this democracy? These ‘jobs for the boys’, and now girls, carry privileges. There is the huge ego-boosting knighthood or now a damehood. This outdated honour is given regardless of how competently a recipient has behaved during their period of office. One should also question how being head of government and judiciary is in itself deeply disturbing and of course open to allegations of not being accountable to anyone. Is it not time a request is submitted in writing to the Queen or a referendum is carried out asking the following:
1) Should the dual role of head of the executive government and head of the judiciary by the Bailiff be split – yes or no?
2) Should the role of the jurats be replaced with a more democratic process of off-island jurors – yes or no?
3) Should freemasons be banned from holding any form of public office – yes or no?
Perhaps there is a need for our elected people’s deputies to debate a review of the Bailiff’s role within the Bailiwick or for our people’s deputies to authorise a review by senior High Court judges of the role of the Bailiff and the judiciary – including the role of the jurats. These High Court judges must be free from the influence of the practices of the ‘old boys’ networks’ and the influences of the judiciary so prevalent in Guernsey. Yes, there will be opposition from certain quarters from within. But you can’t make a good omelette without breaking a few eggs…
PETE BURTENSHAW
petejb@cwgsy.net
Editor’s footnote: the Bailiff declined to comment.