Democracy fails if those elected push own agenda
DO THE States of Guernsey, and in particular ESC, have a mandate? In framing this question I have to wonder the cause and effect of government and, to a degree, policing. Policing is the clearer question, as there are fewer policemen (generic term to include women) and therefore, they have to police by consent of the people. If 2,500 people turned out against the police, the police would have to take notice by pure dint of numbers. The States of Guernsey, however, is a more difficult scenario – 38 Guernsey residents are supported by hundreds of civil servants, and somehow this creates a body that overrules a majority.
We are told we live in a democracy and yet we have answered questionnaires, voted in the polls and demonstrated, telling our government what they need to do, and still they continue to promulgate their own agenda. Now we are told that ESC has spent £4m. on architects’ fees and so we ‘can’t’ change our course. Changing course would waste money spent. Ridiculous argument since they want to spend in excess of £150m. more on their power trip. I don’t think we’d mind if we thought children would benefit, but we don’t – and, therefore, we do mind.
I have re-read the manifestos of ESC members Deputies Dorey, Fallaize, Graham, Roffey and Tooley, and notice that all of them are ‘ambiguous’ about education. On the doorstep during the last election, education was a key point, the majority wanting to retain the one state-run school which was successful – the Grammar School. On the point of the 11-plus and selection employing it, there was some ambiguity for several reasons, such as too early at 11 to test, to the current 11-plus being an intelligence test which students could be coached to pass. One teacher I spoke to was nervous that if setting started, the teachers would be bullied by ambitious parents wanting their children to pass into their school of choice.
At the next election, I think we will have to choose better – for deputies already in post, vote for them only if what they have done meets with your approval. Plus, of course, their manifesto clearly and unequivocally states their position on policy which is due to be debated or made into law. No more sitting-on-the-fence vote for the people that have a view that you agree with. Concerning ‘newbies’, vote for people with clear ideas and the strength of character and integrity to stand by their ideas – and, of course, those with which you agree.
ROSIE HENDERSON
Ma Carriere,
Le Petit Bouet,
St Peter Port,
GY1 2AN.