Delaying election for a year is unacceptable

We are fully aware you voted for a delay, however we feel this is an opportunity to correct this wrong and the considerable injustice to the people of Guernsey that’s in play.

You may ask why it is wrong?

We are indeed in one of the worst crises and economic downturns Guernsey and indeed the world has ever encountered, and whilst this is as serious as lives at stake, we don’t feel hearts can rule minds and democracy simply be swept away.

We feel Covid-19 shouldn’t be used by the States as an excuse not to do things, but instead use it as an opportunity to do the right thing. South Korea were recently able to hold a fair and proper election – why can’t we?

As a writer to the Guernsey Press so eloquently put it last week, democracy is not something we should take for granted; many have fought and even lost their own lives in the fight for freedom for democracy. We believe democracy should be upheld.

Whilst we fully appreciate the need for safety and in no way should we become complacent, the current situation is quickly evolving and indeed improving. We don’t believe a static decision on an election date should be approved; we would prefer an option where the election date could be reviewed on a monthly basis and held at a future point soonest from that review.

Normally major States decisions (and we consider this one of them) would in part be formed by public consultation. It is ironic this is the first island-wide election the people of Guernsey have had a say in (after many years of campaigning), and it is the first election only the States

of Guernsey have had a say in delaying.

In terms of timings, we were already fully prepared for the original election date in an operational sense, and the candidates preparing to stand were on the start line. And indeed, would have been prepared for October as SACC’s previously preferred date. A delay until October is acceptable and proportionate, but a delay for a year is certainty not. Why waste a year with a States that includes many deputies who do not even want to be there?

An experienced pair of hands may in some people’s minds be the best approach for managing a crisis, whilst others would prefer to have the best people around the table to manage such a crisis.

Guernsey’s electorate can be the only ones to decide who they want at that table.

Following publication of our letter in the Guernsey Press several weeks ago, we have been blown away by firstly the response of support for not delaying the election by 12 months, and the high calibre of people who have reached out to also say they were planning on standing.

We have great admiration for all the people of Guernsey who have worked together to bring us to this stage, including the community, who have adhered to social distancing rules. We believe there are challenges beyond Covid-19 and we need an assembly with the appetite to rise to the challenge effectively.

A public board would struggle to vote themselves in without shareholder consent. Good governance is the life blood of any organisation, and the States is no exception.

Please do not support amending the Reform Law and set the example that’s expected of you. Ignoring this could well set a dangerous precedent that could well be manipulated by a future States.

Finally, we ask for a recorded vote on the proposition.

SIMON VERMEULEN (simon@vermeulen.gg), GERALD HOUGH, CLIVE MCMINN,

TONY CLEAL, TORY RUSSELL.