Guernsey Press

Home needs to sort its act out

WITH reference to my article in the Press (26 June 2020) headlined ‘Back to bullying’, I thank Deputy Lowe for replying to my article with her six-point answer. I felt I had to reply to these six points.

Published

1. You said all members of the Home Affairs committee were united and did not recognise all allegations of the report. I am not surprised, it was a scathing report on the whole committee. Professor Staite is a professor of law who was brought in to investigate allegations, which she did. She doesn’t have to answer tit-for-tat questions; it was the Home Affairs committee under scrutiny, not her.

2. Members of the Home Affairs committee were united that they did not support much of the content of the author’s report. You may not have, but I did find it most interesting. Facts like Guernsey has the second highest per capita in Europe of people in prison, only just under Hungary, which is looked at as a country who uses force and suppression on its citizens. What does this reflect on Guernsey, where I was born over 70 years ago and have loved? It’s an embarrassment to me and something to be addressed sooner rather than later. Professor Staite also said Guernsey had a long way to go to catch up with the norm on reform.

3. On Deputy Oliver’s interference on a live investigation. She put an opinion on Facebook. It hardly impeded the police on an investigation.

4. On Deputy Oliver refusing to retract her post on social media, my only criticism is she has to learn how to stand her own corner or, in boxing terms, how to become an infighter. She is a rookie deputy and has a lot to learn in this aspect.

5. As I said in my last letter, this looks to me if anyone has a different opinion, whether it is cannabis or any other matter, it is ‘my way or the highway’.

6. You say that protocol is now in place and taken seriously. If you had taken Professor Staite more seriously, we would all be in a better place now.

JOHN DE GARIS

La Carriere,

Bouet,

St Peter Port.