Letter only heaps further very hot spice into this so-called pot of malice
I READ with surprise as no doubt many others did the letter published in the Press on 16 March from Mr Gerald Hough. He refers to a ‘pot of malice’ that is brewing ‘heavily spiced with Covid’ and then proceeds in my view to only heap further very hot spice into this so-called pot of malice. He states that he has read the previously published letter from the chief minister ‘several times’ and still cannot see that it was in any way a personal attack on Mr Chesney.
I think he needs to visit his optician as clearly he cannot or does not want to see the obvious attempt at character assassination of a fellow islander perpetrated by Deputy Ferbrache, who purported to be writing the letter as a citizen of Guernsey and not in any official capacity. However, he cannot in reality divorce the two and as a sitting deputy and chief minister has a duty enshrined in the Code of Conduct applicable to States members to ‘treat members of the public with respect, courtesy and without malice notwithstanding disagreements on issues which are a normal part of the political process’.
His letter made little attempt to address the legitimate and reasonable concerns expressed by Mr Chesney (and of very many others) and ultimately, he could not resist sinking – quite without any connection to what Mr Chesney had actually written – into innuendo concerning Mr Chesney’s personal financial and business position and comparing it to the financial losses he (Mr Ferbrache) has allegedly suffered. Stating that everything he has accumulated was by his own hard work and not inherited wealth clearly leading the reader to believe that the opposite was true for Mr Chesney yet only a few paragraphs earlier he stated he had ‘no idea’ of Mr Chesney’s personal circumstances. I refer to this particularly as I have had business dealings with Mr Chesney over many years and know that he is a successful self-made entrepreneur basing his international business in Guernsey and employing local people as well as paying what must be significant taxes, and as a result helping contain the huge debt burden the island now has as a result of the recent economic difficulties.
Mr Hough then casts his own aspersions on Margaret Smith (letter of 12 March) and questions her legitimacy to consider herself of Guernsey heritage merely because her name apparently cannot be traced back to Norman times. Her viewpoint may have been divisive but his words on her ancestry are equally so, and promote the view of a vociferous xenophobic minority that rant about so-called ‘English people’. This statement together with the style of letter from Mr Ferbrache gives the green light for incivility and lack of respect to anyone of your choosing and especially encourages those who would want to take Guernsey back in time and dislike the wonderful cosmopolitan and successful community we have now become in the 21st century.
Deputy Ferbrache needs to reflect on his responsibilities and conduct towards members of our community and Mr Hough needs to get a new pair of glasses.
Plato said: ‘If you do not take an interest in the affairs of your government then you are doomed to live under the rule of fools’, so keep up the good work Mr Chesney as you have a considerable amount of support for your forceful but fair questioning of the CCA and the protection of democracy in our island.
CHARLES ALLEN