There is no place for backbencher status in our government

IN RESPONSE to the recent letters written by Robert Henry and Tim Wetherall and published in the Guernsey Press, it is comforting to know that other voters are now thinking as I do, that Gavin St Pier’s behaviour following his failed bid to return as chief minister is unacceptable. His inability to gain any position during the States committee elections was indeed a clear sign from his fellow States members that his so-called success during his last year as chief minister was as a result of Dr Brink’s amazing approach to tackling the Covid-19 pandemic and he had otherwise spent his term sitting on the fence, not making any decisions and allowing the island to fall behind in improvements of any kind. His favouritism towards vanity projects may have influenced some, but they were generally not favoured by the voting public. Gavin St Pier’s new, self-appointed status, together with that of his close associates, as ‘backbenchers’, is ridiculous and only being used to disrupt any progress by the new States committees. His suggestion that nothing is being achieved by our new government is quite incredulous and started immediately after Peter Ferbrache’s appointment as chief minister. Gavin St Pier’s behaviour has been likened by so many to how a spoilt child behaves when they can’t get their own way. I’m sure that Peter Ferbrache’s approach, like most when taking over someone else’s role, was to first clear the decks and sort out the bulging in-tray, while at the same time handling a second lockdown. Our new chief minister is making an excellent job of focusing on the road ahead and does not need the constant distraction and disruption being created by Gavin St Pier and his backbencher friends. So, my final words are to ask Mr St Pier to behave with more respect towards the States members who now hold the responsibility of moving our island forward and to please stop this disruptive behaviour. Following the last four years of watching the States becoming a dysfunctional body under his leadership, we need all members to work together. There is no place for this backbencher status in our government, which needs to work as one rather than being split into parties. Any scrutiny required can be carried out by the Scrutiny Management Committee.