The States of Alderney is wobbling on its bike

One pet project follows yet another, unaware of real and impending problems that need our urgent attention. The island plan is broken. Good governance practices further away with unnecessary legislative probes. Each wasting time and valuable resources that should be redirected to the core issues our island faces: cost of living; housing; transport.

Earlier this year we had an unnecessary and expensive gun law change, with a planned attempt to turn Alderney on its head under the guise of ‘good governance’ (this latest track released by sources who seek to take away your right to vote – watch the voting on that in September…if passed it will have a devastating impact to the public right to democracy). Good governance changes could cost, I believe, half a million or even more. More and more cost for changing Alderney laws with limited benefit, when we should be spending our money and time on real change. A blatant case of poor governance and inefficient management, skewed by egos and ambition. States members consistently shifting the blame from one person to another, never taking accountability for their actions.

Other failures include the town clock fiasco; the neglect of our Old Connaught that the General Services Committee continues to willingly sleepwalk through while it could help ease our local housing crisis; the same for Whitegates, languishing without decision. The harbour is better now with new management, however don’t forget the fiasco with the crane, and our boat disruption and loss of food supply that cost many thousands. The loss of commercial quay access; lack of action on poor staffing; the withholding of information by the civil service labelled ‘operational’ is still paramount.

These projects and failures have cost us an absolute fortune. The States of Alderney is wobbling on its bike.

However, it is the GSC and its part in this biodiversity ordinance that is the straw to break this camel’s back. For me, it follows many disappointing failures. Whatever they tell you, an ordinance is, in effect, law.

I am a strong believer in our wildlife management and its sustainable future and applaud the good things they do. Wildlife and ensuring we conserve our island to best effect is truly important to me. However, I now find that our States is full of conflicted members. And while I have sympathy to an organisation that aims to be helpful to Alderney, that organisation should not be put in any position where it writes government policy.

I have found that some of our States members are shifting positions very quickly. In the island plan, written by Mr Carter, it was stated that the biodiversity law was a high priority. I raised concerns in the Alderney States meeting that Mr Carter was in fact conflicted through his role with the wildlife trust. He has since clarified this, however I still wonder how, with such significant public backlash, our States members could continue to support this ordinance? This committee of which I am a member with only one vote exasperates me now.

I have contemplated whether I should resign from my position on the GSC, as I feel the committee members are spending too much time focusing on pet projects that do not effectively address the problems our island faces. However, I cannot in good conscience step away, as events have proved we need a rational voice to challenge the other members and fight for our local rights. I have written this letter to clarify to you, the public, my personal views and position on the events outlined above, and cement my commitment to fighting for Alderney.

Alderney wobbles on its bike and if it fails to listen to the public, it will surely fall.

STEVE ROBERTS