Let down by archaic political system

Richard Digard’s excellent article – ‘Government – bad by design’ (GP, 11 April 2025) – re-awakened my long-suppressed desire to ask you to print an opinion – from a resident in this beautiful, and blessed, Sarnie Cherie since 1979. The island, and its people, have so much to offer. Yet we are all feeling let down by what has become an archaic political system.

In your pages of 27 March 2015 (‘System of government to blame for States’ chaotic decisions’), and infrequently since, I have previously expressed disquiet about failures in our current democratic systems. Little changes! These concern me now, more than ever.

Island-wide voting: My plea: Bring back the pie charts – now! (Too late to change now. What is deemed better?)

Reportedly there is a lack of take-up of the right to vote – the bedrock of all democracy. This at a time when every eligible adult should be so acting. This concerns me greatly. I believe it is primarily due to the abysmal failure of our States to communicate clearly – and regularly – over many, many, years passed, the state of the island’s finances – in a format that all can understand. Not the arcane statutory accounts. Instead we read of the confusing – £Xm. deficit here (income, or capital spending)?; £Ym. project overrun there – to what budget? Mr Digard is so right in his comments about the way such matters are dealt with now. Action to clarify, and simplify, our finances for every potential voter to understand is needed now.

In the 1980s the tax department/treasury provided each year two pie charts: One showed Bailiwick income by source – personal/corporate taxes etc. The second spending – by committee. Every housewife/hold could understand such common sense data. Also, if interested, any resident could see the trend over, say, the last three – or more – years. So, in the early 1980s it was clear that health/education/home services’ costs were rising at a rate far ahead of historic income. It was – as they say – as plain as the nose on your face. Guernsey folk are shrewd enough to understand very well that if such a scenario continues then trouble awaits. We now have trouble, but – the pie charts stopped. We now should provide this data – to energise voters – immediately.

Treasury need to now provide such easily understood data for the last, say, three-five years – and well before the election. Separately they should also provide our capital budget for this and next year: Planned capital spend (PEH/schools/sea defences), plus funds presently available to cover. And detail their plans to fund any shortfall. So doing forces Treasury to clearly state what funds, or agreed borrowing lines – and terms, they hold to cover such.

I do believe every, or certainly most, Guernsey households will have a very good idea of the value of assets they own: cash/property/pension maybe. They will certainly be aware of the costs of living. Many will also have some ideas about future plans for ‘extras’ – and how they might finance them. Do our deputies?

To now return to Mr. Digard’s ‘Government – bad by design’.

He, and advocate Chris Green, are so right. So too was our respected former Chief Minister, advocate Peter Ferbrache who wrote – GEP 8/2/2024 – ‘Why we need executive government’. He failed to achieve the consensual government needed this term – as have others beforehand. ‘The Guernsey Way’ is – and this may sadden some – no longer fit for modern times. No business here could afford to take so long to agree annual Bailiwick running costs/income to cover. Nor to decide near, and medium-term priorities, and how to pay for them. Those businesses that fail to so act can – and do – go bust very quickly. Will we?

What might easily change (if voters can be informed voters, as above)?

Elect...

A P&R that is composed of the heads of individual committees: Elect deputies who will commit to having this system put in place from day one – maybe two. Policies for the Bailiwick – agreed in that forum – are then taken away by the committee heads to discuss/agree/amend in their meetings, before returning to this, yes, ‘cabinet table’. The States can then vote to confirm/send back for clarification, or change. Abolish ‘silos’, and sursis, too)? Only by such a system can cohesive policies be formed, and then executed. We have had years of promised policies – on every front – but still we fail to deliver. We need, as Mr Digard alludes to, infrastructure (before) housing; urgently upskill/enhance what is (by results) a sub-optimal education system – teachers mean so much more than premises; immigration policies to attract the talent – again to which Mr Digard alludes; travel; care in old age. And commit to using – and paying for – the vast amount of on-island talent in sub-committees to aide deliberations. We will not always need high-cost outsiders if we use local expertise. (Gpeg but one such).

Finances

Elect deputies who have business experience, and can understand finance. As every islander knows money is key to make any policy viable. ‘Follow the money’ is one adage; ‘Find the money’ is what we need to adopt – and fast.

Committee chairs

After the production – at least twice a year – of the above pie charts they must be required to hold public meetings. There to report on the status of not only finances, but policies etc. within their ‘fiefdom’. That will start to get voters on-side – if done well.

Civil service

We have a new chief executive. Time to work with him to ensure that each committee has dedicated/allocated executive(s) – directly accountable both to him, and to the respective committee chairs. Agreed delivery objectives, and time-lines, to be regularly reviewed, and reported to the public. (Alongside the pie charts). Performance-related pay to be the norm, plus in office to work.

Third sector

So much inequality between the haves and have nots in such a wealthy Bailiwick. Elect those who will commit to engage with, and fund, the charitable sectors – so often much closer to the problems than any committee can be.

There is so much more – but my wife tells me, ‘less is more’.

Messrs Digard, Green, and Ferbrache – and others – are both more eloquent, and knowledgeable than am I. However – if Sarnia Cherie is to compete in the vastly-changed world we are now a minuscule part of – then action this day is vital. Who – amongst residents, and possibly potential candidates – will act now to put in place – and improve upon – any/all of the above? To paraphrase: ‘Haro, Haro – this my prayer/ plea’.

Tony Grange