Instead of States assemblies moving in a linear direction and coalescing around major policy ideas in a timely fashion, Nick Mann ventures that governments just can't help but revisit the same old ground in order to put their own stamp on proceedings. And with committees running off down blind alleyways, complexity is added to issues that have already been thoroughly analysed
Our new States members have no baggage, the second-time-arounders' baggage has been forgotten and the returning deputies have been absolved. The all-new States of Guernsey, States Plus, may not wash our shirts whiter or eliminate stubborn grass stains but it can fill us with hope that it will indeed be better than States Minus, says Horace Camp. Just a few pointers...
POLITICS in Guernsey continues to creep, if not stumble, towards some kind of party system. It will be very interesting, and revealing, to see if sitting deputies and new candidates are prepared to coalesce around the 10-year vision outlined by Treasury and Resources minister Gavin St Pier to the Institute of Directors last week.
THE debate over the rebuild of La Mare de Carteret schools has, understandably, dominated the education scene in recent months, but consideration of the wider matter of the strategy for secondary education is now upon us.
With the focus now on further cultural change in the States and with few savings made in the first years of the Financial Transformation Programme, the question of what options have been lost along the way – and why – rears its head
TWO major retailers have said they will open on a Sunday if that is what the public wants.
THERE is no doubt about it. Were it a popularity contest or judged on the amount of column inches in this paper and CTV footage, Ross Allen would be Guernsey sport's elite performer of 2013.
WHILE much of the Education Department's response to the Mulkerrin Report is encouraging, there's one aspect that is deeply disappointing.
As thoughts turn to the legacy the present incumbents will leave behind, Nick Mann considers just what the future holds for the next States members.
THE oft-used cliche, 'Sark is different' has a positive connotation when applied to this island at Christmas. Contrasted with the frenzy and gaudiness of a festival that elsewhere seemingly begins in early October, Sark's Christmas is a more sedate and traditional affair, as yet unexploited.
He knows it like the back of his old stonemason's hands, and although octogenarian George Staples doesn't want Belle Greve turned into a 'Little Venice', he does have plans for it...
THERE are so many good, forward-thinking people in football that my heart goes out to them when indirectly they are punished by the foolhardiness of others.
GUERNSEY estate agents would back the creation of a licensing system to regulate the industry.
Jersey 1, Guernsey 0 MURATTI football creates heroes and villains in equal measure.
