'States should trial public meetings ahead of debate'
POLITICIANS should not get complacent about public engagement and the state of local democracy, a Castel deputy has said, as he suggested trialling public meetings ahead of States debates.
Chris Green made the comments as he called for the States Assembly & Constitution Committee to reconsider its stance on e-petitions, which were launched in Jersey last month.
Sacc president Peter Roffey has said his committee will follow developments in Jersey, but not with much enthusiasm, as he branded e-petitions ‘a gimmick’ that have failed to improve democracy in the UK.
‘E-petitions are not a panacea, by any stretch of the imagination,’ said Deputy Green.
‘That said, they may have some role in helping to refresh and to renew our democracy for the digital age.
‘In some ways, Guernsey has a good level of democracy. Individuals are able to contact their deputies fairly easily.
However, Deputy Green said the States should be ‘constantly thinking’ of new ways to engage with the community, both digitally and through more traditional means.
‘With regards to the latter, I happen to think that the States of Alderney have struck gold with their People’s Meetings. Maybe we could trial our own version to enhance engagement.’
The upcoming island-wide voting referendum will test the level of democratic engagement in the island, he said.
‘It will take place outside of a general election.’
‘Whatever your views on the various options, I consider it essential that all deputies and interested individuals in the community do their bit to raise the profile of the referendum in order to do two things – to generate more of a buzz of interest in the vote and also to boost the turnout on 10 October.
‘It is Guernsey’s first referendum. It is therefore very important that we engage people to get involved as far as we can reasonably do so.’
