It was announced on Thursday that Guernsey's new Policy Council has been elected
by the States.
Deputy Lyndon Trott succeeded with eight of his 10 nominations – as both
his predecessors did – in the House.
His preferred candidates were defeated in the elections for Commerce and Employment
– where Carla McNulty Bauer, previously the deputy minister, narrowly
overcame Jack Honeybill’s nomination – and for Culture and Leisure,
where previous department member Mike O’Hara beat Leon Gallienne to the
seat.
There was some compensation for Deputy Gallienne, with a return to the chairman
role with the Public Accounts Committee.
Three nominations were returned unopposed – Geoff Mahy for the Home Department,
and Policy Council newcomers Hunter Adam for Health and Charles Parkinson for
Treasury and Resources.
The closest competition for a seat was for Environment, where four candidates
were whittled down to two, and Peter Sirett, the Chief Minister’s nomination,
squeezed past incumbent minister David De Lisle by just one vote.
Deputy Dave Jones was returned for Housing, with Bernard Flouquet coming back
to the Policy Council after 15 months out for Public Services, Mark Dorey entering
as a new face for Social Security, and Carol Steere, after eight years out of
the States, earning the ministry for Education.
Committee chairman roles went to Father of the House Ivan Rihoy at the House
Committee, Barry Brehaut at Scrutiny, John Gollop at the Legislation Select
Committee and Al Brouard at the Public Sector Remuneration Committee.
Deputy Trott stated that he would have a different style in his new role as Chief
Minister:
"I am going to be much more relaxed in my approach,’ he revealed,
adding that:
"My role now is to chair a cohesive unit delivering policy determined
by the States and moving forward as one."
He concluded: "Departmental responsibility rests now with the elected ministers and
their teams. My role is easier in many respects apart from on the international
stage, where the majority of my focus will need to be."