Jersey P&R Head Gives Talk On Executive Government In Guernsey

by Jason Gorringe, Tax-News.com, London

06 May 2002

According to a report in the Guernsey Press and Star last week, the Island's politicians were given a chance to question Jersey's Policy and Resources Committee President, Senator Pierre Horsfall, regarding the implementation of governmental reforms in Jersey, and the benefits and disadvantages of 'executive style' government.

Although the issue is currently being debated in Guernsey, the local newspaper reported that Institute of Directors head, Eifion Thomas, stressed that the point of the meeting was not to sway States members (who apparently accounted for around half of the audience), but to explain how the reform process was working in Guernsey.

The Guernsey Press and Star article revealed that there was tremendous interest in the talk, and that questions on how a senior minister could make a decision on the jurisdiction's behalf without consultation, and what the role and power of 'scrutiny committees' should be were raised.

In response to the former enquiry, Senator Horsfall explained that ministers were not given a completely free rein in overseas meetings, and that subjects were discussed beforehand, and perameters established. Responding to Deputy Brian Gabriel on the issue of scrutiny committees, Senator Horsfall explained that they must be given enough power to do their job, but not enough to negate government in the final analysis.

Speaking to the Guernsey Press after the meeting, Advisory and Finance Committee President Laurie Morgan said that he had found the evening interesting, but stated that the debate on executive government is not the Guernsey authorities' highest priority at present.

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