Letter Demanding Resignation Sent To P&R

Policy and Resources says it will stand firm as deputy Charles Parkinson gets the political backing he needs and submits letter asking the committee to resign.

Deputy Parkinson's letter has been signed by deputies Simon Vermeulen, David De Lisle, Andy Cameron, Marc Leadbeater, Aidan Matthews and Andy Taylor.

It gives the senior committee five days to consider their position or face a Motion of No Confidence, which is likely to be debated on 22 November.

Deputy Parkinson says their needs to be fresh leadership to get the Assembly through the last 18 months of government:

"There's much to do. In particular, one consequence of last week's debate was the education plans are now in ruins. We need a fresh senior committee to take us forward, otherwise this last 18 months will just be wasted time."

But P&R's members have agreed they will not resign and plan to work on improving Guernsey’s financial position.

Despite losing the GST vote twice in eight months, they did succeed in getting majority backing to continue with priority projects and use reserves and borrowing, if necessary, to fund the estimated £340M cost of the agreed capital projects. They'll also look at raising money through corporate and motoring taxes.

The Committee says it has a wide mandate and will now work on the 2024 budget, the next Government Work Plan policy letter and proposals for building more homes, including the Leale's Yard development on the Bridge. Deputy Peter Ferbrache says now is not the time to go:

"Undeniably, this States is divided and that has made progress extremely challenging this term, but resigning from our posts won’t change that and it would only serve to slow any progress further."

Separately, the Education Committee says it will take the next few weeks to look at the options available to it, after the States agreed to the new centre at Les Ozouets, but not the funding to build it.

Committee President Andrea Dudley-Owen says it means further uncertainty for children, parents and teachers:

"It's an all-too-familiar situation for them, after being promised again and again over the years that the essential investment was coming."

"Not wishing to invest in the education of our young people is a decision which confounds me."

She says doing nothing is not an option and once a decision is made, she'll communicate it direct to all concerned.