A ray of hope materialised that we could rid the Island of this most ineffective of States Assembly’s and oust them from their self-imposed term extension with the McSwiggin-Soulsby amendment. This provided for the potential of a 2020 November election or, failing that – March, April or May next year. We heard all manner of objections ranging from the impact on the States calendar (particularly the Budget) to the nonsense of putting undue pressure on Dr Brinks. Despite the silliness, this amendment actually passed and that prompted De Sausmarez to create another ‘on-the-hoof’ amendment seeking to replace it with April at the earliest. Not surprisingly, despite the complete waste of States time it required to present and debate – it was defeated. But in the course of all this – Trott and St Pierre suddenly decided that things have improved to such an extent with the management of Covid that September could actually be feasible and brought that as another ‘on-the-hoof’ amendment. It was supported. Hurrah! Then it was lost eventually in the main debate – primarily because (allegedly), Dr Brinks couldn’t be sure it would be ‘safe’.
Well, what did we learn? We learnt that many in this assembly refuse to grasp that we cannot expect to put democracy on hold indefinitely due to Covid. Whether it abates or returns, it must not be used as an excuse for not giving the Island its right to replace the Assembly. Instead of finding a means of making an election as practical as the new normal (with social distancing) will permit – assuming that at any point in the future, we can expect life to be as it was – is unrealistic. This is what SACC should be tasked with doing Deputy Inder – and not simply denying us our democratic rights under the guise of public safety. It was very disappointing to see some of the more capable members of the Assembly actually voting against September and very surprising to see some of the less visionary supporting it. Possibly, some of the latter were doing so as they do not intent to stand and simply want out as quickly as possible. Whatever, that GSP and Trott wanted to at least try to get a September election is to be commended – unless they had a good idea it would fail and this was an attempt to diffuse the charge that they as individuals were not seeking to subvert democracy……..
Those who voted for a September election (and the earliest chance to give the Island the chance to put capable individuals into the Assembly)
Ferbrache, Brehaut (standing down), Gollop, Parkinson, Mooney, Trott, Le Pelley (standing down), St Pier, Stephens, Meerveld, Laurie Queripel, Graham (standing down), Green, Dorey, Le Tocq.