THE vast majority of Islanders have ‘no confidence, faith or trust’ in the Council of Ministers, Senator Stuart Syvret said yesterday.
He argued that Senator Frank Walker’s ministerial team had lost touch with the electorate and were guilty of a series of gaffes which underlined their incompetence. Senator Syvret spoke for more than an hour in the States yesterday as he sought to persuade Members to support his vote of no confidence in the council. The vote was expected to be taken this morning.
‘The great majority of people of this community have no confidence, faith or trust in this Council of Ministers, the Island’s political executive,’ Senator Syvret said. He warned that the States must shoulder their responsibility to be a voice of the people, or ‘their credibility would go down with the ship’. And he called on the council to stop ‘scaremongering’ about the instability which they claimed votes of no confidence created.
‘Such events are normal,’ said Senator Syvret. ‘They are what happens in mature, functioning democracies. It is normal. So far as such events harm the Island, it would show to the world that we have moved out of the era of deference and Victorian paternalism.’
The debate continued this morning.
Article posted on 2nd July, 2008 - 2.52pm
One Article Comment
Senator Syvret got the mood of the electorate right, with on average a 30% turnout at elections it was right and proper to have this type of debate in the house. Senator Syvret acknowledged on his blog that he did not expect to win, the debate gave states members a forum to offer constructive critism, and for the population to witness democracy in action. Roy Le Herrissier gave an excellent speech and I await Senators Syvrets Jersey Charter which I hope will begin a new chapter in island politics.