From D Chapman.
CHANGING Jersey’s system of government has resulted in a ministerial system overloaded, stressed and in danger of complete collapse.
Warning bells should now be ringing loud and clear.
As an example of a ministry in overload, I would like to draw attention to Economic Development which has taken on board the duties and functions of seven previous committees, each of which had a membership of five resulting in a total of 35. This ministry only has three States Members in it.
In theory this represents a colossal increase in workload of approximately 1,100 per cent per minister, presuming they were committee members before.
If further proof is required of overload, Senator Ozouf, who is in charge, has already admitted to working 70 to 80 hours per week, his share of responsibility being increased to 1,500 per cent as one of his assistant ministers has been diverted to specialise in matters to do with the Harbours and Airport Committee, resulting in that Deputy handling the workloads by himself, previously in the hands of the five States Members of the committee.
The other responsibilities taken over were:
Agriculture and Fisheries.
Tourism.
Financial Services.
Postal and Telecommunications.
Gambling Control.
Industries Committee.
One can see that it is not just the sheer physical workload involved here but the wide panorama of subject matter which the ministers are required to have a grasp of. This is just not sustainable and makes no numerical sense at all, nor is it conducive to properly considered decision making.
It is a shame that neither the Clothier proposals nor the later summary specified manning levels at all. If there had been, perhaps this flawed system would have been avoided.
The public would have been better informed of the implications of electoral reform if some of the options produced by the Privileges and Procedures Committee for use in a Mori poll, would have allowed a reduction in States membership.
There is a body of opinion in Jersey which seeks to justify a reduction in States Membership by making a comparison with the governing body of a small English town of similar population to Jersey. What small English town has to provide its own health service, education service, social security service, police force and customs and immigration service along with all the other ministries listed above?
What we need are sufficient boots on the ground to properly handle the workload, duties and functions of government in Jersey and that has precious little to do with mere population comparisons.
Most of a small English town’s legislation is produced by several layers of central government.
There appears to be a stark choice to be made. We either increase our States membership to cope with the present system or we change to a system which can be accommodated by the current States membership.
I believe that the present stressed situation has contributed to the public’s unprecedented, sustained anger and criticism of the government over the last three years.
Whatever opinion we have of some of our politicians, it is self evident that this ministerial system has failed us all, despite the self-congratulations after ‘the first 500 days’. 30 Manor Close,
Grande Route de St Clement,
St Clement.
Ministerial government is in danger of collapse
From D Chapman.
CHANGING Jersey’s system of government has resulted in a ministerial system overloaded, stressed and in danger of complete collapse.
Warning bells should now be ringing loud and clear.
As an example of a ministry in overload, I would like to draw attention to Economic Development which has taken on board the duties and functions of seven previous committees, each of which had a membership of five resulting in a total of 35. This ministry only has three States Members in it.
In theory this represents a colossal increase in workload of approximately 1,100 per cent per minister, presuming they were committee members before.
If further proof is required of overload, Senator Ozouf, who is in charge, has already admitted to working 70 to 80 hours per week, his share of responsibility being increased to 1,500 per cent as one of his assistant ministers has been diverted to specialise in matters to do with the Harbours and Airport Committee, resulting in that Deputy handling the workloads by himself, previously in the hands of the five States Members of the committee.
The other responsibilities taken over were:
Agriculture and Fisheries.
Tourism.
Financial Services.
Postal and Telecommunications.
Gambling Control.
Industries Committee.
One can see that it is not just the sheer physical workload involved here but the wide panorama of subject matter which the ministers are required to have a grasp of. This is just not sustainable and makes no numerical sense at all, nor is it conducive to properly considered decision making.
It is a shame that neither the Clothier proposals nor the later summary specified manning levels at all. If there had been, perhaps this flawed system would have been avoided.
The public would have been better informed of the implications of electoral reform if some of the options produced by the Privileges and Procedures Committee for use in a Mori poll, would have allowed a reduction in States membership.
There is a body of opinion in Jersey which seeks to justify a reduction in States Membership by making a comparison with the governing body of a small English town of similar population to Jersey. What small English town has to provide its own health service, education service, social security service, police force and customs and immigration service along with all the other ministries listed above?
What we need are sufficient boots on the ground to properly handle the workload, duties and functions of government in Jersey and that has precious little to do with mere population comparisons.
Most of a small English town’s legislation is produced by several layers of central government.
There appears to be a stark choice to be made. We either increase our States membership to cope with the present system or we change to a system which can be accommodated by the current States membership.
I believe that the present stressed situation has contributed to the public’s unprecedented, sustained anger and criticism of the government over the last three years.
Whatever opinion we have of some of our politicians, it is self evident that this ministerial system has failed us all, despite the self-congratulations after ‘the first 500 days’.
30 Manor Close,
Grande Route de St Clement,
St Clement.
Article posted on 10th July, 2008 - 3.00pm