The government we have is not necessarily the one we deserve

From John Henwood.
THE Société Jersiaise is most readily associated with the conservation of aspects of our cultural heritage, so it is particularly interesting that its president, Chick Anthony, is critical in your ‘Our Island’ series (JEP 4 July) of our electoral system, which has been unchanged for over 60 years.

It would be difficult for any reasonable person to disagree with his broad analysis of the reasons why people have lost faith in the system. It is indeed an unduly complex system and one in which the dice are loaded in favour of those seeking re-election where being known outweighs the need to set out policies.

Mr Anthony points to the proposals outlined in the Clothier Report which, though published nearly eight years ago, are still seen by many as offering the only viable solution to a difficult problem.

However, he is wrong to ascribe to Clothier, ‘a small number of medium-sized constituencies’ in replacement for the existing electoral boundaries. That was the creation of the Privileges and Procedures Committee and, like every other substantive attempt at change, it was thrown out by the States Assembly.

Clothier did not see a need to change existing electoral boundaries, which follow the ancient parish borders with the most populous parishes sub-divided into districts. There was, and still is, a need to address inequities of representation, but Clothier pointed to a simple resolution of that issue.

The forthcoming round of elections will be the third time Jersey has been asked to go to the polls in what is often, mistakenly, referred to as a general election since the Clothier Report was published. It is easy to predict that, come December, there will once again be much wringing of hands over low turnouts and the general disengagement of the people from the political process.

So more power to Mr Anthony, The Société Jersiaise and all other individuals and organisations that are willing to point out the government we have is not necessarily the one we deserve.
Les Carrières,
Route du Mont Mado,
St John.

Article posted on 10th July, 2008 - 2.59pm

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