SENATOR Frank Walker has been challenged to face a public vote if he wants to be the Island’s first Chief Minister.

The president of Policy and Resources still has four years to run of his Senatorial term and in theory could become the leader of the new ministerial government without facing a general election.But Senator Christopher Lakeman, president of the Privileges and Procedures Committee, which is managing the transition to ministerial government, has pushed for a general election before it is introduced so that States Members who want to hold ministerial office can have their mandate renewed by the electorate.It has also been suggested that the Senators who are not up for election next year – Frank Walker, Philip Ozouf, Paul Routier, Mike Vibert, Len Norman and Wendy Kinnard – could choose to resign from office in time to run in the Senatorial elections along with the other six candidates, especially if they are seeking nomination as chief minister.That suggestion, made by the Privileges and Procedures Committee to the Policy and Resources Committee at a meeting on Monday, was not warmly received.

Four P & R members are among the six Senators who are not due to go to the polls in 2005.