POOR communication and an unhelpful Education department were at the root of the low turn-out for the students’ hustings, according to a States Deputy and a Senatorial candidate.

Following the dismal turnout at Tuesday’s hustings, when just 22 students turned up to hear from the 21 Senatorial candidates, Deputy Carolyn Labey, the politician who fought to get students the vote, questioned how the event was organised.

‘My son is 16. He intends to vote and he didn’t know anything about it,’ she said. ‘He didn’t hear anything from his teachers and it seems that there was a lack of communication and information.’

But assistant director of policy and planning Jeremy Harris said: ‘To the best of my knowledge, all the students were made aware of the hustings and it was good that they were given the opportunity to take part. We contacted the head teachers of all the Island’s secondary schools and asked them to inform all their 16- and 17-year-old students of the hustings.’

• Picture: Deputy Carolyn Labey