From David Payn.
FOLLOWING the reports concerning Deputy Egré, I feel I must write, as the proposer to Julie Rabet, his opponent in the forthcoming election for Deputy in St Peter, to set the record straight.

Julie is a very fine and professional young lady who has allowed her name to go forward as a candidate for Deputy of St Peter. She is understandably very upset that any rumours concerning Deputy Egré are being attributed to her campaign. To date, as proposer to Julie, I have kept my own counsel. However, I am not prepared to stand by and watch this young lady ’s integrity be questioned.

Your reporter correctly pointed out that rumours of a smear campaign were raised by Deputy Egré’s proposer and seconder on nomination night. Deputy Egré also addressed specific rumours during the hustings for Constable back in October. This I find confusing and contradictory on the Deputy’s part, given that Julie had not, at that time, declared her intention to stand as a candidate in this election.

There have been a number of people who have spoken to me or to members of our campaign team to question what these rumours are, which suggests that Deputy Egré’s own supporters are in fact fuelling the fire. It therefore would appear that Deputy Egré’s claim is nothing less than a device to pervert the democratic process — something which we, the electors of St Peter, must not allow.

I was one of those present at the ‘clear the air’ meeting held after the election for Constable, and at that meeting Constable-elect John Refault recommended that a full and frank investigation into the matter should be undertaken by the Attorney General’s office. This recommendation was not taken up by Deputy Egré. Instead, all present agreed that any rumours circulating would be vigorously denied.

It was therefore with some surprise that I saw public statements being made to the media by Deputy Egré and followed up in a disrespectful manner at the nomination meeting. It strikes me that political capital is being made out of a situation which is clearly not of the making or instigation of my candidate. It smells distinctly of sour grapes.
Notre Coin,
Rue de la Pointe,
St Peter.