Step forward, high calibre candidates

Tuesday 19th April 2011, 3:00PM BST.

IN October last year a Jersey Evening Post leading article noted that, with a year to go to the first same-day States elections, there were serious concerns about the way which government was functioning and about the capacity of the system to attract high-calibre candidates to stand for election.

Now, six months on, the same concerns remain valid. In addition, there are
precious few signs that the States Assembly, as currently constituted, is any more able to differentiate between the big issues and the small or to concentrate on what is genuinely in the public interest rather than on sniping at supposed colleagues or pressing ideologically driven agendas.

It is always important that the Island should be led by capable, committed politicians with the best interests of the community at heart. It is, however, more vital than ever in the present circumstances in which we face unprecedented challenges driven by global economic

influences and fiscal changes which have been forced upon us by outside pressures.
As matters stand, we are in desperate need of representatives who can see the big picture and develop policies with the potential to lead us out of the bad times and into the good. Such States Members do sit in the House, but too many who have in the past been entrusted with our votes appear to be motivated not by the urge to serve but by the desire to score petty points or bring down what they
suppose to be the establishment.

Unfortunately, the capacity of the autumn elections to produce an Assembly that is more balanced and more effective has been diluted by the flawed decision to
reduce the number of Senators, the only category of politician with an
Islandwide mandate. Nevertheless, the elections are the only show in town when it comes to reshaping the nature of government.

With this in mind, members of the electorate have a clear duty not only to vote but also to use their votes with utmost discretion, though this alone will not save the day.

What is truly needed in the months to come are more candidates of real ability and conviction who are willing to offer themselves for election, espouse the values of honour and service that are sadly lacking in some parts of our parliament, and provide an alternative to those Members who have, alas, demonstrated that they are not up to the job.

1
Pip Clement

April 19, 2011 at 4:44 pm

Where are these high calibre politicians suposed to stand?

Of the 51 seats that will be available the breakdown is as follows;

12 Constables. Most of these seats will be held by the present incumbent or another candidate will emerge from the parish, church, honorary system. There will not be elections in most of the seats and politics will not be discussed. Not much hope of a pace setting political figure from here.

29 Deputies. The country Deputies are with a few exceptions uninterested in politics. Lots of them have emerged from the parish structures and really fall in to the same slot as the Constables. The parts of the town that returned Southern et al will return them or similar figures this time.

10 Senators. Six Senators will not be standing this time so only four seats are up for grabs, at least two or three of the present incumbents will survive, maybe more, so not much chance of change there.

If you like the way the island is run at the moment you can be prety sure the same team will be in office after the elections with the same people opposing them.
If you dispair of the island’s political structures, the lack of accountability, the failures to develop policy and the way spending seems to rise inexorably with only feeble attempts to stop it you will have the same thing for the next three years.
One of the strengths of the Jersey political system, stability, is also it’s curse, the system is so hidebound that it cannot adapt to a changing world.

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