Governance
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Financial prudence
By Sir Philip Bailhache
The Jersey Liberal Conservatives are sometimes asked what differentiates them from the Alliance Party which is, in some respects, synonymous with the current Government. One answer is that the JLC is committed to financial prudence. By contrast, the Alliance Party has an attitude to spending and borrowing which is very different. For centuries Jersey has not had a national debt. The Island has paid its way and been proud of that independence from any creditor. The so-called Debt Framework lodged by the Treasury Minister, (a member of Alliance) on 10 August 2021 reveals that that proud history is coming to an end. Jersey is going to become for the first time a debtor nation.
Read onRemuneration of States members
By Pierre Horsfall CBE
Going back a good many years, States members received an allowance based upon their need for financial support. The more you earned privately, the lower was your allowance. For a long time, however, States members have received a salary. When ministerial government was introduced, the idea was that those with particular workloads and responsibilities would receive something extra to reflect those responsibilities. This common-sense approach, which applies in almost every walk of life, was destroyed by a private member’s amendment which called for all members to be paid the same salary.
Read onTransparency is a pillar of democracy
By Sir Philip Bailhache
Transparency in government is one of the pillars of democracy.
This should not be controversial. Every democratic government pays at least lip service to the proposition that it should be open and transparent in its dealings with the public. Sometimes it is more than lip service. Many governments have legislated to ensure that people have access to information in the government’s possession, unless of course there is some good reason why it should not be in the public domain. In Jersey the States Assembly enacted the Freedom of Information Law in 2011. That Law gives the public the right to information held by public authorities. It is a legal right which can be enforced, ultimately by the courts.
A question of freedom
The Government of Jersey has brought forth a further proposed extension of the Covid legislation, to have effect until August 2022. This will allow the government to roll-over the emergency legislation it has imposed since March 2020 for almost another year.
The legislation that underpins all the Covid measures has already been extended once to April 2022. On that occasion there was no debate and not a single member of the States Assembly had any questions or comment on these measures, which have now affected all our lives for more than 18 months.
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