We should find out soon who has been appointed to a new commission aimed at bringing the different islands of the Bailiwick closer together.
Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez said there’s been “positive progress” in its work so far and she’s confident that will continue.
“This work represents a truly significant moment in the modern development of our constitutional relationships between our islands,” she said.
“Following the decisions taken last year by the respective parliaments of Guernsey, Alderney and Sark, the Commission has now been agreed and is about to be launched as an independent body, external to all three governments.”
Guernsey’s Policy and Resources Committee has been working closely with Alderney’s Policy and Finance Committee and Sark’s Chief Pleas to agree the terms of reference for the Commission.
Those details and the names of five commissioners that have been appointed to it will be revealed over the next few weeks, she said.
“While I cannot name them today, as contractual arrangements are still being finalised, I can say that the calibre of the individuals is exceptional, with a genuine interest in the task in hand,” said Deputy de Sausmarez.
“They bring a wealth and breadth of constitutional, economic, legal and governance expertise, alongside experience of working with small island jurisdictions and remote communities.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to determine how we can best meet the shared challenges of the modern age, in a way that protects the unique identity of each island.
“To put it in its simplest terms, the process will be a Bailiwick-scale ‘national conversation’, involving individual islanders, community organisations, industry groups, and civil society more broadly.”
Alderney States Member Alex Snowdon said the creation of the Bailiwick Commission will help each of the islands of the Bailiwick confirm their relationship with each other.
Speaking to Express earlier this week about proposals to reduce the number of States Members in Alderney, Mr Snowdon said those plans should be put on hold until the Bailiwick Commission is able to advise on the future relationship between his home island and Guernsey.
Reducing the number of States Members in Alderney from 10 to eight, could have a knock on effect on the number of Alderney Representatives in the States of Guernsey.
There are currently two – who along with 38 deputies in Guernsey make up the States of Deliberation – and they are elected by the public in Alderney, through a plebiscite which was introduced as a trial system in 2006 and has remained in place ever since.
Mr Snowdon said changing that system will impact both Alderney and Guernsey so shouldn’t be done lightly.
“I believe representation is one of the things that the commissioners will look at. So therefore, I would probably say the States of Alderney should put that on hold and see what the outcome of the Bailiwick Commission is.
“We know there’s a conversation about dropping to one Alderney rep. Potentially, I don’t think it would work, but there is that conversation going forward, so I think really we need to see what the Bailiwick Commission comes out with on the relationship between Alderney and Guernsey, before the States of Alderney start doing their own thing.”