Deputy Marc Laine has been elected Vice-President of Economic Development (ED), replacing Deputy Andrew Niles after his appointment to Policy & Resources (P&R).
Under the States’ rules, P&R members cannot sit on another committee, meaning Deputy Niles had to relinquish his previous role on ED.
The committee has also reshuffled a number of responsibilities, with Deputy Laine appointed as Digital and Innovation Lead and Deputy Rhona Humphreys taking on the role of Financial Services Lead.
Deputy Laine, who also sits on the Development & Planning Authority, said it was a “privilege” to be elected Vice-President of a committee with a mandate “critical to the future of the island”.
Deputy Laine said ED had “hit the ground running this political term with extensive work ongoing regarding the finance sector and transport links with France and the UK”.
“I’m keen to settle in quickly and continue the great work we’ve seen so far,” he added.
Stability
The committee will hope the reshuffle brings some much-needed stability, after the high-profile resignation of Deputy Haley Camp from ED earlier this week.
Deputy Camp blasted the committee’s leadership as “autocratic rather than collaborative”, questioning its spending decisions since she joined.
Next step
Deputy Humphreys said her new appointment was a “natural step” given her existing involvement with the finance sector, including her role as the political representative on the board of Guernsey Finance.
“Delivery on the Finance Sector Strategy is one of the key priorities for the Committee this political term and I am pleased to be able to bring my professional experience and career in financial services to help drive it forward,” she said.
