A Guernsey Deputy has admitted deleting hundreds of emails from Guernsey voters lobbying him over GST.
Speaking exclusively to Express, Deputy George Oswald admitted he deleted the emails in frustration after being overwhelmed by the sheer volume of voters who had contacted him.
He said he was “struggling to address my significant work load whilst the machine was pinging virtually continuously as further emails came in”.
He later told other deputies in a private WhatsApp group that he was considering deleting more emails “in a fit of pique”.
However he told us he has since recovered all the emails after realising his action was a “mistake” and has started reading them.
Public outrage
The shocking revelation came to light after Deputy Rob Curgenven brought it to the public’s attention on social media – but without naming anyone.
Deputy Curgenven said: “Very sadly, some Deputies are deleting the hundreds and hundreds of emails received from pensioners, young people, business owners, families, and many others concerned about GST.”
“Some have even argued that because there are “only” around 600 (and counting) anti-GST emails, they don’t represent the majority.”
Unsurprisingly, this caused outrage among voters, who had been encouraged to lobby their deputies just days earlier by P&R member Deputy Steve Falla.
Speaking at a recent P&R event Deputy Falla said: “The way in which you make your feelings known as a citizen of Guernsey is through contacting a deputy and lobbying them, because they are your representative, and it will be them who is voting on this.”
‘Hands up’
Express contacted every single deputy late last night, asking them a simple yes or no question: Have you deleted any (1 or more) emails about GST from members of the public in the last 8 weeks?
Deputy Oswald told us he had “realised my action was not correct, before I saw your mail”.
Here’s his response in full:
This speculation may have arisen from a post I made on a private WhatsApp group. At the time, as others know, I was struggling to address my significant work load whilst the machine was pinging virtually continuously as further e mails came in. I had made the point that before this particular crisis moment, I had read all that came in, and replied to several. In a fit of pique (!) I indicated that I was considering directly deleting further emails along these lines.
This hasn’t happened. I realised my action was not correct, before I saw your mail. All the emails remain on my computer. I have reviewed all those that I deleted initially (and many of the others I had already read as well). I have tidied up my system so that those with ‘body’ to them eg firm ideas, suggestions, specific circumstances etc (>150 of them) are now in a separate mailbox, and I intend doing some statistical analysis of these to detect trends, and perhaps to inform a speech during the debate. I have replied further to several of these individually.
Single liners, rude and/or offensive ones, albeit read, are now in a deleted file (but note, not permanently deleted).
My inbox is bulging as it is, and to avoid missing important HSC committee related emails (of which I receive many every day), some organisation and space saving is necessary.
So, please note, I have ‘put my hands up’, but corrected the issue.
Have other deputies deleted emails?
While we haven’t had replies back from everyone yet, nobody else has admitted deleting emails before reading them.
Two, Deputy Rhona Humphreys and Deputy Sally Rochester, said they deleted emails after reading them to keep their inboxes clear.
Deputy Humphreys told Express: “I can confirm I have read each of the emails that have come into my inbox.
“I have replied to some, but no where near all, as the sheer volume and time make that impossible.”
Many other deputies echoed Deputy Humphreys’ experience, saying they were trying to read and/or reply to them, but were struggling because they’d been emailed so many times.
Express has asked deputies to respond by 19:00 on Wednesday, due to the States Assembly sitting.
If any other deputies admit to they’ve deleted emails, we shall – of course – let our readers know.
For the record, we have not deleted any of the deputies’ emails.
