The States have made an “unprecedented” move to delay the start of its next meeting so senior members of Policy & Resources can fulfill external relations duties in France.
P&R President Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez won backing from the Assembly to shift the start of the next States meeting forward one day from Wednesday 24 September.
She said this was so she and Deputy Steve Falla – who is currently responsible for foreign affairs following the arrest, remanding in custody and subsequent resignation from P&R of Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq – could visit political representatives in Normandy and La Manche.
The “essential” summit will see a memorandum of understanding renewed with the French regions over trade, sea links, fisheries, offshore wind and energy, she added.
Deputy de Sausmarez said their attendance in the States chamber would also be important as P&R looks to elect a fifth member to replace Deputy Le Tocq.
The Bailiff, Sir Richard McMahon, invited comments from committee Presidents who have business scheduled for the next meeting.
Deputy Sasha Kazantseva Miller, who heads up Economic Development, argued the move was setting “a really bad precedent” and was “bad practice”.
She said P&R should make alternative arrangements since the dates of States meetings were known well in advance.
But Employment & Social Security President Deputy Tina Bury noted that P&R had “just lost the person who would usually attend those places” and that the current situation was “difficult”.
She added that Deputies de Sausmarez and Falla should be allowed to begin building relationships with other jurisdictions.
Education, Sport & Culture, which will also present matters to the States at the next meeting, did not oppose the delay.
29 deputies voted for the postponement, while Deputies Kazantseva-Miller, Neil Inder, Andy Sloan and Lee Van Katwyk opposed it.
Deputy Rhona Humphreys did not vote, and six members were absent.
The next States meeting will now begin on Thursday 25 September.