After being unmasked as ‘the Pirate’ on Twitter – an account that trolled other members while pretending not to be an elected official – a Code of Conduct Panel recommended his expulsion from the States.
Since Express uncovered the real identity of ‘The Pirate’ at the beginning of March,it has taken almost four months to get to the point where the matter can now be debated by the States following procedural errors, the absence of any time limit on appeals and two separate investigations into the first-time deputy’s behaviour on social media.
Pictured: The questions sent by Deputy Tina Bury to the Bailiff, States Greffier and Sacc President Carl Meerveld. She has asked whether there is a grounds for an extraordinary meeting of the States before 14 July to avoid the Deputy Le Tissier debate conflicting with the debate around secondary and post-16 education.
During that time, he has held full voting privileges in the States Chamber, but has not participated on either of his committees – Home Affairs and the Development & Planning Authority.
Deputy Tina Bury has submitted formal questions expressing concerns about the sequencing of the upcoming States debate. The current schedule for the meeting starting on 14 July has the future of Guernsey’s education system listed as the first policy letter to be debated.
With the Code of Conduct Panel’s recommendations coming later in the debate, it is a realistic scenario that Deputy Le Tissier will vote in a close decision before later being kicked out of the Assembly.
“I have concerns over the sequencing of the debate,” said Deputy Bury, who has written to the Bailiff, Richard McMahon, who is the States’ Presiding Officer.
“In my opinion it’s been unfortunate that this situation has taken so long to reach any sort of conclusion, and in that time the States of Deliberation has had a Member that has been recommended for expulsion still actively participating in debate and, most importantly, voting.
Pictured: Deputy Le Tissier made comments on social media, posing as a member of the public while participating in States debates. He was found guilty of breaching six sections of the States Members Code of Conduct relating to honesty, integrity and maintaining public confidence.
“I am keen to ensure that the States does not further undermine public confidence in our processes by allowing this to continue any longer.
“It would seem very strange to me to allow a Member to take part in a States Debate on other matters, while this recommendation has been laid, as they could participate in debate, influence decisions with their speeches and/or vote and then be suspended immediately after doing so.”