It would be “totally inappropriate” for Deputy Philip Ozouf to return to the States Assembly, according to the leader of Reform Jersey – but the party’s members are yet to decide whether to formally call for the convicted politician to be suspended.
Speaking to Express this morning, Deputy Sam Mézec said that the former External Relations Minister “ought to do the right thing and resign”.
His comments come after Reform Jersey sent a letter to the Privileges and Procedures Committee – the group of politicians responsible for overseeing the running of the States Assembly – requesting that a motion is brought forward to suspend Ozouf, who was sentenced by the Royal Court last week for immigration offences relating to the illegal employment of Rwandan nationals.
The actions of the long-serving Deputy – which included treating the workers “like children”, failing to pay them on time and taking them “to a supermarket for food” while they chased their wages – have led to urgent calls for Jersey to implement modern-slavery legislation.
Ozouf had previously been suspended from attending and participating in Assembly meetings pending the conclusion of the criminal proceedings, which saw him avoid jail, instead receiving 120 hours community service and a £5,000 fine.
PPC chair Deputy Steve Ahier told Express earlier this week that Reform Jersey’s letter had been considered at a meeting on Monday and that the committee “determined that we wouldn’t lodge a proposition”.
He said that there were “a lot of factors to consider” and that “in the end we felt it wasn’t the right way forward”.
It is understood that at the time a vote was taken at the PPC meeting, three members of the committee, which comprises seven politicians, were not present and that the vote was tied 2-2.
It would be totally inappropriate for him [Deputy Ozouf] to return to the Assembly and take up his position again
Deputy Sam Mézec
Asked if his party would now seek to lodge a proposition, Deputy Mézec said: “It’s really difficult at this moment, because nobody has heard from Deputy Ozouf since his suspension was lifted.
“He ought to do the right thing and resign, in which case he would save the States and the public more aggravation over this.”
Deputy Mézec continued: “He’s already taken up far too much of our time and efforts with all of this, and he can put all of that to an end by simply resigning from the States and letting the rest of us move on and try to repair the damage that he’s caused to our politics.
“It’s not clear whether that is on the agenda, but it would be totally inappropriate for him to return to the Assembly and take up his position again.”
But Deputy Mézec added: “There’s still a bit of time before the next States sitting and we need to find out what’s happening in the meantime, and what other States Members think.
“I’ve not yet met with my Reform Jersey colleagues since the chair of PPC told me that they were not inclined to bring a suspension motion again, so I still need some time to work out the next steps.”
The party’s members have said they would support the introduction of modern-slavery legislation in Jersey. On Monday, the Chief Minister and Home Affairs Minister confirmed their intention to do so – but did not provide a timeline for such legislation to be drafted and voted on.
