Gavin St Pier says Guernsey's new Chief Minister has no plan

Deputy Gavin St Pier says he fears the island has 'headed into a period of change for changes sake.' Credit: ITV Channel TV

Guernsey's former Chief Minister has accused his successor of having no plan to get the island through the coronavirus pandemic and Brexit. Deputy St Pier has today published a four-page open letter expressing his fears for the months and years ahead for the Bailiwick. Despite topping the polls in the General Election and attracting support from more than half of voters, his political peers chose Peter Ferbrache for the job of Chief Minister instead, and rejected him for roles heading up the States Trading Supervisory Board and the Scrutiny Management Committee.

Speaking to ITV News he said:

"There certainly wasn't a plan described in his [Deputy Ferbrache's] pitch for the role. He's certainly someone who describes himself as sick of strategies and visions and simply wants to get on with action which is fine if you know what actions you want, what change you want and where you're headed. I think we've headed into a period of change for changes sake and my lack of position is a consequence of that and I am concerned for the community there are enormous challenges and enormous opportunities. I am genuinely fearful as a community that we may not be able to take advantage of those."

Deputy Peter Ferbrache was voted in as head of the island's Policy & Resources Committee by his fellow politicians. Credit: ITV Channel TV

Only 10 of the 21 candidates in The Guernsey Partnership of Independents were successful in the General Election. Deputy St Pier is the party's leader. He believes people did not realise the consequences of not backing whole parties. Deputy St Pier admits he failed to properly explain to the electorate some of the potential consequences of island-wide voting, adding there's now a divide between the electorate and the political class.

In a four page open letter to voters he writes: "Many of you of all ages are saying you will never vote again. Please keep voting: the democratic system requires everyone to engage. I have not lost hope. I am not despairing."

When asked, Deputy St Pier denied his comments come from a place of resentment, saying: "I am absolutely saying it is just the system, but what I am saying is because of the transition from the parish to the island-wide system, it has not caught up with the public's understanding and expectation of what this election was going to deliver."

  • WATCH the full interview with Deputy Gavin St Pier here:

ITV News has approached Deputy Peter Ferbrache for his response to the comments.