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Do the States need to consider more professionals?

Perisha KudhailReporter, Channel Islands
News imageBBC Middle-aged white man with glasses smiling with lilac shirt and burgundy tie and navy blazer BBC
Deputy John Gollop says more professionals should be welcomed into government

There have been calls for the States of Guernsey to provide better support to deputies who have other jobs.

It comes after the release of committee meeting records which revealed that Deputy Munazza Malik, who is a Deputy for Health & SocialCare and Home Affairs, had the highest absence rate.

She works full time as a pharmacist and is also a Douzenier for St Peter Port.

Deputy John Gollop the Vice President of Home Affairs said he "would argue the reason Deputy Malik has found herself on two very busy committees, Health and Home, is because we wanted her professional skills".

News imageMunazza Malik wearing a bright purple jacket with a floral white t-shirt beneath her jacket. She has long brown hair and has been photographed in front of a grey stone wall.
Munazza Malik was elected to join the States of Guernsey in June

The report documented the States meetings that deputies attended and if they were missed for States business or other reasons.

The committee attendance record showed that Deputy Malik attended eight out of 23 meetings for Health & Social Care and 13 out of 19 meetings for Home Affairs.

But some members felt that putting to much onus on issues like attendance could become a deterrent for professionals wanting to enter politics.

Deputy Gollop said: "What I wouldn't like to see is people with professional or enterprise backgrounds being pushed out of state's work or those with family commitments.

'Honest conversations'

"I think if we just ended up with full-time professional politicians and retired politicians, we would be the poorer."

He said her role as a pharmacist gave insight into public life and the people whom the States were trying to serve.

He said:" If there are issues of frequent absence, then it's up to everybody to have honest conversations and maybe try to find a different way of working.

"I would like to know why the States perhaps isn't more supportive of people who are trying to juggle family-life, or life as carers, or life as a professional person with politics.

"I think it's probably something the states as a whole need to consider"

Deputy Munazza Malik has been approached for comment.

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