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End of the road for 'no confidence' petition?

RESIDENTS who signed a petition urging the dissolution of the States of Alderney say it has still achieved its aim, despite recipient the Lieutenant Governor, saying he will not be able to act on it.

The petition attracted 253 signatures and came in the wake of an apparent rift within the States after Paul Arditti was ousted as chairman of the Policy Committee. Its author has always remained secret.

Resident Graham McKinley handed the petition to the Lieutenant Governor's representative in Alderney, Colin Mason OBE, who then forwarded it to the Lieutenant Governor's office.

Air Marshall Peter Walker CBE witnessed at first hand the background to the petition when he attended the dramatic States Meeting where seven members of the States voted to remove Paul Arditti as chairman of the Policy Committee.

Major Marco Ciotti, Secretary and ADC to the Lieutenant-Governor said his constitutional position did not allow him to take action over the petition.

'This is a political matter outside of his mandate,' he said. 'The UK Government would only intervene in the event of extreme circumstances, such as a breakdown in the rule of law, or endemic corruption in the Government or Judiciary.

'His Excellency is taking advice on the matter and it is understood that the next steps are unlikely to involve the Office of the Lieutenant-Governor.'

Mr McKinley said the petition had nonetheless sent out a message to Alderney States members and others in the Bailiwick.

'The message is that there is dissatisfaction with the divisions that exist within the States of Alderney,' he said. 'The message is 'heal your divisions and stop talking behind closed doors'. The general feeling is that while these divisions are present nothing good is going to happen for the Island.'

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