'My job and being a deputy will work side by side'

Deputy Bruno Kay-Mouat has said he will continue to work as managing director of Channel Seaways

Deputies with second jobs have said their work outside the States will not interfere with their political responsibilities.

New politician Deputy Bruno Kay-Mouat said he would remain as managing director of Channel Seaways and has expressed his intention to work on the States Trading Supervisory Board (STSB), which oversees Guernsey's harbours.

While Deputy Munazza Malik said she would continue as a practising pharmacist and said she would like to use her expertise on the Committee for Health and Social Care.

New deputies declarations of interest have not been published on the States of Guernsey website yet.

Deputy Munazza Malik is also a Douzenier on St Peter Port Douzaine

Ahead of standing for a role on the Committee for Health and Social Care (HSC), Malik said she believed many people had voted for her because of her background in health.

She added she thought it would be strange to not use that expertise in the States now she had been elected: "I think they could see that I bring experience especially on the island and understanding the issues we face."

Initially she was concerned States rules might stop her from using her experience if elected to HSC, but she said her mind had been put at ease: "I think over the period of the week and with more discussions with other states members we've come to realise it's your judgment call.

"If you feel there is a direct conflict of interest, if you are going to directly profit from a certain decision which is fair enough that you remove yourself, but if it is for the greater good of the community you just make that judgment there and then.

"I'm not worried at all now."

Conflicts of interest?

Under the States rules a member of a committee who has a direct or special interest in the business under consideration must not participate in either discussion or voting and must immediately declare the interest and withdraw from the meeting during the discussion and voting on the matter concerned.

Following her briefing with law officers, Malik said she understood it as: "If you belong to a particular sector, are a part of industry or a job or a business, then if you are on that committee which is directly discussing those issues, then you need to declare your conflict of interest.

"The secretary for that committee may even, in consultation with the president, ask you to remove yourself from the committee discussions and the voting."

The 38 new deputies were sworn in as States members earlier this week

After being briefed on conflict of interest guidelines, Kay-Mouat said he was concerned his role within the new government could be diminished: "I was deflated by the thought I might not be able to be involved in parts of the States' business, which I think I can bring some of my knowledge to.

But he believed he could still play an important role in the States despite this: "So I mostly do have special interests in various things but you know integrity or truth is the key to being a deputy and hopefully you know that's where I'll be as well.

"Obviously, I'll be under the public eye, I'll be under scrutiny. You know, all eyes will be on me if they think there is a conflict of interest. So, you know, I'll have to be whiter than white."