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Can I Be On More Than One Committee?

Yes. There are just two considerations.

First, check the Rules of Procedure – being on some Committees officially rules you out of joining certain others. There aren’t many conflicts like this, but it’s worth being sure before you start making plans.

Second, think about how much work you’re taking on. Most Committees will meet at least once a fortnight, and meetings can be half a day long – maybe even more. You will get papers a few days in advance, and you’ll probably need at least a day to read through them. If there’s something on the agenda that interests or concerns you, you may want to set aside additional time to research it.

In addition to that, you have three-day States Meetings every month, and a considerable amount of preparation for those. And you have constituency work, and an absurd amount of emails to deal with.

Two Committees is probably the optimal number. I sat on four Committees for most of last term: two big (HSC and ESS) and two comparatively small (OADC and SACC). Let me tell you, that was silly. It was only possible because I had no other work responsibilities and (for most of the term) little in the way of family responsibilities. I don’t recommend it. Two Committees of any size, or a Presidency of one Committee and a minor role on another, is a far more sensible approach!

In the end, you’re the judge of your own workload, and you know what you want to focus on in the States. Let that guide you in terms of which Committees you join, and how many. But do be careful not to overload yourself – you need to allow yourself enough hours in the day that you can do justice to the work you’ve signed up for.

Guernsey’s iconic women of the future?

Thank you for nominating a young woman or girl for our future iconic Guernsey women campaign to celebrate International Women’s Day!

Nominations close on Sunday 6 March at 17.00.

Please fill in the details below.

miriam-makeba-SA

Miriam Makeba - South Africa

Nominated by: Christine James

Zenzile Miriam Makeba (1932 to 2008), nicknamed Mama Africa, was a South African singer, songwriter, actress, United Nations goodwill ambassador, and civil rights activist. Associated with musical genres including Afropop, jazz, and world music, she was an advocate against apartheid and white-minority government in South Africa. In 2020 she was named one of Time magazine’s 100 women of the century. 

South Africa is ranked 12th in the world for percentage of women in national parliament: 45.8% (source: data.ipu.org) 

Are you from South Africa? Please email hello@womeninpubliclife.gg if there is a social or cultural group for people from South Africa in Guernsey.

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The original image “The Hague Jazz 2008 – Miriam Makeba” by Haags Uitburo is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. 

jacinda-adern-2

Jacinda Ardern - New Zealand

Nominated by: Martin Lock

Jacinda Ardern (born 1980) has served as prime minister of New Zealand and leader of the Labour Party since 2017. In 2019, she led the country through the aftermath of the Christchurch mosque shootings, rapidly introducing strict gun laws in response, and throughout 2020 she directed the country’s widely praised response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ardern was the world’s second elected head of government to give birth in office when her daughter was born in 2018. ‘An inspiring Prime Minister who brought a nation together with true leadership, empathy and compassion.’

New Zealand is ranked 4th in the world for percentage of women in national parliament: 48.3% (source: data.ipu.org) 

Other iconic women: Dame Whina Cooper, nominated by Claire Fisher, and Kate Sheppard, nominated by Anna Cooper.

Are you from New Zealand? You may be interested in joining the ANZACs in Guernsey Facebook group

Want to learn more about public office vacancies in Guernsey? 

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