Guernsey Deputies vote not to suspend St Pier

Guernsey's Vice-President for Policy & Resources has comfortably avoided suspension after twice the number of deputies voted against the Commissioner for Standards' recommendation.

How did they vote? 11 in favour, 22 against, 5 abstentions and 1 member not present.

The two-day debate is the latest development in a long dispute between the politician and local paediatrician Dr Sandie Bohin.

Yesterday (26 November), an amendment to reduce the suspension to five days failed.

But a joint amendment from Deputies Sarah Hansmann Rouxel and Yvonne Burford to make the suspension unpaid was passed.

This was something Deputy Jayne Ozanne warned could set a dangerous precedent.

“25 days without pay will, for some deputies who may be found guilty under the code in future, create a make-or-break situation for them.

“For me, personally, it would create significant hardship, which would more than likely lead to my inability to continue in my role.”

The head of Health and Social Care, Deputy George Oswald, said voting for the suspension would be supporting the 'reconciliation process'.

“The implication that an independently recognised episode of behaviour that fulfils criteria under the definition of bullying has gone unsanctioned would be significant for the majority of staff working for HSC.”

Deputy Tina Bury said there would be no winners, whatever the result.

“Justice in a silo, and not considering the bigger picture, is not justice.

“The real justice will come from making the change that is required. The real justice will come from making sure we don’t find ourselves here again, the real justice will be to save others from going through this in the future.”

Background

In April 2022, Deputy Gavin St Pier named Dr Sandie Bohin in a speech in the States about personal issues his family had over safeguarding, and other families locally that were similarly affected.

He was found to have broken the States’ Code of Conduct and was formally reprimanded, but he was not found to have abused parliamentary privilege by naming the doctor.

Two years later, in late 2024, a journalist from a national newspaper came across Deputy St Pier’s name while investigating Dr Bohin as an expert witness in the Lucy Letby trial.

In November that year, Deputy St Pier had a phone call with the journalist (which he says lasted 90 seconds), during which he discussed cases handled by Dr Bohin.

Dr Bohin then received an email from the journalist, which she said contained "defamatory" allegations.

The doctor submitted a complaint, which the Commissioner for Standards reviewed and concluded Deputy St Pier had broken the Code of Conduct.

It was then recommended that he be suspended from the States for 30 days, but on appeal, this was reduced to 25.

Just before today's vote, Deputy St Pier spoke in the States Chamber.

He said he had only confirmed to the journalist information they already had, and said that he had subsequently been characterised as a 'vindictive bully.'

During his almost hour-long speech, he apologised to the families, some of whom watched from the public gallery.

"I am sorry that your experiences have been repeatedly minimised and delegitimised."

He said he will continue pressing for systemic and cultural change.

"Whether the States today endorses or rejects the recommended sanction, I promise you this: I will not stop fighting - not just for change, but for a future where no parent and no patient feels silenced - and every family knows they will be heard."