Positive Action Group - Possan Jantys Jarrooagh

Conundrums aside this is an opportunity to be POSITIVE. If you have ever felt the government didn’t listen well enough, now is your chance to tell them about it and see if they can put it right.

One member was sufficiently moved to write the following letter to the Examiner:

Remember how Douglas Adams' 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' starts with Arthur Dent struggling to stop his house being demolished by the council?

It served him right of course because he hadn't appealed against their decision although the required legal notice had been displayed (admittedly for a little time in a locked filing cabinet within an inaccessible building with danger warnings ...).

Well, 'in early November' according to the Chief Secretary's Office, the Isle of Government is going to treat you rather better. A public notice will be placed in the Press inviting you to tell the Council of Ministers what you think of their new draft Code of Consultation.

As we know, Government, its agencies, and local authorities sometimes consult with us before acting to affect our lives. When they do, public notices are not exactly attention-grabbing, time allowed for us to respond is relatively brief, and the policy and plans on which 'consultation' is invited are at an advanced stage so we the public could be excused for asking ourselves 'What's the use?'.

While it is of course a pity that the Council of Ministers didn't consult the public BEFORE drafting the proposed code, as that would have been a unique opportunity to show true commitment to consultation, we need to stay positive.

This a rare chance to help those in authority over us to understand that consultation has to be two-way, if 'freedom to flourish' is to be more than just another marketing ploy.

Let's take it.

JEFF GARLAND