The Vanishing Chief Advisor

Those of us with long memories can remember the post of Chief Economic Advisor to the States, which was upgraded to that of simply Chief Advisor, pretty well because that was what it was anyway.

In those days, the Chief Advisor to Policy and Resources (which represented presidents from all committees) was Colin Powell (not to be confused with the American politician of the same name!). He was ubiquitous, writing in supplements in the evening post, fronting reports on the state of Jersey's economy, even seen indulging in paint-ball shooting in St Catherine's woods for charity (so perhaps there is a link with his more military namesake). His face was well known, often printed, and he looked stately and imposing, rather like the actor Ian Richardson in House of Cards. He even wrote a book on Jersey's Economy, and added a chapter at the end of the revised Balleine's History of Jersey.

Then we had Dick Mills, who was still out and about, dealing with the Edwards report, Dawn Primarolo (known as "red Dawn"), and all kinds of problems. He could be guaranteed to be beside Senator Pierre Horsfall, and then Senator Frank Walker. He was Jersey's face against the OECD, the EU, and the Paymaster General in Whitehall. He was also romantically linked to Imogen Nichols, when she was a Deputy. But he probably wasn't quite as well known as Colin Powell, and he didn't write any books.

Now we have Bill Ogley, who came in to "manage change", and the chief change he has managed is conspicuous absence. He doesn't make pronouncements, write articles for supplements in the JEP, and pictures of him are scarce. He was involved in Imagine Jersey Conference, and stood behind Frank Walker at the farcical St Martin Public Hall Press Briefing glowering at Stuart Syvret -but public appearances are far and few behind.

One hears of "faceless bureaucrats", but it seems that the role of chief advisor has become that quite literally!