Manifesto
The Economy
The Finance Sector is the engine room of our economy. We need to be “open” for business and create policies and products that make us a competitive jurisdiction;
No to GST. We need to keep our taxes low and be internationally competitive;
We need to reduce the costs of Government without reducing front line services;
I fully support the Revive & Thrive Strategy but believe we need to make sure we develop and fulfil the action plans swiftly to enable economic growth to happen;
I would support suspending the internal capital expenditure processes and place the process with individual committees, under direct or delegated control from Policy & Resources with specified budget limits;
This is the right time to review current commitments which carry significant capital costs and re-evaluate the priorities or those that need to be withdrawn from. We need to focus on investment which provides significant, measurable social or financial benefit;
Review the duty on alcohol brewing and distillation to encourage local production and exports. Support local;
Review the effectiveness of the GFSC as the regulator;
Our digital connectivity is vital, and we need to put in place the best digital infrastructure possible.
Governance
Good governance is the life blood of any organisation, and the States should be no exception. The Staite Report highlighted the need for changes to be made and these need to be followed through with a clear emphasis on good governance in everything we do.
Tourism
The value of the Tourism sector needs to be properly recognised and should be at the heart of Government. The sector alone employs 2,000 people and retail, a supporting sector employs 4,000 islanders. These jobs need to be protected;
Guernsey needs sustainable, reliable and affordable air and sea links;
A review of the effectiveness of Visit Guernsey needs to happen;
We need to build on the recently approved Sports Strategy and develop a co-ordinated strategy for the music and arts which could further enhance Guernsey as an attractive destination. Sports tourism is a massively undervalued area;
We need to improve our offering as a destination, and I would support an enterprise grant scheme to support start-ups and entrepreneurs wanting to create a new attraction or service aimed at the visitor economy.
Education
Guernsey school children deserve to have clarity and certainty on what the future holds for education and this should be a priority for the new States;
Everyone deserves access to the best education;
If we were debating a two versus three school model, I would support a three-school model plus a sixth form college;
I would like to see the re-introduction in some form of bursaries for academic excellence given on a means tested basis to States educated children to attend the Colleges;
Guernsey’s population management strategy needs to be reviewed to make it attractive to the best teachers to come and teach in the Bailiwick;
I believe the College of FE is of vital importance to the local economy and is more important than ever as we are facing the largest skills gap in generations. The redevelopment of CoFE should be treated as a priority for the island.
Infrastructure
The island needs to invest in its island infrastructure in particular at the Harbour and Airport;
Infrastructure projects need to be managed by a Development Corporation. A professional body with expertise to manage and deliver multi-million-pound projects;
Consideration needs to be given to investing in infrastructure funds to fund capital projects;
There needs to be a greater focus on the use of Public Private Partnerships;
Guernsey needs to protect its existing infrastructure and maintenance needs to happen in a timely manner. Fix it and fix it fast. The steps at the Bathing Pools, the Fermain sea wall, the Japanese pagoda at Saumarez Park - just a few examples;
Islandwide fibre broadband connectivity by 2025.
Population
The current population management regime should have never been put into practice. It wasn’t and isn’t reflective of our island’s economy and needs;
Guernsey needs a flexible regime that encourages the economy to thrive, making it easier for people to recruit and provide employees with the opportunities and career progression that makes Guernsey an attractive place to relocate a career.
Regulation
Guernsey needs as few a constraints as possible to thrive and I advocate as little regulation as possible. The island has a habit of creating unnecessary legislation which is both time consuming to produce and costly to execute. We need to think before we legislate.
Health
Guernsey’s reciprocal health agreement with the UK needs to be reintroduced;
Resolve nursing staff pay dispute including terms and conditions (in conjunction with housing and work permits). Reduce staff turnover - develop nursing as a rewarding, affordable career choice for islanders with on-island training.
The island’s drugs strategy needs to be maintained to the best it can be and the NICE approved drug offering is a must.
Sustainability
I fully support Guernsey working towards to the UN’s Sustainability Goals;
Working sustainably is no longer a choice it is a necessity;
I would support the introduction of a solar fund enabling free panels for all Guernsey households;
As businesses are working to adopt sustainable practices, so too should the States.
Connectivity
We need to have affordable, reliable and sustainable connectivity;
Aurigny’s position needs to urgently be clarified, it is unsustainable for the airline to maintain its loss-making position;
A review of the cost benefit analysis into extending Guernsey’s runway needs to take place post Covid-19. I believe we need to lower the cost of air travel, attract more low-cost airlines to Guernsey which would make travel more affordable to islanders, local businesses and tourists;
We should consider fixed price Aurigny fares during the Covid-19 economic recovery;
I would support the licensing of ramp use in the harbour and an enforceable service level agreement with Condor.
Housing
Introduce new schemes to help first time buyers and increase the affordability of property ownership including a review into re- introducing a “help to buy” deposit loan scheme;
I would support developing a freehold land bank system with homeowners having the right to buy the freehold.
Traffic
We need to halt the removal of parking spaces in Town. We need to increase parking facilities to help St Peter Port thrive;
I would support extending all parking to five or ten hour spaces, thus encouraging people to spend longer in Town and make it a more attractive location for businesses to base their businesses;
A multi storey carpark needs to be considered, albeit sympathetic to the surroundings to provide additional parking;
We need to encourage islanders to transition to electric vehicles and provide the supporting infrastructure and potential grants for low-emission cars;
Reduce fuel duty to make it competitive with the UK and Jersey.