Guernsey Press

'States ignoring us' say marine traders

MARINE traders have accused the States of paying lip-service to the industry while ignoring its policy to support local businesses.

Published

As industry figures urge deputies to turn down Commerce and Employment's proposals for a new £3m. sea fisheries vessel to be built in the Netherlands, the Guernsey Marine Traders Association said it had grave concerns about the replacement of the Leopardess.

It said that the perception was of government leaders being proactive in the past two years on endorsing the 'buy local', 'quality of cost' ethos for their own projects, while doing the opposite with the sea fisheries vessel proposal.

'The reality is that this current proposal to have a 20m patrol vessel built in Holland completely bypasses any local boat yard, builder, marine engineering company and many more ancillary industries that go to complete the build of such a vessel,' said president Matt Le Page.

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