On sacred dairies, retailers, farmers, consumers and cows

TO SOME, the decision not to hand over exclusive delivery rights to milk retailers was the beginning of the end for the dairy industry and of traditional life in Guernsey.

Just like Private Frazer in Dad's Army, the cry was going up that we are all 'doomed, doomed'.

It is hard to be so pessimistic with so many supporting Commerce and Employment's approach, but as ever it was those predicting disaster who spoke loudest and longest and with the most colour.

Leading the doom-mongers was Deputy Dave - later labelled Nostradamus - Jones.

He has a track record in predictions of which he was keen to remind those in the chamber who remained less than convinced by his gloomy stance.

Previously he had told everyone that the Markets development would see the end of traditional stallholders - and it has.

But like Nostradamus, he does not quite have the 100% record on predictions he would have us believe.

Still, if he is right this time, Guernsey is not going to be an attractive place to live.

'If we don't fight to protect ourselves against the importation of milk, then the future of Guernsey's landscape looks bleak,' he said while predicting the end of doorstep deliveries.

'Picture this: An island covered in golf courses, marinas, hideous office blocks, overgrown hedgerows and blocked douits, with open fields turned into horse paddocks and sand schools for the new wealthy landowners and their children.

'Farm buildings once used for a thriving dairy industry now converted into four-car garages along with ugly barn conversions to accommodate the hired help.

'Tractors replaced by ride-on mowers for those who have the time to spend mowing several vergees of land where once dairy cows used to graze. Is that the kind of island you want to live in?'

If that was not enough, he spoke about a whole way of life being destroyed in the blink of an eye by this administration for no other reason then it seemed like a good idea at the time.

On the opening day, Deputy Jones said he was going to rant - and he did.

He spoke about the predatory nature of supermarkets, of large companies who in the main 'come to Guernsey and changed the face of this community forever, companies run by people who, by and large, have not been on the island longer than your average tourist and who know nothing about its culture, its people and its history.'

Deputy Jones was making a speech he knew would play to some of his traditional followers - but it drew little support from the new States.

The groans that accompanied his call for members to put Wednesday's date in their diary as the day the Assembly pressed the button on the future destruction of Guernsey's dairy industry were telling.

Deputy Janine Le Sauvage attempted to clap at the end - but there was an eerie silence elsewhere.

It was typical Jones - entertaining to listen to, but completely over the top.

What Commerce and Employment had been looking for was clarity and in getting the States to endorse its stance, it has got just that.

Time now to concentrate on increasing sales of milk products to prove that it was right and that it needed such flexibility over this part of the network.

Time now to work on the profitability of the Dairy.

Both the department and the Guernsey Milk Retailers' Association need to show willingness to cooperate and work together to avoid the stalemate that led to the debate in the first place.

As she closed the debate, the department's minister, Carla McNulty Bauer, said there had been a lot of emotion, frustration, back-stabbing and innuendo.

That extends to its lead-up, when there was talk of a vote of no confidence in the department and a plot to replace her as minister.

It might have all been hot air, but if anything the vote has strengthened the department and Deputy McNulty Bauer's position - at least for now.

A new board, a new States, an old issue finally put to bed. Most members, it seems, have little time for doom and despondency.