Association says it needs more cash to become political force

It wants to raise £150,000 – so far it has received £15,870 from 53 people including £3,000 from Deputy Carl Meerveld and £1,000 each from deputies Peter Ferbrache and Joe Mooney, the three politicians who launched the initiative.

The association has faced sustained criticism from those who want to know what it will spend the money on and what its policies are.

On Tuesday 27 March Deputy Meerveld said that ‘this week we will be coming out with a breakdown of exactly what is going on’.

Yesterday, it released more details of its finances, including a ‘high-level list of costs’, and policy objectives.

‘The funding target of £150,000 is a “stretch-target” intended to enable the accelerated establishment of the association and a degree of longer-term financial security,’ it said.

‘In just three weeks the generosity of early donors has already provided sufficient funding to launch the association. However, to accelerate that establishment and make the association a significant political force by 2020, further support is sought from potential members, volunteers and the all-important financial support from donors.’

It said there would be ‘total transparency’ on how its funds will be used.

‘Every single penny received and spent will be fully detailed and open to inspection by members of the association. All significant donations received by the association after it is officially launched will be made public to ensure proper transparency.’

The three founding deputies have now been named as leaders, at least until a planned convention in June.

This is the high-level list of costs released by the Islanders Association:

Structuring and registration of corporate entity (LBG and non-profit registration)

Design and production of marketing materials

Set-up and maintenance of the website, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn accounts

Funding for presentations, meetings and the inaugural conference (venue, facilities, information packs, etc.)

Legal costs for drawing up the Association Constitution, Memorandum and Articles of Association and contracts

Production of membership packs (membership cards, badges, constitution and rules, etc.)

Establishing an electronic survey system with secure login capability to register membership votes on policy objectives

Design of newsletter templates, newsletter production, printing and posting (paper and online)

Advertising and marketing to recruit members plus encouraging greater public participation in politics, including encouraging people to join the electoral roll

Establishment of a small administration office with desks, computer hardware and software, etc.

The association’s vision and mission statements – to be ratified by members:

Vision: Enabling the electorate to have direct participation in political issues important to them

Mission: Developing a decisive, effective and efficient government ‘rooted in and driven by our community’.

Comment Page 13