As president of Home Affairs, Rob Prow heads one of the departments most affected by Brexit.
Despite the challenges, he felt upbeat with a ‘spirit of optimism’, and was relieved that certainty had now been given.
‘There will be change and new paperwork, rules of origin for goods, sanitary and phytosanitary measures and other new procedures.
‘However, I must highlight that both the Customs and immigration divisions of the Guernsey Border Agency have already announced workshops and briefings to trade and I know they and their colleagues in Economic Development will go the extra mile to assist business in providing them with the information they need where they are able to do so.’
Regarding immigration, Guernsey is not adopting the UK’s new points-based system, instead there is a work permit scheme which is regarded as more flexible.
Deputy Prow said it protected the rights of EU citizens and their families who are currently resident in Guernsey.
‘I must take this opportunity to endorse and promote our EU settled status scheme, which gives settlement rights to those eligible EU nationals who are resident here. For those few who haven’t yet registered, please sign up without delay.
‘I must again endorse how highly this Bailiwick values the contribution of all those EU nationals settled here.’
While acknowledging that not everything was ‘rosy’ and onerous regulatory burdens would bite, Deputy Prow said that ‘Team Guernsey’ had punched above its weight in responding to and navigating the difficult arm’s-length negotiation process.
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