Deputy Montfort Tadier, chairman of the States of Jersey’s Economic and International Affairs Panel, posted on X following his attendance at a workshop for States members which touched on topics including ageing population, falling birth rate and the future economy.
Deputy Tadier said the workshop had got him thinking about some of the issues contended with by the Channel Islands, and while he said his post on X was ‘tongue-in-cheek’, he added it was important for the islands to have open conversations about the challenges they faced.
‘I do watch what is going on in the rest of the islands, the ferry situation between Guernsey and Jersey, Alderney’s runway and how that’s going to be paid for, the new Finistair flights between France, Jersey and Alderney, even the tunnel idea between Guernsey, Jersey and France, which I do think is a bit of a literal pipe dream,’ he said.
‘However, I do think it’s good to have discussions about all of these things, having conversations about Channel Island residents living and working in the other islands.’
Asked if he ever thought there was a genuine possibility in the future of Alderney joining the Bailiwick of Jersey, Deputy Taider said nothing was impossible.
But he said he was sure Guernsey valued Alderney.
‘Alderney has got allies in the Channel Islands, what I was trying to highlight is that there are always other options to how things are done, different themes and solutions to problems.’
There was not much interaction with the post but several people, including in Alderney, were non-plussed at the suggestion.
Alderney States member Alex Snowdon, also a representative in the States of Guernsey, said that while he also understood Deputy Tadier’s comments to be tongue-in-cheek, he said it was ‘refreshing’ that Jersey wanted to engage with Alderney, and that some of the smaller island’s issues had been highlighted at the States of Jersey workshop.
‘While we are always keen to work positively in collaboration with Jersey, we understand the value of our relationship with Guernsey. The Channel Islands working together can only be a good thing.’
He extended an invite to Deputy Tadier to visit Alderney in order to learn more about the island, to which Deputy Tadier said he would ‘happily’ accept.
Several Jersey politicians have visited Alderney in the past 18 months to build relationships and fact-finding. But until recently transport between the islands has been so difficult that Jersey have had trouble getting their footballers to Alderney for the Muratti semi-final and have had to take two flights.
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