Guernsey Press

Political renewal needed for us to thrive

THE release from lockdown has brought plenty of talk about renewal and the opportunities that are presented for doing some things differently and better.

Published

Policy & Resources has hit on the revive and thrive slogan, but for that to happen there needs to be belief that the right people are in government leading the charge.

The general election should have taken place this week with people keen to see if the island-wide process would deliver, as promised, better representation and broader thinking.

Whatever the method used, it would have been a welcome chance at renewal.

After four years in office, the cracks and strains begin to show in any administration, and they had been more than evident here.

Opportunities for improving how this island is run have been passed up both because those involved are too short-sighted and stubborn to see their own shortcomings and because personality clashes curtailed progress.

It will surprise few that divisions in Home Affairs, for example, have spiralled out of control in recent days.

For this States to cling on as the rest of the island returns to living freely would be damaging.

The States' Assembly and Constitution Committee has earmarked early October as its preferred option for going to the polls.

The path is now clear for that to happen.

There will be enormous responsibility on the next States to make good on all the talk of economic revival, to be bold and ambitious in their thinking and to capitalise on the spirit that has been so evident in lockdown.

A conversation is needed with the community about what Guernsey should aim to look like,

how the public realm can be improved and crucially how the economy can be diversified and future proofed.

The States itself needs to make good on promises of efficiency and improving the way it operates and the services it offers, that will require fresh perspectives and fresh impetus that can only be achieved by changing its membership.