Wake-up call cannot be ignored again
RETIRING Lt-Governor Sir Ian Corder raised some challenging questions for the island and its leaders in his farewell remarks in an interview with this newspaper. What does a ‘good’ Guernsey look like, how does the Bailiwick intend future-proofing its current levels of prosperity and – perhaps the most immediately challenging – how does it intend implementing significant change in a consensus committee system?
Very few seem to appreciate change in life and large numbers of islanders are very happy with things as they are or, for preference, as they were years ago. Even, in some cases, before the finance sector established here and ‘ruined’ Guernsey.
Reality, and unavoidable challenges in the guise of climate change, Brexit staffing issues, and the now emerging ‘super variant’ of Covid, means such outdated thinking has no place in shaping the island’s future.
The island’s public finances alone demand change. Government cannot keep operating as it is and expect different outcomes. Tax rises, economic growth or a mix of both?
How will the Committee for Economic Development resolve the current labour issues that are driving wage inflation and propelling building costs through the roof? How will the island reach net zero, and how will it fund the inevitable costs associated with achieving this? What is Guernsey plc’s vision for itself by 2050?
These are difficult questions and, bluntly, government doesn’t have the capacity to address them. If it had, the debate would already have begun and Sir Ian would not have needed to repeat his wake-up call.
This is more than an academic exercise. Guernsey historically has thrived by exploiting opportunities, by being enterprising and ensuring that the benefits extended to the community as a whole.
It’s wrong to say the current phase of prosperity has come to an end, but it is slowing and the gaps in society – especially over housing – are widening. Accepting that by doing nothing clearly is not an option. In short, if government continues to ignore informed counsel from Sir Ian and others over its future course and need for change, it risks letting down its own people.