Transparency is key for GDA to make progress

The G4, the island's business representative organisations, have all expressed their support for the plans, particularly in terms of the ambitions for action and the operational set up of any agency.

Supporters will welcome the prospect of future long-term planning actually coming to something and facilitating delivery of complex projects, critical to the island’s economic and social success.

They say that devolving responsibility to these bodies has been successful elsewhere and the ability to use expertise from the private sector and social enterprises, following direction and operational principles set out by the States, is far more likely to achieve results.

The States’ track record in moving forward with major infrastructure projects is not strong. So some of this enthusiastic support would stem from the basis that ‘anything is better than nothing’.

It’s also no surprise that identifying the ability in the private sector to move projects forward is also heralded – such a move very much supports the ongoing political narrative.

But even the frequently asked questions explainer provided by the States at the beginning of the week doesn’t offer much detail on the process.

Politicians behind the move say they are not at the detail stage. They say an agency can bend and shape to suit Guernsey’s needs and wants, and Policy & Resources has explained that next month’s debate will not be about what the development agency should do, and also doesn’t specify the model, which can be amended to suit Guernsey.

Development agencies clearly have potential, as demonstrated in other jurisdictions, but the removal of responsibility from public hands is always a challenging proposition. There is still much for islanders to learn about the Guernsey Development Agency and much to talk about.

It’s a buzzword in politics at the moment, but transparency will be critical to settle any nerves, and ultimately make progress on the long-awaited east coast and harbours project.