Eden Project’s lessons for Guernsey’s identity

The reason is there is now a widespread feeling that Guernsey has lost its way, is letting down islanders on more modest incomes and government is interested only in protecting the interests of the rich and growth at all costs. Where, indeed, is our identity in all this?

While that assessment of the States is wrong, there is an element of truth. Without ‘rich’ people, the island’s finances would be much worse off – just 5% of top earners pay a quarter of all income tax.

Guernsey relies on jobs for its prosperity, so it makes sense to have as many well-paid ones as possible and to encourage locals to take them up. Similarly, the island has to attract the businesses that create the employment in the first place.

Getting that balance right is difficult – and many are now saying the States has got it wrong. True, a global crash and Covid have not helped, but it seems unarguable that government has allowed a housing crisis to develop, despite all the earlier warning signs.

Without growth in wages and inflation remaining under control, islanders inevitably become worse off and will blame government. At the same time, others criticise the States for encouraging immigration and Locate Guernsey for trying to attract the better-off to settle here. Driving up house prices, some say.

What successive States haven’t been good at – or islanders in demanding it – is setting out what identity we do aspire to and how to get there. The Eden Project’s Sir Tim Smit upset quite a few people recently with his outspoken views on the Cornish.

‘You cannot define your life in terms of what you don’t like,’ he said. ‘You’ve actually got to define your life in terms of the sunny uplands you’d like to aspire to…’.

There’s a lesson in that for Guernsey.