Thank God for Private Eye
I FIND it so sad that outside influence had to be used to get rid of our chief minister from office. I refer of course to the UK magazine Private Eye. All the information is coming out and informing the local population, who are beginning to understand the seriousness of the implications to the island and pointing to how our political system operates.
Knowing all this, why, apart from the Guernsey Press reports about the chief minister's positions on this conflicting issue, did our politicians not act on this situation ages ago? It seems as though we have a toothless government of politicians acting on our behalf and afraid to act, only bowing to 'Yes Minister'.
It is no wonder Private Eye accuses the island of regulatory incest and concluded 'cosy places' and 'tax havens'. Our government have only themselves to blame on this one.
Hearing the chief minister's reason for resigning, he stated he was doing this to stop the island being damaged – of course, he was the one person responsible for this. At least we can concentrate on selecting a new minister this time, a 'level-headed' as we have had nothing but problems with past ones. At this stage, the only two I would put forward are Dave Jones and Mike O'Hara.
Moving on, I read the other day about a meeting at Les Cotils re. the population report, headed once again by our chief minister and all about what has been put forward by the population report committee.
These following statements, he has made.
1. He agreed that there will be a substantial rise in the population as a result of the proposed changes.
2. He also stated on this it was the 'intention' to do so for economic reasons. That seems to have gone out the window due to Private Eye's view on our 'economic' situation in politics?
3. After all the information given to him re. the difficulty in affordable homes for locals in the future, or the waiting list at present of more than 400 and not being able to keep up with building more homes as there isn't the space any more, his proposed changes 'intent' of making the situation impossible for locals.
His reply to this information was it is a housing problem, not a population issue.
Anyone on the population and residency proposal committee should be ashamed and none of these politicians should be voted in at the next election.
I am so glad he has resigned. He has done so much damage to the island plus if these proposals go through, what more damage will be done? He doesn't give any care for the local population or our future generation or the committee's.
As one reader commented a week ago correctly, if you have a birth certificate, you are local, if you haven't, you're not.
'End of story.'
Thanks to this deputy and others, our island is a laughing stock. Can't wait until island-wide voting comes along and once more thank God for the Private Eye, and disgrace to our government for being toothless.
R. S. MAUGER,
Valletta,
Rue des Frieteaux,
St Martin's,
GY4 6XA.
