Approach to population management is ‘archaic’
‘SHORT-TERM workers will be better off than teachers under Economic Development’s proposals’, a quote from an article about Deputy Mary Lowe in the Guernsey Press. (‘I don’t think Economic Development understands implications of its proposals’, 20 October)
Does that not tell you something Deputy Lowe? The whole population management scheme is outdated, archaic and due for an in-depth review. The firmly locked and bolted door needs to be oiled and fitted with an automated opening system but with safeguards to defend against undesirables.
The States have spent a huge amount of money employing extra staff to cope with the extra demands on a new system that was extolled as being cheaper, more efficient and easier to use...
I am a hotelier and I am still waiting for licences to be approved that have been in the application system for in excess of five months and a good number have now left the island. If the housing department were a trading company... need I say more.
Our industry, hospitality, by its very nature is transient, the key employees may stay (hopefully) for longer, but the fluid engine room is constantly changing and has never presented an ongoing population problem in the 30 years I’ve been in the business.
I have always struggled with the housing/licensing regulations, relative to our educational and health care staff, and I would put them at the top of the list in the essential category, if you want to stay, we welcome you and encourage you to be a long-term part of our community.
Thank goodness we have the balanced support of Economic Development’s Jennifer Merrett, Andrea Dudley-Owen, Jan Kuttelwascher and Peter Ferbrache, they put their political lives on the line for us.
Without them we would be at the mercy of an ill-informed and outdated Home Affairs committee. God help us.
Name and address withheld.