Radical changes required to keep ship from rocks
THERE is a growing concern among both the general public and informed circles that Guernsey is in a precarious state. There are so many major issues and threats currently causing alarm that a pair of hands has insufficient fingers to list these... education, waste, transport, the Bailiwick’s dependent islands, the shrinking finance industry, open skies, scattergun politics, beneficial ownership, potential EU blacklisting, both housing markets, Guernsey’s inequitable legal system, degrading infrastructure, financial passporting, lack of tourist attractions, bloated civil service, wasted public finances, road signs, Brexit contingencies, shrinking population, airport runway, whimsical (electric bicycle) schemes, and on and on...
Instead of trying to find out why the ship is heading onto the rocks, however, we should be totally focused on how the ship gets turned around. Quickly. Radical changes are needed, I fear. And harnessing data from my own informal ‘opinion poll’, here are the top 10 suggestions for getting the rudderless ship back on course. Some would appear radical, but a sharp change in course is what is now needed. Here we go...
1. Consult and trust the public on both major and minor matters. (Social media forums?)
2. Politicians to be unsalaried. Fewer conflicts of interest or compromises because they have to earn a living.
3. No political parties. (Divisive and wasteful).
4. Education Department abolished – budgets devolved to schools. (PS. Restore 11-plus and Grammar School).
5. Housing Fund to boost construction industry and help first- and last-time buyers.
6. Civil Service pruned by minimum of 50%.
7. Waste and Water – DIY. Construct an incineration and energy converter plant. Also continue with landfill on Guernsey and Alderney. Scrap complicated and unworkable new waste collection scheme. Also build a desalination plant.
8. Transport – 25-50% reduction on cost of all flights and ferries to Guernsey residents.
9. Dogs – two walking zones, one in the north and another in the south of island. All dogs need to be on leash at all times on designated dog beaches. (We are not all dog lovers.)
10. Economy (push for growth) – as finance industry is declining, a major stimulus is needed to raise revenues through new enterprises and helping the islands grow again, such as:
a) Wave technology ref electric tidal generation – Alderney, Sark and Guernsey waters.
b) Cannabis and natural pharmaceutical industry – Alderney and Guernsey.
c) Bitcoin, Eco/Hydro Energy and Pharma industries – develop Guernsey as specialist go-to centres for these new activities, including international research and development, before others get there (e.g. Gibraltar).
d) Tourism – create new ‘must-go-to’ attractions, for example:
1. Castle Cornet luxury hotel, visitor centre and casino.
2. Sea World Museum (including an underwater glass seabed walk-through from Castle Cornet to the Bathing Pools area).
3. A Disney-style buccaneer and pirate replica ship/museum.
4. A prestige classic car exhibition centre and test track.
5. Construction of a cruiser offshore docking facility.
P.S. Compulsory military/social service, for school and university leavers. An organised and disciplined young mind is one less likely to be addicted to their apps and social media, and more likely to be self-confident.
Ultimately the Bailiwick’s success depends on generation of new business models, instead of relying on the old ways. There needs to be a clear vision and trusty (non-UK) minds steering it through in a co-ordinated and coherent way, devoid of party politics or personal interest. There is too much at stake now to keep going from one mess to another, hoping blindly that the island will stumble on the right solution.
We now need the alchemist’s touch and vision, to convert what is looking rather ugly into something more beautiful and valuable, once more. Hope springs eternal... but the rocks are looming.
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