Those who care about the future of their home island should read this book

On past performance we can expect 100-plus applications for the 38 four-year contract positions.

But how do you sort the men/women from the boys/girls?

What qualifications are you looking for on their CVs, sorry, manifestos?

A nice smile/hat/jib? Knew your mother? Plays your favourite sport? Goes to your church? Lives nearby?

If they are already in the States then you can check their track record – how did they vote on issues that are important to you, and maybe who their political alliances/friends are etc?

But if they are political newbies then what?

What do they know of the current situation, threats and risks that we as an island are exposed to?

How deep is their knowledge of how we as islanders live together?

Well, it is actually quite simple – there is a new book that will inform them of the current issues that they need to know about before they stand as a deputy for you.

Guernsey – How We Live Together is a new book from local author and well-known businessman Tony Gallienne. It will give them all the background information they need to know before they decide to represent you.

It doesn’t have any of the answers to the questions that they will face but it does mean that they will be well-briefed on the how/why/who/where/when questions in advance of having to make those difficult decisions.

It does it with remarkable clarity and absence of bias of any kind.

I recommend that everyone who cares about the future of their home island reads this book, I have just finished it – a good two-week read.

And no, I am not a big mate of Tony or getting a cut – but I can say that the £14 I spent of my own money was well worth it.

I, for one, won’t be voting for any newbie who hasn’t read it.

Richard Brache

rbrache@guernsey.net

Editor’s note: We are pleased to say that we have reached an agreement with Tony Gallienne to serialise an edited version of his book over the next few weeks, starting later this month.