This is taken directly from the printed manifesto I have provided to all the electorate of St Helier District 2. It follows an introduction suggesting the three questions I would want to ask are as follows,
Who am I?
Aged 58, I’m happily married, with two locally employed children. I was previously a teacher at Grainville School later a manager at Allied Dunbar. In 1994 I moved to Hepburns as manager of the Life and Pensions department.
- Chairperson of Governors at Haute Vallee School – a role I have held for the last 8 years. Both my children have attended the school, and I remain committed to providing the best education for all children in Jersey regardless of class or background.
- Chairperson of the Pensions Working Party – in 2006 we created the new Retirement Annuity Trust pension Jersey’s own personal pension. We then conducted a Root and Branch review resulting in new legislation changes.
- Co-Founder of the 745 Breakfast Club – local networking group, with 200 members, created to aid small business growth and share ideas.
- Panel Member of the Prince’s Trust – the Prince’s Trust provides funding for disadvantaged youngsters starting out in business.
- Director of Advisa Hepburn Oracle – I started with Hepburns in 1994 in the role of Manager and became a Director in 1996. We have recently merged creating the largest IFA brokerage on the island.
- Chairperson of the Personal Finance Society – a role I held for 2 years.
I had been working with the States three years prior to Norwich Union leaving the Island. Our meetings resulted in the postponement of ITIS, 20% means 20% and staggering the loss of Personal Tax Allowances over 5 years.
- Originator of the “Think Twice, Buy Local” campaign - the notion arose from Kevin Keen saying that “Every time you buy a yoghurt, think about it. If you buy a local one, 80% of the money stays on the Island”. It helped increase local retail sales.
- Slow Food – I helped create Genuine Jersey’s “Taste the Passion” campaign.
- I run two Blogs using my photography to illustrate what happens over a year. www.heritageyear.blogspot.com & www.slowfoodjersey.blogspot.com
- I have also worked on three Festival committee’s 2010 Branchage as Chair, 2010 Fish Festival and the Liberation Music Festival. Now planning a Literary Festival for 2012
Why me?
Because like you I am tired of the constant whine of “whinge politics” and I want to do something about it. We need a change. New politicians. This district deserves better.
You will remember the dubious actions of the sitting deputies who broke the law, pleaded guilty and were subsequently fined. Why are they still in the Government representing us?
At this point in my life I feel I have the wide range of experience and abilities to do a solid job as a Deputy. I’m tenacious, creative and persistent. My occupation demands empathic listening skills and an analytical, questioning mind. I get involved.
I feel I have both the intellect and the energy to “make things happen”. When asked to join the Princes Trust I asked, “why me?” Their reply was, “you are an enabler that gets things done.” I need your vote to give me that opportunity.
I am passionate about Jersey and have worked hard to make sure that where I could be involved, I was involved. I have not lost touch with how expensive it is to live here and will work hard to reduce that burden. Most importantly I will listen to you. I believe the Deputy’s role should be a form of apprenticeship to becoming a Senator, and Deputies should live in and support their own parishes. I have lived in St Helier since 2001.
The future.
I believe the role of Deputy is a full-time role and carries responsibility both to the district and the island as a whole. I have three main areas of focus: education, employment and caring for the elderly. The voters of St Helier No.2 need louder representation in the States on these issues.
- Create clearer more effective communications between the people and the Government. Greater transparency would help us connect more effectively.
- GST is here as I forecast. We must strive to keep it at 5%. The government can either increase taxes or decrease its spending. We must focus on reducing needless expenditure.
- Job creation is paramount. Rising unemployment, redundancies and children leaving school without a decent shot at a job must be given a high priority. Everyone deserves an opportunity.
- Our ageing population seems somewhat forgotten but their needs are growing. There is too much dependency on our excellent voluntary services.
- A return of the Hoppa bus would provide easier access to town for the elderly.
- More Police on the streets has proved effective but excessive drinking and violence must be reduced. It is getting better but under age drinking is on the increase.
- Go back to Clothier everyone is aware the States numbers are far too large for our community.
- Reducing States spending can reduce the tax burden. We need to find the balance.
- Couples are under increasing pressure just to survive. Nursery care needs support.
- We must listen and connect with both the young and the old to create a more sustainable future for the Island. Elderly care with so few care homes needs greater consideration.
Politics tends to focus on the short term but we are storing so many problems for the future. In an age of austerity a lack of money places so much pressure on everyone. We need to find better, more effective solutions but to do that we need some fresh ideas. New politicians.
This was my 2008 Manifesto but it is interesting to see what has and hasn’t changed.
We have heard a lot about change in this election but the Senatorial results suggest that what is being looked for are safe hands, an independent, intelligent, creative mind and experience. I would suggest my track record proves that I have those attributes. I am standing as an Independent. I have no allegiance to any party nor am I a member of the Establishment.
I also live in the heart of my District, in Stopford road to be exact. When was the last time you saw a Deputy in your District dealing with local matters? They don’t have a vested interest. Ben Queree of the JEP recently described the odd situation of someone living in Gorey and deciding on the fate of Brighton road. Deputies should live in their District’s.
Opportunity, responsibility and community are central beliefs in my campaign.
I have always helped anyone that has sought my assistance. To help people is hardwired into my DNA and comes from my parents. To create better lives for the people of Jersey is core deep in my beliefs. I love “making things happen” and “making a difference”. These are not empty promises. My track record proves that.
People want desperately to be listened to and have their opinions taken into account. Everyone has the right to make their views heard. I do listen and I do act.
I am an independent candidate fuelled by a desire to make things happen and get the job done. I believe I have a reputation for perserverance and tenacity. I would represent an educated challenge to the “Establishment.”
I am fresh to politics but not to politicians or politics. My recent chairing of Working Parties on Pensions is evidence that I am capable of challenging political concepts. We created one of the quickest pieces of legislation to be adopted by the States. Early meetings with Senator Frank Walker resulted in “20% means 20%” and ITIS being shelved for a year. The mortgages allowances were also staggered to give people more time to acclimatise.
GST
A ‘Black Hole’ of £80-£100 million expected by 2010 meant that there had to be a way to plug it. Any tax is difficult to swallow but unless this had been adopted, the least bad of three options, those suffering by “20 means 20″ would have been hardest hit.
The need for it is balanced against States Expenditure. Cut the expenditure, cut the tax. Further increases in the Civil Service places a further tax burden on the Island. More staff, more taxes.
It should be maintained at 3%. Further growth would impose hardships and destroy the credibility of the Government.
There should be exemptions for necessities, food, heating and utility bills. This is a given. If the UK can do it so can we. To tax the essentials for those who find it difficult to afford is madness.
It can’t be allowed to rise above the current level of 3%.
In the current climate we should consider giving a “holiday” on the tax allowing both retailers and the public a break over Christmas. There should be flexibility in these issues particularly now.
Immigration and Population
This is a fundamental problem. Jersey has struggled with the need for immigrant labour for years. Seasonal agriculture and tourism demanded a cheap, transient work force. I arrived as one of those people back in 1976. As Finance came to the fore and the other Island industries receded, the need to provide rose accordingly. We still need foreign labour for agriculture and hotel staff for tourism. It’s a difficult balancing act.
The Island should welcome and defend its multicultural society, their individual rights, without losing its own rights and identity.
Youth and Pensioners
Both ends of the scale have the similar problems. Government constantly ignores the non-taxpayers.
Seldom listened to and often forgotten in the greater scheme of things. The issues are obvious.
Nowhere to go and little to do, particularly in the winter months. We can’t exist on voluntary work there must be some funding found.
Government Spending
Tighter controls are necessary with a form of prioritisation that must be open to public scrutiny. Public sector employment must be viewed in a similar way to that of the private sector.
There must be a balance between increased Government spending and taxes. Unnecessary taxes create further demand for more civil servant posts. Proactive steps have been taken but more stringent pruning is needed.
The Government has begun the process but in the current economic climate there needs to be a more realistic approach to cost-cutting. Tougher questions need to be asked.
Everyone appreciates what taxes pay for but demand has grown. The demographic shift in an ageing population will place a greater burden on resources in the future.
Government
Back to Clothier. Back to the drawing board. Reduce the numbers of politicians. The current system creates procrastination and suspicion. It’s unwieldy and inefficient.
A cleansing process has begun and will continue. I would love to be a part of a fresh Government.
Some of the current members lack the intellectual capacity to argue a case or articulate their thoughts. We need experienced hands at the wheel. Why is there so little choice when it comes to Chief Minister?
Electoral reform is necessary. It needs to be brought into the 21st century. A General Election every 4 years will raise both interest and increase the numbers of voters. A common platform for e-votes could be established.
Greater communication between departments and agencies is crucial particularly with the current economic climate. Connections between the Government and it’s people must be strengthened. Less spin, a more open approach must be adopted to prevent rumours of conspiracy and corruption.
Housing
Too many category J licences. The population growth policy is unsustainable. Rising house prices and both public and health services under strain are the result.
£480,000 for the average priced property with a 10% deposit makes home ownership virtually impossible.
First time buyers and young families will find little that is affordable. Recent events leading to reduced mortgage lending are another obstacle to home ownership.
We need to seek sustainable solutions or the future of the Island is under threat.
Education
Our current education system appears to produce solid results and serves the Island well but there are tough problems ahead.
A decreasing birth rate will affect the primary school provision with possible school closures. There are solutions out there.
The delicate balance between immigration and the local populace are once more brought into focus. Education’s budget has been severely cropped. I have created along with other Governors a greater communication between schools to aid opportunities to share skills and information.
Pan Island Communications
The collective has greater power, the Islands need to communicate more freely on both local and international matters. Past differences should be set aside. The World stares at our current arrangements in disbelief. Greater inter-island sharing of services could address some of our growing ecological problems.
Incinerator
We are all worried about Bellozane. All evidence provided by the States denies there is any substance to the concerns raised. So why are we all still so concerned?
The decision has been made for a new incinerator on a new site. Both decisions are laden with heavy consequences. There will need to be constant scrutiny of emissions and of the incinerators effectiveness.
Crime
Crime could increase proportionally with the rise in immigration. More police on the streets has always proved a successful deterrent, it is costly but achievable.
Drug crime in particular is insidious and endemic. This is also likely to be an increase with shifts in population and geographical immigrant movements.
Waterfront
There are so many concerns about this development they are difficult to number. It just feels wrong. Gut instinct is a great litmus test and nobody feels easy about what is happening.
Why is the project so large? As the case against Harcourt becomes more public so does the disquiet.
What assumptions are being made regarding the growth of the Finance Industry and its inherent population to warrant so many offices? Now with the current climate of businesses reducing staff and resources, who are going to fill these offices?
Communication
No more spin just a clearer view on what is happening before it happens. More honesty. Far too much is communicated “after the fact”, when the deal is done or the decision made.
I’m all for good, fast decision making but openly deplore the lack of public scrutiny.
Finance Industry
Financial Services play a crucial part in this Islands makeup. Its critics attempt to belittle it by endowing it with the all the qualities of a mystical beast devouring all that lies in its path.
It is a collective of many differing services, businesses and as such its often forecasted demise would be difficult to truly contemplate. That said, it is subject to the same global prevailing ill-winds as any other industry.
It must be supported not castigated. How many friends and relatives do you know that work in Finance?
The other legs to the stool, Tourism and Agriculture, are vital to the sustainability to this Island. They will also find it difficult to survive in the future but they must feel supported both idealistically and financially.
Town Park
Whatever happened to the town park? Decision is made and then what? It needs to brought back into the public view.
Why? As the centre of the town heads towards the Waterfront this is one element of town planning to draw it back. Let’s get it firmly back on the agenda. Parks are the heart and lungs of any town. Havens of peace that children can explore and adults can relax in. We can’t let this drift away.