Replies to the final hustings – St Helier

Q. What are the candidates’ opinions about the UK firms trading in Jersey which compete with local shops but do not pay tax locally and what do they propose to do about it?

A. This problem was known when we adopted the zero ten tax regime but nothing has been done to correct it. It is unfair that businesses which are owned by off island corporations, can operate locally in competition with locally owned firms, generate economic value, distribute their profits elsewhere and make no contribution to our economy. This situation is even more unfair when their employees are on low wages and we have to top up their wages from Income support. This operates as a disincentive to investment in local businesses and encourages their sale to off island corporations. We have to correct this; if it can’t be done by income tax another means must be found.

Q. What do they candidates consider should be done to improve the decision making in the States ?

A. When we adopted the Ministerial system recommended by Clothier we did not accept their suggestions for the States Assembly and ended up with a ministerial system detached from the States .The machinery of government we have now has to be improved because decisions are made in ministerial silos. Decisions on policy often progress too far, at much cost, without achieving sufficient consensus and public support for these policies and members are often left with no real choice.  For example the questionable and unpopular two site hospital proposal has almost got to the point of signing a contract, but now after two years it has been finally been agreed by ministers that the States debate it.  This would never have happened with committees which had greater member involvement at an early stage of policy setting.  The ministerial system can be made to work better if it is modified.  I brought amendments to the States of Jersey Law to achieve greater inclusivity of all States members in decision making and other improvements, but these were largely rejected. I shall continue to work for these changes if elected.

Q. What do candidates consider can be done to increase public participation in the election, should voting be compulsory?

A. I would not favour compulsion. We need to work with Education to open up the subject with young people, they have been very defensive in protecting young people from political influences. For people to be motivated to vote they have be engaged and feel involved in politics . This is where our States need to change because people do feel disconnected.

Q. Do the candidates support paying everybody a living wage?

A. We have a statutory minimum wage but it’s too low because our costs are high and we have to top up earnings with income support from taxpayers. I am in favour of the living wage proposal which has taken off in London under Mayor Boris Johnson and become very successful. We should look at adopting it on a voluntary basis

Q.What can be done to relax the planning restrictions and building bye- laws which presently prevent people from changing internal features and putting in double glazing in listed buildings?

A. The present minister has been conducting a review of listed buildings for three years now and has made very little progress (see scrutiny legacy report). We need to much more selective about listed buildings in future and use common sense in the application of regulations. There is a big conflict between the bye- laws for energy conservation in buildings and listed building restrictions and people get locked into bureaucratic and expensive processes. The system is rule bound.  This can and will be reformed if we get the right Planning Minister after the elections.

Q. What is the most difficult question the candidates have had to answer throughout the hustings?

A. A question on Gigabyte Jersey and the difference between upload and download speeds of the fast internet service of JT through fibre. The questioner asked what was the effect on the applications and businesses of this differential. Fast internet services are hugely important to the development of our IT digital sector, but I did not understand the technical aspect. I have since researched this and spoken to technical experts and could speak on this if I had time.

There is an issue, I am told the fibre technology can handle equivalent data speeds in both directions, but for business reasons JT have configured their services to limit upload speeds. This has been done because the previous ADSL service which fibre replaced was based on differential speeds and we have got used to this and the market is now mainly for download services. However fast upload services will be required for Cloud services and other applications in future. This can be provided by JT but JT prices these as premium services for businesses reasons, which will inhibit the development of local businesses using fast upload to remote locations.

 Q. Constables Question; Will the candidates in one sentence say why the residents of St Helier should vote for you?

A. I was brought up in an urban area, I owe the island everything I have after 35 years in Jersey and want to give back what it has given me; what you see is what you get with me ; open, transparent , honest , hard working and no spin .

 

 

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