2020 Association releases 'principles and objectives'

Monday 17 June 2019

Decisive Deputies, support for the finance industry and greater use of public transport are among the 2020 Association's aims and principles.

The political group, which was launched back in November, believes it can "help to improve the quality of candidates for the States" by "providing a set of agreed objectives behind which such candidates could unite."

“After extensive communication with members and followers and having in the region of 40,000 internet impressions in 6 months, we are delighted now to be able to publish this account of our principles and objectives” said Association Secretary Peter Atkinson. “We already have indications from a number of potential candidates that they agree with the principles outlined in this document. We will, of course, be working on and refining these objectives over the coming months, in readiness for the election.”

Deputy Peter Ferbrache is one of the founding members of the 2020 Association. 

The 2020 Association aims to:

• Bring into the States a cohesive group of politicians, who are both of demonstrated capability, and willing to act sensibly but decisively and to avoid procrastination and habitual recourse to expensive consultants, drawing on on-island expertise wherever practicable.
• Invest in the infrastructure of the island to support economic growth, and establish a framework of reliable and reasonably affordable transport links to meet the needs and wishes of islanders, of business and of tourism.
• Encourage and support the finance industry, especially world-beating green finance, and encourage new businesses, with a culture of positivity towards initiatives.
• Promote “small” government, by reducing red tape, and regulation, and promoting “joined up thinking” across the States and the Civil Service.
• Acknowledge the value of Open Market residents and use their skills; cautiously relax, and if necessary suspend, over-rigid Population Management rules.
• Cut waste and pollution, in particular by reducing non-degradable plastics.
• Promote greater use of public transport, reduce transport dependency on hydrocarbons, and move firmly towards environmentally sustainable energy sources.
• Strive to ensure a decent and uniformly available standard of primary and secondary health care, and a basic sufficient standard of living, for all.
• Pursue the alleviation of real in-work poverty, and recognise the priority that should be given to the well-being of our poorer islanders.
• Review the conduct of States Assembly business, promoting focus and efficiency by limiting speeches and timing meetings so as to enable participation, as Deputies, by persons in full time employment.
• Respect broad public opinion, considering pressure from single issue groups with caution and objectivity.
• Introduce a Freedom of Information Law.
• Restore more local functions to the Douzaines, including enabling their input as to decisions on planning control, whilst enhancing their accountability.
• Support the Colleges in providing further and adult education, and monitor the secondary education system to ensure that it best provides the skills, academic and technical training to equip all our young people for success in adult life. 
• Ensure that tax is imposed fairly and reasonably as regards all strata of society, and that Guernsey retains its attractive and enterprise-encouraging character as a low tax regime, with no further introduction of stealth taxes.

Pictured top: 2020 Association Secretary Peter Atkinson, take from a video on the association's website.