Comment: Brexit 'No Deal' contingency planning for Guernsey

Tuesday 16 October 2018

With one referendum out the way, it's time to look at the implications of another referendum result - one that the Bailiwick didn't have a say in but it will definitely affect us.

Andy Carre has been keeping an eye on what's happening with Brexit and he's got some concerns.

I read with interest Deputy St. Pier’s letter to Prime Minister Theresa May on 26 September which requests that Guernsey as a Crown Dependency be included and not forgotten in a No Deal Brexit plan.

This letter takes until paragraph four to get to the point which is that “many of Guernsey’s supply chains are dependent on, or linked to the UK’s and operate on a just in time basis."

Well maybe, just maybe, the powers that be who claim to know how to run this island could have, and still have, time to do something about that.

I suppose the leading question would be, “what have the other Crown Dependencies done to mitigate their own issues or have they already negotiated their own path of support?

If we look closer to home we could ask ourselves why are we operating on a just in time basis? Here are some areas of consideration:

Guernsey, up until the UK joined the EU back in 1973 had a thriving growing industry (not to mention tourism!). Tomatoes, flowers and other produce were grown and exported far and wide. Move forward 45 years and this has all but gone, with many derelict glasshouse sites being developed or considered for development. In particular take the St. Clair Vinery site in Pointues Rocques, this is only one of 4 remaining sites in Guernsey that is still growing for the export market, this site is growing chilli peppers.  The planning department will be asked to give permission  to allow the removal of all that glass for 150 houses, houses that will be hard to fill, hard to get to and totally inappropriate for that area. In fact the owner of this site, Mr Robert Plumley who owns Sarnia Seeds said on 3 October 2016 through an ITV report that “Guernsey growing could see resurgence post-Brexit” and goes on to say that the industry could benefit from an increase in prices and be more competitive than those in the EU. 

Why was Warry’s bakery be allowed to close down and leave Guernsey without a commercial bakery that served the Island? – Oh, this site is now full of houses!

Why was the Co-Op allowed to move its store/depot to the UK? So no stock piling of long dated produce.

Why is it taking so long to sort out our air and sea links, and why have the States of Guernsey allowed it to get into such a mess? We do not really have reliable links to the outside world.

The list I am sure is longer than this but in summary I think this island should be looking to be more self sufficient with incentivised schemes to support this. This would demonstrate that whilst we might need to be considered in the “No-Brexit” plan we are making plans of our own. 

So come on the States of Guernsey and the Deputies (who we elected to represent us) stop ruining the land with houses no one wants, stop fixing what’s not broken (i.e. reducing speed limits on roads that have no track record of being dangerous) and put a constructive plan together so Guernsey can stand on its own two feet, and will be to the benefit of Guernsey’s community.

Did you know that currently this Island would run out of food within 4 days if the weather turned for the worst?

The above is the personal opinion of Andy Carre, not Bailiwick Express.