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"Decisions need to be made"

Monday 16 December 2024

"Decisions need to be made"

Monday 16 December 2024


In his final speech to the States of Guernsey, Alderney politician Steve Roberts implored his "friends" and colleagues to finally make a decision and stick to it.

He was referencing the need for investment in Alderney's runway primarily.

Describing it as a "life or death" situation, he said work on the key infrastructure is now "critical".

"We absolutely must have the runway repaired immediately," he said. "It is not only a significant reductor to our economy, but should it deteriorate further it is a threat to life. Please consider that, please, because I'm not entirely sure that this fact has sunk in.

"Our runway has holes in it and it continues to deteriorate, and we rely on that service to save our people when they face life threatening changes. We do not have facilities like you do (in Guernsey). We don't have blood reserves, we don't have life saving drugs. If a plane cannot land or take off from that runway, a person may die."

Alderney_runway.jpeg

Pictured: The deterioration of Alderney's runway has dominated the attention of its politicians for years.

Mr Roberts was speaking to the States of Guernsey on Friday, after the Bailiff gave him a special dispensation to make a speech.

It was to be Mr Roberts final speech to the States of Guernsey after he was unsuccessful in his recent bid to be re-elected as an Alderney representative in Guernsey.

While he remains a States Member in Alderney, Mr Roberts has been replaced as a Guernsey representative by political newcomer Edward Hill, who will join re-elected Alex Snowdon in making regular trips across the water.

Mr Roberts said he had taken time to consider standing for re-election in the Plebiscite earlier this month, knowing that his position on GST had made him unpopular with some people at home.

"These islands hold many wealthy people. Many are less well off. Some are poor. However, your real wealth lays with your family, your children and your grandchildren. They are your greatest wealth that you will ever have without any doubt, they are the gold of your life," he said.

"My vote on GST Guernsey collapsed my support at home. I was also blamed for the runway failure to be maintained because I had been so vocal in both islands and since I came to the States. I was never courting votes. A decent air service is something I passionately believe in that will save Alderney and the Bailiwick and I think Guernsey. Alderney and Jersey air service could benefit from a joint review. That review to be a cheaper aircraft holding lower running costs, more pan and island services and cheaper services, a back to the future think tank like we used to have boosting tourism and inter-island taxi service revisited.

"I believe our Alderney to Guernsey deficit can be wiped out with local robust economy. Do not underwrite or estimate the Alderney public. They are tough and inventive lot. They worry about GST because of our 27% higher cost of living. They have a real point, but we need a connectivity sea change.

"If Alderney benefits, then Guernsey benefits. We had a good period where it felt like we were finally in tandem, and it has been very difficult to see that fall apart. So you see when the vote was cast last weekend, it was somewhat bittersweet."

Edward Hill Alex Snowdon

Pictured: While Mr Roberts remains a States Member in Alderney, he is replaced in the States of Guernsey by Edward Hill (left) who will join Alex Snowdon in the pan-island role next year.

Mr Roberts said the Bailiwick needs decisive decision making, however unpopular it may make politicians. His final speech saw him repeatedly urge his political colleagues to make decisions and stick to them.

"Let's find solutions, rather than backtracking and debating for years on end, please, I beg you, just get something done.

"Decisions need to be made. It's time. Let's not waste any more. We need a tax plan desperately. Now I will say this, I debated earlier whether I should stand for re-election this term. It wasn't an easy choice for me. I spoke with my family in depth about the pros and the cons, and I have thoroughly enjoyed working with you all and fighting for the best for Alderney and the Bailiwick as a whole. But equally, I love my home and my family, and being away every month was hard for me. And not only that, I have at times found it hard to work with the States divided so embroiled in the game of politics that sometimes I have wondered, are we really all fighting for what's good for Guernsey and Alderney. All I can hope is that our collective future is that this Chamber puts the past behind and finds a way to collaborate and work together to get us out of this difficult period, and that you see, all together, we can achieve more, far more than we do together."

Pictured top: Alderney States Member, Steve Roberts.

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