Emma Mauger: Five things I'd change about Guernsey

Friday 03 August 2018

Local businesswoman Emma Mauger is also involved with a local charity, has two children and her horses to keep her busy - but we wanted to find out what she thinks about the island she is proud to call her home.

As MD of ELM Compliance Consultants Limited she works day-to-day with the financial services and other businesses to tailor their solutions in respect of anti-money laundering, countering the financing of terrorism, anti bribery and corruption and GDPR. Emma is also one of the trustees and the treasurer of local charity Jake’s Heartfelt Funds.

Pictured: Emma Mauger, with her children Ellie and Sam

With her children Ellie and Sam, her horses and all the socialising she does with her friends, she seems like a pretty busy lady but those who know her say she has always got time for other people so we asked her to fit us in for a chat so she could tell us what five things she would change about Guernsey:

1) More self-belief in Guernsey and its place in the economic world

As an island, we have much to be proud of regarding our role in the global finance industry. We’re at the leading edge of regulation, have a depth of expertise that could be the envy of other jurisdictions and have world-leading products and services. Those factors, alongside our political stability and close relations between business, government and our regulator mean we should be collectively proud of ‘brand Guernsey’. We should all believe in that and act with collective confidence that will benefit the island’s economy and community.

Pictured: St Peter Port, where many of the island's finance firms are still based with the sector remaining the largest employing industry in the island

2) A creative approach to our transport woes

Yes, it's been said by many before, but an improvement to air links from both an accessibility and affordability perspective is essential. Perhaps it’s time for some creative thinking and change our attitude towards our Jersey neighbour? For example, we could create a 'hub and spoke' idea between the islands - cheap shuttles to and from Jersey and take advantage of their superior air links and collectively, both islands will have more ‘passenger power’ to attract more carriers to the Channel Islands. This will benefit business, our tourism industry and individuals’ opportunity to travel for less.

Pictured: Jersey Airport, which Emma Mauger would like to see used as a hub airport linking Guernsey with other destinations 

3)   Self-sustaining energy solutions

We have sun, wind, water power all at our disposal and it is not harvested. Wind turbines, tidal energy,  even flywheels should all be under consideration. I’d change our attitude towards energy creation and establish Guernsey as a model of sustainable energy creation for other islands to follow.

Pictured: A windfarm, which Emma said should be considered for future energy production in the island 

4) Rethink States spending

Yes, balancing the States books is an achievement but not at the risk of our quality of life. Budgets need to increase for education, we should bring back the school dentist, put more focus on the arts,  languages should be taught from the age of four when the young mind is much more open, pensions should be secured, doctors should be free for the elderly and others who struggle to find the money to go, to name just a few of many ideas. There are many areas where we are falling behind the rest of the world, and much of that comes down to how we spend our money.

Pictured: Do the States need a rethink on how they spend our money?

5)  Overhaul the archaic States of Guernsey

The machinery of our government is at best not working optimally, at worst it is completely broken. From island wide voting to fewer and more skilled, open-minded and worldly States members who are properly remunerated and are not allowed to hold another job, the States needs to be reimagined from the ground up.

We also need a more joined-up approach across the whole of the Channel Islands. That would save money rather than doing everything at least twice. The way our laws and policies are debated also needs to be looked at. I would love to know exactly how much money has been wasted in States’ time debating education or paid parking for example. It’s time our Deputies listened to local experts more rather than shooting from the hip and making ill-informed decisions with no thought to the implications of their actions.

If the finance industry operated in the same way we would most probably be severely sanctioned by our regulator - it’s a shame there are no such penalties for terrible States decisions!

Pictured: Guernsey's system of government has been described as "archaic" by Emma, but what could replace it?