Glen Pontin, Taxi Owner: Five things I would change about Guernsey

Friday 09 February 2018

Former Navy sailor, then publican, turned owner of Guernsey Taxis, Glen Pontin is passionate about the island in which he was born and bred.

Now raising his own four daughters here, his wife says Glen spends far too much time in his taxi: "maybe to avoid all the females at home!" Express managed to pin him down for a chat though, where he gave us his thoughts on the island and told us what five things he would change about Guernsey:

1. Transport Links

As a taxi driver Glen is well aware of the need for good transport links. Spending a lot of time at the airport or harbour picking up passengers he says he's heard a lot of conversations on the topic. 

"We need to open our skies up to a lot more airlines. We desperately need cheaper links and they need to be reliable. Aurigny need to fly between Guernsey and Jersey. With the ferries we need at least one other company sailing between the islands as well as to France and the UK. Competition is good and it would benefit us living here as well as bring in more visitors."

Pictured: Manches Iles Express was this week named as the preferred bidder in the tender process to run a new inter island ferry service. Image from Tony Rive

2. Work with Jersey more

A topic that comes up time and time again is second on Glen's list. He doesn't understand why we don't work with Jersey more especially on matters of mutual concern. Waste is also high on Glen's list!

"Why is our rubbish going to Sweden to be dealt with? The answer is much closer to home. It should go to Jersey to be dealt with there.

"Our waste shouldn’t be going 1200 miles, but 25/30 miles across the sea."

Pictured: Gorey Castle in Jersey

3. Politics

Paying States members was not a good decision in Glen's opinion. 

"I'd like us to go back to the days of our States working for the island and not just for the money. We should not be paying them! 

"They also need to be more open with the public about what they're doing and what they're spending our money on.

"And the States should be using fewer consultants from off island - where possible we should use experts from on island."

4. Education

Another topic that just won't go away leads us onto the fourth thing Glen would change about Guernsey!

"Why are they changing the schools? Don’t change the schooling from what it is now!

"Why are they trying to fix something that isn't broken? Our children are getting good results now under the current system. They shouldn't be changing it."

5. Cars

As a taxi driver Glen spends a lot of time on the road and it's another area he'd like to change in Guernsey:

"We should be taxing big cars a lot more than we currently do. That was suggested a while ago and Guernsey should be doing it We need more electric and hybrid cars too. They'd be much better for the environment. 

"We should stop giving money to the buses too. It's very unfair too everyone else. Why can't taxis get say 10% off fuel. It is so expensive for everyone but if taxis could get their fuel subsidised even ever so slightly, it would help to bring the prices down and then more people would be able to use them."

We asked Glen for his "five things to change about Guernsey", but like all good taxi drivers we couldn't get him to stop once he had started! 

6. Move Guernsey 10% south for a warmer climate! 

If you'd like to share your views on your 'five things to change about Guernsey' let us know! Email editor@bailiwickexpress.com