A happy new year from Deputy Gavin St Pier

Monday 31 December 2018

As we start a new year, Guernsey's most senior politician has shared his hopes for 2019 for the island with Express.

"The festive period is often a time of year when many of us take stock. We look back over the past year while also looking forward to what the New Year may bring. While I, like many of you, will reflect on a personal level, I also take great pride in being asked to provide a few thoughts from the perspective of my role in the States.

"The overriding feeling that surfaces is that the island continues to have much to celebrate.

"A growing economy; stable and balanced public finances; and importantly a community that consistently punches above its weight.

"In comparison to the rather - to put it mildly – volatile political landscape in the UK and elsewhere at the moment, Guernsey is a sea of tranquillity. But that chaos should give perspective to the challenges and issues which we face.  Guernsey has successfully positioned itself as a safe haven, a stable, secure and trustworthy jurisdiction, which is open for business with a welcoming community. That is no mean feat given the national and international climate. 

"Looking back over 2018 there have been many success stories. Whether that be in sport, where someone such as young footballer Maya Le Tissier continues to do herself and the island proud while pursuing professional dreams; the arts, where the level of talent developed locally – like that of the acclaimed musician Nessi Gomes and others – never ceases to amaze; or business, where success and competitiveness on a global scale is routinely found. 

"Contrary to popular mythology, the States takes great care of how it spends islanders’ money, maintaining financial discipline that has resulted in two successive years of budget surplus, while still maintaining one of the smallest public sectors in the developed world.  These surpluses have enabled us to begin to replenish the island’s core investment reserve – its ‘rainy day fund’ - and other measures that will positively impact the community.  These include mechanisms: to match funding for capital projects like the one at the Victorian Walled Kitchen Garden; developing a social investment commission to provide more financial support for charities; and creating a pilot participatory budget fund to trial methods for the community to participate in deciding priority projects worthy of publicly financed support.

"The States also this year took meaningful steps to transform the way its services are delivered to ensure they meet the changing needs of our community. Projects talked about for years were launched, such as the combined Revenue Service, the introduction of the new Income Support scheme and the launch of the Health Improvement Commission.  The States has also supported radical but long needed plans by the Chief Executive to fundamentally redesign the entire civil service. We have taken action on our commitment to work more closely with Jersey, with the recently-announced memorandum of understanding on health and care the first tangible evidence of changing mind-sets. 

"On a personal and political level I was also incredibly proud during this year’s debate on assisted dying. While the vote itself did not go the way I had hoped, with the eyes of the global media on us, our community debated an issue of great importance with dignity and respect. In the process, we demonstrated what a mature democracy we are. 

"While the island’s successes are many and varied, 2019 has the potential to be a year of significant change. As ever, Brexit looms large over much of what the States does. I have no doubt we have done a great deal to successfully put the island in the best shape to manage whatever implications arise, while also ready to take advantage of any new opportunities. 

"Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to say a special thank you to all those who work over the festive period to allow the rest of us to enjoy the holiday period.  I wish everyone in the Bailiwick a healthy, happy and successful 2019."

Pictured: Deputy Gavin St Pier.