'Revive and Thrive' or 'Wither and Die'?

Monday 21 September 2020

While many members of the business community support Guernsey's plans to 'Revive and Thrive', concerns have been raised over whether the States will be able to deliver the proposals.

The topic was up for discussion at last week's Institute of Directors Breakfast, where all guests were asked whether they believe in the plans.

More than 100 answered, with 80% saying they did believe in 'Revive and Thrive' and 20% saying they didn't.

Responding to the survey, event panelist and former President of the Chamber of Commerce, Martyn Dorey said: "I think there’s a credibility gap because what’s the alternative to 'Revive and Thrive'? Wither and die? We have to make this happen and we’ve got to listen to the concerns of the 20% and respond to them and explain."

The States' post-covid recovery policy was published in June and was approved by the Assembly shortly after.

Pictured: Deputy Chris Green is concerned about the island's ability to deliver 'Revive and Thrive'.

"There's a massive opportunity now and it is at moments of great adversity that you have to look for the opportunity," said outgoing deputy, Chris Green, who also sat on the panel. "I believe in the aims and objectives of 'Revive and Thrive', but I think the bigger question is whether we, as a community, can deliver it."

The policy aims to "build back better", not only recovering the economy but improving on where it would have been without the corona virus pandemic, by as early as 2023.

"I am an eternal optimist and I do believe in 'Revive and Thrive'," said fellow panelist, Gill Morris, who has sat as a non-States member on the Scrutiny Committee. "What I struggle with is our ability to deliver.

"This is all about community and our government doesn’t have to do everything. They have to be able to reach out, listen and ask for help. We got through covid because it was 'Guernsey Together', I think we need to carry that through and we need to learn from each other if we’re going to deliver this."

Over the coming years, the States aims to build a more sustainable economy, grow new sectors and increase tax take, whilst also making major investment in national infrastructure and addressing social and environmental issues.

Pictured: Keynote speaker, Natalie Jaresco, appeared by video link.

Keynote speaker, Natalie Jaresco, who is currently the Executive Director of the Financial Oversight Board of Puerto Rico, said the island needs to see covid-19 as a "leadership opportunity".

"This pandemic has caused us to live in a crisis," she said. "But if there is one thing that is certain it is that the economy will pick up again. We don’t know when, but it did after the 1930s Great Depression, it did after the post World War II recession, it did after the 1970s oil shock and it did after the 2007 financial crisis. It will again.

"This crisis has given us all a pause and it gives leaders the ability to get people’s attention in what is a very noisy environment with many problems. An environment that pushes everyone to ask questions, to doubt, to hope and, hopefully, to begin planning. And still it’s not easy to see the light at the end of the tunnel sometimes, so society’s leaders in government, business and non-governmental organisations are the ones responsible for having to verbalise and create and show that light."

 To watch the IoD breakfast in full, click HERE.

Pictured top: The panelists for the IoD Breakfast held last week.