Liz Taylor-Kerr: Five things I'd change about Guernsey

Friday 24 August 2018

She's Australian, but having lived in Guernsey for 16 years, Liz Taylor-Kerr has made her home in the island where she is now married with two young children and is well known on the sporting scene as well as for her written work.

As a published author one of Liz's best known works is her book about the Occupation, called 'Jackboots & Jerrybags'. Many people will also know her from basketball and softball. Liz represented the women's island team in basketball as captain for seven years and has competed at the Island games, where she won a gold medal in Guernsey in 2003 and she has played in the National League in the UK.

Liz said she has a lot of other interests too - she is also a photographer and at the other end of the spectrum she is currently putting together a new business teaching children (and their parents) financial education which she is extremely passionate about.

That is all based on her past as an Investment Adviser and tutor of professional finance qualifications, leading her to believe that all children should have access to education about money, finances and investing because the world of pensions and investing is changing so quickly.

She's also spared some time to tell Express what five thing she'd change about Guernsey? 

1) Aurigny 

We need to encourage Aurigny to sell at least some of their plane tickets more cheaply to encourage more travellers, both locals and visitors, and we should get Condor to ditch the Liberation ferry and get a boat that actually works.

It's simple! More travellers = more revenue for the airport, harbours and other services getting to and from the airports and harbours etc so it's not just the fares that is relevant in this case. 

Pictured: One of Aurigny's fleet of ATRs

2) Sports funding 

We should be providing more funding for people playing sports for our island in the UK. That money should mainly go to those who aren't able to get sponsorship in other ways and yet are still playing in National Leagues etc. 

My team won Gold at the Island Games, we won the "Team of the Year" award and yet we still couldn't get a sponsor for our trips to the UK for the National League.

There is a huge pool of talent in Guernsey in various sports and we should be encouraging them all, and giving sportsmen and women every opportunity to reach their potential. 

Pictured: More money should be available for people competing in different sports

3) Taxes! 

I think it is time Guernsey introduced a higher tax bracket for high income earners.

Even a small increase in tax over a minimum threshold would result in more revenue for the island as a whole. That increase would only be charged on income over the higher threshold but it would still make a big difference.

Controversially, I also think about a low corporation tax rate, although this would have knock on implications for the financial services industry and potential loss of businesses so would need to be well thought out.

Pictured: Is it time for Guernsey to revisit its tax caps? 

4) Move conveyancing out of court 

We really should remove the requirement for people buying houses to go to court for conveyancing and also for wills. 

I think it is totally unnecessary and it is an additional expense most homeowners, especially new ones, can't afford. When we bought a house in the UK, the price was less than 10% of the fees we pay in Guernsey! 

5) Bring in States contractors? 

I think we should get the States to utilise contractors to oversee budgets etc (for a reasonable fee) to ensure relevant departments are sticking to their budgets and are not ridiculously overspending.

How about having industry qualified professionals to form a advisory board for the deputies? Kind of a non-executive board role? I think that there have been a number of instances where having external counsel and input would have had the potential to produce well thought out decisions that had sound rationale behind them and were proven to be in the best interests of all stakeholders. I also think that this would have potentially saved the States a significant amount of money in increased efficiencies and reduction in unnecessary spending.

£250k on the work at L'ancresse for a shooting range that has been completely unused in the years since completion, to name just one example I can think of.

Pictured: Could an advisory board of relevant personnel work with the States for the good of Guernsey? 

Pictured top: Liz with son Noah aged 4

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