It is a year that will stand out in world history, but sadly for mostly the wrong reasons.

From Japan to the US, people of all nations saw their lives upturned, many fell ill with COVID-19, many lost their lives. To limit the spread many more had to give up their normal freedoms and adjust their lives in ways they had never imagined.

Guernsey was no exception, we also had to lockdown. Businesses, shops and schools were shut and our lives were changed. But, as I have said before and will say again and again, I have never been so proud to be a Guernseyman. I have never been so proud of how we pulled together, worked as a community and responded to the virus more effectively than virtually any other community on the planet.

Pictured: The 2020 Election brought with a significant shake-up in the States and in Policy & Resources, the States' Senior Committee. 

We have met a historic challenge with a world-leading response, one that is possible because of our community spirit, our closeness and our sense of responsibility to each other.

But as 2020 comes to a close and will forever be a year we can be proud of, 2021 brings major challenges. COVID-19 is not yet defeated, restrictions remain in place at our borders, and while the vaccine roll-out has begun, it will take time for the world to open up again. Our economy, as resilient as it’s been, has still been badly hit. How we set about our recovery will define the coming years and possibly decades. What we’ve seen in 2020 gives me great confidence, but we cannot be complacent. We must harness the same sense of community with the same amount of effort in the coming year.

I began this political term talking about action above all else and in 2021 we must act. We must do more than talk about change and draw up strategies, we must make things happen. Our system of government can make it challenging to act swiftly. It does little to draw together members with different views towards a common purpose. We’ve wasted a lot of time going round in circles, bringing the same issues back for debate time and again.

Pictured: The future of the States-run secondary schools remains in the balance following years of prevarication.

If the system is not conducive, than it is down to the members to find a way to really move forward. It is down to the members to overcome any differences and put progress over political alignment. In previous terms (of which I recognise I have been a member) deputies have not always been minded to do this. But in these very different times, we need a different mind-set in the Assembly. Encouragingly, based on the first few months of this term, I believe that is what we now have.

I am awed by what we have achieved in 2020 and hopeful for 2021. I wish to end with a note of thanks. My deepest, heartfelt thanks go to all of those in the public sector, the private sector, the third sector, families and individuals young and old who all took extraordinary steps to keep our Island safe and keep it the wonderful place to live that it is.