Interview
example. Guernsey doesn’t have one yet, but So would greater cooperation improve struggle in debate with others, and working
is planning enabling legislation in case one how Jersey and Guernsey are perceived with our colleagues in Guernsey would leave
is needed in the future – but we can’t even by the outside world? us better off probably seven times out of 10.
name it the same as in Jersey. In Guernsey GD: We need to understand our place in
it’s going to be called general sales tax! relation to others. We’re a small pimple on There has always been a certain amount
GD: At a governmental level there are a the UK’s backside, though they treat us with of competition between Jersey and
number of areas that would benefit, mostly respect since we are the Channel Islands and Guernsey. How do you find the balance
with operational issues: so rather than having we have a hereditary background with the between cooperating and maintaining
two whole infrastructures doing the same UK, but really we’re no more important than healthy competition?
thing on both islands, you could bring them a regional community. And if we think we’re MT: Let me say that we are two separate
together under one roof. That could span any more than that, we’re mistaken. islands – no one wants to challenge that
the health service, education and policing – but that doesn’t mean we can’t work
or simply be one overall buying policy for So how should the islands together to develop efficiencies. Of course,
government departments to make savings. position themselves? there are reasons why laws and structures
MT: At times we are competitive islands – GD: Well, we have to be as independent as have developed in different ways, where
and rightly so – but there is a common makes sense, and as joined up as makes it would be very difficult and disruptive to
purpose when it comes to public spending. sense. At times we need to be inventive and bring them into alignment, and not really
We need to be realistic and recognise that go our own way. That may mean sometimes worth it to do so. But in some areas there are
a lot of this public spending doesn’t require ignoring the UK and Europe and going off huge benefits to working together, especially
reinventing the wheel, so cooperation really to market ourselves direct to China, say. So in the public services.
should be simple. Think about it: most pan- we’ve got to be good, honest citizens with the GD: I think that’s about right. I certainly think
island businesses have tackled this. There’s UK and Europe, sometimes, and also look to we should speak with one voice on some
also the task of marketing ourselves to the the rest of the world. And to do that is hard external matters, but I’m not naïve enough to
outside world, where the joint Channel on your own. We must work together more, think that both islands won’t be competitive.
Islands brand could be very powerful. because there will be times when we will You won’t remove that, and in many ways
“At a time of economic downturn, if the two islands don’t
➔
work together they’ll be split down the middle”
Y
TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION
Institute of Directors Jersey Annual Debate 2009
B
E
D
R
ECONOMY:
that their cooperation has not been as good easy to raise taxes, so they haven’t been of thumb: if someone in Guernsey is thinking
forced look too hard for savings. Now there about setting up a new venture or system or
2020: Where will we be?
S
O
N
GOVERNMENT:
as it could be. We can now identify simple
O
S
P
SOCIAL:
things in the legislative area (in response to EU is pressure for them to do it, and we believe department, they should ask if it is happening PAN-ISLAND ISSUES:
law) where they could be working together. that working together in some areas could be in Jersey. In many cases they might find the
an easy way for them to make those savings. other government is already doing something
PANELLISTS:
Has the recession spurred this on? GD: Mark’s right. If anything, the tough in that area that they can learn from.
Senator Philip Ozouf
John Harris
GD: Well, at a time of economic downturn, economic climate makes it even more
Richard Hay
if the two islands don’t work together they’ll essential. If we don’t work together with all Is there a danger of red tape slowing Tammy Menteshvili
be split down the middle. For example, there’s the pressures we have, then we’ll struggle. this down?
Gerald Voisin
a set of legislation coming up soon called the Combined, we can get our ideas across to GD: That can be a danger, yes. But there are
European Directive on Alternative Investment the UK, Europe and the rest of the world – a few things that can be done to ensure that
MODERATOR:
Alastair Stewart OBE,
Fund Managers, which we believe will have separated, we may get caught wanting. doesn’t happen. Put simply, governments
ITV News Presenter
a real impact on both islands. So we believe, need to talk. How do they do that? Usually
DATE:
at IoD level, that this is a classic case where So how do you see it working? Are there through politicians on an international stage.
Thu 17 Sept 2009
the two islands should work together. concrete things we can expect to see? But we all know the real meat of those
TIME:
MT: I’d agree with that. Difficult times make GD: There’s a danger in saying everything’s meetings happens behind the scenes with civil
16:30 - 21:30
you look at different solutions to problems. possible, so we’d urge politicians to start servants. So that needs to happen soon.
VENUE:
So the recession adds impetus to look for small: promoting cooperation in a number of Hotel de France, Jersey
more efficient ways of delivering services and areas, demonstrating it works, and escalating What do you think the key benefits of
COST:
driving the respective economies – and that it gradually. Realistically, it’s always hard to this proposed cooperation will be? £55 each person
has to include cooperation. put something big together straight off, so GD: One of the main problems I see is tax:
we think the two governments can do the we have goods and services tax in one island
TO REGISTER:
But does the current economic climate small things first and take it from there. As and not the other. The business community
Debate open to IoD members
and non members
make working together more difficult? for timescales, the reality is that the sooner has almost as one said that if the governments
Contact: Kirsten Higgins
MT: I don’t think so. Indeed, one of the this is put into operation the better. can look at some savings on doubling up Tel: 01534 610799
criticisms levelled at governments on both MT: What would be useful to both costs, it would be well received.
Email:
jedirector@localdial.com
islands is that they’ve had it too easy. It’s been government and businesses is this rule MT: Goods and services tax is a great
10
businesslife.je August/September 2009 August/September 2009
businesslife.je 11
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72