Housing’s ‘abject failure’

A SINGLE teacher from Northern Ireland has won the right to stay in Guernsey after working here for less than eight years.

And the Housing Department has been severely criticised by the Royal Court for an apparent ‘abject failure’ by the political members in dealing with the matter.

Jane Kinley, who previously had spent no more than three or four years in any one place, came to the island in 2001 to teach humanities at Vauvert.

She was granted several extensions to her licence, and in June 2008 asked to extend it for compassionate reasons, but that was rejected.

She was given no proper reason for that, even though it meant she would be forced to leave the island.

Advocate Peter Ferbrache said she had laid roots in Guernsey. ‘All her recent connections are with the island of Guernsey,’ he said. ‘She has involved herself in many activities. She has also spent more of her teaching career in Guernsey than elsewhere. Her friends, social life and roots are in Guernsey.’

The rejection broke her human right to respect for her family and private life. ‘A person has a right to develop themselves in the fullest sense of that term,’ he said.

The department, which was represented by Crown Advocate Rupert Sewards, said that the most recent appeal did not include references from her employer.

‘She knew about the housing regime,’ he said. ‘She knew the limits of time. Her home was bought when she had three years left. The decision-making process requires balance.’ (from thisisguernsey)

It will be interesting to see what implications that this court decision will cause...