QUERIPEL; Lester Carlson

Manifesto to follow...

A 60 YEAR OLD GUERNSEYMAN WHO ABSOLUTELY LOVES HIS ISLAND HOME.

PRIVILEGED TO BE A ST.PETER PORT DOUZENIER.

MEMBER OF THE ST.PETER PORT DOUZAINE WASTE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.

MEMBER OF THE GUERNSEY ARTS COMMISSION COMMITTEE FOR 5 YEARS.

THE CURRENT FACILITATOR OF THE GUERNSEY POETRY GROUP.

IN BUSINESS FOR 30 YEARS AS THE PROPRIETOR OF A SUCCESFUL DECORATORS CO-OPERATIVE WORKING WITH 4 PARTNERS.

FOR 8 YEARS I HAVE OPERATED A POPULAR SOUND EQUIPEMENT HIRE BUSINESS AND DISCOTHEQUE TRADING AS 3 DECADES.

AN AVID POLITICAL OBSERVER; I HAVE ATTENDED STATES DEBATES ON 52 OCCASIONS DURING THE PAST 4 YEARS.

THE THREE MAIN AREAS I WOULD FOCUS ON IF I WERE ELECTED;

SAVING MONEY - I WOULD PROPOSE THAT FAR MORE EMPHASIS BE PLACED ON SAVING MONEY VIA THE FINANCIAL TRANSFORMATION PROGRAMME. WE DON’T HAVE TO CUT VITAL SERVICES BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER MEASURES THAT CAN BE INTRODUCED. 1) AMENDING OUR COSTLY HOUSING LICENCE SYSTEM. 2) THE UNNECESSARY USE OF OVERSEAS CONSULTANTS WHEN WE HAVE THE EXPERTISE HERE ON ISLAND ALREADY. 3) WE SHOULD CONSIDER BRINGING SOME OF OUR LOVED ONES BACK FROM CARE HOMES IN THE UK AND CARE FOR THEM OURSELVES. NOT ONLY WOULD WE SAVE MONEY, BUT A LOT OF HEARTACHE AND STRESS AS WELL.

MAKING MONEY - VERY SHORTLY, THE FILM OF THE GUENSEY POTATO PEEL PIE WILL BE TAKING MILLIONS OF POUNDS AT BOX OFFICES ALL OVER THE WORLD. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF TOURISTS WILL BE FLOCKING HERE TO SEE GUERNSEY FOR THEMSELVES. WE WILL ALL BENEFIT; HOTELS, GUEST HOUSES, SHOPS, RESTAURANTS, HAIRDRESSERS, BARS, CLUBS, TAXI DRIVERS ETC. WE HAVE TO CAPITALISE ON THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ESTABLISH A WHOLE NEW INDUSTRY HERE ON ISLAND. THE STATES NEED TO ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THIS. WE COULD CONSIDER MANUFACTURING GREETING CARDS, TRINKETS……. ALL SORTS OF SOUVENIRS TO SELL AND EXPORT.

SPENDING MONEY – WE SHOULD DEAL WITH OUR WASTE OURSELVES, ON ISLAND, WITH A LOW CARBON EMISSION, ‘ENERGY FROM WASTE’ PLANT. IN MY OPINION, IT’S IRRESPONSIBLE TO CONSIDER SHIPPING IT TO ANOTHER JURISDICTION, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE GOING TO SHIP BACK THE ASH! WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH IT?

SOME OF OUR PENSIONERS AND DISABLED PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING; PENSIONERS HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY ‘HEAT OR EAT’ DURING THE LONG WINTER MONTHS. OFTEN OUR DISABLED PEOPLE AREN’T EVEN PROVIDED WITH NECESSITIES, E.G. WHEELCHAIRS. IN MY VIEW THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND NEEDS REVIEWING AND AMENDING.