DE LISLE; David de Garis

Manifesto to follow..

I am a firm believer in an open and transparent government which is accountable to the people of Guernsey. I have a strong interest in maintaining the local quality of life and safeguarding the natural environment for future generations.

Guernsey must maximise its opportunities in business and encourage new initiatives and developments to diversify the economy and create new prospects for employment.

The island has a real opportunity to harness its natural resources in solar, wind, waves and tides and develop a renewable energy industry which will attract green investment and create new employment opportunities.

The States must do more with less:

• Strengthen financial controls and improve accountability
  
• Protect and encourage independent business
  

The current Zero –ten tax policy must be modified to be fair so that the burden of taxation is not transferred from the corporate sector to individuals, young families and pensioners.

The States must be restrained from consistently increasing Tax on Real Property on domestic buildings and small independent businesses. VAT and Sales Tax would impact negatively on pensioners and those on fixed and low incomes.

Reforms must take place in education to raise standards, ensure resources are in place to up-skill the work force and improve training opportunities.

We need to continue to invest in our health service,to focus less on buildings and more on provision of specialist equipment and resources to provide medical care and treatment on island.

The States needs to proceed with a zero waste policy and channel energies into waste prevention, resource recovery, waste segregation, recycling and composting and encourage the development of a local waste industry owned and operated by independent business.

The revised development plans for the rural area must be sympathetic to the community as any growth and development will affect the character of our western parishes.

263077

07781 426246

delisle.david@cwgsy.net

Dear Parishioner of the Forest, St Pierre du Bois, St
Saviour’s, and Torteval,
With your support I hope to continue to make effective
contributions to States affairs. I was first elected to the
States of Guernsey as a People's Deputy in 2004 and reelected
in 2008 and have during my tenures ensured that
the interests of the Western Parishes are voiced and
represented.
With your vote I would like to continue to apply the
experience gained internationally over 30 years in public
service, education and private business to the benefit of the
Western Parishes and the States of Guernsey and to:
• serve you as a full-time member of the States;
• place the views of the western parishes before the
States;
• take a proactive approach to progressing matters of
public concern
• ensure spending is controlled and accountability
improved
I have served as Minister of the Environment, and on the
Education and Scrutiny Committees.
I am a firm believer in an open and transparent
government which is accountable to the people of
Guernsey. I have a strong interest in maintaining the local
quality of life and safeguard
ECONOMY
Guernsey must maximise its opportunities in business and
encourage new initiatives and developments to diversify
the economy and create new prospects for employment.
The introduction of legislation covering foundations, limited
partnerships, image rights and aircraft registry are ways of
providing added buoyancy to the finance industry.
The island has a real opportunity to harness its natural
resources in solar, wind, waves and tides through the
development of non-polluting renewable energy. Around a
quarter of Guernsey’s domestic electricity could be
provided by locally produced renewable energy by 2020.
Renewable energy will attract green investment to the
island and employ our people with engineering and related
skills. This would reduce current dependency on external
energy supplies and help secure the islands needs in coming
years.
The introduction of competition legislation should ensure
that business is widely held and that there is every
opportunity for new entrants to succeed. We need to
promote the growth and survival of independent business,
the existence of choice and variety and guard against
monopoly control.
Amongst our traditional industries we need new marketing
efforts to expand tourism in the shoulder/off peak months
as well as summer season.
STATES EXPENDITURE
The Zero Ten Tax Structure continues to run a deficit budget
funded by using our savings through the Contingency Fund.
We are about to lose another £27 million in savings to fund
the operating deficit for 2012. We cannot afford to use this
reserve to lower the tax rate to the corporate sector. With
the introduction of zero 10 nearly 80% of everything
government spends is taken from individuals through
personal taxation, having accounted for 60% previously.
The retention of the zero-10 regime will require a wider
section of industry to be taxed at 10% to reduce the deficit
and lighten the burden on the individual.
We must do more with less. I have called repeatedly in the
Assembly for the States to cut spending and implement
proper financial controls. VAT or Sales Tax would impact
negatively particularly on pensioners and those on fixed and
lower incomes. I have consistently opposed increases in Tax
on Real Property on domestic buildings and small
independent businesses and do not support indirect
taxation.
PUBLIC UTILITIES
The proposed commercialisation of Guernsey owned assets
(harbours, airport, water and waste water) is the first step
to complete privatisation and ending up in foreign hands.
Given the track record of commercialisation in Guernsey,
there will be nothing for the consumer other than a
reduction in services and higher prices.
DEPOSITORS’ COMPENSATION SCHEME
Guernsey’s Depositors’ Protection Scheme should provide
the same guarantees as those available to UK and European
investors. This would provide increased security for
depositors. I have and will continue to lobby for full
recovery of funds for Landsbanki depositors. So far efforts
have seen depositors receive recoveries to the value of 85
pence in the pound.
I have sought to reduce exposure to risk in funds held by the
States on behalf of us all. My call in the Assembly for
restructuring the pension superannuation fund portfolio
contributed to a review of the investment strategy, reduced
volatility and investment in equities, and provided better
returns.
EDUCATION AND RECRUITMENT
The Mulkerrin report proposed wide ranging reforms to
secondary education to improve standards and the
management and structure of our schools. I have fully
supported the educational review and in the interest of
openness and transparency, I have encouraged the
Education Board to publish individual school results to help
raise standards in our schools. The current review of
primary education will assess literary and numeracy levels
and the transition between pre-school, primary and
secondary education.
The Forest and La Houguette Primary Schools continue to
maintain high standards and provide commendable
teaching results. New leadership and resources will raise
standards and public exam results at La Mare de Carteret
High School.
As Chairman of The Higher Education Working Party I have
sought to avoid burdensome loans being placed on students
attending university by containing expenditure despite the
UK decision to increase tuition fees from 2012. The means
tested grant scheme will continue for 2012 and 2013. There
is no proposal to increase parental contributions for
students entering university.
As Chairman of the Standing Advisory Council for Religious
Education in Schools I can report commendable GCSE and A
level Religious Education results from our schools. Religious
education contributes to the spiritual, moral, social and
cultural development of young people and their
understanding of world religions.
Education is a partnership between the school and the
home as both teachers and parents have a common
purpose in the future of our young people.
Our people are the key to sustaining a high quality
workforce. I have assisted with the Skills Strategy which
aims to up-skill the workforce, improve education and
training opportunities and support the apprenticeship
scheme. Support must be given to those with disabilities
and special needs to find gainful employment. This
generation should be given every opportunity to develop
applicable skills and when trained contribute to the
community.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
The States must represent the wishes and reflect the will of
the people of Guernsey. Successful public engagement is
one of the core principles of good governance. As a
member of the Scrutiny Committee I have worked on a
report to the States aimed at improving the way
consultation with the public is handled. The new States
must aim to keep everyone informed, maintain a culture of
openness and put an end to the closed book mentality.
AIRPORT RUNWAY
The airport runway is to be resurfaced and extended over
the next couple of years. I launched the green ribbon
campaign to highlight community concerns with regard to
the extension of the airport runway safety area over prime
agricultural land, the EMAS alternative, the threat of
increased noise, safety and air pollution from lower flying
incoming aircraft, and the lack of a planning inquiry.
Efforts now have to be directed to offset the environmental
impact of the development and to ensure that the project
expenditure is tightly controlled and not allowed to
overrun.
THE ENVIRONMENT
I have continued to strengthen environmental policy
through amendment to the States Strategic Plan to provide
the vision that ‘consideration of the environment will be
core to all future policy decisions and actions and that
environmental policy will be equal, not subservient, to
economic and social policy. The quality of our environment
will be protected and enhanced and the island will respond
in an environmentally sustainable way to local issues and
existing and emerging global challenges’. This resolution
was approved by the States which means that all future
development proposals are obligated to respect this vision
and can be held to account.
I agree with sympathetic development where there is
minimal impact. However, changes are taking place with
growth and development that will affect the rural character
of our western parishes. The planners in the current review
of the Island’s Development Plans are promoting a more
flexible approach to development and proposing revision to
the urban and rural plans. This will result in further
development in the rural area to meet sustainable
community growth. Design guidelines should be introduced
to preserve the special character of the Western Parishes
whilst also being flexible to personal taste and innovative
design. Out-of-town developments will continue to erode St
Peter Port as a viable trading centre as would the
introduction of paid parking.
The continual loss of agricultural land to other uses could
seriously affect the viability of our dairy farming industry. A
plan is needed to curb the loss of productive agricultural
land.
I have consistently lobbied in the Assembly and on Policy
Council for a satisfactory agreement to the fishery issue.
The new fisheries management agreement to extend local
fishing limits to 12 miles will help protect fishing businesses,
fish stocks and livelihoods.
I have continually applied pressure on the Environment
Department to ensure all operators share mobile masts and
co-ordinate mobile networks to reduce the adverse visual
impact and potential health hazards.
I am proud to have been associated with the wetland
conservation designation of Guernsey’s first RAMSAR site
which encompasses Lihou Island, La Claire Mare Nature
Reserve, the Colin Best Nature Reserve as well as the
intertidal area.
POLLUTION
The on-going extension of the main drain to our parishes
and the resulting diversion of waste water from the Creux
Mahie are welcome improvements that will connect many
homes and commercial establishments, cut down on odours
and sewage trucking and help clean up our coastal waters.
The current investment in the L’Eree-Felconte area will
connect the main drain to a further 67 properties including
L’Eree Hotel and should be operational by June. I will
continue to lobby for further main drain extensions to
homes and businesses in the West.
We cannot turn a blind eye to the new European Marine
Strategy Directive which aims to restore marine waters to
their natural biological condition by 2020. These external
pressures will not go away. Preliminary planning and
environmental impact investigations must remain on the
States agenda to enable local business to apply new
technology on island for the treatment of our waste and
sewage.
I have renewed calls for the States to adopt more stringent
guidelines for our drinking water. PFOS, a fire retardant
chemical, has been leaching into the reservoir for many
years. This chemical is bio-accumulative and harmful to
human, animal and aquatic life. The clearing of the PFOS
chemical residue from the airfield is a decade overdue.
WASTE AND RECYCLING
While recycling is gradually increasing there is still much to
do. I placed a successful requete for Public Services to
commission a study of kerbside recycling which revealed
that this method would increase our recycling rate to 61%
and save thousands of tonnes of waste entering landfill.
These efforts have paid off as Public Services included
kerbside recycling in their revised Waste Strategy approved
by the States in February 2012. We should implement
kerbside recycling immediately and adopt an on island
solution for residual waste.
In two minority reports I have stressed the need to adopt a
zero waste policy and channel energies into waste
prevention, resource recovery, waste segregation, recycling
and composting and to abandon the costly and hazardous
option of incineration. My earlier amendments to the
Assembly have introduced plastic bottle recycling and a 50%
recycling target for household and commercial waste.
Our largest parochial spend is on household refuse
collection and disposal. Reducing the amount of waste
binned will cut tipping fees by weight charged to the
parishes and lower our rates. Recycling has created a local
waste industry owned and operated by small independent
business entrepreneurs which should be encouraged.
POPULATION
Population growth affects the quality of life. I support the
States resolution to maintain the population at
approximately the March 2007 level. Going forward we
need to extend professional training opportunities on island
and ensure succession planning.
The Policy Council proposes to replace the current housing
controls with a system of permits for residence and
employment. There are concerns over a one size suits all
policy based on licenses and the right to permanent
residency after eight years. There is a perception that
Guernsey people living abroad may be denied the right to
return home at some future time. The proposals have
created uncertainty over the open market and the rentier
sector of the economy.
LAW AND ORDER
The protection of life, property and livelihoods is
paramount. I have highlighted in the States Assembly the
need for continuous foot patrol in town to counter criminal
damage, arson and the growing number of assaults.
I am a strong supporter of the reintroduction of community
policing to provide a stronger police presence in the
parishes. I support bringing in measures to fight anti-social
behaviour and to deal strongly with those responsible for
criminal damage.
COASTAL DEFENCE
My fears about the weakness of the sea walls along the
west coast and vulnerability of property behind were
brought out with the breach at Rocque Poisson. I will
continue to press for capital investment and engineering
solutions to strengthen our sea defences and protect
coastal properties against flooding.
HEALTH, PENSIONS AND BENEFITS
We need to continue to invest in our health service to make
sure we are all offered the very best care. The focus has to
be less on building infrastructure and more on provision of
specialist equipment and resources to provide medical care
and treatment on island.
With the high cost of living on the island we must find ways
to boost benefits to pensioners. Unfair rules leave widows
with no pension from the spouse after one year. I
supported a change to bereavement benefits in the States
and will continue to seek fair play for all.
CULTURE/COMMUNITY
We need to strengthen our unique identity and nurture our
heritage, the talent and character of our people, beliefs and
language Guernésiais. I will continue to promote the parish
system and its role in island life and support what we do
together as a community. This year will be special with the
Diamond Jubilee celebrations in June providing another
opportunity for all to rejoice in what we have together.
I AM COUNTING ON YOUR VOTE
My family has strong roots in farming in the western
parishes at Les Piques, La Villiaze and Les Paysans and
historically as enterprising business men in shipping and
merchant banking.
I graduated with a science degree from London University,
a Master’s degree in planning from the University of
Toronto and a Doctorate from McGill University. I have held
senior appointments in government planning and economic
development, and in private industry as a management
consultant. I was a lecturer at both the University of Ottawa
and Brock University.
I serve as a Douzenier for St Pierre du Bois, as a member of
the West Show Committee, L’Assembllaie d’Guernesiais,
and La Société Guernesiaise. I fully support the aspirations
of the St Saviour’s Community Trust and assist with the
Community Centre Fundraising Group. I support the work of
the Forest Floral Group and the St Pierre du Bois Floral
Guernsey and the Torteval Scarecrow Festival.
The beach litter clean up at L’Eree which I organise every
spring with the assistance of the 9th St Peter’s Scout Group
and La Houguette School allows the whole community to
join in. Clean beaches are a wonderful natural asset for all
of us to enjoy.
My thanks to Keith Bienvenu and Kenny Brouard for
supporting my nomination.
I would consider it a privilege to continue to represent the
western parishes in the States of Guernsey. Please feel free
to discuss any issues or concerns. Call 263077 or e-mail
delisle.david@cwgsy.net.