Guernsey people happier - Why ?

I remember reading that the States of Guernsey according to a report, were classed as not accountable and a very poor Government. What does that say about the way Jersey is Governed ? To be honest I think we, yes us , the average person are a lot to blame when you can pick up the phone and put your point of view to someone elected to represent you and who's vote can seriously impact your life and only lives a few miles away, we could even knock on their door and have a chat.

We don't bother, maybe its time we did, imagine getting 35 calls a night and 50 emails with people you represent not agreeing with the trip to the far off place you have just come back from, or trying to tax more while making no cutbacks in a wasteful Government. We all need to make more effort in my opinion. The comments section below the article has some powerful views.

JEP

STATES ‘austerity’ policies are being blamed for survey results that show Islanders are gloomier about future economic prospects than their Guernsey counterparts.

The survey conducted by Investec Specialist Bank showed that Guernsey residents were more positive than people who live here about the state of their relative economies.

Jersey Chamber of Commerce president David Warr argued that the policies of the States of Jersey were to blame for the disparity in optimism between the two islands.

Mr Warr said: ‘The Guernsey government’s response to the downturn was to try and seek recovery through growth. They adopted an attitude of supporting growth.

‘But in Jersey the response has been “tax everything” and that has effectively created austerity.’

STATES ‘austerity’ policies are being blamed for survey results that show Islanders are gloomier about future economic prospects than their Guernsey counterparts.

The survey conducted by Investec Specialist Bank showed that Guernsey residents were more positive than people who live here about the state of their relative economies.

Jersey Chamber of Commerce president David Warr argued that the policies of the States of Jersey were to blame for the disparity in optimism between the two islands.

Mr Warr said: ‘The Guernsey government’s response to the downturn was to try and seek recovery through growth. They adopted an attitude of supporting growth.

http://www.thisisjersey.com/business/2012/06/18/public-gloom-‘is-result-of-the-austerity-policies-of-states-‘/

bb

Guernsey residents with commonsense will wonder why Guernsey politicians are taking advice from Jersey politicians ? Where is the logic in this engagement? As the Jersey States have decided ( in a recession, with a large unemployment problem and businesses closing ) to increase spending by 4% each year for three years. Further, the tax receipts are dropping so less money coming in. You could not make it up !

JEP. July 2012.

RISES in States spending over the next three years show that public expenditure remains out of control, according to Public Accounts Committee chairman Tracey Vallois.

She says that there has been no ‘cultural change’ of new efficiency within the States and that Islanders should expect tax rises after 2015 to balance the books.

The three-year spending plan released yesterday sets out a 12% increase in States department budgets from 2013 to 2015 and a huge £222m worth of capital projects.

And with projected States spending topping £2bn over the three-year period, Deputy Vallois – the head of the committee with responsibility for ensuring that States spending is efficient and effective – says that the strain on families and businesses from the recession has changed nothing within the public sector.

http://www.thisisjersey.com/news/2012/07/24/‘states-spending-is-still-out-of-control’/

Boatyboy.