CALLS for more housing licences for the finance sector have been defended by the Commerce and Employment minister. But Deputy Stuart Falla played down criticism of the States’ policy made by Peter Niven at a lunch.
Mr Niven, who is paid by the States as chief executive of GuernseyFinance and director of finance sector development, said that the management of five- or seven-year housing licences was ‘no way to run an island’ and claimed that the States was avoiding tackling the matter because it was too difficult.
Deputy Falla said that he had ‘no intention’ of making an issue with Mr Niven over his comments, which were made to the Institute of Directors.
The minister and his department had supported the proposal to allow an extra 200 people a year into the island to aid economic development, a move which was rejected by the States last month in favour of keeping a lid on the population.
‘I have heard the noises that others have that the finance sector will find attraction and retention of staff very difficult, so it is no surprise to me that people are voicing those opinions.’
He denied claims from some deputies that the sector had supported zero-10 tax changes without seeing a need for more housing licences and was now changing its tune.
‘I don’t believe that is the case. The ‘population’ report had been in existence for months at the time of the zero-10 debate and the industry knew about the proposal to allow an extra 200 people a year to come in.
‘They were saying at that time that they did not have a problem with continuing with that policy and that recommendation was a scenario that they were working with. Then everything changed.’
Deputy Falla said that he had no problem with Mr Niven’s joint role, which often involves him speaking at conferences, though he believes that the jobs will be split.
Article posted on 28th May, 2007 - 12.00am
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