CALLS have been made for the States to make money available annually for a community project. Deputy Mike O’Hara said that the public rightly felt that the government was all ‘take, take, take’.
He suggested £500,000 could be put aside each year for things such as art projects, parks, or maybe a new playground.
‘The government wants to give something back, but at the present time it’s difficult to do,’ said Deputy O’Hara.
‘If I had any criticism of the government, it’s while we take, take, take, we should have time to give a little - it might only be a small thing.’
He added that Culture and Leisure, the board on which he sits, was the only one that put smiles on people’s faces.
‘We should be developing maybe works of art, put them around the island, possibly create another park, do things that are going to be there for people to enjoy,’ he said.
‘They don’t have to be massive things, but something that puts smiles on people’s faces and makes them proud to be a Guernsey person.’
Deputy O’Hara felt that over the last four years Treasury and Resources had understandably been whipping people into submission.
‘It was necessary to tighten our belt, but if we tighten it too much, it starts to hurt. We have to loosen things a bit and give things back.’
He added that it should not just be one department leading any projects but the whole of the government working together.
‘In 2010 it’s the 65th anniversary of Liberation Day. That’s the time to do a legacy project, that’s one area, but we should be thinking about something every year.’
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