This Is Guernsey

By Tom Edwards

BUSINESSMAN Tom Scott has accused the States of wasting money and being inexperienced. He also said there was a ‘disturbing’ lack of business credentials within the new House.

‘I’ve not examined the new deputies in great depth to be honest, but as always it appears there is still a weakness there.

‘The problem is that good business people are either too busy or they become isolated and don’t serve another term like [former deputy chief minister and R. G. Falla boss] Stuart Falla. It’s happened time and time again.’

It was deeply disappointing that Deputy Falla had not stood for re-election, said Mr Scott. ‘I can understand why – it must have been a fairly lonely place. He needed another three good entrepreneurs with him in order to get things done. The States is such a diverse place, but there are a lot of people who are talking just so they have something to say. There are people who do it because it’s a living for them and then there are people like Stuart who give up their time to be a politician.’

Mr Scott also criticised Guernsey’s politicians for being inexperienced compared to their UK counterparts.

‘I’m not picking on individuals and I’m not being disrespectful, but I would never send those people to do business in the UK. There has been such a gap between us and the UK for so long.’

It was extremely unlikely that he would ever consider standing for election either here or in Jersey, said Mr Scott.

‘The only way to get me to stand would be to pay me a percentage of the money that I would make. That’s what I do.’

Mr Scott said the States was also making mistakes when it came to improving the runway.

‘On any island, communication links are one of the most important things and we should be making it easier for people to come to Guernsey.

‘We should have had a new runway before a terminal building. Some of the prices quoted for the work are absolute nonsense.

‘We have experts living on this island, but the States has completely ignored them. If someone spoke to Ronez, they would get it done a lot cheaper.’

Mr Scott also said he had once offered the States the land next to the airport where his Jacksons car dealership is based if it found him an alternative site.

‘Their response was to tell me that they could have bought the land years ago for £100,000 if they had wanted to.’

Landing charges at the airport should be abandoned, he said, to encourage tourism and business growth.

‘Anyone coming here will spend money, but you have to get them here first. It would also mean cheaper airlines would come here and people might even be encouraged to start businesses here.’