THE prospect of Guernsey breaking its ties with the UK has been given short shrift by local business leaders.
Guernsey International Business Association chairman Steve Le Page (pictured) saw little mileage in the prospect, although an 83-page report produced by Jersey’s Constitution Review Group said that the island had nothing to fear from breaking its 800-year link with the UK.
‘The Channel Islands together would make more sense. The islands doing something like that on their own just doesn’t. I think it’s a bit of a red herring.’
However, Chamber of Commerce president Paul Luxon said that even the Channel Islands working together would not be able to make sovereign status a reality. And he felt States members should be considering more important issues at the moment.
‘A Channel Island confederation would never happen. I think this is all a bit of a distraction and it’s not a good use of the new House and all their energies to think about it.’
Jersey’s review group, headed by Bailiff Sir Philip Bailhache, found no insurmountable obstacle to the island becoming independent.
The document outlined what needed to be done if it ever felt forced into independence and even put a price on it: an initial cost of £3m. and annual running costs of about £11.3m.
Institute of Directors committee member Stephen Jones was surprised to hear that work on Jersey’s constitution was even taking place.
He was in Jersey recently at an IoD conference and none of the senators or business figures had mentioned it.
‘Surely if independence was being discussed, it would need to be happening as the Channel Islands?’
Confederation of Guernsey Industry director Peter Budwin said it was something to consider, but now was not the right time.
‘I don’t see why we have to do it now. Maybe further down the line.’
Article posted on 8th July, 2008 - 2.29pm
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