SERIAL entrepreneur Derek Coates is known personally or by reputation to many islanders. In particular, he is renowned for straight talking.
And as we record alongside, his views on Guernsey Post Ltd have been delivered with both barrels.
This newspaper has argued earlier – and radio comments earlier this week by a minister bemoaning the inability of elected representatives to get involved reinforces the view – adjudicating whether the Derek Coates/OUR position or that of GPL is correct is not easily done and the consequences are fraught.
At its basest, this could be regarded as an argument about levels of self-interest, as the letter also acknowledges.
But at a more fundamental level, it is tempting to ask why there appears to be such a gulf between Guernsey Post and the bulk mailers, if the Healthspan founder’s comments are in any way representative.
After all, retaining the direct marketing business is clearly in Guernsey interests and those of its owners, staff and other beneficiaries.
The sector is also responsible for around half of GPL’s income, some £21m., but a small proportion of its work and so is presumably cherished by Guernsey Post.
If so, however, that message clearly has not got through to Healthspan.
The concern for islanders is that this is shaping up to become a hugely political bust-up with the independence of the OUR, the evident brand loyalty towards GPL, the role of Treasury and Resources as shareholder and Commerce and Employment as sponsor of the regulator being argued on the floor of the States Assembly.
It would not be an edifying sight.
What is of more importance, surely, is a good working relationship between Guernsey Post and one of its biggest customers.
Almost irrespective of the intervention of the regulator, one of Guernsey’s most respected businessmen has been highly critical of the island’s postal service.
Resolve that and the issue of the regulator’s role and comments actually melts away.
It’s actually a customer dispute
SERIAL entrepreneur Derek Coates is known personally or by reputation to many islanders. In particular, he is renowned for straight talking.
And as we record alongside, his views on Guernsey Post Ltd have been delivered with both barrels.
This newspaper has argued earlier – and radio comments earlier this week by a minister bemoaning the inability of elected representatives to get involved reinforces the view – adjudicating whether the Derek Coates/OUR position or that of GPL is correct is not easily done and the consequences are fraught.
At its basest, this could be regarded as an argument about levels of self-interest, as the letter also acknowledges.
But at a more fundamental level, it is tempting to ask why there appears to be such a gulf between Guernsey Post and the bulk mailers, if the Healthspan founder’s comments are in any way representative.
After all, retaining the direct marketing business is clearly in Guernsey interests and those of its owners, staff and other beneficiaries.
The sector is also responsible for around half of GPL’s income, some £21m., but a small proportion of its work and so is presumably cherished by Guernsey Post.
If so, however, that message clearly has not got through to Healthspan.
The concern for islanders is that this is shaping up to become a hugely political bust-up with the independence of the OUR, the evident brand loyalty towards GPL, the role of Treasury and Resources as shareholder and Commerce and Employment as sponsor of the regulator being argued on the floor of the States Assembly.
It would not be an edifying sight.
What is of more importance, surely, is a good working relationship between Guernsey Post and one of its biggest customers.
Almost irrespective of the intervention of the regulator, one of Guernsey’s most respected businessmen has been highly critical of the island’s postal service.
Resolve that and the issue of the regulator’s role and comments actually melts away.
Article posted on 25th November, 2009 - 2.26pm