Four-year licences would cripple industry, says GSCCA
Monday 14th November 2011, 2:30PM GMT.
John Clacy, president of the Guernsey Society of Chartered and Certified Accountants, was speaking at its annual dinner. (Picture by Chris George)
THE States has been urged to put a stop to the ‘brain drain’ of accountants forced out of the island due to housing licence restrictions.
John Clacy, president of the Guernsey Society of Chartered and Certified Accountants, said at the society’s annual dinner that far too much talent and business was being lost from the island every year.
The GSCCA has made a representation to the States Population Policy debate urging the retention of the five-year short-term licence.
‘We need to recruit off-island accountants and the proposal for a move to a four-year licence would be crippling for the industry,’ said Mr Clacy. ‘Four years means three in reality.’
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What about health workers? Teachers?
Typical that the finance industry thinks about themselves and their interests before those of the greater good.
That said, these population controls are there for a reason – we have limited space here and since Guernsey is a desirable location to live, there will always be contention and debate with respect to the eligibility of people to live here.
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Some questions:
1) What about Health Workers and Teachers?
2) Why are the finance industry thinking about themselves BEFORE others?
3) What on earth is the “greater good”?
Does the below sum up your feelings?
“Hooray for the teachers who teach our young children, and thanks to the health workers for keeping the kids healthy as they grow up but boo to the finance industry for employing them when they leave school”.
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The clue is in the name of the organisation. Of course they will speak in respect of their own interests. That is why the organisation exists. It does not mean that they do not think that teachers are also important.
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What brain drain? Pretty much every person I know who came over here on a licence has managed to somehow wrangle it to stay indefinitely.
No-one I know ever leaves! The licence system is a bit of a joke as far as I’m concerned!
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I know John, but he’s wrong, but I don’t blame him for speaking out for his business.
How can it be a ‘brain drain’ as the paper calls it? A ‘brain drain’ is defined by indigenious people leaving and goinbg abroad.
What John is talking about is his African imports having to go back.
In their case housing licences are only one aspect. As a non EU national, these people, generally from Africa are on a limited time immigration licence, nothing to do with a housing licence.
He’s only importing them (quite often with their family) as they are cheap cheap cheap.
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PCM – funny because I work at an accountancy firm and our turnover is already ridiculous due to licensing. We end up working 14 hour days and at weekends January to April (and beyond) because people end up having to leave just before busy season. Also end up with no team continuity year on year.
Antihero – actually accountants audit the finance industry which is in the best interests of everyone. Try being a little less shortsighted. Noone has said anywhere that keeping teachers and health workers isn’t important – in fact the GSCCA complaining about 4 year licenses actually adds support to their plight.
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The license system has proved inadequate for Guernsey’s needs. It seems to cause more problems than it solves and should be phased out altogether and replaced with a system which safeguards continuity and retains valuable resources.
Those that are pushing to retain licenses or for longer licenses are on the wrong track, they need to work with the workforce we have and need incentives and support to do this. There is no so called “brain drain” and there are no easy solutions.
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Not difficult qualifications to get,especially the certified version. So should be able to train up more accountants locally. Instead they bring in accountants from the developing world, put them up 4 to a room with a Skype connection and pay them under the odds to get the firms through the busy season and line the pockets of the partners. Exactly the same in Jersey.
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These high fliers should contribute more in the community in which they thrive. How about arranging some visits to the high schools Mr Clacey and offering some inspiration to the pupils in this difficult time for them. How about giving them some work experience opportunities. I’m sure there are things that you do but there is always more that can be done. Its so easy to criticise the results of others but as pbfalla would say – what have you done today to make you feel proud?
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