This Is Guernsey

Wendy Morgan

I am standing for election because I want to help ensure that Guernsey remains a prosperous, just and caring society.

Our first priority must be the maintenance of a vibrant and growing economy. The Zero-Ten policy (accepted by our sister Islands) has ensured our international acceptance and our ability to operate in a Global economy. To reverse this policy would be disastrous for our reputation and trading prospects. The financial services sector employs over 7,000 people directly and many more indirectly. The success of non-financial businesses would equally be badly affected.

Most people enjoy a relatively high standard of living and there are educational and training opportunities for all, to develop from basic literacy and numeracy up to Degree level, and thus benefit from increased earning and employment prospects, greater job satisfaction and self-esteem. Policies for assisted child-care, family-friendly work practices, a minimum wage and removing barriers to post-65 working should be introduced quickly. I am committed to the introduction of Nursery Education for all children.

Disagreements on methods of dealing with solid and liquid waste have led to a disgraceful delay in overcoming these problems. As an Island, we are particularly vulnerable to the effects of global warming. Prioritisation becomes more urgent and more difficult.

Overspends, with one exception - inherited from the past, have been of great concern to us all. With the establishment of Project Boards and the work of the Scrutiny and Public Accounts Committees, they should be a thing of the past.

Working together, we will continue to prosper, but with prosperity comes change, the pace of which has to be properly managed to avoid overheating. We must maintain a balance between wealth creation and wealth distribution for all to benefit. Too many cuts in expenditure will damage Public Services to our detriment.