IMPROVE Guernsey for islanders and not just to just boost tourist numbers, Stuart Falla told Castel parishioners last night. He said that there was some muddied thinking about tourism within the States.

‘There is a mad rush for increasing the number of tourists and it is always ﾓlet’s do something so it is good for tourismﾔ, such as improving the cliff paths or Town, but why not do it for us?’ he said.

Each of the 10 candidates was asked at last night’s Castel hustings to identify an issue that they felt strongly about, but on which they were taking an unpopular view.

More than 350 people packed into Les Beaucamps School hall to listen to their responses to this and a further 11 questions.

Some of the candidates raised financial issues, with Deputy Tom Le Pelley suggesting that a tax should be put on the wealthy, and political newcomer Gillian Tidd called for a review of means-testing to fill the tax black hole.

Jonathan Le Tocq, president of the Overseas Aid Committee, wanted any new development to have to spend 1% of the cost on art, whether it be a sculpture or in the design of the building.

Deputy Eric Walters said that the Traffic Committee should resign.

Deputy Hunter Adam said that he was pro-euthanasia, an issue on which each of the candidates were asked to give their view and which produced a split of opinion.

Hotelier Mike Garrett, pro doctor-assisted death, said that it would need to be very carefully controlled so that the right decisions were made by the right people and that it must be done with dignity.

Transparency is the key to the new system of government emerged in answers given to several of the questions posed.

Gordon Young asked what the candidates would do if there was a misdemeanour or perjury caused by a States department or if a civil servant was involved in a miscarriage of justice.

‘Anyone who is in a public role should set an example, as they have been put there as a matter of trust,’ said civil servant Mark Bisson.

‘The full force of the law should be used if needed and I would call for the person’s resignation.’

Truth, transparency and trust were the words used by Deputy Le Tocq to describe how the new States committees must act and his thoughts were reiterated by the majority of the other candidates.

Each of the 10, bar Bernard Flouquet, admitted to not having read the cost of living survey commissioned by the Civil Service Board and again the need for transparency was called for.

Parish douzaine representative Mark Dorey said that he fully supported the parochial system when asked whether outdoor assistance boards should be retained or else operated from a central body.

‘We need to keep responsibility within the parish,’ he said.

Mr Garrett added: ‘Who knows the people in the parish, but the people in it? The knowledge has been passed on by previous procureurs and, if it was just pushed across to Social Services, it would be lost forever.’

Deputy Walters said that he had had many calls from people needing assistance and the first person he always approached was the procureur. No one had been turned away.

Simon Vermeulen, a director of the company which owns La Grande Mare Hotel, asked how the candidates would safeguard the future youth of the island.

‘We will have to look to introduce other industries to get more diversity,’ said Deputy Flouquet, the Housing Authority president.

‘And the Housing Authority has to ensure that everyone has a place in which to live.’

Mr Garrett said that first-time businesses should be given tax concessions. Mrs Tidd said that an entrepreneurial culture must be supported and that doing so would encourage young people to return home.

Douzenier Dorey said that land needed to be identified where people could set up their own business, which would help to broaden the economy.

Deputy Le Pelley said there were areas of the countryside that could be developed.

The poor physical state of the parish schools was an issue raised by one woman, who wanted to know what plans the candidates had to improve the situation.

Mr Falla said that his father was involved in a rapid building programme 30 years ago and, at the time, the buildings, which are still being used now, were given a 25-year life. Money had not been set aside when it was there and needed.

‘Leaving an asset to rot is not good financial management and it needs to be addressed,’ he said.