A CHANNEL ISLANDS transport board should be established as a matter of urgency. Guernsey and Jersey politicians met at the weekend to find out more about each island and the common ground shared.

They unanimously agreed that a joint transport board was needed, possibly on a voluntary basis initially, to develop policy and make recommendations to both States.

The meeting came a day after Senator Phillip Ozouf proposed a Channel Islands Commission.

‘I’m so pleased we arranged this.

‘I’ve been surprised how much I’ve learnt about Jersey and how it works,’ said Deputy Dave Jones, who invited the Jersey delegation.

‘It’s surprised me how much we’ve got in common. We need to work with this and expand this into a workable relationship to produce the best results.’

He added that policies formed on that common ground could only benefit the islands.

The group agreed that it was important to preserve, promote and develop each island’s identity and characteristics.

There was support for improving government-to-public communications and for establishing a Channel Islands monopolies commission to protect the interests of consumers.

Channel Islands and French transport, business and social links were discussed and it was resolved that there was every opportunity for them to be strengthened and that both islands should take immediate steps to do so.

After wide discussion on the international situation, the group agreed that the islands should conduct a joint appraisal of the EU and UK influences being exerted on the islands and report back to the States.

Jersey’s Father of the House, Senator John Le Maistre, said it was extremely important for the islands to work together.

‘We have far more things in common than those that separate us,’ he said.

‘We also need to look south as well as north for our business activities in the future. I’ve had connections with France for 25 years at a political level and think we have undervalued that link for our economic future.’

He welcomed the opportunity to meet the Guernsey delegates and hoped other politicians would engage to move the concept forward.

‘We’ve got to congratulate the Guernsey people concerned for inviting us over and in my opinion it’s long overdue,’ said Senator Dick Shenton, who led the Jersey delegation and hoped the meeting would be the first of many.

He added that delegates had struck an accord that could only be of benefit.

Deputy Geoff Mahy welcomed the chance to be among more experienced politicians.

‘We’re trying to learn from each other and move forward with the best of our heritage and the best of the new,’ he said. ‘I’m delighted that Dave Jones invited me to join the group because I’m in the early days of being a States member and feel I’ve got a lot to learn and I’m enjoying taking part in the discussion.’

The Jersey delegation consisted of Senators Shenton, Ted Vibert and Le Maistre and Deputy Rob Duhamel. They flew home after six hours of discussion.

The local representatives were Deputies Jones, Mahy, Jonathan Le Tocq and Brian de Jersey.

‘We’re finding to our benefit that we’ve got more in common than not,’ said Deputy Le Tocq.

Senator Vibert believed meetings should be held monthly. ‘I’ve found it a very interesting experience and learnt a lot about Guernsey and the key issues,’ he added.

The next meeting will take place in early September in Jersey.