ONE of the island’s most senior bankers has joined the criticism of the States’ decision against bringing in more off-island workers. Alex Rodger said Guernsey politicians and the public at large had become complacent about the economy’s ability to grow and that was a dangerous mentality.

Mr Rodger, who this month retires as chief executive of Royal Bank of Scotland International after 15 years, said one of the biggest challenges during his time in the local industry had been housing licences for key workers.

In Guernsey’s employment market, he said that inward net migration was essential.

‘I am disappointed that the States made the decision for zero growth – which is effectively what they did,’ he said.

The States last week approved an amendment from Deputy Peter Roffey to stabilise the population rather than back a Policy Council proposal to allow net inward migration, which could have seen it rise to 64,000 over the next 25 years.

‘Commerce and Employment is trying to build a policy to complement zero-10 and have proposed an uplift by a minimal increased population which did not seem unreasonable.’

Mr Rodger, who also heads up the Jersey, Isle of Man and Gibraltar operations, said competitors would seize on it as an opportunity to claim Guernsey was closed to business.

‘The speed of information flows is almost immediate in this day and age and our rival jurisdictions will be quick to emphasise our shortcomings,’ he said.

‘Word will get around fast and it could work against the growth strategy.’