Builders push for States to back projects
Tuesday 24th March 2009, 2:29PM GMT.
NOW is the time for the States to spend, according to the Guernsey Building Trades Employers Association.
A Commerce and Employment survey has revealed falling confidence in the construction sector as tough economic conditions start to bite.
There are 3,000 people employed in the sector and the association is lobbying deputies to ask them to remember local firms when embarking on the proposed £300m. capital spending programme.
‘What people see now is that in the private sector people aren’t borrowing, they aren’t so sure of finance to raise money for things, so they are holding back. If the States decided not to do much as well, it would be a double whammy,’ said GBTEA president Mark Palfrey (pictured).
He said the conditions provided the States with a good opportunity.
Treasury and Resources is recommending borrowing £175m. to help fund the programme, but that will face a sustained challenge in the States as members work on an alternative funding strategy.
Mr Palfrey acknowledged that borrowing money was a difficult thing to do.
‘It becomes a burden in the future, but those people will have the benefit of the facilities provided. I can’t see another way in which Guernsey can afford those facilities. Someone’s going to have to come up with a very clear understanding of what Guernsey’s not going to have if it doesn’t borrow money.’
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Now is the time to spend? Well isn’t that what happened over the last 10 years? So when exactly is the time not to spend?
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Greedy, overcharging, exploitative.
Now is the time to streamline and start treating islander’s intelligence and wallets with respect.
Did you not put some aside for a rainy day when creaming it?
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what Guernsey’s not going to have if it doesn’t borrow money is debt. This will stifle future essential projects.
We can’t afford some things. So what. I can’t afford to live in Monaco but I am still pretty happy. We need to save and then pay as and when the money is there.
Things are not going to get any easier for a long time yet. Our VAT loophole will the next thing in the firing line. Then all the online gambling licences in Alderney.
Our finance industry is going to have to compete on a level playing field with the rest of the world. Why sell ourselves into debt when inevitably it will lead to further future hardship.
I am loving this credit crunch. It is good for some. The ones that it is not good for are those that are begging all and sundry for them to spend spend spend. The upbeat, B**lS**t, brigade have turned into the beggars and blaggers brigade.
I have noticed a massive increase in those that are claiming to be on the brink of poverty. It is my strong belief that it is these people with the majority of the money. They desire to be maintained with money for as long into the recession as they can possibly get away with and at whatever cost to the place in which they live.
Our recession is just starting. In reality it started a good while back but the people with vested interests have been doing what they can to convince us otherwise. They are now starting to face the realities and it is a delight to see just how desperate some are to maintain their greedy lifestyles.
Those with messages of now is the time to spend on this and that are fearing their own futures. Good. It is these greedy fat cats that will be hurting the most when it comes to dealing with realistic sized portions. The belt tightening will be physical rather than verbal for a nice change.
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We were quoted, last year, £70/square metre for some tiling in our bathroom. Couldn’t get it much cheaper than that. It transpired that the man spends 2 days of the working week on the golf course.
Where else in the world can a relatively unskilled worker afford a golf membership and two days a week hitting a ball around the common.
Pity? From me? None.
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