Rise ‘shows that States has no control over population’
Tuesday 31st March 2009, 1:00PM BST.
A 500-plus annual increase shows Guernsey has little control over its population, according to Treasury minister Charles Parkinson.
The island’s population rose by 551 for the year up to March 2008, figures just released show – up to a total of 61,726.
That went against a States resolution from April 2007 that it should stay at its level then.
And Deputy Parkinson (pictured), who voted for zero population growth in 2007, said the only way to restrict immigration was to control the island’s economic growth.
‘The figures show that in reality the States has very little control over population and the two most effective controls we do have – the control over the size of the housing stock and control to some extent over our economic activity – are both turned towards growth,’ he said.
‘If we continue to create as many jobs as possible, we will suck in people. If we want to restrict the growth of the population, we have to restrict the growth of the economy.’
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can we not close the borders to anyone not from the island for just six months + to let us get a grip on this. im not saying kick people out but may we could do some kind of point system for no island workers , if you fall below what is needed to work on the island then you have six months to leave or improve.
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The ‘growth’ element of the zero 10 was about the economy not the growth of the population. Unfortunatley some of the panicking zero 10 brigade are flailing around with words like ‘trickle down’, ‘entrepreneurs’ and terms like this.
If you look back on some of the architects of zero 10 you will see words like ’6% growth’ per year. Clearly that hasn’t happened and clearly there aren’t queues of Coates and Perkins type characters wanting to start businesses over here.
As there has been no growth, probably quite the opposite, and there are no new ‘wealth creators’ coming into the island and government cannot shrink itself in any meaningful way – that would appear to be a failure of policy.
Zero/10 has failed. Now what?
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It will have alot less if its forced into the EU by New Labour.
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william – we don’t need a points system as the current system provides all the power that is needed to prevent entry. Licences of 3 years or more are only handed out if Housing are satisfied that the licence is “essential” i.e the job (and then the person to fill it) justifies the granting of a licence. If the job can be filled from within the island then Housing has the ability to refuse the licence(whether it uses that ability correctly is a different question). If the person leaves that job then they will need a new licence and are assessed again. Therefore, we don’t need to ask people to “leave or improve” if they have too few points because, by definition, all holders of licences of 3 years or more are in an “essential job” (or they have since gained local status through marriage, etc).
Licences of 3 years or less are easier to get, but are obviously less of an issue in the long run.
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The revelation that Guernseys population has increased by 500 in just one year is stunning. Even without that extra 500, island roads are already jammed, housing a major problem, peace quiet and space to breath freely at a premium. What was the 07, 06, et al population increase by the way? It boggles the mind and certainly it is time, as of right now, for the island to legally bring in a population cap. A population is a sensible move and has been successfully legislated in other communities.I have personal experience of it in the community of Qualicum Beach, an idylic community, where the population cap, set at 11,000, has quickly been reached and with the exception of a few businesses who want to continue expanding, practically all residents are very happy with it, most in fact estatic! Indeed, a population cap is, in my assessment the only way to stop Guernsey from deteriorating further into a totally unliveable zoo.
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