A refusal to surrender
Friday 18th September 2009, 2:58PM BST.
THE stubborn nature of Guernsey people and their willingness to battle against overwhelming odds are legendary. Not for nothing are islanders known as donkeys.
Two stories in today’s newspaper illustrate the point perfectly.
One Guernseyman stood there alone flailing wildly with a fly swat as 10,000 angry wasps took a beeline for his nose.
The other refuses to accept that the States is set to spend £93.5m. on building a huge incinerator at Longue Hougue.
After 15 debates, ranging over almost two decades, the States finally came to a decision in July on what to do with its waste.
The pile of official reports and tender documents which supported the Assembly’s conclusion represents a waste hazard in its own right.
And the 32-12 vote in favour was not just significant, it was crushing.
Yet, Rodney Brouard (a Guernsey Boy who also refused to accept the Cobo car tip as unavoidable) has not given up. Having had one idea rejected in July – exporting the island’s waste to Jersey – the highly successful businessman is back after seven weeks backing another.
On the surface his latest plan is almost as appealing as sending the island’s rubbish south to our Channel Island neighbours. It is green, non-noxious and ridiculously cheap. What’s not to like?
Compared to the energy-from-waste burner it’s a relative paragon of virtue. Even the few smelly fumes given off when the waste is steamed at 160C in a huge revolving cylinder are deodorised by ultraviolet waves.
And yet.
This ship has surely sailed. Getting off at this stage could lead to the island getting very wet.
Having already cancelled one contract, Guernsey’s reputation among waste firms would be beyond repair.
And the island would have to jump ship well before due diligence could be done on the vantage waste processor. Deputies would want assurances that this is not an experimental system but a proven, reliable alternative. All claims would need to be demonstrated and tested in a real environment.
In that light, a U-turn at this stage is unthinkable.
But don’t expect this Guernsey Boy to accept that.
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“This ship has surely sailed. Getting off at this stage could lead to the island getting very wet. Having already cancelled one contract…”
Two points
1 The Editor who had hysterics over the £2.4 million lost? doesn’t seem to have been wirried by the £4 million plus wasted on the airport foam spillage nor the £250 million likely cost of the Incinerator.
2 The scribe claims that the island will get very wet if it tries to save money and have a more appropriate system. Yet, in the next breath he or his scribe by proxy, reminds us we have already cancelled one contratc.
And yet Deputy Hadley wets himself over the thought of not entering into a contract, in case Suez would be upset.
Time for the truth about the Suez deal.
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Who cares if some waste firms take a dim view of Guernsey?
In these hard times it is the duty of our government to secure best value for money. The previous States spent millions on projects that it shouldn’t have entertained and the current house is going down the same road.
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Stephen John
Time for the truth about the Suez deal.
Spot on SJ but with Flouquet at the helm we got no chance.
More scare mongering tatics coming out now. I dont believe this would damage Guernsey in any big way and it`s our money they should be thinking about and not what suez thinks or does.
I think there is to much self interest in this for RB to compete with but good luck to him.
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If BF was really worried about Guernsey’s reputation then he would have stepped down over the Golly-Gate affair. Just seems like scare mongering and self interest to me.
I personally think guernsey’s reputation would be in tatters if we accept the Suez propoosal. We’d be seen as a walk over and easy to extort cash from, investing in outdated dirty technology.
I really wish Deputies would start spending more time thinking about their local reputation, and the best interests of the people they serve rather than how they as individuals can try to look good on the international stage.
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If the States are adament about keeping the Suez proposal, perhaps we could use these alternatives as leverage for negotiating a better price?
The one thing every opposing idea seems to have in common is far less cost than Suez. Since the deal hasn’t been signed yet, perhaps at least we could start negotiating a better deal?
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Stan Brouard Ltd has been determined in its efforts to be allowed to convert scarce agricultural land into an extension of its profit making business while Rodney Brouard holds himself out as a champion of the Guernsey people. This has to make one suspect Mr Brouard’s motives even when they appear most disinterested.
Within a couple of month’s of my buying some item of the latest technology, the computer and/or communications salesmen are sniggering behind their hands at the outdated nature of my new pride and joy. How long should I wait to become computerised? I’ve heard that quantum computers are on the horizon. Perhaps I should delay any involvement with computers for another year or two (or ten.
It is quite possible that in five or six year’s time Mr Brouard’s latest weird idea (or some other now considered outlandish proposal) may be accepted, state of the art technology. However, we are in 2009 and must make our decisions to spend public money on the best current advice. We have already delayed too long. Let’s get on with it.
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