Independence comes at a cost…
Monday 26th October 2009, 11:30AM GMT.
Advocate Roger Perrot addresses the audience during the recent constitutional debate at St James.
ANY move toward Guernsey’s full independence would come at a cost, according to a member of the House of Lords.
William, Lord Wallace of Saltaire, said such a step by the island would have to be recognised by all of its neighbours and it would then have to negotiate its relations with them.
‘It would mean a different relationship with the EU and the United Kingdom because Guernsey’s relationship with the EU rests upon Protocol Three of the British act of Accession,’ he said.
All of this would be possible, he said, but it would not come without cost in terms of other states wishing to impose conditions.
‘We are operating in a context in which tighter international regulation within the financial services industry is high on the agenda of major governments. At the present moment, the UK protects Guernsey’s interests in these negotiations and it would be much harder for Guernsey to have to negotiate on its own.’
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This would be the same Lord Wallace that was speaking a few months ago about how the UK ought to “reconsider” its relationship with the Channel Islands.
Seems that he is all for changing the status quo as long as it means imposing more control from the UK, rather than granting more democratic autonomy and rights of self-determination.
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These Lords and whatnot’s are back in the dark ages;
they still think that Britannia rules the waves, whereas a little splash would be very exciting for them
It’s about time they learnt that ‘Bwana’ is dead , buried. and cannot be resurrected,
You stole the Island, do the decent thing and return it to it’s rightful owners with full compensation-
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Eric,
the CI weren’t “stolen” by anyone – never been part of the UK being the remnant of the Duchy of Normandy following the Commise in 1204 (which ended in King John losing Normandy to the French King). The very reason why our constitutional relationship with the UK and the Crown is special and so very different from the “colonies” stems from this. The CI were never colonised or conquered by the English Crown. Constitutional debate is great but get the starting point right – on your basis as our Duke conquered England do we owe the English compensation???
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AL
If they didn’t steal; then why is it we had to ‘Buy’ back our own property.
The Fort George Herm Island Lihou Island and many other things,
Why was it necessary to stop the use of our language (Patois) in favour of the Anglo Saxon language; They having already stolen Britain from the Brits.
Why do we have to have English ministers to rule.. and so it goes on an endless WHY WHY?-
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TL,Eric and Al did you read a different artical to the one above?.
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I suppose all those countries that were ‘Occupied by England’ which became the Great Empire. should they also pay compensation to England for allowing themselves to be occupied.
It was England who attacked France hence the 100years war.
Whatever everyone talks about 1204 how the <Island wished to be part of or swear allegince to England,
Come off it; in those days only the rich had the vote, and it was just those land owners that made that proclamation, not the ordinary Guernsey man.
They have been a thorn in our sides for donkey's years, Learn a little how they have behaved toward us; then say they did the right thing
However whatever you say I care not, let us be free of the Yoke.
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I still maintain there EU masters wont let us leave.
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As a real Guernseyman, yes I have the stamp in my passport, I reckon any costs of independance are a price worth paying to break free from the increasingly worrying UK position on Guernsey.
Also, I fail to see how our neighbours can impose ‘conditions’ as mentioned in the article above. Either they recognise us or they don’t. You don’t get the UK saying they will only recognise France if their farmers stop burning our sheep for example.
I just wish we can move quicker on this.
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Chris
As a real Guernseyman with a stamp, which of the directions if independence do you think will suit Guernsey best?
What did you think of the St James’ thing?
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Arnald
I would prefer a Channel Islands federation. I would not include the IOM.
It would work much as the Swiss system does with the cantons having a lot of power and the central goverment being elected from the cantons dealing with national issues.
I don’t mind keeping the link to the Queen, as much as Canada or New Zealand do, but no links whatsoever to the UK.
Where we need to use them then we pay the going rate. Our students already pay the overseas rate at uni.
Small countries do exist, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, the Vatican, so 150k people in the CI would be viable. We would also have our own natural resources, the tidal power in the Channel which when the oil runs out will be priceless.
Sure it will be hard and no doubt setbacks along the way, but it IS worth doing.
As I have said before, appeasement of a bully does not work in the long term. (Chamberlain and Hitler etc)
St James was ok, but the momentum needs to be stepped up.
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If you keep capitulating to the U.K. though the EU, when is enough, enough.
This Island of ours, is being slowly turned into another small part of Brittain.
Have they not made a big mess their, without adding us to it?
We have got to start doing things, in the common sense way, that built Guernsey to be what it was. This was before we started, copying and looking to do things the English way.
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