‘It’s money well spent’
Saturday 26th June 2010, 2:29PM BST.
Chief Minister Lyndon Trott with Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, who echoes his view that the cost of hosting the British-Irish Council summit is money well spent. (Picture by Chris George, 0989663)
The delegation included Scotland’s First Minister, Alex Salmond, the First Minister for Wales, Carwyn Jones, the First Minister for Northern Ireland, Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.
Chief Minister Lyndon Trott said the event had been extremely constructive and he was pleased to host the summit.
Asked whether it was more than a ‘talking shop’, Deputy Trott said a lot of focus had been placed on the cost of the event but it did provide value for money, given the ‘careful budgeting constraints’.
He estimated that it cost the island around £10,000 a year and said it had its origins in a ‘marvellous initiative’ in which Guernsey was privileged to play a part.
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Of course it is good value for money when it does not come out of your own back pocket Lyndon.
I have it on good reliable information the exact costings have not been properly calculated but is more likely to be in the region of 120 to £140 000.
Does that make for economical use of public funds in these difficult times then LT?
So much for the belt tightening eh!
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Always good to find out which face (or other orfice) a politician is talking out of.
After spending all this money, where are the tangible benefits? I think we have a right to know…
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I have long criticised the British Irish Council Conference, back as far 2004 when Guernsey managed to pay out over £200,000 to host it.
Note in the report above that the Chief Minister was asked a specific question which he deliberately failed to answer. “Was it more than just a talking shop?” By failing to answer the question the answer must be, yes, it was just a talking shop, £145,000 of political hot air talking shop paid for by the Guernsey Taxpayer.
They would do well to listen to Prime Minister David Cameron’s Comments over G8. He warned fellow leaders that the annual gatherings must be “more than just grand-talking shops”. They should focus on delivering concrete results which are relevant to the public back home.The same shoul apply to the BIC.
Guernsey being our “back home”, has never seen any real positive results from this expensive grand-talking shop
By all means have your conference, I have nothing against the conference per se, keep it low profile or in this day and age do it as a video conference. £145,000 is a complete waste of taxpayers money for a day out and a chat for 20 politicians most of whom will go home and that will be the end of this particular meeting.
Perhaps the Communiqué they are going to put out will list the decisions they have made and how those are going to be put into practice.
Remember that £145,000 could have started the Bowel screening program to the benefit of 6000 islanders. Someone has their priorities mixed up.
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The money wasted on this conference, together with the money wasted on the equally wasteful Commonwealth Parliamentary and other States shindigs this year, probably adds up to the £400,000 worth of annual ‘savings’ from putting the basic bus fares up to £1. I know which I’d rather that money be spent on!
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I understand that a prestigeous hotel was taken over for the duration of this get together, I would like to know if any of our local “representives” took the opportunity for a gratis overnight stay, and if so, what benefts were derived for the Guernsey taxpayer in so doing.
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Correction to my previous comment.
£145,000 should read £125,000.
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Politicians can be a bit tricksy. Why is the choice between marketing the island or a social/front line service?
How about giving a choice of the continued allowance of selling property by share transfer or breast cancer screening?
This story smacks of personality politics and score settling.
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