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Guernsey accused of stifling business
Real estate news By Andrew Pierce
2:30am BST 09/10/2007
Business leaders and politicians in Guernsey have been subjected to a mock public trial over whether they were guilty of closing the island to new business. The main leisure centre on the island posed as the courtroom which was packed with a citizens' jury of more than 500 people while John Greenfield, a solicitor, performed the role of grand inquisitor. While the jurors voted overwhelmingly against the notion that there was opposition to new business, they applauded neighbouring Jersey as more progressive.
The tribunal, the first of its kind, which was staged by the island's Institute of Directors, also called for a review of the cap on population expansion. In the summer the States of Guernsey, the island's parliament, dropped its commitment to net inward migration of 200 per year in favour of a ban on population growth. The move will mean the island's population of 62,000 will actually fall because of the effects of younger people moving to mainland Britain and the Continent.
Stuart Falla, Guernsey's Commerce and Employment minister, who was cross-examined at the meeting, said: "Commerce is applauded in most other communities in the world but in Guernsey we put up with it. We do not want growth in the business sector," he said. The meeting contrasted Guernsey's "can't do" approach to Jersey's "can do" attitude. Jersey has a working population of 55,000 compared with Guernsey's 33,000. Mr Falla told the Guernsey Press and Star, the island newspaper, that business had to lead the pressure for more expansion. "I laid down the challenge... if the business community wanted the greater level of growth, they had to have their voice heard. They have to make their case well. They can't assume their voice will be heard if they whisper."
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