THE ministers in charge of economic growth assured a hustings audience at a meeting last night that future population growth would be controlled.
Economic Development Minister Philip Ozouf and his assistant minister Deputy Alan Maclean answered a question about population controls at the St Martin Senatorial hustings.
The two are the ministers in charge of economic growth – which is being driven by population growth – but both missed the deadline to respond to a JEP candidate survey on population, and had not spoken publicly on the subject.
‘The only way to control population is through job controls,’ Senator Philip Ozouf said. ‘We have rewritten the laws. The States are going to have to set a population number. We do not need to build on any more green fields.’
Deputy Maclean added, in response to the question on capping Jersey’s population at the current level, that: ‘I am afraid much as my heart would like to say yes, my head says no. We need economic growth and sustainable long-term economic growth. What we have had to date, I agree, is far too much.’
Around 130 people packed St Martin’s Public Hall last night for the most lively Senatorial hustings meeting so far.
Ministers took a lot of flak from the crowd over the lack of control over immigration and the introduction of GST.
And the media were criticised too – by some of the candidates and the audience – for the coverage of the historical abuse inquiry.
The audience at the hall were the most animated so far, with equal quantities of boos, cheers, laughter and heckling for candidates.
Parishioners asked questions about whether they would support a cap on population at the current level, the large proportion of imported senior civil servants, the reciprocal health agreement with the UK, the handling of the Haut de la Garenne investigation, why the States were selling off property and utility assets, and what they would do to engage more voters.
And during his introductory speech, one of the candidates said that he had received a ‘bullying’ letter from a minister since the campaign began.
Time4Change candidate Nick Le Cornu, a lawyer, told the audience that Housing Minister Terry Le Main had written to him, asking to know about his ‘educational and professional qualifications’.
He said that the Senator had asked what professional associations he was registered with, and had enclosed a stamped addressed envelope for the reply.
Mr Le Cornu said that he had not replied, adding: ‘I think such letters are impudent. For a minister to send such a thing is bullying and intimidatory – that is the type of government we have got. What sort of system is it that can allow men of such calibre to rise to senior positions and stay there?’
As the audience cheered, Mr Le Cornu added that Senator Le Main had not put the correct postage on the envelope. He added: ‘For the sake of Senator Le Main I have put a section on the back of my manifesto which is for the children and which can be coloured in.’
• Full hustings report: www.thisisjersey.com/election (headlines)
