Jersey’s not so bad

From Roger Goodwin.

AS a recent arrival in the Island following five years living in France, I am following with interest the current debates aired in your newspaper over budget deficits, zero-ten taxation and the Carswell Report.

A couple of months ago, I managed to attend some of the free lunch-time talks at Law House; one was presented by Sir Philip Bailhache and entitled ‘Making a Will in Jersey’. I notice that Sir Philip is embroiled in the zero-ten and Carswell Report debates at the moment. I also note that he was accused of promoting a punch-up with the UK over one of these issues.

As I see it, Jersey is Jersey. Its uniqueness is a rare quality to be preserved. Its current problems are, to some extent, unique also, although global economic conditions – the likes of which I have not seen in my lifetime of 66 years – have a great bearing on the pressures and challenges that the Island is facing.

Whatever the outcome over the next few years, please do not as an Island community sacrifice your traditions and heritage. Sure, there are some day-to-day administration issues to be addressed and there is a need for some streamlining of budget controls, but do not be dictated to or be pressurised by ‘outside forces’, ie the UK or Brussels. They have enough problems of their own.

To the whingers and moaners in the Island, I say: ‘Go live in the UK or France for a few years. Go experience their crime rates; their huge immigration issues; their lack of respect for one another; their lack of interest in what their governing bodies are doing; their sky-high VAT and TVA rates – compared to your GST – not to mention income and corporation taxes. The list is endless. I can guarantee it won’t be long before the words of Arnold Schwarzenegger, ‘I’ll be back!’ (or, for goodness’ sake, ‘Let me come back!’), will be ringing in your ears.

In my opinion, France and Germany and some of the other mainland European countries have the edge over the UK on some of these issues, certainly in terms of the day-to-day quality of life and trying to hold on to their core traditions, although the clouds of change are fast approaching there too.

So Jersey folk, even with today’s problems I would use the phrase of a well-known UK politician some years ago. You’ve never had it so good.