Why be so negative? We should be grateful

From Ariel Whatmore.

OVER the last few years we have had constant negative and unconstructive attacks on several aspects of Jersey life from John Christensen in his capacity as a director of the Tax Justice Network.

For a short period he was employed as an economic adviser to the States. He has since lived in England and is an outspoken critic of all that the finance industry stands for.

He mentions how the ‘tourist industry and horticultural base have suffered’. He maintains that ‘the entrepreneurial spirit has suffered’, that ‘Jersey society is more divided’ and that recent architecture is ‘disappointing in terms of its architectural style’.

With yet another letter (JEP, 22 October) of the same genre, one has to ask oneself what is the motive of someone who comes so rarely to the Island, left so long ago, yet has this need to condemn so frequently so many aspects of our Island life?

So, firstly, let’s look at the tourist industry. He is not prepared to admit that outside factors like the low-cost airlines of Ryanair and EasyJet have had an inevitable effect. Can he not give credit to the tourism office for their innovative variety of activities – low-water fishing, kayacking, garden visits, walking, diving and several other activities? For children there is rock climbing, sailing and surfing as well as just swimming from beaches, often with the protection of lifeguards.

With regard to agriculture and horticulture, you have only to visit supermarkets and look at the labelling on many of the items to see how competitive and difficult this market has become as a result of worldwide distribution, yet the Jersey farmers have been most enterprising with their diverse range of crops.

Farm shops have sprung up throughout the Island and there are still unmanned roadside stalls, which give credit to the general honesty of Islanders. In spring there is the uniquely beautiful vision of field upon field of daffodils, which are exported to England. There are also well-supported flower shows, horticultural shows and food festivals.

As for the architecture in St Helier, I came here in the 50s and the buildings along the Esplanade were, on the whole, rather scruffy and uninspiring, mainly due to cheap materials and lack of funding, whereas now we have some very fine architects with some interesting buildings of considerable merit – not all, of course.

Also mentioned is a kind of ‘social divide’. Recently, I had a friend who lives in England and knows virtually no one in Jersey but inherited a Victoria Cross won by a Jersey relative in the 19th century. She wanted the Island to raise £90,000 plus to buy the cross for the Museum so that she could donate the money to Help for Heroes. Within three months the money was raised from a wide cross-section of people.

For such a tiny Island we are superlative at raising money for Overseas Aid and Durrell Wildlife has become one of the world’s most effective institutions for saving endangered species.

Otherwise, the arts are well represented, with the Jersey Academy of Music, art societies, a poetry society and excellent productions at the Jersey Arts Centre and the Opera House. The finance industry deserves some credit for generously supporting such events.

Like many people, I am horrified at the rising cost of living and increased unemployment which is an immensely sad factor of modern day life. However, as John Boothman recently pointed out in his pre-election letter, ‘Jersey has no debt and a substantial investment reserve in case things get even tougher’.

Politicians like Sir Philip Bailhache are very realistic about the challenging conditions and are keen to make big changes within the economy and the health service etc and are prepared to work very hard to do so.

We do not need a constant, negative attack from someone who left the Island years ago, and yet insists on comparing presen day life with conditions of 50 years ago.

Let’s be like the 100-year-old marathon man, who said ‘be grateful for everything you have, stay away from people who are negative.’