Speaking at Jersey Finance Limited’s annual review yesterday, External Relations Minister Ian Gorst called on attendees to get their personal finances in order and ‘seriously think’ about going into politics with the next election now two years away.
The minister was speaking during a panel session in front of hundreds of finance sector workers, alongside Jersey Financial Services Commission director general Martin Moloney and Digital Jersey chief executive Tony Moretta.
‘Don’t forget in Jersey we have an election in 2022. You have got two years to sort your pension plans out and make sure you have got sufficient resources,’ he said.
‘Then in 2022 we are going to need members of this audience to stand in the Jersey election to make sure that our economic and Island success is secured.
‘That you can’t take for granted and we can each do our part. We need each one of you to think about how you continue to play your part in Jersey, in its economy and in its parliament.’
He added: ‘It’s not a flippant request. It’s a really important request. People have always played their part in Jersey and we have always valued our honorary tradition.
‘Please, you have two years to seriously think about it. And if I’m still here, I will challenge you again next year to think about this.’
Earlier in the session Senator Gorst also urged finance firms to sign up to the government’s pledge to ‘Put Children First’ and review their human resources procedures to enhance the lives of employees’ children.
Speaking about the year ahead he said that he was ‘extremely positive’ due to greater certainty with the Brexit issue moving forward and the new UK government’s expansive outlook on international trade.
‘Whatever you think about the colour of the government in the UK, the fact that they are thinking globally, the fact that they want to reach out globally fits in entirely with the message that we have been giving to our global partners for the last ten or more years,’ he said.
‘And we know for global trade, for raising the living standards of the very poorest and for development around the world you need financial services. We can play a really positive part in what I think will be the post-Brexit world.
‘There will be challenges but if we work together, then I think 2020 can be really positive for Jersey.’
A key theme of the panel discussion was collaboration between different organisations in Jersey, such as financial services firms, the JFSC, the government and Digital Jersey.
All the speakers said that there had been good progress in this area since a report produced by consultants McKinsey in 2012 said that the Island’s different agencies need to work more closely together.
