A CHILD care officer has become the latest contender to announce a bid for one of nine available Senatorial positions in the next States Assembly.
Martin Aliga, who has lived in Jersey for 15 years, said he would be seeking to represent minority groups who would otherwise not have a voice in the political arena.
The graduate of Uganda Christian University, who also completed a Master’s degree at Edinburgh University, said he wanted to focus on economic issues that were driving people away from Jersey.
“With roughly 34% of Islanders contemplating moving away due to costs, and housing being a top concern for 54% of the population, I want to positively address this matter by creatively engaging members to put in place affordable and sustainable housing solutions for young families and tenants,” he said.
“I also wish to promote a balanced ethos of rights and responsibilities, encouraging youngsters to grow up understanding their duties as well as their rights.”
Other priorities, he added, were related to health, reducing stigma around counselling as part of primary health care, and to education, with a drive to reduce the amount of screen learning for young Islanders.
Mr Aliga spent four years fronting the States of Jersey Police anti-hate campaign, and said he wished to return to such advocacy work, whether or not he is elected as Senator.
He continued: “I aim to serve Jersey as an independent, confident leader in the role of Senator because I believe that I will amplify the voices of the minority and the voiceless, whilst drawing on my personal experiences of feeling unheard and undervalued by those in authority.
“Often political leaders are mistrusted; it is time to bring in a leadership determined to shape the next generation by empowering our children and young people to sustainably carry on the same positive values.”
Mr Aliga, who has worked for the Education Department as a residential child care officer for the past nine years, is the 13th Senatorial candidate to declare so far. Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham, External Relations Minister Ian Gorst, Treasury Minister Elaine Millar, Housing Minister Sam Mézec, Environment Minister Steve Luce, Home Affairs Minister Mary Le Hegarat, former Home Affairs Minister and Scrutiny Panel chair Deputy Helen Miles, former hospital director Bernard Place, former City of London political lead Sir Mark Boleat, netball star Serena Kersten, ex-Treasury Minister Alan Maclean and charity worker Alan Le Pavoux are also set to feature on the ballot.
