Letters to the Editor: Delaying will only add to the cost of this project

Picture: JON GUEGAN

From John Le Bailly.

AS the previous Constable of St Mary, I was extremely proud to have been elected by our parishioners to represent the parish and the Island in our States Assembly.

Jersey is not the perfect place that it pretends to be. Our Infrastructure in the northern and outlying parishes is still non-existent; at a time when every property has electricity and a fibre-optic connection, many homes do not have water or drainage.

Our proposed new hospital is another example of delays which will only add additional costs to the eventual project.

Is the decision of our Council of Ministers legally valid as the decision to stop vital works on the long-overdue hospital and a major housing project was not voted on by the States Assembly? Why then do we have a States Assembly? Even more concerning is the fact that the new Chief Minister and the Infrastructure Minister are both against the hospital project – so no bias there…

It is essential that the proposed hospital is built asap at Overdale in order to avoid further delay and cost. It must be remembered that a new hospital was announced in 2011. If it had been built on the People’s Park as proposed it would be in use by now. Our previous Environment Minister made a very late call to approve the new hospital plans, but to no avail.

We have made hospital staff and Islanders thankful that at long last we will have a hospital which is fit for purpose, only to dash their hopes again.

To encourage professional medical staff it is necessary to have a modern hospital, and easily affordable housing and it may be necessary to remove restrictions on essential key people.

It was hoped that the new States Assembly, elected in the new constituency arrangement with the abolition of Senators, would be welcome. Actually, this is yet another example of the elected Members not listening to people’s views, which clearly stated that this constitutional alteration was not wanted. The instigator of the proposed arrangement was not returned as a States Member, but the damage was done as his proposition narrowly won the vote. So much for democracy.

Our Planning Department have the ability to resolve our housing crisis, which would impact on other problems associated with employing lower-paid workers in our various industries. Perhaps we can look to them to solve the issue.

Join the discussion Email editorial@jerseyeveningpost.com or write to The Editor, Jersey Evening Post, PO Box 582, Jersey JE4 8XQ. Letters must include full name and postal address, which will be published. They should be no longer than 400 words and may be edited.

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