Alan Luce, campaigner: Five things I'd change about Jersey

Friday 10 August 2018

He's the man at the centre of a bitter land dispute with the Infrastructure Department which could have very significant ramifications for anyone who owns a Jersey property bordering the foreshore.

He's also currently acting as butler, dog-walker and chef to Indie the Newfoundland, as they take time out from Jersey to see the world (or at least Europe anyway!) But they say that absence makes the heart grow fonder, so we took the opportunity to ask Alan Luce for five things he would change about Jersey while he's away.

1) Save the small businesses.

"More recognition in the value of small businesses, they need to breathe to survive. The sometimes scary regulations are perceived as an unhelpful impediment to growth, employment and other legislations all foreboding.  The regulators and law makers would disagree as they are in place to protect the venerable downtrodden.  Small businesses are the down-trodden, often they are the overlooked engines of the economy and the major employers as a overall collective.

I feel that it is not easy any more to be successful in business, and the need for government to give breaks or incentives to businesses to employ is a far greater benefit than to coset those in need of work, trying to get back into work or newly seeking first-time careers.  Whilst totally laudable to manage the working population it is imperative to create the places to work. Make sure the people are empowered by working, generate the ethic of work satisfaction.  Somebody once said, 'you never work a day in you life, if you love what you do.'

The social geography has changed, zero hours only exist because there’s a need for them, a business need.  As the economy changes the focus is often on saving costs over growth.  The government needs to become aware it is sometimes the catalyst of dissatisfaction.  If people want to be outside of the society norms, work for cash in hand, undeclared incomes they are ultimately defrauding us all. And sadly seemingly never caught, it’s not a crime that should attract community service; its a fraud of whatever magnitude.

2) Foster a society that puts back over self interests.

We are a caring society, but does this society care? Everybody has their issues, financial or life, yet we can flip the problems often by working together.  Fewer people putting into the system, more taking out; this is a social earthquake of systemic proportions, which as a nation the size of Basingstoke, is unsustainable. 

3) Stop the roadworks...

...or at least complete them in a reasonable, non-destructive, disruptive manner. I'm sick and tied of people saying Jersey is losing its way, and we fail at many things. But not at roadworks, we would get the gold medal if it was an Olympic sport. 

Pictured: roadworks...can we complete them in a non-disruptive manner? 

Workers on the roads still stand around in threes watching the one working in the hole. We have eyes we can see you and it’s annoying! Maybe the secretive workings of government are the same, who know’s? Charlie Parker does, I’ll put money on it. 

 4) Political parties.

Get your heads together, you’re all principally working towards a better society, with differing methods of achieving that goal.  Look at the end objective, stop bickering, cheap shots won’t win voters. Clever policies and visionary thinking will.

 5) Government.

Start recognising whom you act for, it is the responsibility of each civil servant to perform to the best of abilities, and those abilities need to be higher than the current level.  The onus is on each worker to be efficient, productive and over all else, responsible for their actions, otherwise they are cheating the very system we the citizens are too often accused of cheating.   Charlie’s watching! You are responsible for yourself.

Pictured: States Chief Executive, Charlie Parker, is implementing widespread reforms.