Politics on the menu for local businesswoman

Tuesday 16 September 2014

Restaurateur Natalie Duffy is in the running for a Deputy’s seat in the States and is standing as a candidate in St Brelade No 2.

Mrs Duffy, who runs two restaurants at St Aubin and St Ouen’s Bay, wants to focus on tourism, education and Jersey’s small business economy.

She believes tourism is at a turning point and needs strong political support and she wants to help other entrepreneurs in her parish to thrive by working with them and helping them make the most of the expertise and facilities offered by Jersey Business and Digital Jersey.

Mrs Duffy would also like to be involved in the redevelopment of the parish’s secondary school. She says Les Quennevais’ current building is no longer fit for purpose and says it is time that staff, pupils and the parish had a state-of-the-art facility built to inspire personal and academic success.

If elected, Mrs Duffy says she would also apply pressure on the States to provide more support for the Island's young sporting talent, and find funding so that they can compete off-Island at national level more often.

Mrs Duffy said: "I believe in focusing on what I am good at and I believe I can make a measurable, positive difference for the people of St Brelade by concentrating on the three key areas where my experience and passion will count: tourism, education and the small business economy. All of these issues are very important to the Island as a whole and to St Brelade in particular. By getting these things right, we can start to tackle broader issues that we’re all facing.

“We need to create a solid educational base for our children and a sustainable economic environment for them to benefit from when they leave school.  We must ensure that we continue to invest in our parish infrastructure, but only where development or improvements are complimentary; we must support our young people and give them the very best start in life we can afford; and we must help our local small businesses by cutting red tape and opening up new horizons for them, so reducing their costs and increasing employment opportunities. And we must do all these things without endangering our beautiful but fragile environment.

“Above all I believe we have a real opportunity to turn our tourism industry around, if it has the right political support and I am ready to play a part in that."

Mrs Duffy was born and educated in the Island.