The widening social divide in Guernsey is one of the key issues that needs addressing, warns Citizen Advice as people start to choose who they will vote for in two week’s time.
With advance polling stations opening in the second fully island wide on Sunday 15 June, ahead of the main election date of Wednesday 18 June, various organisations are issuing manifestos for candidates to consider supporting.
Citizens Advice Guernsey recently published data around the calls for help it received last year – alongside that it’s also published its manifesto.
Reflecting the calls for help received last year, CAG says Housing, Employment & Discrimination, Legal Costs, and Poverty are the priority issues facing the island.
“Since the last election in 2020, Citizens Advice Guernsey has had around 17,500 contacts from clients and the help we give has had a positive impact on their lives,” said the charity.
“9 in 10 said we helped them find a way forward with their problems and 98% would recommend the service to others.
“Yet many of their problems could be prevented. This election, we are calling for all candidates to take action on the issues that impact islanders’ lives.”
In urging candidates to take action on the issues that impact lives, CAG has highlighted what its service users say are the top ones.
“Many people will be telling you what they think is wrong with the island and what your priorities should be as a Deputy. At CAG our volunteer advisers help people with real problems.”
These “top issues” include Housing, Employment & Discrimination, Legal Costs and Poverty and the widening social divide.
CAG says these are “some of the issues to target if you want to make a real difference to many local lives”.
It adds that when the new States take office “we trust that you will help to develop and push through policies that address real issues”.
CAG’s manifesto
Citizen Advice Guernsey’s manifesto focuses on Housing, Employment & Discrimination, Legal Costs and Poverty and the widening social divide.
Housing is listed first as the top priority that the charity wants the next States to tackle.
CAG wants the next States to “tackling access to affordable housing” by considering “incentives for building more affordable housing and making derelict properties habitable or consider compulsory purchase”.
It also offers to help States members “better understand the extent and the reasons for homelessness in Guernsey”. It says deputies can do this by in turn “supporting those charities which collect that data, including CAG”.
For renters, CAG says it “supports the Guernsey Housing Plan Workstream 3D update August 2024 which includes the introduction of a statutory deposit protection scheme for the Private Rental Sector to increase security for tenants”.
It also wants the island to “monitor housing conditions of rental properties to ensure compliance with the new legislation and the provision of resources for its successful implementation”.
Under Employment & Discrimination – which covered the majority of calls to CAG for help during 2023 – the charity has highlighted the challenges facing employees with no written employment contract.
CAG suggests that fines for employers who don’t issue written statements should be increased from the current £5,000 to £9,000. The current level was set in May 2006, and CAG’s proposed increase would match inflation since then.
CAG has also said that it supports the progression of Phase 2 of the Prevention of Discrimination Ordinance.
Legal costs associated with Consumer Issues is third on the CAG list of priorities for incoming deputies.
The charity is suggesting the current £10k limit on claims (set in 2009) in the Petty Debts Court be increased in line with inflation or to £30K, as it is in Jersey.
Under Poverty and the widening social divide, CAG has raised concerns about the impact of poverty which it says “is linked to lack of affordable housing and access to other services such as health, and full access to education”.
“There is a need to ensure that those already struggling are protected from the consequences of increased costs,” warns CAG.
Specifically, with respect to rising energy costs, the charity wants the new States to “clarify actions to support those experiencing poverty to mitigate the impact”.