The final pieces in the ministerial jigsaw proposed by Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham were finalised this morning.
Senator Farnham formally assumed his title as head of the new government at around 11.15am, at the point when all ministers had been elected by the Assembly.
The Chief Minister saw ten of his 12 ministerial nominees go unchallenged, while in two cases his preferred candidate achieved a comfortable majority.
Economic Development, Deputy Gerald Voisin
During this morning’s business, Deputy Gerald Voisin was put forward by Senator Farnham for the role of Economic Development Minister, having served as President of the Economic Development Committee from 2002-05, prior to the switch to ministerial government.
Deputy Voisin gave an impassioned speech, focusing on the “virtually zero” growth in the Island’s economy since 2000, and a similar lack of growth in real-time average earnings since 2001.
Had average earnings increased at half the rate seen in the 1990s, workers would earn £7,000 more today than they did 25 years ago, he said.
“Let me put that in basic language: our failure in here has cost people out there £7,000 a year,” explained Deputy Voisin.
“Economic growth matters. We owe it to Islanders to grow our economy for a more prosperous future for everyone. We need to allow our people to earn a pay rise.”
In a bid to stimulate the economy, the representative for St Helier North said he would seek to remove barriers and controls to business to combat the “over-regulation” that he said had “drained the confidence” of the business sector.
“I will be working with the new Minister for Planning and Regulation to speed up decision making and delivery, remove barriers and controls – many of which have already been identified – and I want to work with industry sectors to identify further barriers and blockages,” he added.
Our failure in here has cost people out there £7,000 a year
deputy gerald voisin
Deputy Voisin said he was “interested” to see that Skills Jersey had been transferred out of the Economic Development portfolio, adding: “I believe there is a case to bring it back.”
He added that housing remains a “key economic issue”.
“The high cost reduces labour mobility, hinders recruitment, pushes out our young local people, and discourages entrepreneurs,” said Deputy Voisin.
“As an Assembly, we need to make progress on housing and the cost of housing in the next four years. We owe it to the people of Jersey.”
Challenged by: Deputy Montfort Tadier
The Chief Minister’s nominee was challenged by Deputy Montfort Tadier, who said that complacency and a lack of ambition were two of the biggest challenges facing the Island.
The representative for St Brelade, entering his sixth term in the Assembly, said a bolder vision for the economy was required and that he was optimistic that this year’s intake of States Members would bring vision and positive energy to the political arena.
Making Jersey the equivalent of a university town was one of Deputy Tadier’s main ideas for stimulating the economy, saying that this would help combat the current position where many young people left the Island for higher education and a significant proportion did not return.
If students came to Jersey to study, they would bring creative energy and take up summer and evening jobs, he added.
Deputy Tadier said he was not in favour of the current system, where many workers came to the Island from overseas on nine-month visas. These often did not work for either employer or employee, he said, and pledged to abolish such visas if elected.
Potential ways of raising income should include progressing plans for renewable energy and the development of the film industry, he added.
Deputy Voisin was elected by the Assembly, securing 35 votes to his rival’s 13.
Treasury Minister, Senator Alan Maclean
The final minister to be elected was Senator Alan Maclean, appointed as Treasury Minister without a challenge.
Senator Maclean pledged to restore financial discipline, rebuild reserves and not to increase spending without achieving a corresponding increase in income.
As part of a focus on procurement, Senator Maclean said he had already taken steps to recruit Deputy Robert Parker as an assistant minister with specific responsibility for this area.
“I also want to strengthen Jersey’s shareholder role, so our state-owned entities remain commercially successful while supporting the Island’s strategic objectives,” he added.
Senator Maclean also said that “more needs to be done” in streamlining the public sector.
“We need an effective public sector, but we also need a strong private sector, because it creates the jobs, investment, and tax revenues that fund our public services,” he explained.
“The public sector is now beginning to crowd out the private sector. The balance must be restored.”
The new Treasury Minister concluded: “I will work every day to leave Jersey financially stronger, economically more competitive and a more affordable place to live, work and do business than it is today.”
The only other contested election for the Council of Ministers came yesterday afternoon, with Deputy Malcolm Ferey appointed as Housing Minister after defeating Deputy Hilary Jeune by 32 votes to 16.
The other ministers elected yesterday were Senators Tom Binet (Health), Helen Miles (Home Affairs), Ian Gorst (External Relations), Elaine Millar (Social Security) and Mary Le Hegarat (Environment), along with Deputies Catherine Curtis (Education), Carolyn Labey (International Development) and Jonathan Renouf (Infrastructure), plus Constable Richard Vibert (Children and Families).
Senator Farnham intends to change the law in order to enable a Planning Minister to be appointed at the next sitting of the Assembly, and has nominated Senator Sir Mark Boleat as his preferred candidate for this role.
