|
NEWS Jersey enters the new millennium facing many changes ahead. Our traditional industries of tourism and agriculture struggle to keep pace with competition from outside. Agriculture now provides just a small proportion of island wealth as we bend under the pressures of a vast European market on our doorstep. Our dairy industry, protected by the sale of only locally produced milk in the island, now faces collapse as we find that this practice may be illegal. |
|
|
Tourism figures dwindle on a yearly basis, despite the best efforts of our Tourism Committee, as holidays to far away destinations, with guaranteed sunshine, become cheaper, while flights in and out of the island become ever more expensive. The island was recently dealt a major blow by the announcement of British Airways that we are to lose our connection to Heathrow Airport, clearly illustrating our dependence on the goodwill of large corporations. Our finance industry, which is without a doubt the main source of revenue to the island, faces increasing pressure from outside, and small businesses, particularly, struggle to fall into line with more and more regulations in order to maintain our well deserved status as a tax haven of international standing. The high standard of living, generous salaries and beauty of our surroundings have attracted large numbers of workers and our population spirals upwards - the last census revealing that there are now 85,000 of us in these 45 square miles. The need to finance health care and housing makes us ever more reliant on the large corporations that now dominate our finance industry. Demand for housing has precipitated the demolition of treasured old buildings by developers quick to move in at every opportunity and on every available piece of land. Blocks of luxury apartments and office buildings stand in place of our heritage, whilst housing for young islanders seems further out of reach as every year passes. Houses built for young couples as 'starter' homes are crammed shoulder to shoulder on housing estates and priced from a staggering £250,000 upwards. There's no doubt that developers have become the 'bête noir' in the equation and the public's perception of their insensitivity to our heritage was highlighted recently by the demolition of Janvrin's Farm - a beautiful old farmhouse, standing above Portelet Bay and dating back hundreds years. Before our Planning Committee had been able to assess its status as a protected building it had been razed to the ground and plans submitted for luxury apartments. Whilst our authorities struggle to untangle the legalities of the developer's actions, it all seems rather a moot point - the building is lost. Conversely, public projects like the development of reclaimed land on our waterfront (first begun in 1982) grind along at an incredibly slow pace, with indecision and arguments between developers and politicians meaning that we still have relatively little to show on this large tract of land. Islanders regard tourism based projects like a steam clock costing £350,000 and a cafe at £650,000 as expensive fripperies, whilst vital public projects involving healthcare and mains water for all residents are placed firmly on the back-boiler. Talk to any local person and you will hear our frustration at the lack of vision of our politicians and of how we feel powerless in the face of unwelcome change - these feelings being constantly aired in the pages of our local newspaper. |
|
This synopsis of our current news may make it sound as though this is a thoroughly depressing place to live. It isn't. Bad news, after all, is always what grabs the headlines and as for our politicians - I'm sure there isn't a popular politician on the face of the planet. We have plenty to be thankful for here with, on the whole, a high standard of living for all, good salaries and very little unemployment. It's my perception that we are starting to wake up to the threats from both within and outside the island and I believe we will find a way to work through this difficult period - just as we have historically always done. (Visit the history pages here) |
|
To read current news headlines, visit our local paper website here |
|
Graphics from http://cgl.microsoft.com/clipgallery/default.asp All written content subject to copyright. All rights reserved. Contact me here. |
