From Frank Le Quesne.
I AM sure that I cannot be alone when I say just how sick and tired I am of the mess that those we have entrusted to run our Island have produced for us over the last few years.

This most recent debacle over the Waterfront development and the ‘don’t blame me’ response of our senior ministers is the last straw and I feel that it is time for the population of the Island to get up and say ‘stop this nonsense’.

The lowering of the road to allow easier access to the Waterfront with its consequent delays for years in the traffic flow during its construction is a complete absurdity. The delays currently being experienced by travellers on Victoria Avenue and on St Aubin’s Inner Road are but nothing compared with what is in store for us at the Waterfront.

The hiring of architects and contractors from outside the Island capable of designing and producing ‘iconic structures’ completely out of character with the Jersey most of us have been brought up to love, should come to a halt. The further development on the Waterfront is a step too far.

It should be made into a pleasant parkland and the parking areas retained, possibly with a ‘park and ride’ facility into and out of the existing town centre which would avoid the need for this sunken carriageway or a futuristic bridge. This is Jersey, and many will agree with me that we see our States Members on a gigantic ego trip, particularly over this project.

Let’s get back to the Jersey way of doing things. Let us make our present town area a pleasure in which to live and work. There’s plenty of room within the old town for development of new offices and housing using local architects and contractors, avoiding the need for outside interference and all the problems it can, and surely will bring.

I regret having to say this, but when States Members were not paid, invariably representatives were elected by the public knowing that they had been, or were at present, successful in their day-to-day activities, whether it be in business or in other fields.

There is unfortunately a strong feeling among the public that a large proportion of our States Members could not hold down a job at half their present political salary if they needed to job seek, and I am afraid that at the next election I shall be forced to assist many Islanders in putting this to the test.

Politicians, please remember where we are, and who we are and don’t allow yourselves to be wafted away on a pipe dream which will regrettably lead to your public saying yet again ‘we told you so’.
La Cachette,
Grande Route des Sablons,
Grouville.