From Philippa Gollop (née Venticinque).
I REFER to your article on Thursday 4 September covering the speech made by Deputy Guy de Faye at the Chamber of Commerce meeting, at which yet again another blunder was made by a States Member who appears to be both insensitive to those around him and seemingly oblivious to social correctness in the 21st century.

Deputy de Faye commented in his speech that the U-turn on GST exemptions made him feel as though ‘I’m a member of the Italian army’.

The connotations associated with such a comment not only insulted the Italian community of Jersey but prove how inept our States Members are. Such a comment would not be made by an international politician who is both better educated and more aware of the somewhat sensitised world that we live in today.

Deputy de Faye, and other States Members like him, should know better than to make such a comment that could be construed to be prejudicial towards one individual nation.

It does not surprise me that such a blunder was made by a States Member as they seem to demonstrate to the people of Jersey time and time again how inadequate and unprofessional they really are. Surely it is not unreasonable to except a senior member of the community to think before they speak and to take some care in the terms chosen.

I would hope that Deputy de Faye did not intentionally insult the Italian people of Jersey but he did so crudely through his insensitive choice of words. Almost certainly after this blunder Deputy de Faye’s electoral prospects with the Italian community are now sleeping with the fishes.
54 Stopford Road,
St Helier.