From Tim Ransom.
I SUPPOSE I should not be surprised by the recent States decision not to separate the Planning and Environmental ministerial responsibilities (JEP, 10 September), as nothing the States do surprises me any more.

This is a disastrous decision for the environment of Jersey but undoubtedly a most satisfactory one for the developers who are slowly but surely destroying what little countryside we still have left.

I am disgusted at the obvious lack of political will to protect the environment and also the last-minute change of heart from Senator Cohen – apparently because his officers wanted to be closer together! Well, just because something is a bit inconvenient doesn’t mean it shouldn’t happen. I would like grown-up reasons why in practical terms a separation of the departments would not work.

Presumably Senator Cohen still believes that a serious conflict between his two ministerial positions exists, and surely the officers of both departments are quite capable of maintaining effective contact between them all, whether under one minister or not, so regardless of this decision a solution to this conflict of interest should be pursued.

The environment is under severe pressure here in Jersey, and it needs its own independent voice to ensure a fair representation, which, under the current system, with the best will in the world, is not practically possible, especially as development considerations are placed far above the wildlife and their habitats. And the simplistic suggestion of a separation of responsibilities between the minister and the assistant minister will make no difference to what happens now, as still the environment will not have its own independent voice.

I am not in favour of more ministers, or any ministers for that matter, but if there is a choice between one more of them or no voice for the environment, then I’m afraid I find that an easy choice!

It would seem that even though the whole of Jersey wants change on so many different levels, the ministers and the rest of the ‘minister-wannabes’ seem to want to keep everything as it is, except taxes of course, and pretend that everything is just fine.
Flat 8,
1 St Saviour’s Crescent,
St Saviour.