THE present round of hustings for the Senatorial election is illuminating not only in terms of candidates’ performances, but also because of the issues that are highlighted as major concerns.

This was very much the case at last night’s meeting at the Trinity headquarters of the Royal Jersey Horticultural and Agricultural Society, where, predictably, the countryside dominated proceedings. But if the principal theme came as no shock given that the event was organised by the Rural Alliance, the vehemence with which the present administration’s attitude to the green agenda was attacked was surprisingly fierce and sustained as well as highly significant.

Many of the Senatorial hopefuls on the platform unconnected with the present executive poured scorn on ministerial protestations about the necessity of protecting rural Jersey, questioning their sincerity. And Chief Minister Frank Walker was directly accused of hypocrisy for making a ‘keep Jersey special’ speech on the eve of an announcement that more green field sites were to be rezoned for allegedly much-needed sheltered housing for the over-55s.

Senator Walker and his ministerial colleagues have repeatedly emphasised that they have no agenda, hidden or otherwise, that involves the steady erosion of the countryside to cope with the need for continuing economic growth. If last night’s meeting was any indication of popular feeling on this subject, they have failed to convince the public – and some political colleagues – that this is an honest reflection of their masterplan.

However, irrespective of the trust which can or cannot be invested in the outgoing Council of Ministers’ pronouncements on rural affairs and the priority of protecting natural Jersey, it is clear that the preservation of our open spaces is of dominant concern. And the same can be said of an intimately related matter, population.

Government might in recent years have preferred to tip-toe around this supremely sensitive problem by avoiding prescriptive initiatives such as finite limits and rigid immigration controls, but it remains central to Islanders’ concerns. Although there has been much talk of ‘balance’ and ‘responsiveness to changing conditions’ it is becoming increasingly evident that the newly constituted States will come under pressure to formulate more robust policy.