From H Thompson.
THIS week, I have become confused about where I stand in Jersey. I was born in Sheffield, therefore I am (a) a Yorkshireman, (b) English, (c) British and (d) from the UK.

I came to Jersey 48 years ago, at the age of 15, but will never be a Jerseyman. I hold a British Islands Bailiwick of Jersey passport which informs me on its cover that I am a member of the European Union. I have looked up on the internet that the European Union consists of 27 countries. Jersey is not on that list but the UK is. Does that mean that we are in the UK? My passport seems to indicate that fact.

When I book a flight out of the Island or purchase anything online the only box I can tick to say where I live is the UK box. Yet when I tell some suppliers of online goods that I live in Jersey, you would have thought I had told them I live on Mars. It costs the same to post something next door in, say, Manchester as it does to send it to Jersey but you are often totally blanked by suppliers in the UK, who assume that it must cost more and therefore cannot be bothered with the hassle.

Some people in the UK think that because we have ‘low’ income tax or even no income tax at all, no VAT and the sun always shines in this south sea island of ours that we should be treated with disdain. They are, of course, jealous. If they only knew what we have to put up with!

With the problems some of us are experiencing with high-interest bank accounts opened in good faith with offshore banks, Jersey is not positioned well, because we are not officially part of the UK. Except our passports seem to indicate we are. Would it be possible for one of our statesmen, through the JEP, to clarify once and for all who we are and where we stand in the world?

I love living in Jersey and have a family, a house and a business here. I do, however, think that the penalties of living here, with the cost of food, meals out, flights, fuel and high cost of general living are severe. I was lucky that I did not have a long period to wait for my qualifications to live here, as in the early 1960s it was easier to qualify. If I had had to wait 20 years I would be more saddened with our current plight. When I came here it was very much a time of ‘If you don’t like the rules, there is a boat in the morning’. I don’t think many people could afford to take the boat today.
Les Sapins,
Rue de l’Etocquet,
St John.