From Jane Gilley.
TODAY, it’s a beautiful day. The sun is shining. But, the state of Jersey’s economy, along with many other countries, is steadily getting worse. Doom and gloom fill the media and some people are panicking. Yet it is in our own hands to alleviate this situation.

If we curb or stop our spending, shops and restaurants and other businesses will have to close owing to low or no income. This means staff will lose their jobs and possibly their homes, if they can’t pay their mortgage or honour any financial commitments. And it seems that every day we read or hear about businesses in the islands laying off more staff.

Small businesses in the Channel Islands employ most of the workforce. They are the employment backbone of our community. If morale and optimism dip because of the current crisis where will we find ourselves in a few years time?

Yet there is a way to support and encourage our local businesses and working community.

Buy a friend a bunch of flowers; make home improvements to sell your house or treat your youngster to an ice cream along the seafront. Every bit helps and we don’t need to spend a fortune. A few of us have started going out for the occasional meal or to see a film. It gets us out and we hope it gives a sagging economy a little much-needed boost.

So let’s all pull together for the sake of our community spirit and try to inject a bit more hope into an otherwise bleak economy. And even if it keeps someone employed for a little while longer, then that’s got to be a step in the right direction.
1 Station Cottages,
St Clement.