Senator Ozouf

TREASURY Minister Philip Ozouf and his Guernsey counterpart, Deputy Charles Parkinson, have made a commitment to greater co-operation.

‘The economic downturn has catalysed discussions for how we can be more efficient by working together,’ said Senator Ozouf, ‘and I have found a very competent and good political partner in Deputy Parkinson.

‘Talk has been cheap – now we need to roll our sleeves up. Times have changed. We have a real drive and determination to work together, to be much more rigorous and detailed and dedicate time and resources to move the co-operation agenda forward, with the objective of efficiency and savings for both islands.

‘I understand why these things have not happened so much before – it’s because Guernsey and Jersey have led a charmed existence of positive economic times. When you are in that position, you don’t have to look so hard at how to work more efficiently.’

Senator Ozouf added that he thought little of inter-island rivalry. ‘I don’t have any truck about Guernsey is better or Jersey is better,’ he said. ‘I think we can all be proud Channel Islanders and proudly independent, too,’ he said.