Wake up and smell the coffee

Monday 27th July 2009, 2:59PM BST.

From Peter Zunino.
I WRITE with reference to your news story on 23 July relating to the refurbishment work being carried out on States accommodation at Clos des Quennevais.

An anonymous resident described the effect of the works as similar to ‘living in a concentration camp’. It is hardly surprising that he chose to remain anonymous given such an ignorant, ludicrous and totally insensitive statement.

Concentration camps are synonymous with forced labour, brutality, torture and death, not a building site, not a minor inconvenience for being given a better standard of accommodation, without having to pay for it, not a bit of noise and mess for having new double glazing, electric heating and landscaped gardens.

I’m sure many tenants renting in the private sector would be delighted with the chance for such an upgrade, but unfortunately this is a prime example of the state dependency mentality that is so prevalent in modern society.

Also, these types of projects are being undertaken by the States in an attempt to secure jobs in the local construction industry, so it’s really a win win situation for everyone. How ungrateful of these people!

I sincerely hope that the work at Clos des Quennevais is completed swiftly so Mr and Mrs Anonymous can emerge from their ‘prison,’ walk out of their ‘war zone,’ venture back into the real world, via their newly landscaped garden, and wake up and smell the coffee.

1
Spring Heeled Jack

July 27, 2009 at 4:17 pm

I would love a free upgrade for my house and garden. However, being in the private sector, such luxuries come out of my own pocket and therefore have to be saved for.
Sadly this attitude is all too prevalent in the States housing market. Go take a look at some of the recently refurbished housing estates at a cost of millions to the taxpayer and you will see the decay setting back in – gardens trashed, doors and windows in disrepair – the cycle continues whilst many tenants wait like baby sparrows for their next feed.
Granted, there are also many States houses kept beautifully by respectful tenants, however the take take mentality displayed by many must be addressed.

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2
kate

July 28, 2009 at 9:03 am

The housing dept can’t do anything right in the eyes of some. If they leave the property they are at fault if they work on it we get moans. Like the previous comments they shold think themselves lucky.

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3
diane

July 29, 2009 at 2:55 pm

It was the same story with the upgrade of the Cedars. The ingrates dared to moan about the works going on there and look at the flats now!! They look superb.

The only vocal support for the whole project was from one portuguese resident of the flats who was intelligent enough to see past any personal inconvenience and appreciate that it was ultimately for the benefit of all living there.

I love Peter Zunino’s letter. State’s tenant really need to have words with themselves and try to appreciate just exactly what they have. The benefits that they get from the States of Jersey far outweigh those received by the those who pay fill rents in the public sector.

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