From Kenneth Godfray.
THE digital TV switchover is not a matter of choice. Now in progress, it will be operational in Jersey in 2010 and is expensive.

To many, particularly the elderly, TV is the only means of contact with daily world happenings. In my view it can be classed as occupational therapy, vital to many and help should be available without means testing, as it is in the UK.

Upon retirement, lifetime savings should not be subjected to miserly means testing. A sensible government should applaud it and encourage all to do so. It is beneficial to both sides and most of us do not ask for or expect handouts.

Having complied with all tax demands made on us we do expect, but mostly do not get, help to cope with the horrendous burdens placed on us by incompetent politicians who ensure that help is available to themselves, who do not need it, with the generous salary plus expenses and perks they take, while we who are forced to pay for these privileges struggle to survive.

These are facts. Also a fact is that due to constant secrecy we do not know the true full costs of States Members, such as who pays for the calls on their free mobile phones and the use and materials on their free laptop computers, including all the blogs.

That all has to be very costly, so their income is much closer to the figure of £44,000 plus. What is the true cost of all this? Secrecy is the rule and we should all be aware that government intends to keep it that way.

The victims are the public who gave them that power, so it is we, the victims, who have the power to change that but, as with government, we need the same determination to make it happen.

Lone voices like mine are not good enough. People power is the only way to stop this atrocious unfairness. A tax of 3p on a pint of beer was legislated for to pay for free TV licences and with the amount of beer consumed this has to be a lucrative income, on a par with, or better than, GST.

Not being used for the purpose given, namely free TV licences, this is an ongoing tax with more than enough to cope with enforced digital switchover.

I queried the use of this tax and was told that it wasn’t ring fenced. It should have been, as free TV licences was the reason given for the tax, as stated, more than enough to include digital switchover.

As we pay the tax, it is our right to know how much has been raised, how much has been used and for what, how much is left bearing in mind it is ongoing and probably being illegally used, another example of secrecy and abuse of power.

We are urged to buy locally, where the cost of doing so is prohibitive due to lack of government control, plus government’s failure to award lucrative contracts locally, causing further hardship and loss of finance to the economy. Hardly a good model of strategy and leadership, or is it something far worse – corruption?

As a proud member of Force 135, which liberated Jersey on 9 May 1945, I think that our motto should now be Power to the People, our only means of establishing our right to affordable living.

We had this with successful tourism and I am convinced could have again with different and better government, a very strong case for government reform. By that I mean ridding ourselves of ministerial government and a far too large and costly Civil Service backup.

Elected States Members are supposed to work for us, most are not, particularly so-called senior members. People power is necessary.