The States ‘can’t run businesses’

Thursday 8th October 2009, 3:00PM BST.

Among the speakers at the business stimulus evening were Corporate Service Scrutiny penal chairwoman Senator Sarah Ferguson, Economic Development Minister Alan Maclean and Treasury Minister Philip Ozouf

THE States should have nothing to do with running public businesses because they ‘make a mess’ of it, says the politician who chairs the Corporate Services Scrutiny panel.

Speaking at the Chamber of Commerce business stimulus evening at the Pomme d’Or last night, Senator Sarah Ferguson said that the Airport and the harbours should be run privately

She argued that States-run utilities, including Jersey Telecom and Jersey Post, showed that businesses run better without government control.

‘If we are going to push the economy we need to take government out of business,’ she said. ‘We have seen how utilities work better when they are independent of government. The Airport, the harbours and even Jersey Enterprise should be run commercially.

Look at Jersey Telecom, Jersey Electricity, Jersey Water and Jersey Post – they are all run a lot more efficiently now.’

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1
Mogit

October 8, 2009 at 3:12 pm

Okay now tell us something we don’t know Sarah!!!

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2
Keith

October 8, 2009 at 3:21 pm

The states can’t run anything properly, nevermind businesses. Not surprising really when you consider one prominent states member used to be a parking attendant and a builder’s labourer before that.

Many of them have no knowledge or experience of business and are then put in charge of departments.

Let people with a proven track record run the businesses.

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3
Marx

October 9, 2009 at 12:37 am

Who does she think she is? Thatcher?

Why don’t we sell of the hospital aswel!? I’m sure that’ll work better privately too….

The current States are bad at running them, yes, well done Mrs Ferguson. However a States that was reflective of the islands will would probably be good at it. So lets kick out the Jersey Tories who are in now and elect people with enthusiasm for public enterprises and I’m sure all would be well!

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4
R B Bougourd

October 9, 2009 at 10:22 am

Go on then. give it a try.

Make no mistake, it will cost everybody more.

Why? Because all the people in the newly created feeding chain will all need to line their pockets from it. That money has to come from somewhere. Normally you and me.

Thatcher told all the small savers that they would do well out of the privatisation of Britain’s utilities. Did they heck in the long run. Only EDF and the top people have gained.

In reality Thatcher was only really thinking about the top people anyway. She only needed the votes from the rest plus any money they might have, to pass on to her mates.

Scenario sound familiar?

What exactly does Ms Ferguson mean by
“Look at Jersey Telecom, Jersey Electricity, Jersey Water and Jersey Post – they are all run a lot more efficiently now.”

Presumably all their prices have gone down?

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