From John Dix.
OH dear, our beloved States Members are all in a fluster. Not satisfied with being paid far more than the average salary for carrying out a part-time job, they now want to micro-manage all sorts of activities which are not part of their job description.

Recent examples are: the suggestion that no Member of the States should also have a day job. We currently have 53 members who are almost totally disconnected from the realities of business and wealth creation. They should all be encouraged to have a job and thus be exposed to the reality of the bureaucracy they impose on us all.

The Airport sets car parking charges. In comparison to the mainland, these are high, so a Deputy wants to make an issue of this. Does he not realise that we, the electorate, can make intelligent decisions? If we go away for more than three days, it is cheaper to use a taxi to get to and from the Airport.

But let’s have a committee of inquiry into parking charges at the Airport, and waste loads of time and effort, and probably employ some UK based consultants to produce a meaningless report. Why not let the Airport managers manage the Airport according to the brief the States have laid down for them as a trading committee?

The JCRA are likely to allow competitors to pitch for business currently delivered by Jersey Post. Even though the JCRA was set up by the States, the States now wants to stop the JCRA doing what it is supposed to do.

If other businesses can move packages around for less money, Jersey Post have two choices: let them do it, and wait for them to go bust, or offer the same service at a lower price and thus win the business. They don’t have to cross subsidise their requirement to deliver to every address in the Island by increasing their charges to other customers. If postal rates rise, so be it; it won’t be the end of civilisation as we know it.

All of these cases are examples of interference by States Members who obviously haven’t got enough to do. If they wish to get involved in this level of management, rather than setting the strategy and detailing the policies to be followed by our public servants, the only path they can follow is to resign as members of the States and apply for the many management posts in the civil service.

I suggest that rather than doing this, as they probably wouldn’t have the skills and qualifications required, they should work harder at doing less, and improving the quality of debate and decision making in the house.

We do not need 53 members all filling their time with being seen to be busy and examining every detailed activity of every States employee. That is what they pay managers to do.
Pied du Catillon, Rue du Moulin de Bas, Grouville.