Jonathan Paul Le Tocq

Personal Statement

The primary focus of the new States must be economic recovery and future resilience. I wish to see fresh investment in our infrastructure, our town and both harbour areas, making them better places to work and live in. I commit to continue vigorously defending Guernsey’s autonomy and constitutional rights, seeking the best outcomes for the Bailiwick post Brexit including new opportunities with the rest of the world for local businesses.

• RESPONSIBLE – tried & tested, an experienced local statesman
• RELIABLE – people trust me to engage with them & carry things through
• RESILIENT – not afraid to persevere in tough situations
• RESPECTED – by people from all walks of life locally & abroad
• REAL – a genuine Guernseyman who tells it like he sees it but is not afraid to change his mind in the light of fresh evidence

Manifesto

Brought up in a traditional family of farmers and growers and speaking Guernesiais, I’m as passionate about our island as you can get! I have also benefited from living part of my life in London and Paris.

First elected in 2000, my service has included: Deputy Treasury Minister, Home Minister, Deputy Chief Minister & Chief Minister.

Elected onto Policy & Resources in 2016 I was appointed to the newly-created role of Minister for External Affairs. Speaking French has been useful in forging stronger relationships with France & the EU especially in the more intense Brexit environment.

With graduate and post-graduate qualifications in French, Music, Philosophy & Theology, after university I worked a while for the UK government. Returning to Guernsey most of my working life has been involved in ordained Christian ministry and the third sector especially in the areas of governance, reform and leadership development.

I have a keen interest in music, the arts, history and community wellbeing and served on the boards of several charities and non-profit organisations locally and internationally.

Whilst awaiting the outcome of the Review on Secondary Education Models, it’s my personal view that a ‘three college model’ of some form would be the consensus preference of teaching professionals, parents and the community as a whole; my views are shaped by experience on the Education Council in my first term which proposed a similar model, acceptable to the majority of educationalists at the time. Back then the Assembly chose to retain the 11+ so the idea was rejected, nevertheless I have seen nothing since to indicate that we could not make it work now. On this basis I laid an amendment in the recent Education debate to move toward such a ‘three college model’. However the States chose instead to review all viable models again and it will ultimately be for the next Assembly to decide on the basis of that evidence, and implement swiftly.

I helped promote restorative justice during my first term and still feel that our justice system needs reform so that resources are focused more effectively on what keeps us a safe and secure jurisdiction. I recently drafted an amendment on cannabis for medicinal use and associated enforcement reforms. Our criminal justice system is not the place to deal with drug misuse, it needs to be treated as a public health matter.

I remain an avid supporter of our unique island culture and history, especially its French and Norman influences which could be in danger of being lost in the general homogenisation of all things today. Our forefathers made an effort to maintain historic buildings, ancient names, laws and customs which could have so easily been lost in the pursuit of convenience. Having campaigned for some time for our Guernsey language I was pleased support was recently agreed and especially my proposals passed which make both Guernesiais and French official languages of Guernsey alongside English. At the very least this reflects the fact that whilst we are grateful for strong ties with both England and France, we are ‘ni anglais, ni français’ as I often quip. There has already been a rise of interest from overseas and there is so much more we can do together in the future through our identification with Victor Hugo and Hauteville House, the common marine environment and the blue economy, agriculture and the Guernsey breed.

For further details, clarification or any questions please check out my website,
social media, email or call me.

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