Peter Terence Richard Ferbrache

Personal Statement

I have been fortunate. I was born in Guernsey. It gave me the opportunity from a working class background to pass the 11 plus – qualify as a Barrister at the age of 21; be a Guernsey Advocate from 1981 and live in an Island which is second to none. I want to do all I can to ensure that the people of this Island can live happy and good lives.

• The economy needs to be healthy and vibrant otherwise nothing else is possible.
• Cut down on bureaucracy, regulation and legislation wherever possible.
• To be financially prudent but also investing in an active way in our capital infrastructure.
• Stop the trend to equalize down. Encourage wholesomely enterprise and initiative.

Manifesto

Too many people in their Manifesto promise things that they have no chance of achieving. I have no intention of doing that. What I can say is, that I have worked hard all my life to better myself and provide for my family. I have been entrepreneurial and tried to protect and enhance the values of our community. I intend if elected to continue to do that.

There are things that concern me and things we will need to do.

There are also some rigid principles I have. These include that:

1. We facilitate an environment where creativity, productivity and success are allowed and applauded;
2. We allow the elderly who have worked hard to have their own home to retain that without the State trying to charge it or take it away;
3. We create equality of opportunity with the aim that whatever people’s talents we equalize up and not down. We encourage people to wherever possible create their own opportunities unhindered by States interference.

I have found the last four years though as a Politician frustrating:

• There are too many procedures which take us nowhere;
• It takes too long to do anything;
• There have been too many cases revisiting of decisions;
• There are too many vanity projects, which do not improve people’s lives, which can be summed up as “This would be a nice project but we have no idea how to fund it”.
• There is no sufficient regard for the statement “Pennies do not fall from heaven; they have to be earned on earth”.
• I do not want to seem like a prophet, but I have been consistent throughout this States in saying there is too much regulation, too little regard to having to earn money before you spend it, and too many people bearing their emotions in the States without any real idea of how the practical problems of the Bailiwick are to be solved. Now the Election looms there seem to be so many converts in the States.

People though want solutions and have concerns. Let me suggest a few because I am by nature a positive person. Only we can make our lives better:

Education touches every family. I regretted the passing of the 11 plus. We though have to deal with the situation as it is. I am now of the view that we should have 3 schools, (Beaucamp, Les Varendes and St Sampsons) and a sixth form Centre. We should also have for tertiary education a new Centre built at the old St Peter Port School site. The previous States and this one dismantled the Education system without any idea how it was to be changed. People who so voted are well known and wish to continue in senior office in the States.

Finances also touch every family. The burden on business and the tax payer is too high. We seem to want to manage decline rather than create opportunities for businesses and the economy to thrive. We can do that by being positive and proactive. The previous Assembly voted for a Bond of over £300 million, which we cannot redeem early and which the States has been scratching around to find a use for. We need to exercise better judgment and prudence than the promoters of the Bond have shown.

Our Capital Infrastructure has been neglected. In recent years we have only invested about £63 million and £32 million of that as almost by mistake because it related to the Waste Management Station.

The Environment affects us all. We live in the most beautiful of places. We need to adopt balanced environmental policies that protect that.

I want to end on a positive note. I want to make sure Guernsey continues to be the wonderful Island it is populated by decent law abiding people. We want to continue as we have previously to reach for the stars and not for our bootlaces.