I am running for election in St Lawrence, where I live, with a daughter in St Lawrence primary school. I graduated from the University of Plymouth with a degree in Social Sciences, which I studied for here in the island at Highlands College. It was the components of the course involving governance, and the value of Social Science research to policy makers that caught my attention, and inspired my desire contribute more. My working background is in retail.
There is no doubt that the States is unrepresentative of the Jersey electorate, with few women, young people, or minority groups. This sense of disconnection results in our low voter turnout, one of the very lowest in the world for any small jurisdiction. This election presents us all with the chance to change this for the better.
The most common sentiment I have heard recently is that voting is a waste of time, as ‘nothing ever changes’ in Jersey. My response to this is that they are absolutely right –so perhaps it is time to try something different? The time has come to try party politics. That is why I am running as a candidate with Reform Jersey.
Many islanders are suffering the pinch of frozen wages, but the cost of living and property rents continues to rise. As a single parent currently holding down two jobs, I share the experience. I see it as my first job to reach out to those with whom I hold common ground. I know from personal experience what it is like to have to rely on income support, and how demoralising it can be to have to continuously prove that all the rules and conditions have been met. I wish to step up to represent those who need a voice to speak for their interests.
Nobody should have to worry about whether they should visit the GP or the dentist, especially pensioners who spent their entire lives contributing to the island, or parents with young children. Reform Jersey has pledged to reduce these costs with a staged and costed plan.
House prices are way beyond even two-earner families with average wages, and with high rents, few can save effectively for a deposit. Reform Jersey will introduce a savings scheme to help. It is unreasonable that with so many families needing housing, there are up to 3000 empty properties in the island. An empty property tax may just kick-start the market.
Reform Jersey is committed to working with the JEC to provide greener energy alternatives. I think that it should be easier for islanders should be install their own greener energy alternatives, which not only are healthier for the environment, but in the long term bring down the cost of living. We may not all be feeling it, but this is one of the wealthiest small jurisdictions in the world, and we should be leading the way when it comes to taking measures to save our planet by using sustainable resources.
