My name is Garel Tucker. I am 28 years old and the mother of 3 children. I have lived in St Brelade for the past 7 years with my husband Dan.
When I moved to St.Brelade, I was struck by the friendliness of the community and made to feel very welcome. It is a great place to work, live and bring up a family. I feel that now is the right time for me to give something back to the Parish and the island that I love. If elected as Deputy in St Brelade no. 2, I intend to be a visible and active part of our community, in the parish and in the States.
As a parent, I have a great interest in the Island’s Education System. We have good schools, especially in our area, but teachers and pupils are often facing increasing levels of stress and workload. I was disappointed when the States decided to cut the pay of newly qualified teachers, which has the potential to damage recruitment of new teachers and affect educational outcomes for our children. I will oppose any cuts to the Education budget and fight for more funding to support our students and teachers.
In Les Quennevais and La Moye, traffic flow has become an increasing problem. This is in part due to the popularity of the area, the success of its schools, and a general increase in the island’s population. I have petitioned the States to have a Pedestrian Crossing installed outside of La Moye School. Traffic along Route Orange can be very heavy at times, frequently with speeding vehicles. The department for Infrastructure has agreed in principle to a crossing, which I believe will greatly improve road safety, reducing speeding, as well as providing a convenient, safe amenity for the many residents who cross for the school, the shops, the golf course and the country park.
The new Les Quennevais School has been long overdue and will finally give students the building they deserve. I am keen that the community is consulted properly on the use of the old school site before any decisions are made.
I want to be a voice for the average Islander, and focus on the issues that matter to you. I am a good listener, good with people, with a strong work ethic, and I would seek to make a real difference in the local community. I also pledge to work collaboratively with other parish representatives and like-minded States Members.
Island-wide, I believe there are issues that affect us all. As a member of Reform Jersey, I am committed to vote to:
– increase the minimum wage to £10 an hour by 2022,
– set a clear limit on inward migration,
– reduce the cost of GP visits for pensioners and other vulnerable groups,
– increase maternity leave to 26 weeks, fully paid from social security contributions.
By working together as a team we will make change happen.