LIFE AS A STATES MEMBER 

Each day is so different and whether its phone calls, letters in the post or emails, every day somebody will make contact asking for assistance, including weekends and evenings which isn’t a problem for me as I see it as part of my job which I enjoy.  There are occasions when answers or guidance can be given there and than, other times it can be quite involved and last for days, weeks or months. 

Certainly during the last few years there are numerous public/private presentations to attend, far more than there used to be.  The wealth of information submitted to members of the Government is immense but definitely a requirement and so beneficial.  The monthly States of Deliberation debates vary so much, one States meeting alone the items up for debate range from Taxation of Real property, Reduction of Voting Age, Role of the Douzaines, Alderney Airport Dues and Charges, Minimum Wage Legislation, Review of Gambling Legislation, Education Grants and Loans for Students, Company Registry, Review of Public Sector Pension Schemes, Wastewater charges, Sewerage and Wastewater Treatment, plus a few other items.  Nobody can say our life is boring.  The research and reading are very time consuming but a necessity. 

Another area where I personally have assisted and advised are individuals/groups who have felt the need to join together in the hope the States will listen to a collective view, at least two Groups produced petitions such as 'No to St Sampsons Marina' and the 'No More Mast Group'.  People are more prepared to speakout than previously, some say through frustration but equally they see 'their' island and islandlife changing and not necessary in the direction they would like.

Many months of meetings with the Guernsey Milk Retailers Association took place leading up to the Commerce & Employment Department Report being debated in the States about the future of milk deliveries.  Thankfully my amendment was successful and overturned the Commerce and Employment Report which ensured that the retailers could maintain their Licences and Zoning for deliveries of milk and by-products.  Everybody thought the retailers and dairy could move forward but alas when the report returned to the States it was overturned again leaving damaging the value of the milkrounds

I receive many invites to be the guest speaker at numerous business Organisations, Groups & Charities, some of these as an example, are about ‘Life in the States’ or as Minister of Social Security and the work involved, or A Woman in Politics.  Most are surprised at the workload and time involved to do the job properly. 

All year there are a steady flow of invites to attend various Presentations, Conferences, Dinners etc.  I try to go to as many as possible where I can gain information on the subject matter and meet as many people as possible obtaining the much needed feedback.

Fun events

I was the only female member of the first Guernsey Government Cricket team visiting Jersey, and we won by one wicket!  An amazing fun day was had by all.

My time spent in the Gunge Tank was quite a fun experience.  Some said I was the ‘lucky’ winner of a public vote to be gunged in slime to raise money for charity, I am not convinced lucky was the right word especially afterwards trying to remove the slime from my hair!!!

I was asked by BBC Radio Guernsey if I would organise a group of politicians to sing ‘My Way’ for BBC Children in Need.  Once I ‘encouraged’ a few of my colleagues we commenced our practice sessions at Beau Sejour. There was a ‘slight’ improvement on the night, but our singing was ‘different’ and lack of any recording contracts confirmed this.  We at least had fun and raised quite a sum of money  – some of the money raised was for us to stop singing!!!!!   

Although I haven't played in the Government Football Team against the media its certainly been great fun supporting my colleagues.  Boxing Day 2007 saw our first win in 4yrs, lets hope its the start of things to come.