Election 2008

Sean McManus.

A 53 year old local teacher, I grew up in Le Villocq, still live near the parish church and have worked for the last 16 years at La Mare de Carteret Secondary School.

The flight of experience from the current House makes it essential that an infusion of new blood is accompanied by candidates who are both capable of dealing with macroeconomic issues and can yet be electable by and accountable to voters within their own parish.

This need for able and reflective new faces is heightened by the prospect of Guernsey facing further external pressures from Whitehall, the EU, international finance and other pressure groups. All this will be in addition to the need for the States to respond to climate change and to the ever growing competition from rival jurisdictions.

It will be by remaining within listening distance of the Castel electorate that I intend to be guided towards considered, consensual decision-making which reflect local needs and concerns without compromising Guernsey’s international reputation. I am progressive but pragmatic; moderate yet motivated and driven to secure social justice for all of our Island community.

Key Parish Issues

• The maintenance and improvement of our parish schools.
• The future of the Castel Hospital.
• A sustainable balance for our diverse and delicate environment in the face of population and planning pressures.
• The provision of sufficient, safe access and parking for parish businesses.

Key Island Issues

• Tax justice for all as zero ten unfolds.
• The Government Business Plan evolving to cater for social and environmental developments.
• Effective, value for money but properly funded public services. which form the foundations of our communal wellbeing.
• No GST.
• Limit population growth.
• Support sewage and waste treatment.
• Extend the accountability of States’ departments.
• Updating mental health facilities.
• Extending the youth justice programme and countering anti-social behaviour.
• Foster environmentally compatible and sustainable local business, residential and recreational development.