Deputy calls for an end to Guernsey overseas aid

1 hour ago

Stuart TolcherChannel Islands

News image — Deputy Rob Curgenven says islanders are struggling to cope with the rising cost of living

BBC Deputy Rob Curgenven faces the camera. He is wearing a blue jacket, blue tie with flags of the Bailiwick of Guernsey on them and has a off white tie. He is wearing glasses and has a bag hanging from his right shoulder. — Deputy Rob Curgenven says islanders are struggling to cope with the rising cost of living

Guernsey should consider cutting its £5.6m overseas aid budget as "charity begins at home" and more more people are struggling locally, a deputy has suggested.

Deputy Rob Curgenven said the idea was not yet a formal proposal, but followed a social media poll where up to 85% of respondents backed scrapping the funding.

He added the island was "not looking after its own citizens enough", pointing to rising use of food banks and homelessness.

Guernsey's Overseas Aid and Development Commission said the funding was a small part of overall States spending, but delivered lasting impact in communities overseas.

Go The Extra Mile A two‑storey cream‑coloured building with red paint on the lower walls and decorative railings. A large group students, stand on the upper balcony. The area in front of the school is sandy. Curtains hang from the upper windows, and small plants and trees surround the building. The sky is overcast. — Funding from the overseas aid budget supports initiatives such as this school in Sierra Leone, improving education for local children.

Curgenven said: "I think we'd have to pull ourselves out of the hole that we're in and then we can look to help other people again."

Guernsey's 2026 budget for Overseas Aid was set at £5.6m in the budget agreed by the States towards the end of last year.

Critics of cutting aid argued the island had a moral responsibility to support people in crisis overseas, particularly in developing countries.

Curgenven said he understood that argument, but believed the priority should be supporting islanders during a difficult financial period.

He added that support for overseas aid could increase again in the future when the island's finances improved.

His comments come as the UK government confirmed plans to cut around £6bn in overseas by 2027 with the money to be spent on defence.

'Utmost care'

The president of Guernsey's Overseas Aid and Development Commission has defended the island's spending on international aid, saying it was something islanders should be "proud" of.

Jennifer Strachan said the funding was a small part of overall States spending, but delivered lasting impact in communities overseas.

She pointed to projects including maternity facilities, clean water systems and education programmes, and said the work reflected Guernsey's values as well as its role internationally.

While acknowledging the pressure many islanders faced from the rising cost of living, she said the commission took "utmost care" over how money was spent and insisted it continued to make a real difference.