Attempt to add economic growth to States plan
BBCA Guernsey politician has proposed making economic growth a "golden thread" throughout the States priorities during the next four years.
Deputy Haley Camp is set to lodge an amendment to force a focus on developing the economy in the government work plan.
Policy and Resource's (P&R) proposed government work plan was criticised for not including the creation of economic growth as a "super priority".
Chief Minister Lindsay de Sausmarez said the entire government work plan was focused on developing the economy.
However, Camp said she would propose the development of the economy was high on the States agenda until 2029.
"My professional background dictates if something isn't written down, it just doesn't happen, it doesn't exist," she said.
"Therefore, what I want to do is really bring the idea that economic growth must be as important a consideration as other things and should really sit within the government work plan as a golden thread."
P&R's proposed five "super priorities" for this political term include:
- Decide and deliver tax reform
- Clear and commence site development at Leale's Yard
- Agree and advance a sustainable health and care system
- Shape and strengthen the focus on early years and families
- Determine and design future harbours infrastructure
Economic Development (ED) President Sasha Kazantseva-Miller told BBC Guernsey P&R had "missed a trick" by not including economic growth in the list.
Camp, who also sits on the ED committee, said she wants to do something to ensure all of the States committees consider economic growth in their policy-making
"It isn't appropriate that only ED considers economic resilience, economic growth, economic strength," she said.
"It should be something that sits across all committees and should be when anything is being considered, especially big, cost-heavy, resource-heavy projects.
"One of those key questions should be, what is this doing for the economy? Are we helping it by creating productivity? My worry is that we just don't have that mindset."
The Committee for Economic Development is set to bring a strategy on growing the economy to the States during this political term, while an independent report on a new strategy for the finance industry is due next month.
It has been written by consultants Oliver Wyman at a cost of more than £500,000, with the States contributing £350,000 towards it and industry paying the rest.
Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].
