WE ARE lucky to live in Jersey right now, and our future is in our hands.
As someone with a keen interest in politics and current affairs, I must admit it’s a struggle to tear myself away from the stream of seemingly constant bad news from around the world.
However, recent events have certainly made me reflect on how lucky we are to live in Jersey, despite our welldocumented challenges.
As with many other places, we undoubtedly face a cost-of-living crisis here – our latest inflation figure of 7.9% is the highest for 30 years. But compare the local situation with that of the UK, and we are not facing energy price rises of well over 200%, which will inevitably see homes unheated and cold, health suffering and businesses collapsing as a result. We are lucky to have a majority state-owned electricity company, with a secure energy contract and the vision to explore increased solar, wind and tidal production.
And we are lucky to have a government committed to supporting those suffering most with the cost of living, through the proposed ‘mini budget’ delivered as promised within the first days of the new Council of Ministers.
Similarly, like other places we have faced challenges with water supply with an unprecedented hot summer, but we are fortunate to have a backup system in the desalination plant and good planning and communications from our publicly owned water company about the need for limits on water use.
We are also lucky to have the world’s fastest internet connections – delivered by our government-owned telecoms company – to every home and business in the island, allowing businesses to pivot instantly to home working during the pandemic.
And, in my view, we are lucky to have a new collaborative government committed to listening, to being inclusive, and to developing a positive vision for the Island’s future. Whatever your political persuasion, that has to be considered better than events in the UK where it seems that confusion reigns with no one at the helm at a time of crisis.
We are often seen by people as an offshoot of the UK, but these examples show that we can be different, bolder and, dare I say, better than our larger cousins over the water.
And yes, we can improve further.
I am writing this column sat in a campsite in France, near Carnac on the Brittany coast, and there is clearly much we could gain by building on the links with our nearest neighbours.
On Thursday evening, for example, we went to the night-time market in Carnac, which is held weekly through the summer. It was packed with locals and tourists alike, with a wonderful atmosphere of music and traditional dancing, and attended by people of all ages enjoying the wide range of goods on offer. I would love to see something similar in St Helier as a regular event.
Throughout our stay it’s also been striking how active, involved and visible older people are in French society. Whether that’s taking their grandchildren to the beach or the park, taking part in dancing at the market, or, like one amazing 94-year-old we met, taking a regular swim in the sea.
Another thing I have noticed here is that there are cycle paths everywhere.
And if a small regional town in France can manage active travel, then I would like to think we can in Jersey. Even Paris has committed to becoming one of the most bike-friendly cities in the world by 2026, with a 250 million euro investment in 180km of segregated bike lanes and 120,000 new bike parking spots.
I have always loved France – even in the larger towns and cities the pace of life is just that little bit slower, more human and caring. At the start of the holiday I was sometimes frustrated by the speed of service, but towards the end of the week I have realised actually I just need to slow down and take some time to breathe and value the extra time to relax and chat. It’s a healthier way of living and something we forget in the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
But I also love Jersey’s uniqueness, and it’s our strength. We may be a finance centre, but we have government-owned utility companies that have seen us weather current storms better than most.
We have a government with the freedom to be bold, as they have in the past. We have the independence that allows us to look to the UK for civil protection, but further afield for our cultural influences and connections. And I think we could certainly do worse than to build on our relationship with our nearest neighbours.
For a good life we need to, as the French would say, ‘mangez bien, riez souvent, aimez beaucoup’ (eat well, laugh often, love a lot).
•Dr Edmond is the founder and medical director of WorkHealth (CI) Ltd, a dedicated Jersey-based occupational health provider. He is also a director at Jersey Sport and Jersey Recovery College, and adviser to the Jersey Community Foundation. He writes in a personal capacity.