The measures available to Jersey’s government to maintain high-quality public services against the backdrop of a growing population are set to be examined at this year’s IoD Jersey Annual Debate.
The event – Funding our Future – will look at the anticipated pressures on Jersey’s infrastructure, social, health and education services, the impact of a growing and ageing population on Jersey, and whether taxation is the solution to meeting the cost of services islanders have come to expect.
Issues to be discussed include:
• Should Jersey have a small or big government?
• What capital projects and services should government undertake, what should it outsource and what should it leave alone?
• Should Jersey have tighter population controls, or look to ease restrictions?
• Should Jersey maintain a low-tax regime or explore a higher taxation model?
• Should Jersey import skills from elsewhere or invest more in funding skills development off-island and supporting higher education locally?
Keynote speakers:
• Bronwen Maddox, Director of the Institute for Government
• Sir Peter Caruana QC, former Chief Minister of Gibraltar
Panellists:
• Deputy Rod Bryans, Minister for Education
• Fiona Kerley, President of the Jersey Hospitality Association
• Senator Alan Maclean, Minister for Treasury and Resources
• Deputy Susie Pinel, Minister for Social Security
• Ben Shenton, President of the Channel Islands Co-Operative Society and Investment Manager
• Charlotte Valeur, Governance Consultant and Professional Non-Executive Director
The moderator will be renowned news broadcaster Alastair Stewart.
• The IoD Annual Debate will take place on Thursday 21 September at the Royal Jersey Agricultural & Horticultural Society from 5.30pm to 10.30pm and is open to all islanders. To book places and tables click here