Speaking up for Guernsey, Jersey and the CI at an event for EU institutions in Brussels
I have a love-hate relationship with an oft used phrase. I heard it said a few times today, once from a fellow candidate, whom I met whilst we were both canvassing. I tend to wince visibly when it's used as I fear what may follow.
It's the phrase "The Guernsey way".
I think one of the main problems is that it's often used in a negative context of "that's not the Guernsey way" when defensively assessing a potential solution or set of options. Sometimes it is used in the more proactive sense of "we must find a Guernsey way" in which case I tend not to wince!
Why do I, a full-blooded, Guernesiais speaking, Cobo born and bred proud native Sarnian find the phrase problematic? It is because we have often used it as an excuse for second-best, reactionary methodology that has been ill-thought through, or sometimes for outmoded ways which seem attractive simply because of a sentimental attachment, or even just as an excuse for lazy thinking, or a stubborn reason for defending a system or idea which is no longer fit for purpose or best practice.
But there is a "Guernsey Way" that I believe is worth protecting and worth fighting for. So for, clarity I'm going to use the French form "Le Chemin Guernesiais" to distinguish it! What I am referring to is positive, proactive, and can give our profile the unique attraction which it deserves. This Chemin is not so much about reaction or defensiveness but rather promoting Guernsey in an intentional, positive manner, especially to the outside world
Let me explain what I mean. Too often we get either ignored in the international arena or we get pressure put upon us to conform to what larger nations and jurisdictions are doing. Often this is both costly and inappropriate for us, and comes as a result of a "one size fits all" attitude from those who do not understand how smaller countries like Guernsey operate. This has been a real and present danger in all the Brexit UK-EU negotiations we have been having in the last few months. We have a long noble history of self-rule. 800 years of our own legislation - island government, by islanders, for islanders, which in turn sits on top of 300 years of Norman culture and heritage. This of course has been nuanced in unique ways by our connection to the English Crown on the one hand and our proximity to France on the other. Only our sister bailiwick of Jersey comes close to sharing these very rare qualities.
Guernsey has for centuries needed to do business beyond its shores to survive and thrive - the wine trade required relating to businesses in Bordeaux and further afield, a dependency on shipping and free trade, horticulture required access to the UK markets, quarrying to imported labour and skills from the UK and Ireland too, our fisheries currently has need of access to land 80% of its catch in Normandy, tourism by nature needs to reach out in order to flourish. That’s before we mention financial services. Whether we look backwards or forwards - most of our trade requires cross-border and international standards and agreements in order for our Guernsey based workers in these industries to maintain and grow their business. So today our ever-morphing finance industries, including asset management, fiduciaries, captive insurance, as well as intellectual property firms, image rights management, cyber security, digital and media companies all do business on an increasingly global scale. So it is inevitable that we will need to have relationships and regular interface with other governments and international bodies in order to facilitate such business.
This is where the tricky issues can occur. In other larger countries often layers of bureaucracy have emerged to manage and regulate such businesses. There may be expectations that we should have separate independent bodies and agencies to monitor and report on various activities involved. This would be inordinately expensive if we just ‘cut and paste’ the models from elsewhere as some do. Plus, it would not be efficient, because it is unlikely we would have the volume to justify running such institutions.
So we need to find “un chemin” through all this, fit for Guernsey. Often what we can do, is that we can agree with the desired outcomes or objectives of the regulatory of legal issues which are at stake. In other words we can first agree the destination we all want to get to. Then we need to explain to those from larger jurisdictions - through patient negotiation - that there are alternative routes and alternate modes of transport which can still bring us to that destination. I can take fly from London to Paris, or I could take the train, or I could take the train and the ferry, or I could go via car and train or boat. Or I could possibly walk and swim! All of those methods get me to Paris, and whilst I may not want the cheapest option of walking and swimming, I do have multiple options which all achieve the same goal. The main difference will be timing and cost. But that’s what we often need to make clear in international negotiations: we can achieve the same objectives but it may take us a little longer and our vehicle(s) and ports of call may differ.
This always requires creativity and I have been privileged to work with some excellent officials in my team who can really help us think outside the box. Le Chemin Guernesiais - the Guernsey Way - need not be seen as a stubborn defensive resistance to change - but rather a creative means of achieving an objective which others may not think of (or be able to include in their options); a way for for Guernsey to showcase that it can come up with smart new solutions, fit for purpose, overcoming problems which bigger jurisdictions that ours often struggle to solve.
So I want to redeem this phrase, and whether you choose to express it in English or French or Guernesiais, let’s let our uniqueness shine in the way we approach the challenges before us.
Contending for ‘le Chemin Guernesiais’ at the OECD Global Forum in Paris