Around half of the Island’s 92 Senatorial, Deputy and Constable candidates – some slightly bleary-eyed with the 7.30 am start – took part in the discussion to hear the views of the Jersey Construction Council at a breakfast meeting this week.
Lawyer Philip Syvret, a partner at Benest and Syvret and host of the event, said that the construction industry was a hugely important area of the Island’s economy and one which candidates should be considering when shaping their policies.
Opening the event, he said: ‘It promises to be an interesting election. We have a large swathe of experienced ministers now moving on. Will we regret the loss of those experienced pairs of hands or will we be looking forward and celebrating the new candidates?’
The session was broken down into four key areas – people, policies, projects and prices – covering a range of important political areas including the workforce, population, the Future Hospital project and the cost of living.
It provided candidates with a rare opportunity during the election period to come together to discuss ideas with their rivals and, in some cases, their future States colleagues.
Colin Russell, a member of the Jersey Construction Council, said: ‘We recognise there is a skills shortage and we are playing catch-up. That is something that is very difficult for us to keep pace with.
‘One of our challenges is trying to engage the young people to come into the construction industry. We are in competition for them and we are always searching for different ways to do that.’ Mr Russell added that the training facilities at Highlands needed upgrading and that this was something that the next States Assembly should try to find funding for.
Among the solutions offered was a possible work permit system allowing construction firms to bring in staff on short-term measures – something which is part of the new population policy – and a Jersey university campus to provide more skills in the Island.
