Friday 18 May 2012
Guernsey's newly-elected Treasury Minister today met his Jersey counterpart for the first time, to discuss cooperation and collaborative working on matters of mutual interest.
Minister Gavin St Pier and Deputy Minister Jan Kuttelwascher met Jersey Treasury Minister Philip Ozouf and Assistant Minister Eddie Noel, at Sir Charles Frossard House. It was the first opportunity for the islands' senior Treasury politicians to meet in person since Guernsey's recent elections.
Deputy St Pier said:
"I was delighted to meet Senator Ozouf and Deputy Noel and to discuss with them how our respective Treasury teams can work together in the best interests of the islands".
The meeting took place just 24 hours after Guernsey's newly elected Chief Minister met his Jersey counterpart for the first time, to discuss at a strategic level how the islands can work together more effectively.
Senator Ozouf said:
"This was a very good meeting and a useful follow up to the meetings between Chief Ministers earlier this week. After this very positive start to our new working relationship I can see there will be opportunities for more inter-island cooperation. I look forward to the role the islands' treasuries can take in identifying future opportunities".
Deputy St Pier said the joint Treasury discussions were very much in the spirit of cooperation affirmed the previous day by the Channel Island Chief Ministers.
He added:
"Guernsey and Jersey's Treasury teams are both aware of the challenges facing the Channel Islands and recognise that whilst there will, of course, be occasions where we will act individually, there will also be many opportunities for our Islands to work together on matters of mutual interest, to the advantage of both Islands. We have already agreed that there should be follow up meetings at political and official levels later this year and, amongst the ideas we want to explore, is the potential for pan-island efficiency savings given that Jersey has its Comprehensive Spending Review and Guernsey has its Fundamental Spending Review".
"Achieving joint working can be challenging but the reward is more efficient and effective working in and between the Islands, which has direct benefits for taxpayers in both Guernsey and Jersey".
-ENDS-
