Health for Wealth - A Passion for Politics.
Hard working & full of vitality, with experience in… Finance, Health & Wellbeing, Education, Managerial, Building Trade, Growing, Hospitality & Tourism.
Cares about Children to Pensioners.
Taught in Schools to Care Homes.
Travelled extensively, but Guernsey has always been my home.
Manifesto
Guernsey is a special place, my home and I am standing for election because I am concerned about current situations and our future.
* Health & Social Care – Move to more prevention, tackle depression & stress
* Housing – We need to sort the crisis
* Education - Bring stability & drive up results
* Younger Generation – To live their dreams in Guernsey
* Finance Industry – Support & facilitate
* States Finances – Balance the books, drive out waste
Proposer: Deputy, Al Brouard - Health & Social Care President.
Seconder: Neil Martin - Local Businessman
PERSONAL STATEMENT
I started work from a very young age on my parents (John & Ann Robilliard) tomato vinery and at La Vallette Bathing Pools Kiosk on 25 pence an hour - saving for my house - which I wish more could do nowadays. That ethos of hard work has remained with me ever since.
Nearly 20 years in Finance, mainly Accountancy inc. Credit Suisse Trust, the Building Trade and Thomas Cook where I was promoted to Foreign Currency Manager, proudly winning Cashier of the Year Award.
Following this, I changed career to run my own businesses. A Successful Entrepreneur, well known as the Guernsey Salsa Dance Teacher for over 20 yrs + running Wellbeing Jewellery Market Stalls for 8 years (I won top UK agent every month for my 1st 15 months) - buying, selling, accounting and helping the community improve wellbeing – as well as fundraising for charities.
Health and wellbeing has played a huge part in my life.
I was ill for years, but I changed my lifestyle - the best thing I ever did - as now 25 years more mature, I am still full of energy, dancing, gardening and sea swimming with great health & vitality.
This was not by luck – but by my research, knowledge & action.
I hope my influence on prevention will help others.
HEALTHCARE - A Healthy Mind, Body and Soul
Our largest cost is health & social care, one of my major passions.
With a 2025 budget of £249,000,000, inc £22,000,000 on prescription drugs + nearly another £200,000,000 spent/pending capital on hospital extensions & patient electronic records.
This is on top of Sickness Benefit.
From a total Guernsey Annual Budget of £620,000,000 – it is a pretty big chunk.
Guernseys health and social care demands are rapidly increasing, more illness, more time off work, more lives not being lived – Yet a huge percentage of illness is preventable.
Wellbeing does not have to be all about what the doctor can do for you, it's also about what you can do for yourself.
We need as a society to take more responsibility for our bodies, they are our most precious asset. Understanding how we manage stress, different diets and exercise all have a massive effect on our health.
Also our population is living longer lives, which is great, but that needs funding and we should make prevention of illness a part of everything we do, if we are to have any chance to make the finances for health sustainable, that’s why its so important that we support ‘The Health Improvement Commission' and initiatives like 'Bailiwick Social Prescribing’.
Supporting Charities - 680 Reg. Charities & NPOs in our Bailiwick (acc. to withoutus.gg), which vastly contribute to our society, for instance Guernsey Mind, Grow Ltd, Autism Guernsey & Guernsey Alzheimers Assoc. are invaluable, particularly over the last few years with the increase in mental illness, anxiety & stress. We should keep supporting our hard working Charities, along with the Arts & Sports Committees as they multiply the funds given and play a pivotal role in supporting long term community wellbeing.
Wellbeing Survey - recently showed 35% felt intensely lonely. 48.6% reported stress/anxiety often/always at work/education.
Lets create more outdoor hubs where people can feel connected to Guernseys vast amount of natural beauty, to socialise after sea swimming or participating in exercise to help boost their immune systems, de-stress and improve wellbeing & sanity naturally – connecting to nature = less illness = less burden on taxes = a happier community.
Sickness Benefit - It's often better for a person's long-term health to be at work. To raise awareness of the Supporting Occupational Health & Wellbeing team (SOHWELL) who offer early intervention & support to people who have an illness, injury or disability to help them get back to work more quickly, contributing to society.
We need to value our health & wellbeing more so we can have better lives & lower taxes.
HOUSING CRISIS
Housing again plays a key role in health, even with AI, businesses need staff, staff need accomodation, we are lacking all types of homes, from 1st time buyers to pensioners looking to downsize.
We need to build on the land banks held by the States and developers, inc. derelict hotels and the regeneration of The Bridge (using our inert waste to help fund the project reclaiming Black Rock & moving industrial plants to Longue Hougue) it could be amazing with stunning views, make a substantial contribution to the housing shortage, with a sea swimming pool and wide walk/cycle path around the coast to Vale Castle (another ideal hub for locals & tourists) and onto Bordeaux Harbour. Keeping environment in mind, with communal gardens, play areas, creche, shops & cafes, hubs with a community vibe + a new marina that would also attract Tourism, aiding the economy.
Key Workers - Free up housing presently used by key workers, let’s build a large complex of affordable housing apartments near the PEH = less traffic + convenient for our busy valued health workers.
Pensioners - want to enjoy their retirement. We need to build more care homes and retirement complexes, for both rent and ownership, with support also offering independence, allowing release of wealth and to free up larger homes for families.
There is hope.
EDUCATION
Is the foundation for life, we need to encourage all our students to maximise their potential, with quality teachers, so students leave with a good grounding for life... including morals, respect, local heritage, handling finances, caring for a family and wellbeing.
Encourage attendance as some leaving primary school without basic reading, writing & maths skills necessary to access the secondary curriculum.
Finding where their niche is - so important, if they’re to be a success & contribute to society.
Encouraging home grown employees for Finance, Health Care & Building Trades.
TRAFFIC & ENVIRONMENT
Many people dread traffic daily. Whilst a car is essential for most, many could truly enjoy walking or cycling more, enjoying our surrounding beauty whilst easing the traffic for others, not having to worry about finding a parking space and improving health naturally whilst helping the environment.
Wouldn’t it be great to have ‘a named walk/cycle path’ all around the Island, with a ‘Passport’ to tick off sections, another selling point for Tourism.
FINANCE
Great news over the Moneyval Evaluation. The finance industry drives our economy. It’s all very well having wish lists of things to do or build, but that comes with a need for income.
We have to remain competitive with relevant regulation, facilitating and assisting the finance industry, like the support given for Moneyval, is crucial whilst we also continue to look to diversify our economy with additional forms of income and encourage our youngsters back to the Island with exciting jobs and careers.
We must ensure reliable connectivity for us, for our Businesess and for Tourism.
More passengers help our economy + maintain our links.
STATES FINANCES
The challenge is, there is not enough money in the pot - yet we need to invest in infrastructure.
I’m good at balancing the books and I hate waste.
Selling our Assets - I disagree with selling our Harbour, Airport, Water, Electricity - they belong to all of us.
Empty Town Shops - If left empty too long due to extortionate rents, should be fined similar to the Derelict Buildings Amenity Notice, as should large sites left derelict which would be ideal for homes.
Entrepreneurs - Encourage Business in Guernsey. Reduce red tape inc Planning Permissions.
Uni Students - Housing, Tax & relocation benefits to encourage them back to their families. To minimise paying agency staff (& expenditures), to boost our finances + importantly stop the brain drain - They are our future life blood.
CONCLUSION
* Whilst we want Human Rights for everyone - we must not forget the Human Rights of the hard working Tax Payer.
* I have attended many States meetings, seminars, charity events & training sessions. I have spoken to many deputies and the public and I know what’s involved.
* I don't have all the answers, but I do have a passion for politics, to research, listen to both sides of every story and to make informed decisions.
* We need deputies with common sense, with lived lives & experience to know what is best and what is empty promises, to know what has and hasn't worked and how we can move forward swiftly.
* Deputies who can communicate with different sectors and work together as a team for the good of the now and the future of our beautiful Island of Guernsey and its residents.
I look forward to meeting and serving you -
Please Feel Welcome to Contact Me with concerns and ideas.
Heidi Almonte
Health for Wealth