Lee Van Katwyk

Manifesto

First promise: To attend all meetings, work diligently and tirelessly, and always put Guernsey’s interests first and foremost.

Over the next four years, I will strive to help our island revive its economy and once again thrive for years to come. I’ve spent many hours researching local issues, following order papers while listening to debates, and reading billets d'etat to prepare for the challenge.

In 2008, I stood as a Guernsey’s youngest ever candidate in my beloved parish, the Vale. I received over 30% of the vote, narrowly missing out on success. The feedback from the electorate was to gain life experience before trying again, which is exactly what I have done:

• Creative, entrepreneurial, and resourceful: evidenced by having started, run and sold successful businesses: one in Vietnam’s tourism industry; another in Hong Kong’s education sector

• Strong communicator: an English teacher who has also spent years working as a freelance writer for magazines and newspapers (from the Guernsey Press to the South China Morning Post) and many hours studying clear, concise, and cohesive communication techniques

• Hardworking: Having spent my teenage years shovelling metal enriched mud in Guernsey’s scrap yard and years since working sixty-hour weeks to set up and run successful businesses—I know how to toil diligently for success

• Team player: with over fifteen years of experience and a 100% success rate working with people of all races and cultures in countries around the world, and more recently, experience leading a team of five in Guernsey’s finance industry

Current Work

I teach English, cookery, and other life skills classes at Les Nichols Prison. I’m also a tutor offering private lessons to children and adults in a range of subjects including creative writing, English as a foreign language, and Artificial Intelligence awareness.

There’s no magic wand to fix our finances, deliver affordable housing, or fund major infrastructure projects overnight. This political term demands hard work, dedication, and difficult decisions. Here is a succinct breakdown of my top priorities:

Reform

Guernsey’s government is broken. While I respect our traditions, it is time to have an independent board look at:

• Cutting the number of deputies by 50%

• Forming an executive style of government where the people of Guernsey can—at the very least—choose their Chief Executive for the term

• Introduce far greater transparency and accountability measures

Who is to blame for the current state of our poor Sarnia Cherie? Apparently nobody. With an executive form of government and reduction in the number of States Members, decision making will become streamlined and the public will find it clearer to see which deputies are to be held to account.

NO to GST

There is a good chance that Pillar Two (a tax upon Large Multinational Enterprises, implemented globally) will help to cover much of our deficit. First we have to:

• Act fast to define Pillar Two’s expected revenue

• Then look at broadening the corporate tax base to bolster our reserves

• And, only if absolutely necessary, raise income tax by 2% and ring fence (keep aside) the extra revenue generated for spending on education and health services (in line with the Isle of Man)

There are other options before introducing the dreaded GST. Not to mention, our current Revenue Service already struggles to manage income tax collection, so how can we expect a new collection and compliance function to run smoothly?

Economy

It beggars belief that Guernsey, with a Gross Domestic Product on par with Luxembourg, has been left financially crippled by successive economic downturns. Our politicians must strive to ensure the economy can revive so Guernsey can once again thrive by:

• Collaborating with our neighbouring jurisdictions to broaden the corporate tax base while protecting Small/Medium-sized Enterprises

• Making cuts to superfluous spending—starting with the number of deputies

• Publicly detail how Guernsey’s bond borrowing and Revolving Credit Agreements are working to reduce our debt rather than rely on it

Nobody wants to see Guernsey lose its competitive edge, so our politicians must be the ones who strive—not the public—to revive our economy.

Housing

We have land earmarked for housing in the Island Development Plan and yet no houses being built to stave off the crisis. We need to:

• Cut more red tape to get the government out of developers’ way, especially for those who wish to develop housing under £500k

• Encourage the building of low-level and affordable apartment buildings (units under 350k) where appropriate—with suitable outdoor and green space
—fit for first time buyers

• Support the Guernsey Housing Association in building further Affordable Housing (legally defined) on States-owned land for the purpose of key workers, rental, or partial-ownership

We have a new Housing Committee which must veer away from further red tape and focus on facilitating spades in the ground. Otherwise, this committee will be a total waste of money.

Education

As an educator, I am well aware that our teachers, not politicians, know what is best for their students. As such, I want to:

• Grant greater devolution of powers from ESC to school governors while facilitating further input from teachers

• Financially support locals returning as trained teachers rather than only enticing foreign staff to the island

• Seek strategic prioritisation and planning that ensures staffing and a robust early years program for years to come

We are set on a course toward the Transforming Education Programme, and it is imperative that we complete this project as quickly and effectively as possible, while at the same time looking to fix our early years education issues.

Pensioners

Our islanders of pension age are the giants upon whose shoulders we stand. I will:

• Fight to ensure pensioners’ benefits

• Work to protect pensioners on a low-income from cost of living increases

• Support and facilitate the development of long-term care options and benefits

We owe our way of life to those who have worked theirs for Guernsey, and still contribute via taxable income on their pensions. I will not forget the debt I owe our elders.

Youth

To secure the future we must secure our youth on-island by working to provide:

• Tax incentives for under-30s who study locally or return to the island after study

• Tax-free savings schemes aimed at securing deposits for first-time home buyers

• Encourage developers to build affordable first-time-buyer properties

With an ageing population, we need to act now to help our youth secure their foothold on the island. Otherwise, we will have much worse problems than those presented by our housing crisis.

I have kept this manifesto clear and concise, which is how I will endeavour to communicate with colleagues and the public if I am given the chance to fight for our island’s future. I am very happy to further discuss any of the points raised herein over email, video chat, phone, or coffee.

Second Promise: I will effectively communicate with the people of Guernsey if I deviate one iota from any of the views in this manifesto.