AM Marketing

Arlene Maltman

I am a proud Islander. People who know me, know that I am passionate about where we live.

I grew up in St Ouen’s, where my love for surfing began. As European Champion I travelled and competed extensively before studying for my degree in Communication Studies in California. I started my career in marketing in New York and then worked in Boston.

But I always wanted to come home to my roots, my community and the natural environment I care so much about.

If elected I will bring this passion to the States Chamber along with my professional experience in the local private and public sectors. I will bring common sense and a determination to get on with making decisions that enhance Island life.

The honorary system is at the heart of parish life. Central government must recognise its uniqueness, and I commit to working with the Connétables to make sure our voice is heard in the Assembly.

Islanders deserve transparent and proactive communications from government.

We need to build affordable homes for parishioners, utilising good design and architecture that is sensitive to the landscape and rural context, creating connected and inclusive communities. Infrastructure needs to be fit for purpose and all parishioners should have access to mains water. Planning must work better for individuals and small businesses, making it easier and quicker to make sensible minor changes.

Connectivity is vital - I will campaign for a hopper bus linking the three parishes with the Enid Quenault Centre, alongside expanded cycle paths to make commuting easier.

We need to make decisions that future-proof our way of life. Our natural environment is a gift to our health and wellbeing. I support policies that help reduce obesity and support mental health. We should value the experience of older islanders, promoting preventative healthcare and active ageing.

I support arts, heritage and culture in making the Island an attractive place for all to enjoy, including the sustainable redevelopment of Fort Regent.

Financial services is the bedrock of our economy and the tax revenue it generates helps fund public services. I support the implementation of Jersey Finance’s competitiveness review, along with maintaining a broad and diversified economy.

The entrepreneurial spirit of Islanders deserves support through less red tape for businesses. I will campaign for greater digital and financial skills to be taught in schools, so that young Islanders are able to seize future opportunities. I will also seek to reduce the gender pay gap and ensure equal opportunities for women.

I support the implementation of the Rural Economic Framework, the Visitor Economy Strategy, and I strongly advocate for a more circular economy that keeps our money, our talent and our spending on island.

Manifesto

I believe the key concern in this election is the high cost of living in Jersey that is impacting the lives of all islanders, young and old. Global events have already driven up energy prices, and energy inflation is having a knock-on impact on food prices with significant further hikes forecast in the coming twelve months. In an Island already facing challenging freight arrangements this means Government must as a priority look at ways of reducing food costs for Islanders. My manifesto takes a fair and balanced approach to responding to this sustained challenge in key policy areas that affect the parishes and Island life.

If elected I pledge to immediately campaign for action by the new Government to take to alleviate the pressure, so as to reduce the cost of eating at home but also ensuring that the hospitality industry is supported so that people are also encourage and enabled to continue eating out. I support for example, an immediate review of the fuel duty and the application of GST to food products, an immediate reduction could offer temporary relief to islanders while longer term measures are implemented. I am firmly in favour of Government seeking to hold down the costs of ‘basic food items’ and promote the supply and sale of local produce grown on island.

I also support further assistance being given by Government towards childcare costs, so that more parents are enabled to stay in the workforce and contribute to the economy.

The Economy

Jersey need’s a strong economy that keeps Jersey talent, money and spending on island. Financial services is the cornerstone of our economy and the Island’s prosperity, it employs 2 out of 5 working people and strengthening the sector is essential to securing Jersey’s future.

Alongside it I believe that Jersey’s future success depends on recognising and valuing our traditional economy areas – tourism, agriculture, fishing, as well as the digital and construction sectors. A diverse economy is essential to our balanced way of life.

Artificial intelligence is here and we don’t know how it is going to change the economy. We need to make sure we use it to do things cheaper and better and so that we end up with a more responsive and nimble economy.

Specific measures I support are:

· The implementation of the financial services competitiveness programme – Time to Win

· The Future Economy Programme enabling entrepreneurial activity and promoting greater international connectivity

· The introduction by Government of a review into how new technologies including AI can and will change our lives for the better

· A review of the connectivity by air and sea and measures to improve the freight arrangements and the impact that service is having on local businesses

· A review of levers to reduce the cost of living, including a temporary reduction in fuel duty and the application of GST on food

· Increased support for free childcare costs

· Reduction in red tape especially for small businesses

· Proportionate and fair regulation

· Fairer and simpler planning rules, that make it easier for small changes to be made

Housing

Islanders spend on average 35% of their income on housing, making it one of the biggest contributors to the high cost of living. Government must continue to support the provision of affordable housing to reduce this pressure and to enable islanders to spend more of their income on essentials and other items.

I support:

· Affordable home schemes in the parishes that are sensitive to the environment and create connected and inclusive communities

· Mains water connections to all homes

· Homes for individuals and families of all sizes, including single people

· Fair and affordable rents

· Fairer and simpler planning rules, that make it easier for small changes to be made, including allowing for two generation homes

Health and wellbeing

Good health and wellbeing are vital to improving our quality of life and help us all to live more productive lives.

I support:

· Investment in modern accessible healthcare infrastructure

· Community based mental health provision

· Policies that promote active lifestyles that aim to make physical activity accessible and convenient for all islanders

· A parish hopper bus that provides access to the Enid Quenault Centre and other local amenities

· Ensuring the Long-Term Care fund is able to meet future demand of later life care

· Ensuring the continued viability and sustainability of the Health Insurance Fund

Education

Young people are the future of this Island; we must ensure they can reach their potential and like all islanders are supported in lifelong learning

I support:

· Investment in a new campus for Highlands College with consideration given to greater numbers of overseas students accessing on Island provision

· Opportunities for more young people to enter sixth form education

· Investment and improvement in SEND provision so that families can gain support

· Policies that encourage graduates to return to the Island, including targeted support for those wishing to enter those areas in the economy we need most

· Greater emphasis on supporting on island training and support for apprenticeships and trades

· Increased levels of financial and digital literacy being taught in schools so that our young people can seize future opportunities

Environment

We are incredibly fortunate to live in Jersey and benefit from the natural environment it offers. I am standing to protect what is special about the rural parishes.

I support:

· Protecting our heritage and our natural environment.

· Protecting our seas

· Protecting our coastlines from over development, including at Devil’s Hole, St Ouen, Plémont and Grève de Lecq

· The reduction of light pollution

· More cycle networks linking the parishes

· Better bus routes linking the parishes

Government and Parish working

I have worked in the public sector and believe Government has a fundamental obligation to act in an open and transparent manner to ensure accountability, foster public trust and confidence.

I support:

· Proactive publication by Government of its activities, policies and decisions (without the need for a FOI)

· Budgetary transparency and accountability of officials for their actions

· Work to reduce the current expenditure of government, with the objective of creating a balanced budget and in future years the generation of a surplus

· Recruitment to senior roles in the public sector from local candidates whenever possible, with long-term succession planning provision

· Ensuring that the parish system continues to serve Islanders effectively, transparently and fairly in a modern context, in accordance with the recommendations set out by the Parishes and Government Review Panel and the Comité des Connétables

· Working closely with the parish Connétables and Deputies and attending monthly parish surgeries to ensure the voice of each parish in District 1 is heard

· A reduction of the number of arm’s length organisations and oversight boards