'Time is right' to consider commercialization

Deputy Flouquet said it could give the public a better deal

Guernsey's Public Services Minister said the time was right to consider commercializing more of the island's key assets.

The department is undertaking a review of the ownership and running of businesses including the airport, harbours and States Works.

Deputy Bernard Flouquet said putting professional managers in place could improve efficiency and save money.

He said it was "not a new idea" and had been looked at by previous States.

Deputy Flouquet said: "There are reports based on the very fact that this may be a view we should as a government entertain and view.

"Personally I believe that commercialization could work for most of the entities under our mandate currently."

The organisations covered in the review are Guernsey Airport, Guernsey Harbours, Guernsey Water, States Works, the Waste Water Services and the Solid Waste Division.

Deputy Flouquet said: "We are lay people as far as business is concerned for harbours and airport.

"I personally believe we need to unfetter these particular industries from political involvement.

"The commercialization allows the actual mindset to look at things on a commercial basis, look at the values of everything and give the public a far better deal."