Chief minister wants 'unity' of government in 2024

Kristina Moore has set out her priorities for 2024

Jersey's chief minister has said the government must "reconcile" competing interests and focus on delivering its priorities.

Deputy Kristina Moore has outlined her top priorities for 2024 which include building more homes.

She also committed to improving the island's health services and to "do more" for children and families.

Investments would also be made to promote "economic growth and productivity", she said.

'Question our unity'

During a meeting with business officials in St Helier, Ms Moore said she wanted to give islanders confidence in Jersey's economy and future.

She also addressed issues within government, including the rejection of the Les Sablons project - which was then approved in December.

Ms Moore said the initial decision was "disappointing".

She added: "Yes, I was annoyed by it but I recognise that it created an uncomfortable moment for some of my colleagues and caused the public to question our unity.

"My job is to keep us all on track and ensure that such issues do not arise again."

The Chief Minister will face a vote of no confidence on 16 January after Deputy Tom Binet listed a series of what he considered "failings" by Ms Moore.

Ms Moore said the government was "faced with a difficult economic environment" but that this provided them with "many opportunities, as well as challenges".

She highlighted that the population had lowered more than expected in 2021 and that the working age population had also decreased.

She said: "That decline is a huge worry for business... but it should also be a huge worry for every islander because we have full employment and our public finances depend on income tax.

"We should all be obsessing more about practical ways to improve the productivity of the workforce by embracing technology and less about the ebbs and flows of immigration.

"We've already announced specific grant support for all business in this area and a tax incentive scheme to encourage reg-tech in financial services in order to boost productivity."

To improve the issue, the government will give every employer an extra work licence to employ people who are not from Jersey.

Improvements to islanders' healthcare services were flagged by Chief Minister Kristina Moore

A "strain" to the health and care sectors was flagged due to the rise in senior islanders, causing bed blocking in the island's only hospital, but Ms Moore said the government was "on the case" to keep rising numbers at a "more reasonable" level.

She said the focus on the long-term health strategy, alongside delivering a new hospital, required the government to be "thoughtful about the issues on the horizon".

To prioritise children and families, Ms Moore said a new town school would be built, hot meals would be provided to every primary school pupil and an increase in the number of foster places would be made.

Investments would also be made to "put the fun back" into Fort Regent - which fell into disuse after the new government scrapped previous plans to regenerate it.

'We will deliver'

Ms Moore said she expected islanders to "hold the Council of Ministers and I to account on delivering those goals".

She said: "It has not been easy - with external and internal events affecting our ability to deliver effectively - but we will accelerate progress this year.

"Through collaboration with islanders and industry, the Council of Ministers is focused on delivering and prioritising projects that get results and we will deliver."

In order to make haste on the new projects, Ms Moore said the government would be reducing the number of public sector projects to give it the "capacity to deliver" on those "desperately" needed - returning £30m into the island's rainy day fund.

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