Local businesses lose confidence over permit delays

There is a lack of confidence from local businesses that the Population Management Service can reduce the backlog of permit applications.

It follows an update from the Committee for Home Affairs which said there were more than 4,200 pending population management applications.

Anthony Hansen, runs Hansen's coffee and sandwich bars in Guernsey and said in the last 20 years of being in business he had "never ever experienced such dire circumstances."

Committee president, Deputy Mark Leadbeater said: "It is important that there is clarity around exactly where and how we are going to rebuild confidence in the system."

Hansen added that since February this year, he had made 14 applications and "not one has been processed" and over the years this had led to him losing up to 12 staff.

"It's simply a man-made problem. It's an issue which was created not because of the economy but because of the lack of services on the island, the services which we entrusted on the island to protect us and the economy."

Delphine Pesrin, who runs Dhaka and Two Frenchies said it was not fair that people coming to the island for work were having to "put their life on hold" whilst they wait for permits.

"They have to make the system easier to manage for us online, there's too much red tape on how you build an application."

She added whilst she was upset about the situation, she understands it was a "very complex policy".

She said she wanted to see evidence the situation was being prioritised.

The committee agreed additional resources needed to be allocated to the Population Management Service as a priority.

Hansen said despite the promises for improvements from Home Affairs he had "lost confidence"

He said: "The proof is in the pudding. Talk is cheap. Let's see it actually happen. Let's see the applications be processed and let's see this thing be rectified. Then I'll be confident."

Alan Sillett, President of the Guernsey Hospitality Association said they were keen to work with Home Affairs on the issue.

He said: "We want to be part of the solution, there's no point in throwing stones and just criticising... We've gathered evidence, we've given it to Home Affairs, we want to work with them to make progress."

Follow BBC Guernsey on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk.