Debbie's Biography

Video: Debbie de Sousa's Address

Video: Debbie de Sousa on Parking  

A resident of St Helier, Debbie is a newcomer to the arena of Jersey politics. She comes with the wholehearted support of Deputies Pitman and Southern as an active member of the JDA for the past 2 years. Born in 1960 and educated at Audley Park High school in Torquay, Debbie has four children and 3 grandchildren. She has been married to Jorge since 2003, and they jointly run a successful business. Debbie is a caring person and has sound business sense. These qualities will stand her in good stead as a States member. She is concerned at the growing divide between the rich and the poor in the island.

There is no doubt that St Helier is at a critical point in its history. The proposed massive development of office and retail space on the Waterfront endangers the whole of the "old" town centre, especially the Markets and the businesses that thrive on King Street. I will strive for a more balanced approach with more affordable residential units and more open space down on the waterfront.

The "go for growth" policies pursued by the Council of Ministers have resulted in rampant immigration over the past 3 years which, in turn, has pushed house prices out of the reach of most residents. With this high cost of accommodation, both to rent and to buy, it is no wonder that young people see their future away from the island. Bringing down the cost of housing is a priority. We also need to put more resource and effort to create apprenticeships and training opportunities for young people.

To protect our green fields, the Council of Ministers is proposing the overdevelopment of high-rise, high density accommodation in the urban areas. We have allowed far too much immigration with the result that the population has gone through the 90,000 ceiling. We created over 1,500 new jobs last year but 4 in 10 of these jobs went to new immigrants. We need to set real and sustainable targets to control this rampant population

growth.

Married to Jorge, a Portuguese man whose family arrived in Jersey 40 years ago, she has a clear understanding of the issues affecting both communities, and is deeply committed to encouraging integration.  We all share the same concerns, whether it is the impact of GST, the lack of affordable good quality accommodation or worries about the future of our children. We should share our concerns and work together to find the solutions. Together we can build a brighter future

It is clear to me that there is a growing divide between the rich and the poor in Jersey. The recent reform of Income Support has produced a system that is inflexible and has done little to deliver the right support where it is needed. There is little incentive to work and the savings limits means that pensioners are penalised for saving. There is no doubt that it cannot be corrected by piecemeal changes here and there but needs a major and urgent review if it is ever to be made effective.