MICHAEL MHK Alf Cannan has issued a call for social responsibility to be put at the forefront of the political agenda.
Mr Cannan, who took up his seat in September in succession to his father David, longstanding MHK for the constituency, has outlined his priorities for 2012.
Most importantly, he says the island must adapt to the new era. Policy-makers must also ensure that social responsibility remains at the forefront of all thought and action.
‘We enter 2012 with much of the same trepidation as we did in 2011. The USA and Europe are still battling seemingly impossible debt levels and it would be surprising if we end 2012 without significant change within the EU. We are all feeling the financial squeeze, and although much of the above is outside our control, we must adapt to the new era and position ourselves correctly for the upturn when it comes.
His main priorities would continue to lie with national issues, namely:
– As chairman of the Civil Service Commission and Whitley Council, managing through the changes to Civil Service and Manual Workers pensions.
– As vice chairman of the new Public Sector Pensions Authority, assisting in defining its role and function.
– In his role as CSC chairman, working with the Chief Minister and senior civil servants to transform government through better working practices, removing bureaucracy and improved HR delivery.
– Supporting those who want to drive through the right changes for a better future and challenging those areas in which we may be falling short of the public expectation.
Locally, too, there was much to be done and he would continue to assist those in the constituency who needed his help, he said.
He aimed to work with local commissioners and the Department of the Environment to get a more coherent strategy in place to deal with coastal erosion.
He said he would encourage an ‘active thought process’ in respect of the Western and Northern Area Plans and he would also encourage and support new business investment across the constituency.
‘We must continue to recognise that the government cannot stand in isolation in these difficult times and our communities remain our heartbeat,’ he said.
‘Social responsibility must remain at the forefront of all our thought processes and actions – across all sections of society.’
