St Saviour Residents Highlight Worker Support, ADHD Delays and Youth Concerns Ahead of Election

Support for seasonal workers, lengthy ADHD assessment waiting lists and a lack of activities for young people are among the concerns being raised by residents in St Saviour ahead of Jersey’s election on 7 June.

Seasonal worker welfare has become a growing topic of discussion in recent months, particularly following the sentencing of former St Saviour deputy Philip Ozouf, who was ordered to complete 120 hours of community service after breaching Jersey immigration laws.

Emmanuel Delmoro, who has worked seasonally in Jersey for six years and lives in St Saviour, said he enjoys life on the island despite increasing living costs.

“I feel safe here, and that’s what I really like,” he said. “It’s a good place to live, the work is good too and it’s a very diverse island.”

Delmoro praised his employer for providing support but said more assistance from government would benefit migrant workers.

“We want more fairness in some ways,” he said. “I know we are seasonal workers, but I think there should be more opportunities and flexibility with benefits because we enjoy working and living in Jersey. “We should receive more support when it comes to social security and taxes.”

Concerns were also raised over the availability of ADHD services in Jersey.

Rachel Boss and Dr Jane Sedgwick Muller from ADHD Jersey said waiting times for adult ADHD assessments had become significantly worse in recent years.

Boss said adults seeking a diagnosis could now face waits of up to five years, while children diagnosed through Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) were also affected by limited treatment capacity.

“We’re at the stage where people may never actually be seen,” she said.

Dr Sedgwick Muller said introducing a shared-care system, allowing GPs to prescribe ADHD medication, could help ease pressure on specialist services.

“In Jersey we don’t have the same shared-care pathway that exists in the UK,” she explained. “That has created a bottleneck in services at a time when demand is increasing.”

Young residents also highlighted concerns over limited social opportunities for teenagers.

Seventeen-year-old Diogo Baptista said there was little for under-18s to do, particularly at weekends.

“It’s quite boring because there isn’t much available for young people,” he said. “A lot of activities are aimed at adults or places close early.

“I think Jersey needs somewhere affordable where teenagers can spend time together and do things like pool, darts or ping pong.”

Final-year university student Jonathan Marett said high living costs and limited career prospects were among the reasons many graduates choose not to return to Jersey after studying away.

“People feel they may never be able to afford housing here,” he said. “There’s also concern about the lack of job opportunities and progression for younger people.

“That’s why projects like the Fort Regent redevelopment are seen as important for the future.”