Richard Digard

Given all the criticism of GST-lite, including from this column, what does its author have to say in its defence? In a nutshell, P&R president Lindsay de Sausmarez tells me it’s designed to buy the island some time, delay the looming fiscal cliff-edge – and help out some islanders.

That stretched Dire Straits reference is doubly relevant as the latest accounts show how out of control government costs are, why the States really wants GST and because Scrutiny is being asked to look at a claim that officials said Leale’s Yard land was worth zero.