Boatowners to push for separate harbours and airport accounts

And they are not alone, with support for the idea being expressed by deputies during debate on a requete to limit the increase.

The requete, led by Deputy David De Lisle, had sought to limit the proposed rises of between 20% and 30% depending on the size of the boat to 10% across the board.

‘Obviously we’re disappointed but would like to thank all members who voted for the requete,’ said Guernsey Boatowners’ Association president Nick Guillemette.

He said the GBA had gone into the debate feeling ‘mildly confident’ and had presented its case to 20 States members, with 10 sending apologies. ‘But there were three or four who went completely the opposite way from what they told me.

‘I think they were swayed by speeches from Peter Roffey and, to a certain extent, Peter Ferbrache, talking about GST, the shortage of money, and the shortage of housing, which we recognise.

‘What we were trying to do was come up with a reasonable figure, which, although the majority of boatowners would mumble and grumble about, they would live with it.’

The GBA had done ‘a huge amount of research’ and this was referred to by some members during the debate. ‘This had clearly shown that we had not been sponging off the taxpayer,’ he said, adding that the research had shown that profits from the harbours had covered a lot of costs at the airport.

‘Accounts for the harbours and airport should definitely be separated so that everybody can see where the money is being used.’

He said he would now attempt to persuade deputies to look into this and take it to the States.

Marine Traders’ Association president David Norman backed this plan and said he had worked closely with Mr Guillemette for seven months. He felt let down by the States.

‘I’m exceptionally disappointed. I think it’s a very short-term view of the people who voted it away.’

He said it was clear from the research they did that the harbours were supporting the airport. ‘The airport has not made a surplus since 2009 but the harbour has made a profit every single year.’

It made sense to separate the accounts, he said.

Deputy Adrian Gabriel had raised the idea of splitting the harbours and airport accounts during the debate and afterwards Deputy Heidi Soulsby backed the idea. ‘I do believe we need to commercialise the ports and separate harbour from airport which this episode shows is needed,’ she wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Another supporter was former harbourmaster Chad Murray, who also expressed his disappointment at the States’ decision.

‘Shame on the Assembly today,’ he wrote on X.

‘Boatowners are genuinely willing to pay their way with the above RPI offer. This will turn sour. The bigger issue was thrashed out though that STSB is not working and ports need separating out.

‘I truly believe the operational, vital elements of the harbour should be funded from harbour dues, topped up from general revenue and the “leisure” elements be run as a commercial entity, with the surpluses remaining at that cost center [sic]. We will see.’