TWO of the deputies who strongly opposed the tax package which was approved by the States last week have claimed that they are considering leaving the island.
Both Rob Curgenven and Lee Van Katwyk posted videos on social media following the end of debate, reflecting on the outcome.
Both said they were now having to review whether or not they stayed in Guernsey. In his video Deputy Curgenven said: ‘Speaking personally my wife and I are considering leaving Guernsey now because we can’t afford to live here.’
Deputy Van Katwyk said that for his family it was not so much whether it was possible to live in Guernsey, but more whether they could still afford the sort of life they would enjoy. It was not the first time he had raised on social media the prospect of leaving the island within the context of the tax debate.
‘It’s whether we can afford the lives we want for our family in Guernsey. To be clear, our idea of “rich enough” isn’t a supercar. It’s a tent, a ferry ticket and a forest somewhere in France once or twice a year. But right now, on a teacher’s and a deputy’s salary, and having just bought a house, we can’t do it, and it doesn’t look likely any time soon – after last week, even less so.’
If either of the States members was to follow through on their very public declarations that they could soon leave Guernsey, it would require an island-wide by-election to replace them.
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