Proposed tax is wrong

Why? They have not looked at household coal as a polluter. What about the huge numbers of boats all over this island in and out of marinas? They use more fuel than cars. Not to miss the Condor ferries, which use fuel oil, also Flybe and our own Aurigny aircraft. They are polluters, but are essential for the needs of this island. If the islanders are not careful, these could be next on the agenda for States taxes.

The reason for mentioning the above is to illustrate how poorly thought out this proposed emissions tax is by targeting road vehicles.

This proposed tax is wrong and should never be implemented.

Why pick on 4x4 vehicles and big cars when, by comparison, have you seen a Range Rover or similar car that is bigger than vans such as Ford Transit, Renault, Peugeot, Vauxhall, Fiat or small trucks etc? As for the States members and others suggesting the Enough is Enough was a small percentage of islanders' views and does not matter, let the States organise a meeting at North Beach asking all those islanders in favour of their proposed taxes to attend. That would be a real test of islanders' opinions.

I believe States members are elected to run this island in the best interests of the people. They should explain why they are making proposals that seriously affect the island, not hide away in their castle and make clandestine rules and regulations. This is not North Korea, yet.

I leave you with this thought. Why did our righteous States members approve a £19m. renewal and extension of the sewage outfall pipe at Belle Greve in August of this year, without a thought for pollution of the sea around this island and Herm with raw septic sewage being pumped out to sea every day, yet following this up in October with the proposed air pollution tax on cars? What a contradiction. Leaves one speechless doesn't it? They need to fully explain to the public their reasons for making contradictory decisions like this.

States members should take note that the recent UN summit on climate change in Peru failed to reach agreement on countries meeting specified targets. Many large countries may manoeuvre out of any commitment in the next summit in Paris next year. In other words, large countries (which have an effect on the environment much, much more than Guernsey) are not wanting to penalise their own population – yet Guernsey (which probably would not produce as much pollution in 100 years as those countries do in a week) is apparently willing to penalise its own population for no benefit at all.

D. WALSH,

The Lawns,

Les Landes,

Les Baissieres,

Castel,

GY5 7RA.