Guernsey deserves Euro vote

Gibraltar is not part of the Common Agricultural and Fisheries policy, nor are the Crown Dependencies (although some aspects apply to them).

Gibraltar, Guernsey and Jersey are not in the VAT area, the Isle of Man is.

Gibraltar is not in the EU Customs Union, yet the three Crown Dependencies are.

EU free movement of goods does not apply in Gibraltar, nor for other matters. It does apply to the Crown Dependencies, but not for people, services or capital.

The Crown Dependencies relationship is based on protocol No. 3, which also applies to Gibraltar.,

All are subject to some EU regulations which have immediate effect without the need to enact local legislation.

All, too, are subject to EU directives, which are subject to local legislation, but in practice such local legislation goes ahead and there is little evidence of consultation with the UK government.

All will be affected by the TTIP (Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership).

Gibraltar is represented in the European Parliament as part of the South West England constituency, and surprisingly none of the Crown Dependencies have such representation.

All have to go along with whatever the UK's EU referendum decision is, so surely it is right for the Crown Dependencies to be included in the process?

With the inclusion of Guernsey in so much of what the EU stands for now and in the future, it has to be correct to have our voice heard.

Yet Jonathan Le Tocq, our chief minister, said two things as to why he did not want Guernsey to be part of the EU referendum decision making: Firstly, that as we did not take part in the 1975 Common Market referendum, we should not do so now.

The fact that it was wrong to exclude us then does not make it right to exclude us now, particularly when the EU is a totally different institution with vast superstate powers to the trading body it was back then.

Secondly, he said that as we are not in the EU we should not have a vote.

He might have a point if we were not in all the agreements which have been referred to, but is he saying we should not have a say in such arrangements and in our future?

It seems there is no argument for us not to have a say.

Like other UK referenda, this will not be binding on the UK Parliament, because Parliament makes the final decision, but to be shut out of having our voices heard is rather demeaning.

Hopefully, there will be a rapid rethink on this very important matter.

Finally, there are numerous different agreements and exceptions negotiated between the EU, member states, their overseas countries and territories and associated states, that it would just be wrong and irresponsible not to try to obtain a better deal for the Crown Dependencies, and indeed Gibraltar, at the same time as the UK's position is being renegotiated.

Also, we are all entitled to know what, if anything, the Policy Council is requesting the UK government to protect/negotiate on our behalf and for them to engage with the public on this very important constitutional, historical and economically important matter.

TONY WEBBER,

anthonywebber@cwgsy.net