007... a licence to waste money

I refer to the auction conducted by Martel Maides for the vehicle registration plates. Our States Environment Department created this idea 15 years ago to raise money. Here we see one number plate reach a disgusting £240,000 – what for, just to stick it on a vehicle to drive around the island.

It seems cheers were the order of the day at this great achievement. Think what could be done with this amount alone? There are people in Guernsey on the poverty line and we are not talking about those at the lower end scale of the population. Apparently over 300 subscribe for help with their groceries at one charity. There are pensioners just about managing with the rising cost of living these days.

There are great charities doing good in the island, i.e. Cheshire Home, Hospice, Red Cross, Bridge2, all desperate for financial help and look where money people don't really need ends up. We are not talking about great works of art here, antiques etc., we are talking about money wasted on number plates for those who wish to advertise their richness around the island.

What does our States department do with all this lovely cash? Where does it go? Wasted, maybe, on 'consultant fees'. Are they the ones driving around with these flashy numbers?

I think we should bring in GST especially for anything so abundantly a waste of money. It is a disgrace to our human values.

I wonder how that person feels driving around our island with the 007 plate? I thought the James Bond character was a people's hero, fighting for the good against the evil of life.

R. S. MAUGER,

Valletta,

Rue des Frieteaux,

St Martin's, GY4 6XA.