P&R not to blame for tax review failure

Throughout the extended debate on the future of taxation, they have demonstrated the discipline, leadership and courage required to propose a set of thoroughly researched measures that they knew might be unpopular, but believed were entirely necessary. The failure of four other alternative proposals to achieve even a majority vote – including option D, which was designed to kick the can only halfway down the road — underlines the intractability of the problems they were seeking to address.

Deputy Parkinson is quoted as stating ‘In any normal parliamentary democracy, when a government loses its flagship fiscal policy it would resign’ (Guernsey Press, 20 February). But Guernsey is not a normal parliamentary democracy, and its government is the States of Deliberation comprising all deputies, not P&R alone.

Competent government requires leadership and making unpopular decisions for the common good. Too many deputies are hooked on the idea of merely representing the ‘will of the people’. That is not competent government. Marching at the head of a protesting crowd wielding a placard is not competent government. Rejecting what is good in a fruitless search for the perfect is not competent government.

In Guernsey we are not unique as to our problems, but we seem determined to remain unique when it comes to finding solutions. And those who underestimate the complexity of the issues we face would do well to remember that ‘for every complex problem there is a solution, which is clear, simple, and wrong’.

With an issue as complex as the future of taxation, consensus among islanders – or even among 38 of them pursuing separate political agendas – is extremely unlikely to be achieved. Last week’s debate and lack of a decision illustrates perfectly why ‘consensus government’ is a misnomer – consensus was unattainable, so government has failed.

The absence of political parties or associations in Guernsey’s system of government leads to a lack of discipline or cohesion in the formulation of policy.

Unless deputies work together more cooperatively instead of pursuing their individual objectives towards popularity and re-election, then just as in the case of transport, education and a host of other major policy areas, tough decisions on the island’s finances will be deferred until we face an existential crisis.

The current members of P&R will be the last individuals to blame when this occurs.

NIGEL P DE LA RUE

Crosstrees

Ville Baudu

Vale