GST would appear to be a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul
TO PARAPHRASE Churchill, you ‘cannot tax a nation into prosperity’.
With GST, the States will be flushed with ‘loads of money’ but at what cost? Everything will suddenly cost 5% more or, if Deputy Soulsby is correct, as much as 8% more (do I hear any advance on 8?). It’s certainly not going to encourage house building (any more than GP11 did) or retail or tourism or travel off-island, or make our financial services more competitive. 43% of the GST taken from our pockets will then go straight back out in benefits – a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Rather than sticking it to the rest of us, whom pay the taxes and by the way, their salaries, why can’t our deputies bring their talents to bear on the underlying causes, such a stagnant Guernsey economy for the last 15 years with financial services down, house building down and tourism down.
Not all is down though – States spending is booming, up over £4m. from the forecast in 2024 to £650m. in this year’s budget! Where is all this spending going?
KEITH WATSON
Avalon
La Miellette