‘We have said a resounding no twice, and do not want GST at anytime’

Should our government be pursuing GST when the people have said a resounding no twice?

We already pay far more than the UK for our food. We pay for carriage and in some stores for other commodities, we also pay the UK VAT because they don’t remove it. Therefore, we would be paying, in some cases, GST on top of VAT.

The proposed suggestions for the average and less well off by Policy & Resources, are good and should be put in place to help the struggling. However, to give it to them in the one hand and take it away by GST from the other is only asking us to swallow a bitter and unjust pill. It is an absolute travesty to put GST on food when people are already struggling and using food banks. With GST applied across the board they would also be poorer and less able to buy other necessities, goods and pay bills. Will they not then have to use food banks? It is a very sad necessity of modern policies that people have to use food banks. It was not so in the past. They do not want to have to use handouts, they just want a decent living.

Our States are trying so hard to introduce GST that in the end there will be no benefit without raising the percentage considerably and causing a lot of work and a lot of distress along the way. It will mean that a number of companies and sole traders will find it to be the last straw because of extra admin just another burden to cope with.

We see this island being taken over by the wealthy with very big houses going up everywhere, and hear that some do not pay appropriate taxes. The loopholes that are used in order for them not to pay appropriate taxes must be closed. Moderate housing being taken up and turned into mansions is bound to leave fewer available properties for the average working person to rent or buy down the line. We are not against the wealthy who contribute to the wellbeing of the island and its residents. But we are against injustice and preferential treatment, and the practice of finding loopholes to avoid paying appropriate taxes by people of greater means, freeloading on our facilities. Such practices are not profitable to the island and take up valuable housing stock.

I have spoken to someone who deals with food banks and those facing homelessness and was told that the situation was very bad, that some have two and three jobs and still had to use the food banks. Those who would never have had to use food banks before are now using them. The need for food banks and homelessness is on the increase. Unfortunately, the rules that have been put in place in the past have preferred the wealthy and have exacerbated an already difficult housing situation. We are a tiny overpopulated island with very little space.

Do we need more luxurious houses for the wealthy or homes for the needy? Like many desirable places to live we are being taken over by outside influence. Compounding the problem is the fact that people who have no interest in the island and do not live here can buy local houses for investment, this must be stopped. This practice worsens an already difficult housing situation for locally-qualified people. Every house purchased by an outsider for investment is one less property available for island residents to buy, with the obvious effect of pushing up market prices. Leaving less available properties for the average and less well off, people. The doors must be closed on policies that promote such actions before it’s too late and all we have is the wealthy and their service providers.

These things need to be put right before they even think of asking more of others who are already stretched.

Wake up politicians, wake up Guernsey. Does anybody care enough to ensure that our/your children/grandchildren have a future on this island and will have somewhere to live, or do they all have to leave to live.

You are worried about the demographic of the island’s ageing population when the policies in place are driving away working age local people. We would also point out that not all pensioners are non-tax paying residents, we ourselves are pensioners and pay tax and contribute to the island, as do many other pensioners.

Essential workers are being brought in and given preferential treatment over local people who have studied hard to qualify and have to compete for housing against those, who being brought in, have special grants. Do you not know that injustice breeds unrest and that you can lose your locally qualified/born people, only to have to pay someone far more from outside to come in and take those jobs, provide housing, etc. In an island of over 60,000 there should be more than enough intelligent, talented people to take up most of these positions, if the locals were given due consideration.

We are not against the wealthy or essential workers, some were and are needed and have contributed well to the island’s wellbeing, but we have a tiny finite space which must be managed carefully.

Does our government not realise that the more they encourage preferential practices for those coming in, increasing the population the less properties are available for local residential people and our young people starting out trying to find a suitable roof over their heads. The more incomers, the more outgoers, and those, our children. With the result that the demographic is changed, and before long even those who have had the means to buy here will be leaving, not because of tax, but because of the change in the island.

Wake up politicians. We have a very desirable beautiful island. But we only have a tiny finite space, don’t ruin it for the local population. We are worried that there won’t be any affordable houses available for rent or buy for our grandchildren’s futures. Your responsibility is to represent the interest of the people of Guernsey and you are the ones that can make the difference for good or bad, it also will affect your offspring.

The average and less well off, should receive the proposed benefits, they need it, but not to add GST taking it away from them from the other hand. The taxes should come from those with the wealth who can afford it.

Our government need to make their suggested proposed savings, so much money has been wasted by bad management. They need to demonstrate good management as every house must, in order not to get into debt. Too many islanders have had to pull in their belts for too long trying to make ends meet, scrimping and scraping.

The government need to demonstrate good, just and caring leadership and lead by example instead of trying to bring in GST making the gap between those who have and those who have not greater than ever. It is time that a balance was restored to this island. One doesn’t have to be a mathematician to know that years of percentage, based cost of living rises have widened the gap considerably. E.g. someone on £40,000 receiving a cost of living rise of say 4% has an additional £1,600 a year, whereas those on £20,000 only receive an additional £800. The people who have to pay out the largest portion of their income in order to live are those who receive the least.

Our States needs to consider the average residents who make up the greater part of the island’s wellbeing and are looking to our government to make good and just decisions. Injustice breeds unrest. You should not be putting additional burdens on an already stretched community.

Does anybody care enough to ensure that our/your children/grandchildren have somewhere to live, or must they leave to live? We need the up-and-coming youngsters to have a healthy balance in our island.

Why are our States afraid to put extra tax on the wealthy, are they afraid they will leave? The majority who contribute to the island and enjoy living here and have made it their home will not leave.

Some people have even stressed that they would rather pay a little more income tax than have this awful GST, which everyone would have to pay, rich and poor alike, and only serves to make the gap between rich and poor greater, and can create a dreadful class system.

Many local tax-paying people are leaving their island home because of excessive living costs, some of whom were on good wages. Food and housing being the biggest problem.

Is our government elected by the people? Do they work for the people? Do not put additional burdens on islanders with any type of GST.

We have said a resounding no twice, and do not want GST at anytime.

Much more could be said, but I am trying to keep this letter from becoming a book.

Deputy David Goy has put forward some alternative suggestions to GST. If you wish to look it up you can here.

George and Marion Carre