The P&R President has said it is “absolutely business as usual” for Guernsey’s top political committee, after the arrest and subsequent resignation of one of the island’s leading politicians.
The States will soon elect a new member to Policy and Resources, after Forward Guernsey leader Deputy Gavin St Pier and his wife were arrested on suspicion of “misconduct in public office”, with Deputy St Pier later resigning from P&R.
Deputy St Pier has been the resources lead for P&R since last summer – taking a lead on all things fiscal including the budget and preparations for the potential introduction of GST+.
Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez, P&R President, told Express that his decision to resign from P&R has not changed anything for the committee.
“There’s obviously a decision for the assembly to make in terms of the composition of P&R, but for the time being, certainly, it’s business as usual.
“We will see what happens after the States’ debate, and it will then be business as usual from that point on too.”
As well as his P&R duties, Deputy St Pier was one of two deputies heading up the Tax Review Sub-Committee, which recently published a report looking at possible corporate tax reforms as an alternative to GST+.
Deputy de Sausmarez said the sub-committee had “done its job” and its duties had now been “discharged”.
“In terms of me, rather than Gavin, answering questions [about the tax review], I think it’s actually quite a helpful distinction,” she said.
Considering more options
“What I don’t want to happen is for people to mistake the Tax Review Sub-Committee’s report for P&R’s recommendations.”
The sub-committee was “tasked with a really specific job”, which they’ve completed, she said.
“P&R is looking much more broadly at all those other areas, including potential income from offshore wind, renewable energy, [income tax, and cost reduction measures].”
The sub-committee had only looked at “a portion” of the options P&R had to consider, she said, adding: “Our job is to look at things in full.”
Election
Deputy St Pier intends to stand for re-election to P&R at next week’s States meeting.
P&R has not yet named its preferred candidate but has previously said it won’t be nominating Deputy St Pier.
