A Guernsey Deputy has urged Policy and Resources (P&R) to “listen to the people” after a series of last-minute changes were tabled hours before today’s debate on tax reform.
Deputy Rob Curgenven was speaking as more than 100 protesters gathered outside the Royal Court, with a 9,000-strong anti-GST petition handed to deputies.
The changes, proposed by P&R President Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez very late on Tuesday night, combine six separate amendments, five of which were originally lodged by Deputy Curgenven, with the aim speeding up the debate.
Deputy de Sausmarez’s amendment brings together proposals affecting disability vehicles, self-build homes, social security contribution credits, minimum GST limits and implementation safeguards, as well as additional support for Alderney.
However, Deputy Curgenven said he was “disappointed” that the changes were introduced with no warning.
“I did ask in the deputies’ WhatsApp group a couple of days ago, ‘Does anyone have any plans to reorder business?’
“There were no responses whatsoever – and then 8 o’clock this morning, we suddenly find out about all of these changes,” he said.
His comments came as anti-GST campaigners gathered outside the States ahead of what is expected to be a landmark debate on Guernsey’s future tax system.
‘What happened to collegiate working?’
Deputy Curgenven said he was particularly upset not to be able to devote proper time to his amendments, which include measures to protect disabled people’s vehicles from GST.
He heavily criticised P&R’s “authoritarian” approach, saying it went against Deputy de Sausmarez’s promises of an assembly “working collegially”, before she became P&R President.
He added: “P&R makes most of its moves behind closed doors, and sometimes deputies read about it in the media.
“Sometimes we learn about it on the day. It’s just not what I expected from a democratic process.”
Far from being a parliament of equals, Deputy Curgenven said he worried the Assembly risked becoming dominated by a “P&R Party” of the committee and its supporters, including Forward Guernsey deputies.
“P&R opposes almost everything on the table,” he said, referencing P&R’s official position on the amendments, but not one Forward Guernsey amendment.
“It’s nice to see they’ve found some new members.”
‘We need to get it right’
Deputy Curgenven said the focus should be on reaching the right decision, even if that means a longer debate.
“I think it’s more important to get the decision right,” he said.
“This is the biggest overhaul to Guernsey’s tax system since World War Two – it will affect all future generations.
“We need to get it right – and if that means sitting here for two weeks solid and getting it done and debating it, that’s what we have to do.
“That’s what we’re paid to do.”
9,000 sign petition
Deputy Curgenven urged P&R to “listen to the people”.
“There’s over 9,000 people who have signed the petition, and they just feel that P&R doesn’t listen.
“There are a number of deputies that don’t feel P&R are listening.
“Just basically to start listening and to properly honour their commitment to working collegially.”
‘Fed up and frustrated’
Protest organiser Lars Janssen said campaigners were “fed up and frustrated” by reports that some of the alternative proposals may not receive full debate.
“As I got here, I heard through the grapevine that P&R’s already apparently decided on blocking even discussing David Goy’s proposals, which kind of shows that they clearly haven’t learned from last time.”
Mr Janssen claimed campaigners had repeatedly been asked by P&R to put forward alternatives to GST, only for P&R to refuse to debate them.
‘Incompetence’
Among those attending the demonstration was former deputy Carl Meerveld, who has been campaigning against GST and argues the States should focus on improving efficiency before introducing new taxes.
“I’d rather actually have the States short of money and looking for savings and increasing the efficiency of the States, rather than looking to raise more tax to fund a broken system.”
He said GST was a solution being proposed by the civil service instead of getting rid of waste.
“We can’t even collect the income tax we’re owed. Why are we focusing on that instead?”
Carl Meerveld
“Every States project starts off at a budget of £120 million and ends up at £273 million – and if it’s actually built, it would be 500 million.
“This is incompetence. In the private sector, you would get fired and wouldn’t have a career anymore if you did that kind of thing.
“In the civil service, let’s just introduce GST and help fund all of this incompetence.”
He called for a “complete revamp of the way the civil service works”, adding “We can then start delivering projects on budget, on time, and start making sensible decisions with the money we’ve got.”
“I personally would rather have lower taxes and more efficient government, and be less of a nanny state.”
Mr Meerveld said his concern was that GST would rise over time and further increase the cost of living, while distracting from efforts to improve government efficiency and control spending.
The protest is due to take place as deputies begin debating a package of tax reforms that includes proposals for the introduction of GST alongside wider changes to Guernsey’s tax system.
