So Paul Montague thinks calling Deputies “traitors” is wrong, as he made clear to me on the steps today.
Now, in fairness, I wasn’t the only person shouting it but, despite having toothache, apparently my voice was the one that managed to reach him! 
Those who know me will know I’m not exactly renowned for being quiet or keeping my opinions to myself.
However, I suspect Paul may have taken umbrage at the word without perhaps understanding the context in which I used it. As a former educator, I’m sure he’ll appreciate the importance of definitions. I’m sure he could look up the definition of “traitor” but to save time, here it is:
“Someone who betrays someone or something, such as a friend, cause or principle.”
Perhaps that explains a little better why I used the word. When a community is being vocal about its opposition to GST, I believe those who push ahead with a tax that so many people in the Bailiwick are saying they do not want are betraying the community they were elected to represent.
More importantly, it’s obvious he hasn’t read my email, because if he had, he would understand clearly why I am opposed to GST.
The gist of what he said to me was that the government needs the money to improve services like education. Now I understand the importance of education and other services but surely the first step should be to get your own house in order before asking already stretched families and lower and middle earners to pay more.
There are still no proper safeguards, and GST will hit ordinary families particularly hard. These are the very people you say you are trying to help.
And that additional 3%? The 3% we see at the till is only part of the story. The States have already allocated millions of pounds towards developing the systems, processes and legislation needed to introduce GST, and their own documentation recognises that there will be ongoing administration costs. Then there is the additional cost to every business to administer GST, including accounting systems, staff time, compliance, paperwork and professional advice. So the true cost of GST to our economy will be considerably more than the percentage we see printed on a till receipt.
I have no doubt that the percentage will creep up over a relatively short time.
There is another reality we cannot ignore. We are an island and rely heavily on goods sourced from elsewhere. We have very little control over what happens beyond our shores. Wars, droughts, supply chain disruption and rising costs are already having a significant effect on the price of goods coming into the Bailiwick and there is little to suggest those pressures are going to disappear anytime soon.
We are already paying significantly more for many of the essentials we rely on. Adding another tax on top of those increasing costs risks putting even more pressure on families who are already struggling to make ends meet.
If more money is needed, tax wealth fairly, tackle waste and inefficiency, and get the States’ finances in order before putting yet another burden on ordinary households. GST is not a fair tax!
This isn’t about attacking individuals. It’s about challenging a policy that I believe is unfair – and I’ll continue to speak up about it, loudly, toothache or no toothache!
Alison Torode
