This Is Guernsey

By Nick Mann

A CALL for a united voice from the States over zero-10 was answered overwhelmingly in the House yesterday. But the peace was shattered afterwards when divisions were reopened, with the strategy’s chief critic, Deputy Charles Parkinson, saying the public could show at election time how ‘detached from reality’ Treasury minister Lyndon Trott had become.

In debate, Deputy Trott said the majority of the public were content with the tax reforms and that it was only a vociferous minority of malcontents who object.

‘The public will have an opportunity, in the only opinion poll that matters, to show him how detached from reality he has become on 23 April 2008,’ said Deputy Parkinson.

‘I’m certain that a large majority of the Guernsey public considers the zero-10 policy to be unfair and unbalanced. That majority will look to a new House to restore balance and fairness to our tax system.’

With growing public discontent stirred by a failed attempt by Deputy Rhoderick Matthews to delay the policy, Deputy Trott made his unity appeal to members as they went to vote on an essential

resolution missing from the strategy.

He also held up his hands to the embarrassing omission that had forced the issue to come back before the House.

Asked to approve part of the zero-10 legislation, 41 deputies gave their approval. Deputies Matthews and Dan Le Cheminant abstained.

‘For those who are quizzical of Deputy Matthews, and there are a great number, I say this - remember, he’s doing his best, as everybody in the House is doing their best,’ said Deputy Trott.

‘We live in a prosperous and happy community and a few events of the last few weeks risked that prosperity and contentment. I don’t believe Guernsey and our future is anywhere near the doom-laden scenario some of these individuals seek to portray.’

There was positivity from the overwhelming majority, he added.

Deputy Trott called for a named vote in the hope that members would send ‘a strong signal to our community’.

But he fell short of getting the unanimity he had asked for.

Members had been forced into debating the legislation again after a proposition was left out of last month’s States report.

But with a warning from Bailiff Geoffrey Rowland ringing in their ears after the heated scenes of last month, debate was mostly muted.

Deputy Trott said the report had been brought to address a minor administrative error.

‘I take full responsibility for the fact this proposition was missing. I could have noticed, but didn’t,’ he said.

But Mr Rowland said that if there was any blame, it should be spread widely.

Deputy Matthews did not think it was appropriate to describe it as a minor error.

There were also other technical amendments to the legislation and Deputy Sam Maindonald said it would have been useful for all members to clearly see what they were.

Legislation Select Committee chairwoman Claire Le Pelley stressed the pressure of producing the legislation within the time frame and praised those working on it.