This Is Guernsey

THE States is to make a final attempt at explaining zero-10 to islanders by way of a letter to all households. The mailshot, which will be delivered from today, gives the reasons behind the adoption of the new tax strategy.

But Chief Minister Mike Torode has denied that it was propaganda, merely the States communicating better with islanders.

Policy Council members have given their unanimous support to the idea following public concern during the final stages of States approval for the legislation late last year.

The aim is to restate the background to the tax changes and answer some of the main questions which have been raised.

Deputy Torode said it was a similar idea to the pull-out supplement on the Budget published in the Guernsey Press at the end of last year.

‘Because over the years the States has not been a particularly good communicator, when we start to do it, people tend to look at it with a bit of suspicion.

‘But we have a duty to islanders to keep them in the picture. It’s the only way we can guarantee it gets to everybody.’

Deputy Torode hoped it would ensure the fullest possible understanding of zero-10 before April’s general election.

‘We don’t have to win support for zero-10 because the strategy is already in place.

‘But there are dangers in unravelling it or trying to implement too many changes too soon.

‘Nobody is saying that the policy will remain as it is forever, but we believe that it will work and be good for Guernsey, islanders and the economy.

‘Sadly, I feel that some people still don’t understand much about it. Maybe that’s our fault, though obviously thousands of people did get involved during the consultation process.

‘One thing rings out loud and clear - change was unavoidable. Doing nothing was not an option. It would have placed jobs and our economy at risk and we believed that this was the best way to protect islanders and public finances.

‘Some people seem desperate to say that this whole thing is going to fail.

‘It is well known that initially I didn’t support the zero-10 proposals in June 2006.

‘But I’m satisfied in my mind, and have been for some time, that now we have gone the right way, which is why I support zero-10 without reservation.’