BUSINESSES will find it tougher to make the new zero-10 tax strategy work without increased flexibility for housing licences. Confederation of Guernsey Industry chairman Philip Duquemin said that last week’s States decision to hold the population at about 60,000 instead of agreeing to net inward migration of 200 a year had sent out a poor message to his members.

‘Business will need to fund the new tax strategy and I am really concerned that we’re saying that we have a vibrant economy and want business to expand and create more wealth, more higher-paid jobs and more employment.

‘But this message from the States to me says that the task you have got, gentlemen, has got a lot tougher now. We’re not going to support you with the relevant professional staff.’

Mr Duquemin said that while the vote did not mean that Guernsey was ‘closed for business’ it would make life harder for local companies.

He added that he opposed an open gates approach to population, but said that he was disappointed that the vote had not supported the ‘go for growth’ zero-10 policy.

‘You can’t just take one part of the package – you can’t isolate tax from population.

‘In the future the States should review the way they need to move forward on this – they cannot make decisions in isolation.’

The States approved an amendment from Deputy Peter Roffey to hold the population rather than back a Policy Council proposal to allow net inward migration, which could have seen it rise to 64,000 over the next 25 years.