TREASURY AND RESOURCES minister Lyndon Trott does not have the confidence of the public, claims a zero-10 critic. Deputy Rhoderick Matthews, who is placing an amendment in the States this week to try to delay the introduction of the new tax strategy by a year, also claimed Commerce and Employment minister Stuart Falla should not be allowed to take part in the debate because of his stake in the Garenne Group.

‘My objective-opinion testing has found considerable public dislike of Deputy Trott and a lack of confidence in his ability,’ said Deputy Matthews. ‘Deputy Falla has a clear vested interest in early adoption of the policy and should not take part in the debate. I’m not trying to imply anything improper, it’s just a question of interests.’

Deputy Trott’s reply was robust.

‘I look forward to receiving full details of Deputy Matthews’ objective-opinion testing, which clearly must now be made public and be subjected to independent scrutiny. Furthermore, I welcome the opportunity to engage in dialogue with those people who lack confidence, it would appear, in the States of Guernsey’s approved Economic and Taxation Strategy,’ he said.

And Deputy Falla said Deputy Matthews’ suggestion that he had a vested interest was a strange one.

‘I would have thought that everyone in the States has an interest because they are taxpayers themselves,’ he said. ‘That’s why they are deputies and they represent a wide spectrum of people and a broad spectrum of interests.

‘I fail to understand how I would have a vested interest in an early adoption. I fail to understand how any States member would have any personal interests as to whether zero-10 was adopted now or in 12 months’ time.’

Deputy Matthews took out an advert in the Guernsey Press last week asking islanders to get in touch about the forthcoming implementation of zero-10.

He said he had received hundreds of responses. ‘I didn’t expect more than a handful, but for hundreds of people to take the trouble to support me is quite moving.

‘I have not found anyone who is against me. One or two said it’s too late, but even they acknowledged that it would have been a good idea.’

The St Peter Port deputy said this week was the final chance for the House to correct its mistake.

‘Confidence was lost over the clinical block debacle involving only £2m.-plus but resulting in the sacking of the chief and deputy chief ministers after the entire Policy Council had to resign,’ he said. ‘What will people think about a £100m. blunder?’

Deputy Matthews said he feared members of the House might vote against his amendment because of pride. ‘It is sometimes a bit humbling to admit a mistake,’ he said. ‘I own up to misjudging by not campaigning earlier.’

Deputy Matthews has set challenges for deputies to consider before the debate. He wants them to go out and determine true public opinion, see if they can find details of any businesses that would suffer should zero-10 be delayed and explain the effects on Guernsey of business that might come to the island as a result of starting in 2008.

He also wants them to account for Jersey business growing faster or at least as fast as Guernsey’s in recent months.

Deputy Matthews added: ‘If members cannot genuinely answer these challenges, they will not be well prepared for the debate.’