WHEN the Policy Council developed its first Government Business Plan in 2006, its second priority – in other words, a pretty vital building block for the future success of the island – was very clear-cut.

It was ‘to create and sustain the conditions that help maintain a prosperous and resilient business environment which is able to respond quickly to changing local and international circumstances’.

Since then of course, the single engine of economic prosperity on which this island and its people depend – the enterprises which create the jobs which pay the wages the States takes in taxation – has been assailed on all sides.

From minimum wage legislation to enforced competition laws, skyrocketing postal prices to ever more onerous regulatory burdens, Guernsey’s business sector has never been under such pressure.

Managers and directors must be wondering what it would be like if government was not so committed to making their lives easier.

On top of this, the latest proposals to increase the retirement age to 67 will also make it harder and more expensive to run a business and to employ staff.

Yes, there is a balance to be struck between giving bosses free rein to run riot and hobbling them with red tape.

But as it is, some businesses, particularly in horticulture and the fulfilment sectors, are already fearful that the latest crop of bureaucracy from the States will drive them over the edge.

Steering the economy towards higher added value businesses is one thing, sacrificing existing wealth creators in the name of government control, especially without any visible replacements, is quite another.

Guernsey used to have a reputation for being business-friendly, with a light touch on restrictive legislation. That is no longer the case. Yet for every additional piece of regulation or new legal requirement there has been no effort to reduce the load elsewhere.

Deputies need to question whether more red tape is really necessary and what they truly are doing to maintain a vibrant business sector.

For today, the changing circumstances mentioned in the Government Business Plan are those imposed by government – and that’s not the support commerce needs at this time.