Brussels lawyers gave no warning
Wednesday 21st October 2009, 2:29PM BST.
LAWYERS retained in Brussels by Guernsey and Jersey apparently failed to warn of the pressure building on the zero-10 strategies.
Grilled by deputies yesterday over the sudden announcement that the package was no longer acceptable, Jersey’s Chief Minister Terry Le Sueur (pictured) revealed that its legal advisers had been unaware of the situation .
The islands still continue to retain the same law firm,
Deputy Roy Le Herissier asked Senator Le Sueur who within the chief minister’s department or in Brussels was expected to inform the island’s government of developments in Europe.
Deputy Le Herissier said he believed that two lawyers were retained by Jersey to keep the department aware of any changes.
Senator Le Sueur conceded that neither the expert in his department nor the contacts in Brussels had given any warning of the announcement.
He faced 15 minutes of questioning in total.
He was asked by Deputy Geoff Southern to state ‘yes or no’ as to whether the island’s tax proposals were compliant with European rules.
‘I don’t know,’ he said ‘But indications we have are that they might not be.’
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Total incompetence.
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What were we paying them?
Was it taxpayer or industry funded?
The industry knew about this problem already, though.
The politicians knew about this probably already, though.
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It is my belief that the reason we did not get warning from our advisors in the EU, is because this demand on Zero 10 did not come direct from Brussels. This has the Labour government’s finger prints all over it, one of the last desperate final acts of a vindictive labour administration before they are kicked out of office next spring. Of course there will be some member states who will agree with the UK treasury on this matter, however there is no doubt in my mind that this is a UK initiative.
Brown, Straw, Primorolo in fact the whole bunch are racked with envy and resentment about our continued success, when they have made such a mess of almost everything they have done since coming to power 11 years ago.
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Deputy Jones. Deputy Jones. Deputy Jones.
The more I type that the more surreal you become.
Is there a group of you who brainstorm the most ridiculous thing they can possibly get you to say?
For a bet.
“It is my belief….”
No, preacher. You want to spread misinformation. Facts and policy, please, Mr Elected Representative Jones. You weren’t voted in to tell us your conspiracy theories.
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A quote for you, Jonathan, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”.
Dave Jones has every right to express a belief. If you disagree with his point of view then how aboutyour “own facts and policy”. It’s easy to denigrate others, let’s hear something that is either constructive or, if not, something that takes the debate forward and not backwards.
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Dave Jones
Nicolas Sarkozy has made things exceptionally clear for a good length of time now that it is tax havens and their abuse of others income streams that he will do all he can to put a firm end to.
Those that have lost out have formed a consortium in order to claw back exactly that due to what they perceive as unfair advantages enjoyed by others including the Channel Islands.
All they are wishing to achieve is stem the flow and make sure there an no further leaks. If the boot was on the other foot I am very clear that the politicians locally would act in exactly the same manner.
Things have been good but all good things come to an end. Lets make a positive start by filling all the cruise liners with fuel when they make their passage stops in local waters as a starting point at looking for competitive alternatives.
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Paul
I fully understand the issue but I don’t accept that our lucrative finance business will necessarily come to an end. I may look different than it does now and we might have to be more creative in the future but neither Sarkozy nor the EU rule the world as yet.
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Aeschylus
I thank you for defending my rights, like you I think it is an important part of any democracy for people to be able to express their views and I am absolutely delighted that we as a group of islanders do not always agree.
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So Aeschylus, when was i suggesting otherwise? This is my problem. It’s not the idea of CI/Guernsey UDI-variations, could be exciting. It’s the manner of the influence on the electorate that is a bit fishy. So I take a closer look.
He’s an external relationship spokesjones isn’t he? He is on the policy council? He seems to be favourably regarded – bar some petty grievances – for Housing. At least the press don’t like him and vice versa, but the dept seems to get less flak than some, considering the majority of the work is for the Guernsey Not-Poor-At-All-There-Is-No-Poverty-In-Guernsey section of society.
So his comment “It is my belief…..that this [zero ten scuppering] is a UK initiative. Brown, Straw, Primorolo in fact the whole bunch are racked with envy and resentment about our continued success, when they have made such a mess of almost everything they have done since coming to power 11 years ago.” will be touched with the authority of his positions and standing, regardless of accuracy.
I bet he blames Brown for credit crunch UK and does not equate these last 11 years as a boom for OFCs the two being linked by banking stuffs.
So shouting fire in that auditorium may well be free speech worth dying for, but who’s accountable for the carnage as panic sets in?
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To answer Aeschylus further
Seagulls in France squak the same as we do. I don’t see them rioting in the cliffs to rid them of this cruel Uber-Skua.
Nor anywhere else.
The reality for people’s lives is generally unchanged, often better and sometimes worse.
For transcendental seabirds?
Existence is a state of mind.
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Jonathan,
Your blog 11:31 26 October refers. As for your later blogs I wish I could understand them because, maybe, there’s something worthwhile in what you’re saying.
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Aeschylus, have you tried speaking english with a beak? I do mine through an i-phone app.
I was surprised that no-one has set up
Choose2EschewEu.com
good for pouting practice.
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The EU reminds me of the BORG you will be assimilated!
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The warnings about the Eu taking action against our finance industry has been around for at least three years. The big players have already left the island, but the States as usual buried their heads & hoped it would go away.
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