WHEN the States embarked on zero-10, the loss of corporation tax revenues meant that there would be a multi-million pound ‘black hole’ in Guernsey’s public finances that would somehow have to be filled.

Islanders made it clear at the time that they, alone, should not bear that burden.

Indeed not, said their elected representatives. That pain will be shared. As well as tax rises, (which have happened), cuts will be made. Economies will be found. Government spending will be at or below inflation.

Today, that lie is exposed. Despite those promises to exercise restraint, despite the most savage global recession, the States of Guernsey have embarked on a horrifying spending spree – at taxpayers’ expense – while shedding crocodile tears of regret at how hard life is.

Departments have blown nearly £30m. in new spending and have created an additional 171 States jobs, with extra pension perks, and have increased the cost of government by 10% while pretending to peg it back to at or below inflation.

What the States Accounts, released today, actually reveal is a great betrayal: States members cannot be trusted to keep their word. Chief among them are the ministers who have sat back and watched their departments expand, spend more and take on extra staff: Health, Education, Social Security, Public Services and the Policy Council itself all stand accused of playing fast and loose with taxpayers’ money.

As we report on page 5, the Health minister hasn’t a clue how he took on an extra 90 staff or how his payroll costs soared by £3m. He, and his political colleagues on HSSD, really should consider their positions.

More fundamentally, however, if ministers are not controlling expenditure, who is and where will it all end?

The picture painted by the latest accounts is exceptionally grave. Guernsey does not have a structural deficit. The States simply will not live within its means.

The difference between income and expenditure is not large and would not take much to narrow – if ministers and their chief officers did what they said they would do and exercised restraint.

That they haven’t shows either contempt for their paymasters, this island community, or utter incompetence. So which is it?