Doubts over open market are damaging island, says deputy
Friday 21st January 2011, 1:00PM GMT.
BRINGING the open market into doubt will have a negative impact on the future of the island’s economy, a Commerce and Employment board member has said.
Open market resident Martin Storey has called for Population Policy Group chairman Bernard Flouquet to make a further calming statement over the future of the sector, because he claimed word about its uncertainty had reached the UK.
‘The States created the open market to attract high end individuals to the island and this contributed a great deal to the growth of the economy,’ he said. ‘But now the word is already out in the UK that there is a problem with housing in Guernsey.’
However, Chamber of Commerce Population Policy Group chairman David Thompson (pictured) said the consultation could benefit the sector.
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Oh yes keep the rich happy but what about the abolition of tax relief on life assurance
Just like in the UK the average worker is being shafted
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Just like the UK the average worker is being shafted? – Public Servant.
Really? I think you’ll find the average worker here is still paying far less in tax than the average worker over the water.
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Hello
No, the ‘well off’ pay less tax.
20% income tax compared to basic 22% in the UK and then factor in the rip off energy prices in Guernsey. I defy anyone to show that people on less than £40000 are any better off here. If you are well off fine, if not, you are being conned.
How many local business’ charge the same price or more than the UK and we don’t have a sales tax.
Local people on low incomes are the last priority of the politicians in Guernsey.
We can’t have a reciprocal health agreement because you Hello are charged for services provided by the state in the UK.
Too many rose tinted specs round here
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And Hello, how long is mortgage tax relief going to remain?
The distinction between Guernsey and the UK blurs by the day, except for the filthy rich
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Not all people living in OM are filthy rich. I work for a bank. They wouldnt provide me with a licence, which is fair enough, even though they couldnt find someone to replace me. I think this is because no locals would tolerate that salary, and would ask for 10k more. I therefore share a house with 5 others. I earn 30k per year and am not a drain on society.
I have a local boyfriend, but dont live with him and am not pregnant by him. Shocker, because he jokes that I could get a licence that way. Whilst we laugh about it, in all seriousness I would rather support myself. Unlike some!
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Public Servant – 20% Income Tax plus 12% national insurance. The employer pays 14% national insurance. 20% VAT. Petrol at circa £1.30 a litre. Council Tax on a modest 3 bed semi £1800. How much is your TRP?
You get MIRAS and you can link your tax code to your spouse so a married person has the first £18,100 tax free. In the UK you’ll get the first £6,900 tax free.
You’re not badly off here and to be honest whether you were here or there you’d still be insanely jealous of those better off than you. So really, you’re better off here……
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Martin Storey is right to follow this up. There are already reporters here from the UK taking photos at Fort George and trying to find out what is happening. Very unsettling. Why did the Press not make the point that most open market residents live off their UNEARNED income or capital not earnings!!!
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