PENSION business is still good for Guernsey and the island’s expertise must continue to be promoted, an industry conference has heard.

Consultation is currently under way about the future of Guernsey’s taxation, benefits and pensions system.

A major overhaul of how the States taxes islanders and spends the money, driven by the long-term impact of an aging population, is the subject of a consultation launched this week.

ISLANDERS will have to choose between fewer public services or more tax to avoid being hit hard by the demographic time bomb, Treasury and Resources and Social Security have warned.

MAJOR reform of personal tax, benefits and pensions are on the table as part of a consultation exercise launched today.

INFIGHTING among union officials has led to two senior figures effectively being forced to remove themselves from discussions on planned pension changes.

UNIONS have called for an urgent meeting with States officials so that ‘negotiations can begin’ on pensions.

A STATEMENT yesterday from the Association of States Employee Organisations on pension reforms was notable for who, or more importantly who didn’t, sign it off.

CHANGES to the public sector pension scheme are set to come into force on 1 January.

WITH the ‘new’ Assembly entering its first full year of office the time is fast approaching when it will be possible to judge whether it is living up to the States of Change potential that was claimed at the general election.