GUERNSEY Airport and Guernsey Harbours are a step closer to being commercialised.

FEARS about the future of national newspaper deliveries, rising construction costs and increased mooring fees have been allayed by the States.

When the States meets today, members will be asked to approve a U-turn by Public Services and not pursue a quasi tax on the ports and boatowners.

CONSTRUCTION industry representatives are calling on deputies to reject proposals for hikes in the cost of importing vital building materials.

The latest twist in the saga of how to raise £1.8m. – raiding air passengers rather than boatowners – is an indication that government in the round really does not understand the concept of ‘joined up’ far less practise what it preached back in the 2004 reforms that were supposed to make the States run [...]

Over the last few days, this column has been looking at the real reasons – government’s unwillingness to cut its expenditure – for Public Services’ raid on a wide range of users of the harbours and airport.

RONEZ faces paying an extra £180,000 a year if Public Services proposals for increased charges at the harbours get the go-ahead.

THE recent proposal to consider commercialising Guernsey’s air and sea ports drew strong criticism from some politicians.

A TRUST could be set up to run Guernsey’s harbours, under proposals being discussed by Public Services.

HD FERRIES has been forced to delay the resumption of its service by a day because a courier company apparently lost a vital part.