ON the day that ministers meet for crunch talks on a rescue package for Islanders struggling with rising prices, it has been claimed that GST might make £10m a year more than expected.
A leaked ministerial memo says that annual GST takings might be £50–55m rather than the £45m forecast.
The memo says that the Treasury’s figures do not take account of Jersey’s economic growth since 2004, and that ministers face defeat if they continue to fight moves to exempt food from the three per cent sales tax.
Treasury Minister Terry Le Sueur says the GST receipts are likely to be higher than first expected, but has declined to say by how much.
Pictured: The Council of Ministers, who were meeting on Thursday to discuss GST on food
Article posted on 21st August, 2008 - 3.00pm
5 Article Comments
Here we go again being baffled by the ministers of trickery attempting to defend their decisions with sets of figures that never quite add up. Perhaps they think we islanders are inferior to their superiority?
Unfortunatly this won’t cover the gap made by the zero-ten policy because they did not do the maths correctly. They forecast £100m but by my workings that has now increased to £140 million. So don’t expect them to give us a windfall from the extra £10m but maybe a little gester but not a windfall.
Interesting quote from this article: “Treasury Minister Terry Le Sueur says the GST receipts are likely to be higher than first expected, but has declined to say by how much.”
Has Senator Le Suer forgotten who pays his salary as a Minister?
If this was a matter of national security, the public could understand that a full and open statement could not be given. But this is OUR MONEY that is being discussed. This tax was pushed on us despite a significant number of people saying NO and signing a petition reinforcing that. Still, the Minister will not listen to the public, engage with the taxpayers or justify these figures by dialogue with people.
Is this really a fit and appropriate person to be our Chief Minister? Can he represent us on the world stage or at national levels?
And if he does reach that exalted status, will it be because the voice of the people has spoken with confidence or another shady back room deal has been struck to put another megalomaniac without the skills to back up his ambitions in charge of this Island?
This is hard to believe given the financial hardship GST has brought to the Island. How can a treasury department and the Minister himself not take into account Jersey’s economic growth since 2004 and get their figures wrong by 10 million pounds, maybe more. Treasury Minister declines to comment…does he understand he is a PUBLIC SERVANT?
Scandalous! Those parasites are profiteering at the elderly’s expense.This whole situation needs bringing to a rapid end, we should take to the streets to oust these thieves.