JERSEY is about to enter the most important six months of its recent history with a multi-faceted public debate which will radically affect the lives of all Islanders.

A huge agenda for social, economic and political reform, ranging from the amount of tax we pay to the standard of public services, begins in earnest next week and will continue for much of the year, with major public meetings and historic States debates set to shape the Island’s future for decades to come.The wide-ranging process, taking place against a political background which includes the change to ministerial government and an unexpected Senatorial by-election, brings together many different strands, each representing a major issue in its own right.The most controversial element is expected to be tax reform.

The long-awaited fiscal strategy – expected to propose big increases in personal tax bills to close a Budget shortfall blamed on international finance industry changes – will be unveiled by Finance and Economics on 16 February, just one day before a round of public meetings on it.