Battle to suffer as GST kicks in

Tuesday 8th April 2008, 12:00AM BST.

BATTLE of Flowers organisers will be forced to put ticket prices up and float-builders will be made to pay an extra £6,000 every year as a result of the introduction of the new goods and services tax.

Despite the fact that hundreds of Islanders give up countless hours to work for free for the parade, which is the Island’s premier tourist attraction and the highlight of the summer calendar, the Treasury Minister has refused to exempt the event from the new tax, which starts on 6 May.

Collectively, the float-builders bring £200,000 worth of flowers into the Island each year, on which they will now pay an extra ฃ6,000 GST.

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