Crisis meeting on costs
Wednesday 30th July 2008, 3:00PM BST.
AN emergency meeting to discuss ways of helping Islanders pay for food and energy bills and to look at options for controlling increasing petrol prices has been called by the Council of Ministers.
The move comes just weeks after it was revealed that food prices had increased by 13 per cent in the last 12 months, gas prices were to rise by up to 20 per cent, and electricity costs were to increase by at least 25 per cent.
Islanders also face soaring fuel costs, with petrol increasing by more than 10p per litre at some pumps over the last year. Treasury Minister Terry Le Sueur today declined to comment on the possible options and refused to discuss whether the States would consider removing GST from food.
He said: ‘We are all aware that food and fuel prices have gone up considerably during the last year. The Council of Ministers has been closely monitoring the effects of increased food and fuel prices on the public.’
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How about a 3% reduction in pricing!
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The best way to solve this is to reduce Harbour fees and custom duties. This way the supermarkets will no excuse for charging highly inflated prices for their food. I was in London on Saturday in Oxford Street and brought a £1.50 punnet of strawberrys (large punnet) and over here they are £4 per punnet. Why? surely not because of shipping?
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Ha, anyone would think there are elections coming….!!!
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Great idea Chris!
That means it will end up being more like 7 or 8%!!!!!!!!
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Surely if they remove GST from food then they will have to remove it from food bought not only at supermarkets but also at wholesalers – therefore restaurants and hotels will also not have to charge GST. When are the elections??
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There is more chance of snow in the desert than Le Sueur reversing GST even thought ITIS,(which was not taken into their calculations in the six years leading up to GST) is providing over twice probable three times more than what GST. Also because what are they going to do with all the additonal JCat staff (probably on six figure salaries and pension to match),the consultants employed on 6 month contracts, still here two years later or the additional staff, offices etc used to collect it. He has already stated, “it would mean losing face and not showing strong government”. Roll on the elections.
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Canute the Great demonstrated conclusively, or so most people believe, that even regal powers have limits. A thousand years on, it is good to see that our Council of Ministers is prepared to attempt to stop the tide on rising prices. May be they could start by explaining how much of the 10 per cent rise in fuel prices was due; to global fossil fuel demand; GST (3%); and, local bureaucratic overheads (GST again)?
There may be crisis, but is our current Council of Ministers the one to put it right? What is the crisis?
.
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When are the elections? As long as state ministers like Terry Le Seur have food in their stomachs and power in their houses they don’t care about the rest of the island.
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Oh does this mean that they will have to admit adding GST was a mistake !!! Perhaps the thousands of people that protested against adding GST knew what they were talking about !! The sad things are that they will never admit to making the mistake and it only takes them being out of pocket to do something to rectify the situation
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Many people who work in supermarkets, food outlets etc. are closer to the minimum wage than banking staff. With possible increase in the minimum wage of over 5% the cost of food and general groceries is likely to rise even higher. Vicious circle?
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Harbour fees & duties have lttle effect. The boats that all our food comes over on use diesel, a lot of diesel – as long as fuel prices remain high we don’t have a choice. Perhaps condor should tell us their fuel bill – we might understand then
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well said Sarah I fully agree with you, at the moment all that is happening is that anyone living on a low income is struggling more and with the thought of a 20% increase in electric it is putting more stress on everyones especially the elderly and single parents I for one have already got a stock pile of candles from £1 world before GST! so that I dont have to put the lights on to much I am also now collecting drift wood and any branches from walks to burn on the fire so I don’t have to put the heating on as much and they say that this is a rich island well not for most of us that’s for sure. I would like to see Terry Le Sueur feed, clothe and educate 2 children on my wages ! how about it fancy the challenge ? I THOUGHT NOT. ROLL ON THE ELECTIONS ……..
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To answer both Peter and Sarah the elections for senators and constables is on the 15th October and the elections for deputies is on the 26th November. Hope you are on the electoral roll for voting!
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This story even funnier then the nightclub one!!! Unbelievable!!!!!!
I had to stop and read the headline twice to make sure what I saw was true!!
And while I’m here, how come a Minister (Minister for Transport and Technical Services, Deputy Guy de Faye) gets to lay the last stone of the seawall repairs. Yeah I’m sure he bust a gut during the building work, what with working throughout the wind and rain these past six months. Bask in your own publicity or what.
These guys have lost reality with the rest of us.
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Fred:
While i agree with you about the cost of Fuel going though the roof the point i was making is that a minority of large retailers on the island are charging the public extra % on top of the UK prices for shipping. This has been the case for years not just for now when fuel hits top dollar.
Since i have posted this comment i have found that the strawberrys i mentioned at £4 per punnet are actually Jersey Strawberrys so no shipping.
Sorry Fred but the duties charged on shipping can make a difference in the prices as the supermarkets will have no choice but to take that percentage off.
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jersey is digging itself in a very big hole
i blame the states members who voted for gst
and income support will when you vote your
self pay rises and all the greedy companies
who saw gst as a easy way to hike up their
prices we need to show in our voting just how
fed up we are
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Up by how much in the last 12 months???
How about since the GST came in, most shops increased there prices by a rediculous amount, beyond 3% and used GST as an excuse!
These shops should be seeded out, investigated and fined!
This island is no longer a community, its a profit!
Governments only care about themselves, ESPECIALLY JERSEY!
“The STATE of Jersey” How about that for a play on words…
Footballers get paid too much but the people in power in Jersey just take the mick!
How about spending less on ridiculous projects that we as an island do not need, and instead, give back to the people!
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Our so called goverment should be helping those on low incomes!! No chance they are a total disgrace as prices rise the poor will suffer most and the states will do nothing to help
When will we have a low cost supermarket it has been discussed for years now but nothing is done local companies grossly over charge the consumer
Our states members are out of touch completely i hope and pray that the majority will be thrown out come the elections
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I agree remove gst on food, i see pensioners searching for the ‘sell by date ‘food at the co-op,its saddening that they have worked all their lives and now have to scratch around for cheap food,some of them look ashamed and sad. This Island is an utter disgrace , when are the people of this island going to wake up? never mind the elections we need to take to the streets and forceably kick these people out of office.
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I feel that Deputy Labey’s proposal to remove GST on Food and Fuel will not suceeed as the Council of Ministers have a mindset of their own and ignore the General Public (Petition anyone?).
If by some quirk of fate, the Deputy is successful in her proposition, I am sure that ‘Terry’ will either increase GST to 4% or introduce another new tax!
Also remember, we are all already paying more income tax as allowances are being reduced annually! Has he taken this into account?
The elections can not come around sooon enough; it’s time the majority of sitting members were voted out.
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States know what to do: 1. cut ridiculous States spending, 2. reduce taxes(ITIS, remove GST), 3. allow real competition – another supermarket.
But sadly there is no political will to help struggling electors.
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Let a third supermarket operator into the island and to help reduce costs.
Why is it that existing retailers are treated as a protected species? We hear that the new waterfront will have limited retail space into order to protect existing retailers. But history shows that town has moved in its direction. The public should get improved retail space, existing retailers have the option of relocating and improving what they offer.
Everything on this island takes so long to happen.
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Silly question time:
What is stopping a small shop from opening up and selling say, for example, Asda’s products?
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