From Malcolm S Lewis

HAVING caught up with the editions of the JEP after being on holiday, I was astonished to read that Jersey Post, a commercial division of the States of Jersey, has set up a new business, Ship2Me, to promote and encourage Islanders to buy from major UK stores.

The next week, Senator Maclean launches the Think Twice, Buy Local campaign, an entirely sensible drive to keep business in the Island.

Do I detect that the Council of Ministers have no co-ordination in their strategies? The ramifications on our Island’s tax receipts and trading infrastructure of not buying locally where possible are enormous:

• GST receipts will drop as people import under the £400 de minimis level.

• Local businesses, already fighting an economic slowdown and increased competition from the internet, will lose money and probably some will close down.

• There will be job losses in the wholesale, retail, distribution and support services sectors of our economy.

• Income Support payments will rise.

• St Helier town centre will become a shadow of what we have seen in the past.

Locally owned companies and businesses are the only ones paying tax on their profits under zero-ten tax proposals. The reduction in local spending will result in much lower tax take from these companies and businesses and consumer choice will be further eroded.

Our politicians appear to have no idea of the potential impact on local businesses, nor are they considering the consequences of this latest Jersey Post expansion drive.

Senator Philip Ozouf and the Treasury need to support Senator Maclean by questioning this short-sighted expansion plan and ensure that he does not become the Minister for Economic Decline rather than Development (his words, not mine!).

Le Grenier à Pomme,
Rue de la Prairie,
St Mary.