Over-priced?
Thursday 3rd September 2009, 3:00PM BST.
Fruit was found to be 25 per cent more expensive than in the UK
A MAJOR investigation to examine the high cost of food and other items in the Island could be on the way following criticism from ministers and Jersey’s Consumer Council.
New figures comparing the latest consumer prices in Jersey with those in the UK have revealed that the cost of everyday food items such as meat, fruit, fish and other goods like cigarettes, petrol and alcohol is significantly higher here.
Even though this is the lowest rate of increase for two and a half years, the figures from Jersey’s Statistics Unit revealed that:
• Average meat prices are 15% higher than the UK.
• Pre-tax prices on cigarettes are 88p or 71% dearer.
• Pre-tax prices on petrol and diesel is 50% and 46% higher
• Fruit and vegetables are 25% and 14% higher
When the figures were published yesterday afternoon it sparked angry reaction from Treasury Minister Philip Ozouf and Economic Development Minister Alan Mclean. They both expressed disappointment and concern about ‘unexplained profit margins’.
And Jersey’s Consumer Council called for an inquiry into the cost of doing business in Jersey to find out if companies can justify the ‘high’ margins on items.
• Full report in today’s Jersey Evening Post
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We don’t need a major investigation, we’ve been getting stiffed for years, everyone knows it.
Let a major UK supermarket in and end the monopoly of CI Traders and the Co Op.
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well!!! well!!! well!!! have they finally realised after us telling them for years that we are getting RIPPED OFF BIG TIME. it is an utter disgrace, but i bet u 100% they will do nothing about it espically as they reckon the average wage here is £30,000 ha!!! ha!!! ha!!! that is a joke an half, they want to go around & ask people like me who works full time & i earn £12,000 a year & that is a well known company, and i am sure they can tell by comments they had regarding that matter also it is a load of ole tosh. Something has to be done URGENTLY as still even though the States now we are all on wage freeze they still insist on putting everything up even in the very hard times we are in.
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So no real surprise there then! Is this actually news? Its what every normal person has been screaming about for years. But nothing will be done. In fact the States ( In their infinite ‘Wisdom’) increased prices by a 3% hike with the advent of GST. But thats another can of worms which will return and Haunt the establishment. Its sheer profiteering hidden under the old ‘Importation cost’ chestnut. Pants.
Sadly because the cost of just about everything has spiraled with no control for so many years it will be nigh impossible to rectify the mess the Island is in.
Ergo less Tourists (10.5 mil estimate loss). More migration as families leave to more affordable locations, to be replaced by a largely transient population who will only be here short periods before themselves moving on.
Nice one. Well done The States. What next from a Government unable to see the disaster unfolding beneath them.
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We told them that all these prices were sky high before they voted through GST so why show some concern now?
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Import more from France, its closer,fresher and cheaper, but, then again we don’t want competition or consumer choice here do we?
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Everything is more expensive in Jersey! Look at the Dentist etc!! It scandelous that we can be charged so much more for things than anywhere else!! How is this allowed….mind you, anything to rip us off a little bit more everyday!!!
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This shows we are a very long way behind the UK on taxing fuel and huge amounts of money can be made by bringing fuel tax in line with the UK. Fuel is one of the only things cheaper in Jersey than the UK (maybe parking and road tax also) and this should change immediately it may even allow GST to slip by 1 or 2 percent.
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many readers , will find no suprise here at all.
i will have a go at explaining the unexplained profit margins(feel free to correct me)
we all live in greedy jersey. if its not on the shelf you cannot have it.
these are the goods available , like it or lump it .
the addition of gst did not help matters as this must be put on to cover the payment of it.
eletricity shot up so has to be payed or sit in the dark or freeze, plus gst.
on the whole la la land is becoming totaly over priced
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Do most consumers realise that the ferry companies are still charging Jersey (and guernsey) companies “fuel surcharges” months after they stated it “would only be a temporary thing” & they also continue to hike up the cost of freighting everything. I do however believe that even with this some outlets in town are hiding behind this when asked why it is so expensive. Perhaps the “buyers” in each business think about the customer & get better terms/shop around a bit
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The public have been telling that inept bunch of politicians that we are being ripped off for years,and they have done nothing about it, and they never will.
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WHAT-NOT AGAIN !!!!!
I’ve lost count of the number of times that various organisations within the Island have carried out investigations over pricing policies.
We the people of Jersey have been saying that prices are too high for years and for the politicians and consumer council to say they are critical of local pricing structures I take as a personal insult !!!! we have been telling the States for years that costs are too high, what have they done precisely NOTHING, but have chosen yet again to investigate, well don’t bother on my account, I am lucky enough to go away twice a year with my car and I bring back enough of the staples required to minimise my spend in this Island and save LOADSAMONEY!!!! which is what I will continue to do. Anyone who thinks the States will ever capitulate to demand and allow another decent supermarket, NOT aldi or lidl, into the Island is living in cloud cuckoo land.
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This IS scary. Both the Treasury Minister and the former head of the Jersey Estate Agents Association AKA our Economic Development Minister have little or no idea as to WHY this has happened and these higher prices are “unexplained”!
Has the idea of rampant greed, profiteering, monopolistic practices and corruption never occurred to them? Of course it has.
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Tell us something the ordinary members of the public who have to pay these over inflated prices have not known for a LONG time!!
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We have been saying this for years but nothing is ever done.
Alan breckon has,nt done much about it,all he could say is walk away if you think you are being ripped off.some statment that!!
Walk away where to? france britain?
does he not realise we have to eat?
he was talking about the price of basic food stuff,and all he could say is walk away.
the rest of them mostly chamber of commerce stating we have enough food shops are dead against any more competition for obvious reasons,to protect their own obscene profits.
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You didn’t have to be the brains of Jersey to work that one out!!!!!!!! We pay these states members why?
So the states will spend a lorry load more of money with the enquiry, stats unit etc for some pleb to tell us it is all down to the price of shipping, cost of rent.
Well find cheaper ways to ship and find cheaper places to rent.
I for one are fed up of going to any of the supermarkets over here, spending the guts of £60 to find there isn’t even a couple of meals in my bag, and no I don’t drink, smoke or buy anything outrageous, Jersey needs to get a grip and soon!
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On a recent trip to Jersey I had a chance to amble round a supermarket to see how prices compare with what I now pay in the UK.It was even more shocking than I had imagined (being three years since I moved from Jersey)I tend to shop at the upper end of the range such as Sainsbury,Waitrose and farm-shops yet still I am paying far less in the UK and to compare prices in Tesco,Netto,Asda etc would be heartbreaking!!I would advise any locals who are bringing a car over to the UK to stock up here if time and space permits-you will save a fortune.
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No! No more investigations! We have known this for YEARS! Just bring in ASDA or Tesco and see what happens to CI traders and co op prices then. Bring it on!
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I’ll say it again! Nothing will be done by the States because “the majority of the people on this Island are financially comfortable!” they can afford every price hike. Do you think the “boys club” want the working class on this, there beloved Island, no! They want the rich here and just enough minnions to serve them! Bring in competition to lower prices!??? You have more chance of being bit by a dinosaur!!!
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It’s an absolute scandal. The day Tesco or Asda arrive and destroy the CI Traders & CI Co-op monopoly, is the day I will happily dance naked through the streets of St Helier
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….A MAJOR investigation to examine the high cost of food and other items in the Island…
MAJOR?
How much will this MAJOR investigation cost?
Who will be running the show?
I’ve got a feeling it’s simply a way of giving a select group of people something to do.
The next thing you know they’ll be sending an explorer on a voyage to re-discover America…
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Bella and Annie and others…
Yes food and consumable prices are too high here but don’t blame taxes such as GST for this. It is clearly the profit margins made by the retailers that are to blame. Take petrol for example, at the cheaper stations it’s around 15p per litre cheaper in Jersey at 95p/ltr than the UK at 110p/ltr. When you fill up here 41p is paid in duty and 3p in GST, the remainder of 51p goes in the retailers pocket. If you filled up in the UK you pay around 54p in duty and around 20p in VAT meaning only 36p goes to the retailer. So by comparison that’s around 51p for Jersey retailer and 36p for the UK retailer or a 40% difference.
It’s important to strip out the tax when comparing to other countries as only then do you see who is making the money… is it the retailer or the government… 9/10 it’s the retailer. So whilst GST is unwelcome it is relatively insignificant when comparing food price differences to the UK.
Unfortunately French imports may not be the option – I think we missed the boat on that one. French supermarkets are not as cheap as they once were (just go visit one!). They are cheaper than here but once you take the rubbish exchange rate into account the differences are nominal over the entire basket of goods. So whilst you may be able to pick up a bargain in a crate of beer you pay pretty much the same for meat and cheese etc.
It’s getting to the stage where the States need to decide to price control food. That sounds like a good idea but is dangerous because it sends out a message that the States meddle in business (not a good idea I hear you say!) making other industries potentially think twice when setting up in the Island.
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Since they can no longer blame shipping costs they are now trying to say staff are getting better wages than uk.
No their not in london(one of the dearest place in the world )pay higher wages than here and their food is much cheaper as is other cities in uk.
they seem to think we are all fools.
Julie (16)good for you i bring as much as i can back as well but without a car i am limited but i go by boat as they don,t mind how heavy your luggage is.if you play your cards right the boat fare is paid for with the savings you make with duty free and shopping
not only food but clothes as well.
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WELL WELL WELL…. the penny has finally dropped we have been saying this for years and it has constantly been falling on deaf ears and then you have the cheek to ADD GST…..honestly you really need to get a grip of the finances or else get proper accountants in who can the job….
Even buying local is a rip off so get it right….please and help those you are struggling and suffering at the hands of the states….
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To Darren at no 19*
Thats all well & good you dancing through the streets of St Helier naked,but dont forget your modesty,perhaps a bananna leaf or something.
Having said that Darren you might be onto something there! If we all had a mass naked protest called “drop it all” we might get some action against being ripped off.
We should vote with our “feet” or anything else for that matter,just its getting cold already so better to organize something sooner than later.
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Why is this happening?
Well, in Jersey people pay less tax than the UK leaving more disposable income coupled with the fact that companies aim is to profit maximise which means they charge as much as they can.
Tesco et co. won’t charge lower prices to appease everyone hear; they might do it at the start to establish a monopoly and then they’ll increase the prices.
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Y A W N! Here we go again! How long since the last surprising discovery & how long until the next. For ‘unexplained profit margins’ read, screwing the public.
What’s the betting that after tens of thousands of pounds being spent, one suggestion will be to start yet another INQUIRY into the introduction of an additional supermarket. Result – not sustainable.
Well, that’s that sorted for another couple of years!
WHY ON EARTH DO WE BOTHER VOICING OPINIONS?
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Why isn’t the JCRA looking at this then?
Oh thats right they are too busy looking at bloomin Telecoms, they are obsessed.
What about supermarkets and Condor for a start??
Notice the lack of £99 for 2 people and a car day trip offers this year from Condor?
Mmmmm wonder what that coincided with? HDs demise perhaps??
No way will they bring in a UK/French supermarket. Too many fingers in pies.
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#Joker I know what your saying,but am not very good at figures,but reading your post makes sense.
one thing i do know is prices shot up overnight when morrisons left,an english company with english prices,which proves we do need competition.
You can,t help but notice how cheap iceland food is with the english price on.
thats about the only store we do get value for money as they only put the gst on the frozen products.
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I’m sorry but any one who thinks that because average wages are higher than the UK so goods should cost more needs to be taken out and shot (ok, perhaps a bit extreme).
Economics works the other way round, if your goods are costing you too much you negotiate a larger salary increase…
Also, the average salary here, as others have mentioned is too easy to skew. With a small population averages can be distorted quite easily – for example, two people, one on £10k pa, one on £100k pa, the “average” salary is £55k pa which sounds nice even though there is a stark contrast between the highest and lowest earner. Or to put it another way, 50% of the population are earning above the average salary (happy days!). So, never believe statistics, they can be made to portray the answer the person presenting them wants you to see!
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why do we still see the mainland as the uk.
my mainland can be clearly seen from stcatherines , even with the the poor exchange rate, and find the food of better quality.
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(27)
because they are too busy trying to convince us we are paying too much for cars.it,s been on the radio all day.
How often do people need a new car?
I think they are trying to divert our attention away from the things that really needs redressing
never mind about the price of a new car.
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Are Phil and Alan angry because the cat has been let out the bag I wonder? These two as far as I am concerned haven’t got a clue.
As per “overpriced?” you are having a laugh aren’t you? In my opinion consumers are getting well creamed over here and it must be a businessman’s paradise to know the sky’s the limit on charging a captive audience almost what they like. Travel from Jersey for residents is a great example of this process where residents pay more for the same trip than UK nationals who come in the opposite direction!!
The cost of getting things here is far too expensive as well. How come internet companies can charge far less for an item and also charge less for delivery? I would like Phil and Alan to answer these questions.
I know why things are so expensive over here. Do those in charge have the will to sort it out? I don’t think they do. Only concerted pressure from the electorate on the government will have any effect. At present it appears the majority are too fragmented over here to pose any problems for those running the show, until this changes vested interests will always win in my honest opinion.
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Where have Phil and Alan been doing their shopping for the last few years, no doubt they do not have to bother with all the free lunches and dinners they are invited to. They are both living in cloud cuckoo land, why have they not even mentioned about our sky high prices before, everyone talks about our cost of living prices, in the pub, when you are shopping and when at work obviously they wear rose tinted spectacle’s every day and when they are in the big house they are just bothered about feathering their own caps, get a grip the pair of you
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Treasury Minister Philip Ozouf and Economic Development Minister Alan Mclean are angry, why?
All they need do is allow Tesco to operate in Jersey. Being angry is a cover for there
in-action.
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It would be interesting to make a price comparison with our closest neighbours, Guernsey as they will have similar transport costs etc…..or are they getting ripped off by their government too??
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I would blame States and local law. Not because of they do not control food prices. Because they control market as a whole, they control competition.
It is lack of competition which keeps retailers margins high. We can’t just go and buy elsewhere because we DON’T HAVE CHOICE in fact. Choice between 2 networks is not a choice in fact. The do not compete – what for ? And all this because States does not allow new big player on the scene.
In general law here is stupid, against normal people, and designed to maintain status-quo. For example – I wanted start new business here, invest my own money. I can’t – just because I have to live 5 years here to be allowed to open my own business.
Another example – colleague of mine tried to start food wholesale company. He can’t – just didn’t get ‘a licence’. Reason – just because.
Go and ask at States. Everything here needs ‘a licence’. You can’t be innovative and start your own business – everything just a little bit serious needs a license.
Ask yourselves the question – who benefits from such a regulations (btw made ‘to protect consumers and mainain high quality’) ? Who is protected by such a law in fact ?
Don’t blame retailers and existing business. It is normal – business is started to make money for its owner – not for public. Don’t be surprised – you also work for money and not because you want do do good the public, or employer. And because it is so hard to start new business here, existing businesses just take their chance and charge more due to lack of competition.
Please note – each time discussion start about new supermarket existing ones start moaning they will loose money. That’s normal I would say. What is not normal that States are not ALLOWING new supermarket. Government choosen by people plays AGAINS people.
States SHOULD NOT have control over who can or cannot start some business, with small exceptions only. It’s sick that few people control all of your initiative. Once an officer say NO – you can’t do nothing about that. It is final. This is sick and this should be changed without any doubts in very first place – and problems with huge retailers margins and big price differences between Jersey and UK or France will evaporate very soon.
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Julie #16 – I have to agree with your comments. On a recent visit to Jersey I was horrified at the prices in the Co-op, Checkers etc. They seem to have the monopoly and until they have some real competition prices will remain high.
The States needs to stop stifiling competition and allow either Tesco, Sainsbury, Morrisons, Asda, Lidl or Aldi into the Island…come on, you know it makes sense Mr. Ozouf. Cut the cost of living and you can reduce inflation.
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I agree with david@30 why do our authorities want to be a suburb of Hampshire. Surely the historic connections to France if developed properly in many ways would give us all a little hope for the future.
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The usual excuse the Retailers give is that everything has to be imported which adds a large amount to the costs – of course this is true to an extent. But how do you think most goods are brought to the UK? By camel? The answer lies in the quality of the distribution. If a major retailer were to arrive in Jersey they would ensure that their distribution was more cost effective. Yes they would add a mark up but I am confident that the additional competition would seriously reduce prices. Yes a few local retailers will go out of business – so what – no one is owed a living. I work hard for my money I am sick and tired of having to pay over the odds for basic food and consumables.
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This is all very interesting, but nothing new. When I was a kid over 35 years ago, my parents often commented about the cost of food in Jersey.
On the basis that my qualifications and experiance would not be marketable in the UK, and I would therefore struggle to attain 50% of my current remuneration packange in the UK, I kinda think I will stay put here. Living costs in parts of the UK are a lot higher than here (council tax / car & house insurance / commuting costs / higher motoring costs such as higher wear and tear on your car etc)
Jersey residents could do a lot more to help themselves by getting a bit more organised. Why are there now so many conveinence stores on the island charging sky high proces ? Why does the islands largest petrol retailer charge high prices, and still attracts many customers ? Think twice before buying items other than essentials. (i.e. wait until something breaks before you buy new / Consider keeping your current car longer, as the highest motoring cost is actually depreciation )
A freind of mine lives in Kingston upon Thames – She works as a secretary for a local law firm. I know what she earns, and it aint much. The council tax on her one bedroomed flat is £1,300 per year. Her annual car tax on her elderley Ford Modeo is £185. Due to high travel costs, she does not get arround and about much. And prices in the shops seem the same if not higher than here.
And finally, in response to #7 higher road transport costs will fuel inflation.
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Even so I agree that food prices are too high, Tobacco and petrol is still much to cheap. Looking at the traffic and the fact that most people use cars to drop off their children to school even they live in the catchment area petrol prices should be much higher to discourage people from using their cars on a daily basis to save the environment.
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If people want to make a difference then I suggest they stop buying none essentials locally, and things they can be without like daily papers etc. Use the internet to get free local news, for example, as there is more than one source available for this now.
If as many as possible did this the powers that be would have to do something to sort things out over here. If people keep sleep walking they will be in for a nasty surprise in a few years time as far as I am concerned.
At the next elections the elctorate should exercise their right to vote and vote in a more palitable government who will serve the majority first.
What is happening at present is a gradual increase in taxes, being forced onto the lower earners, who are least able to afford it. GST means nothing to the multi-millionaire who doesn’t pay 20% tax and can buy off island anyway, but means a lot to a pensioner on less than £10,000 per year. Remember a single pensioner on little more than £12,000 per year pension pays tax!
How can this be right either morally or ethically? Even more importantly how come society allows this to happen??
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Petrol HIGHer in Jersey?
Someone hasn’t been to the UK for a looooooong time!
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I went into Checkers Express at the weekend and noticed that the prices for most goods were around 20p – 50p higher than Checkers in town or at Rue des Pres.
I was told, with unashamed honesty, “Five oaks is a captive market”.
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Now come out of hiding you politicians..we know some of you read this….so come back with some HONEST comment..no spin or excuse making…just some real comment.
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When ever i have to buy something i always check prices from retailers in town etc first. I had the misfortune to have to buy 3 items that all went wrong . lawn mower jersey, £795 england £524 inc delivery. Washing machine £369 jersey, £270 england inc del. BBQ £750jersey £480 england.All items the same make and model. A total saving of £640. And they try to tell us think local and buy local, (yea, whatever dream on )this island im afraid to say is finished. they spend millions on tourism and try to make us believe that tourists are are still coming, but any one who has been to spain will know the beaches are packed also places like weymouth. We go to spain twice a year and to dorset once a year. our cost to spain is condor £210 petrol both ways £250 tolls £70 and villa for 18 days £650 total £1180, can jersey do that i fear not oh and by the way weather perfect may and september. off again tomorrow and bring back all our goodies !!
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When Morrisons opened at the foot of Trinity Hill, it needed Police to try to control the traffic.
Right Thing, Wrong Location!!
Surely a plan to bring another competitor to the market could be use the proposed area that will one day become our Town Park. Dig it out sufficiantly to accommodate a large supermarket and parking, it’s a very large site and put the very much delayed Town Park on top. It’s on the ring road and one would not have to venture far to see what’s on offer in the co-op next door, albeit, above ground.
Yes the site has been contaminated by the gas company, perhaps they should contribute to its removal?
We constantly put things on the surface of the Island that could be underground. All parking would be an excellent example of this. We are about to build a new one on the former Ann Court site. Why not underground? Put replacement housing on top.Yes there would be a cost element but parking is cheap by comparison to other places, even baring in mind the recently announced increases.
The Town Park will produce little or no income but will become a treasured part of the town. With a large supermarket and large car park beneath it producing substantial amounts of revenue after paying back the capital costs. The cash to build could be borrowed from the Strategic Reserve (mostly called the rainy day fund) at a commercial rate of interest over a period of years.
A Supermarket, Car park,and the Town Park all on the ring road and the contaminated ground gone, probably off the Island.
The only problem I see is that States will have been seen to give the People what they want.
Often reffered to as joined up thinking
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I think what people need to remember is jersey is a very small island and doesn’t really have the millions of people to make the products cheaper. The reason the UK is so cheap is there is a lot more to be made! its silly to think we will get the same prices as the UK, why should we. You need to have a certain amount of money coming in to pay for shipping the products in, the workers in the shops, the taxes,the running costs of the buildings and the shareholders. Thats why shopping is cheaper in the uk and on the net, the Uk supermarket chains make more proffit than anywhere else in europe, they can afford to sell cheaper as they dont need to worry so much getting the money in. the more people buying the products the better the returns for the customers. it makes sense and everything goes hand in hand. If people realised how much rent is, elecric power, gas, oil, workers, suppliers, shareholders and taxes then you will see why things are so expensive here.
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47-Ask The Oracle
safeway was originally successful because it was different but when they looked closely at the economics of the store after the takeover by morrisons they found it wasn’t viable.
I have been involved with the town park scheme and can state authoratively that it is not viable to dig out the site due to contamination and water levels. A supermarket (or car park)below ground here could never produce enoough revenue to cover the capital cost.
We were originally talking 27 million to do the park and car park which appears to have been reduced to 6 million for the park only however that money also seems to have now been ‘reallocated’!
I too wonder what the rainy day fund is for as it certainly seems to be chucking it down at the moment but an underground supermarket isnt I scheme that I would want to spend the money on.
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Warren J # 40 has made some good points. I live in a very rural area in the U.K. and have a 30 acre farm. I pay nearly £2,000 per annum council tax.(In Jersey in 2001, I was paying about £360 per annum for rates in St. Peter on a four bedroomed house) I pay £1.10p per litre for diesel – I think in Jersey it is about 10p per litre cheaper. I also pay £35 per annum for my car tax.
The advantages I have however is a lot of competition between supermarkets, including Asda, Co-op, Tesco, Sainsbury, Morrisons, Lidl and Aldi. Day to day essentials appear to be much cheaper in these shops.
On a previous series of submissions relating the Jersey’s economy, I was explained to me that the English Channel was one of the most expensive stretches of watr in the world, hence the high shipping costs. Now I am no economist, but I can’t understand how it costs more shipping merchandise to the Channel Islands, than say the Shetlands. Come to that how much does it cost to send goods to the Falklands?
You can’t help but suspect that the island’s population are being swindled by some businesses – is there anyone out there who can give a cogent arguement against this theory?
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Alan Maclean is annoyed that groceries cost more over here? Two minutes into the job and he hiked up harbour dues ……did he expect the businesses to absorb this cost?
He stated at the time that raising harbour dues would not affect prices – and still he got re-elected!
Would the electorate please listen to what candidates say before they vote for them!
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Nellie unfortunately these dummies think the electorate are dummies and I think they are right on the whole. Until the electorate gets rid of these sorts we are on a hiding to nothing as far as I am concerned.
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‘Alan Maclean is annoyed that groceries cost more over here? Two minutes into the job and he hiked up harbour dues ……did he expect the businesses to absorb this cost?’
Sadly Alan Maclean is one of the ‘empty barrels’ riding on the back of the Phillip Ozouf project.
When Phillip Ozouf gets to be Chief Minister after the next election Alan Mclean or Ian Gorst will get Treasury.
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Nellie #51
…and others in agreement… You need to check your facts before you comment. I believe only passenger and private yacht dues were increased and not freight. Therefore McLean was right – those increases would not affect food prices.
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54.JOker – ” Draft amendment no 33 Tariff of Harbour & Light dues 22.10.08 Section B refers to 7 – Commercial ship using Saint Helier Harbour and not paying any other due in respect of cargo or passengers, or any other craft of 25 metres or more overall length and owned by a person not having an agreement for the use of mooring space for a period of not less than one year, for each day or part of a day” £2.16 a metre;
Thus even incidental cargo ships are caught in this hike in harbour dues.
It also clobbered the tourist market of course which was already stuggling.
I do my homework Joker.
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ZBD
Hush about property taxes! You’ll be giving people some ideas – this is one of the few areas that are lower than the UK so let’s keep it to ourselves!
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Senators Ozouf and McLean should look at the underlying reasons as to why prices are more expensive in Jersey. They should look at commercial rental prices charged by Greedy Landlords and all the other bureaucratic red tape that our Government is slowly but surely strangling local ‘tax paying’ businesses with, whilst other offshore companies can reap the benefits without paying tax here.
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Nellie #55
I think you’ve misinterpreted. You said commercial rates had been increased for commercial cargo e.g. retail deliveries. The piece you quote says £2.16 for a “Commercial ship using Saint Helier Harbour and not paying any other due in respect of cargo or passengers…”
So, if they have already paid due on cargo or passengers they will not suffer this particular charge. Therefore commercial cargo charges have not increased. I’m guessing this particular section was brought in to increase charges for large non private ships mooring in the harbour who are not delivering anything.
As for clobbering the tourist industry, charges went up by 2.5% which covers inflation. Guess it depends whether you feel that the Harbour should not raise prices with inflation, to match their increases in costs, and difference should made up by the tax payer instead – i.e. tax payers subsidising tourists rather than the costs reflected in ticket prices.
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