New House

The island has chosen its new house, surprisingly returning Lyndon Trott and Bernard Flouquet albeit with a much reduced vote.

Even more surprisingly we have seen the first demonstration of how the States wish to listen to the loud voice of the population by electing Lyndon as Chief Minister and he in turn has listened by recommending a Policy Council for Bernard Flouquet.

We at least see somebody who understands what they are doing in Charles Parkinson but let us hope that he fine tunes our taxation system rather than reverse it entirely.

I have my fingers crossed that John Gollop gets the Culture & Leisure position as he ought to be rewarded for his long service to the island's government and the island should make use of his experience.

It remains to be seen how this House will perform, but all we can do for now is watch and see & wish them the best of luck.

Tax System Explained: Bar Stool Economics

I received this email today. Perhaps it should go to all election candidates?

Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our
taxes, it would go something like this:

The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.

So, that's what they decided to do.

The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve.
"Since you are all such good customers," he said, "I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20."

Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.

The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free.

But what about the other six men - the paying customers?
How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?'

They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the
sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.

And so:
The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).
The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).

Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men
began to compare their savings.

"I only got a dollar out of the $20," declared the sixth man.
He pointed to the tenth man, "but he got $10!"

"Yeah, that's right," exclaimed the fifth man. "I only saved a dollar, too It's unfair that he got ten times more than I!"

"That's true!!" shouted the seventh man. "Why should he get $10
back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!"
"Wait a minute," yelled the first four men in unison. "We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!"

The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.

The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!

And that, ladies and gentlemen, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest
taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.

David R. Kamerschen, Ph.D.
Professor of Economics University of Georgia

For those who understand, no explanation is needed. For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible.

Stuart Falla not to stand

So the news has come in that Stuart Falla is not to stand.

Whilst it is a shame that someone of his level in the business community isn't continuing I cannot help but think that with such a schedule of government based infrastructure projects ahead his position certainly as putative Chief Minister had to be untenable.

At some point in the not too distant future the same problem would arise particularly as very few of the recommendations of the audit that was carried out subsequently were taken up.

Let's hope that we see some people from the Business community standing who perhaps have less direct personal interest in States spending.

Hacking

Instead of Lyndon Trott pointing the finger at the "hackers" should he not be spending his time apologising for the breach and thanking the "hackers" for drawing the island's attention to the breach before a REAL hacker came along and stole the data of some of the island's most vulnerable citizens?

The dangers taught by Jersey must surely be that the Island's governments need to appear as open as possible and yet it appears that had Mr Cicero not gone to the Press over the breach that this would have been yet another "cover up".

We can only hope that notwithstanding the lack of island wide voting, that those in the States responsible for the poor decisions and lack of action over the course of the last 4 / 8 years are replaced with forward thinking and open politicians.

Freedom of Information in the Channel Islands

I think in the interests of open government there ought to be a Freedom of Information Law in Guernsey. When the island's government makes a decision about something, islanders should be able to have access to the information on which that decision is made.

It is not wise to wait until there is an issue that will embaress the island by the lack of accountability of the government. The concern would be for those in government would be that it opens them up to constant review (not a bad thing in my opinion).

The main problem would be the extent of legislature that is heading through the Law Officers hands, we have only just seen two items of legislation that not only made it through the Law Officers review processes and also we assume review by members of the States that humiliatingly were rejected by the Privy Council who spotted erroneous clauses relating to English legislation.

An easy solution would be for the Channel Islands to share their resources and for common legislation to be produced by both island's Law Officers.

In relation to this particular issue and in the light of the current scrutiny that the Channel Islands are facing, there is no reason why a Channel Islands freedom of information commissioner could not be set up.

Senator Frank Walker on Newsnight last night

Ok I know this is a look to Jersey, but with many papers referring to Jersey as "the Channel Islands" it does affect us in Guernsey, particularly as some would look at the larger island as perhaps being better...

The questioning of Senator Frank Walker on Newsnight had to be embarrasing for all Channel Islanders, denying his own words (or at least an interpretation of them) and when asked if Jersey was embroiled in an institutionalised cover up his only response appeared to be that the culprits would feel the full force of Jersey law, which was as weighty as English law.

Even Esther Rantzen was able to make Senator Walker look like he was squirming, truly awful in the light of the horrific news.

Delays at Motor Tax

A little while ago in the paper there was an article on the delays that were occuring at the Vehicle Registration Department (or whatever it is known as now).

Having decided that log books would be placed with some form of certicate on all new cars sold in the island this was extended to all vehicles changing hands. It then became apparent that there was either some glitch in the system or a lack of training (or both).

Rather than run the two systems alongside each other the prevailing wisdom of the environment department was to move to the new system as soon as possible. Some 5 weeks after having purchased my new car I am still waiting for an ownership certificate to come back!

Jobs to go at the Press

Yesterday's Guernsey Press carried numerous references to the States decision to save costs by producing official notices online rather than in the Gazette. Whilst there is a case to argue that not all of the population have internet access, this did seem to be more about the Press bemoaning the loss of £25,000 per year guaranteed income.

Having spent almost the last few years complaining about the States wasting money here is a prime opportunity to save a small sum for the tax payer. However, given the extent of the paper given over to decrying this heinous act and suggesting that jobs (note the plural) will be lost because of it, it does make you wonder how many people could possibly be employed off the back of that £25,ooo.

Keeping Time

It now appears that the Island's Treasury Minister is supporting David Roffer's requete to change Guernsey from British time to European time. This apparently to save the environment.

At a time when we are supposed to be doing everythin possible to support Guernsey business it seems very odd that Lyndon Trott as the island's Treasury Minister is taking an exact opposite approach to the requirements of Guernsey business.

Surely what will happen is that all of the island's business will operate to UK hours, and therefore for the most part the envisaged energy savings will not be seen. Although I have to say if the Schools do follow and stick to EU times it will get an awful lot of traffic off the roads in the all important commute time.

Whilst the principle of saving energy has to be an important objective, there must be a number of steps that ought to be taken in conjunction with each other. Increasing tax on carbon fuels and paying a green tax on electricity. We have seen suggestions that the EU prohibit the sale of new cars that do not meet minimum MPG statistics a principle which could be applied here.

What we would need to see however, is some Green benefit to all of this. Rather than the money being spent on over sized buses we should see the Green taxes being spent on investment in renewable energy and the recyvling of waste.

Paying for parking

OK I know it is a little (long) while since I have posted anything, but I have had a busy year!

This story just caught my eye! Surely one of the primary purposes of paid parking is to introduce a user pays system? Barry Brehaut's idea is dumb to say the least!

Sure virtually every driver on the island will need to buy one of these every year & therefore everyone will pay equally, but it seems somewhat unfair that someone who parks in town every day should pay the same as someone who might park for a few minutes every so often.

The scratch card system (as is used in Jersy) has to be a better way of ensuring that people justly pay for the frequency and amount of time they use the publicly owned car parks.

What is disappointing is that paid parking is not being extended to the other publicly owned car parks at Charles Frossard House & The Hospital.

As this has drivelled on for another four years it would be nice to see the bullet being bitten as opposed to yet abusing this as an electioneering issue.

The Book of Ebenezer Le Page

Hello Guernseyblogger and Guernseyblogger readers,

I hope that it's all right to post the following, even though I myself do not reside on the island. I thought you would be interested in some news of the publication of what's probably one of the best-known novels having to do with Guernsey, The Book of Ebenezer Le Page by G.B. Edwards. I work for the book's publisher, New York Review Books Classics, and we recently posted some news about the reception held in July in honor of the book and about the lovely window display at the Guernsey Press Bookshop.

Additionally, we have some beautiful photographs of sunrise on the island, including some spots the fictional Ebenezer frequented.

Keep checking back, I hope to have more photographs and news coming!

Sara,

A Different Stripe

and NYRB Classics

www.nyrb.com

Plagiarism at the Press??

Spot the difference between this article published on 21st June 2007 in the East Standard and credited to "Correspondent"

http://www.eastandard.net/archives/index.php?mnu=details&id=1143970206&catid=14

Published on June 21, 2007, 12:00 am
By Correspondent

The identity of those behind Safaricom’s mystery shareholder continues to confound Kenyans many months after a parliamentary investment watchdog began to look into the matter.
Mobitelea Ventures Ltd is a shell company registered in Guernsey that in 2003 was allowed by Vodafone to acquire a five per cent stake in Safaricom, the country’s biggest mobile operator. The shares, held through Vodafone Kenya, are now worth at least $100m (Sh6.7 billion).

Mobitelea’s real owners are hidden behind two nominee firms, Guernsey-registered Mercator Nominees Ltd and Mercator Trustees Ltd. The directors are named as Anson Ltd and Cabot Ltd, based in Anguilla and Antigua.

The companies are the creation of the Mercator Group, a family of businesses led by Mr David Preston, a chartered accountant who once worked for Deloitte and Touche in London and Guernsey. The group specialises in creating and running international dummy companies, offshore trusts and other services.

When Safaricom sends out dividend cheques for its two main shareholders, Telkom Kenya and Vodafone Kenya, some of the money will find its way to Guernsey where the Mercator Group will forward it to Mobitelea’s owners.

According to the Guernsey Financial Services Commission, the Mercator Trust Company Ltd, Anson Ltd and Cabot Ltd were all created at the same time in a joint application. The application also created another 20 dummy companies to be used to keep similar shareholdings secret.

The 20 include five Mercator Group firms as well as Alex Picot & Company Ltd, AT Nominees Ltd, AT Trust Company Ltd, Chrisalis Trustees (Guernsey) Ltd, Dewsbury International Ltd, Exchange Services Ltd, First Alliance Trust (Guernsey) Ltd, Isis Fiduciary Corporation, MRG Services Ltd, Ormond Ltd, Pearson Fraser Consulting Ltd, Pearson Fraser Ltd, Quill Trust Company Ltd, Saints Bay Trust Company Ltd and Winslow Secretaries Ltd.

And this Article in yesterday's Guernsey Press claimed by Paul Baker:

Clever Cows

As in yesterdays Guernsey Press it is officially confirmed that Guernsey's cows are amongst the brightest in Great Britain:

They will "complete a detailed questionnaire, which included their performance details... management plan and their outlook for the next five years".

Very impressive!

Pumping our s*** out to sea!

For anybody who watched the news last night, they would have been impressed to hear our Public Services Minister express his opinion that there isn't really a problem pumping our raw sewage out to sea, because we use a mile long pipe dumping it directly into the shipping lanes where it then disbursed.

All of these years of campaining by Surfers Against Sewage appear to have had absolutely no impact on this man.

If you ask anybody living on the island what Guernsey desperately needs and answer would almost certainly be a sewage treatment plant. It is revolting that we continue in this day and age to act in this manner.

I have visions of all of these cruise ships that we are attracting to the island arriving through our filth, what an attractive impression that must make!

Marquee at the Markets

It seems strange that in Guernsey we are starting to complain about the lack of local traders and the advent of the English High Street arriving in St Peter Port and yet when a local business needs a little support there is again heavy criticism.

OK the Marquee is no beauty & the sudden appearance of advertising banners on the side of it are not helpful to Nick Martel's cause, but I can't really see that it was doing much harm. It would be nice in fact to see some of the rest of the plaza with some kind of open air market which would really invigorate that part of town & perhaps make that one shop look less incongruous.

The problem might be that Brett Allen having had a good bollocking from various departments (many of whom should have better things to do) may now have no interest in looking at the various options for the use of these areas, it being likely to cause his company far too much grief.

Would the same objections be raised again if at xmas Guernsey was able to attract some kind of xmas fair as in Jersey or something different, a German fair such as in Victoria Square in Birmingham? Comments attributed to the Environment Department in yesterday's paper would appear to indicate that to be the case:

"Days ago, Environment minister David De Lisle promised never to allow another development such as the temporary marquee on the terrace"

How?

In today's BBC news appears this story:


Woman's head freed from railings

A 47-year-old woman has been freed by firemen after she became trapped in railings near a beach in Guernsey.

The woman's head became wedged in the railings outside the kiosk on Chouet Beach after she fell off her bike.

Guernsey's fire brigade were called to help the local woman trapped on the island's north-west coast around midday on Wednesday.

She was then taken to the Princess Elizabeth Hospital after she complained of neck, chest and back pains.

Critical journalism

Ah hem?

A nice article in the Guernsey Press yesterday about Aurigny! It appeared to rephrase everything contained in the Billet article and added nothing new. How about a little work on how many airlines own their own aircraft? Speak with a few sale and leaseback people to see what the advantages are to acquiring the planes in that fashion.

The article seems to say that on of the advantages of a loan secured by a States guarantee would be better because if they needed to then sell the aircraft it would recover more than the loan?

It is possible that I have misread / misinterpreted the article but if that is the case, i think i might look to borrow some money & buy a few planes myself!

Aurigny to buy planes

Tucked away in the middle of the paper, on page 19 of the Guernsey Press lies the most interesting news article of the day. It is beaten to the front page by a story that Guernsey's kids are fat...

On page 19 lies the story that Aurigny, the state owned airline is actually going to purchase two new aircraft for a combined cost of circa $37 million. To be able to purchase these aircraft outright, the airline is obliged to borrow the money. This it plans to do with the assistance of a States guarantee to ensure better terms (wait for Flybe complaining about unfair competition (and they would be right)).

So what reasons are given for the airline looking to buy? Well firstly we have the aging fleet. These are leased aircraft and are about 14 years old. The leases run out over the next couple of years. They are ageing and of course as a result of that the maintenance costs are increasing. It must be possible to lease new aircraft on relatively short term contracts. Surely leasing aircraft works better for the airline, as it means that the company can maintain a young fleet? How many airlines in today's world actually own their own aircraft?

The article then makes the strange comment "in extreme circumstances the resale value of the planes would be better for the airline than paying off a long term lease deal". How?

Much has been made recently of Aurigny's return to profit, although this seems to have outweighed the news of the losses incurred by Anglo Normandy (also States owned). As the tax payer hasn't seen Aurigny's accounts we have no idea how the millions advanced to the airline by the government are being treated & if this is being paid off on commercial terms?

The article is unquestioning and uncritical of an expensive and unneccesary capital investment, taken at a time when the island can ill afford to be making such investments. I hope that tomorrow's paper at least brings a more balanced article on the possibilities for Aurigny rather than the bland "article" appearing today.

Celebrating alien visits

Whilst opening the post this morning I spotted this stamp. It appears the Post Office might already have been aware of Guernsey's extra-terrestrial visitors!

Guernsey's shame

I caught this article in the paper today & it recalled to mind another written around October last year which suggested that locally people were being paid circa £4 per hour for an up to 80 hour week.

The main reasons given for this appear to be:

1. It would be more than they would earn in their home country

2. It includes accomodation / other benefits

3. We would not be able to compete otherwise

Again at about that time there was another article about the sub standard accomodation that was being offered by both the horticultural & tourism industries to temporary workers staying on the island. The line of argument about accomodation & transport benefits might be acceptable if you knew that these migrant workers were not living in Guernsey's finest flea pits.

The next argument is that they are able to earn more working here than they would in their home countries & that the true cost of living in Guernsey has no real impact on them as they are short term workers repatriating money. Why not in that case import migrant workers from the African countries & pay them more than the $1 an hour?

I appreciate that there will always be jobs that people do not want to do, but it makes sense in a supply and demand world that the demand would increase over supply and ought to lead to an increase in price for the service provider. But does the island need tourism and horticulture that badly that it is prepared to resort to any level to keep them?

When you consider what salaries are being paid for office workers (& i count myself among those) for a 35 hour week I feel thoroughly ashamed when I pick up the paper to see that there is some poor sod sweating their arse off to pick a few poxy flowers! If the island cannot compete in those industries by paying a fair wage and provinding decent living conditions then we have absolutely no rights to be involved in those industries.

Whilst Chris Sharp may indeed look after his staff well (i have no idea & so will not comment on it) he must be fully aware that there is an element in both industries who do not. I wonder how he as hotelier in one of the island's better establishments would fancy staying in one of Stan Brouard's worker residences?

I very much look forward to seeing a minimum wage introduced as it is evident that 'self regulation' has and is failing an element of Guernsey's population.

We pay a fair wage’

by Nick Mann

GROWING and tourism industry representatives have denied slave wages are being paid in Guernsey.

But they are against the introduction of a minimum wage. Social policy steering group chairman Deputy Peter Roffey claimed in the States last week that some people were earning as little as £3.50 an hour. Stan Brouard director Rodney Brouard said that nobody it employed was paid at such a low rate. He was backed by Chamber of Commerce tourism and hospitality group chairman Chris Sharp.

Mr Brouard said he had severe reservations about a £6 an hour minimum wage.‘What do they want to do, close what’s left of the industry? We’re competing with people who pay a dollar a day in places like Kenya. It’s tough, but nobody to my knowledge is paying £3.50 an hour,’ said Mr Brouard. He said that his company, which grows flowers for the postal market among its operations, would close some, if not all of its glass if a £6 an hour rate were introduced.

Mr Brouard pointed out that those from overseas working in his greenhouses benefited from things such as free transport and medical cover which amounted to the equivalent of £40 a week. The basic wage was about £4.70 an hour after a probation period. That was supplemented by a weekly bonus and overtime payments. This year no more than 300 people from Latvia and Madeira would work in horticulture, he said. ‘These people come over and want to work to get the money to take back and make life better for probably 10 others,’ he said.

Chamber of Commerce tourism and hospitality group chairman Chris Sharp said the minimum wage sounded simple, but was not. He also pointed to cheap accommodation offered as part of employees’ contracts. ‘It’s probably going to cost more to bring in and control than any benefit the island sees,’ he said. ‘I’m not worried at all about a minimum wage, but I find it strange the States is taking a look at this when they have better things to do.’ He said the nature of the industry needed to be taken into account. ‘They are young, transient people who are here as much for the life experience than anything else.

In the catering industry, once you have a certain level of skill you can work your way round the world with it.’ The industry policed itself, he added. If businesses paid the going rate, they got good staff. People had worked for him at La Fregate for two seasons and gone home to buy a house outright. ‘We pay our staff well. The biggest problem we have is we lose them because of housing licences. They are happy people with a smile on their face who like working here,’ said Mr Sharp. ‘I look after my staff, but I have to pay a decent rate to get decent staff.’

* A States debate on setting a minimum wage should be held in the autumn.

Published 5/6/2007

Confused or confusing?

This story was on the front of the Guernsey Press on Saturday. I am not sure if it was the events themselves that were somewhat confusing or the actual write up itself. The article took several reads & I don't think that I am any the wiser.

It may be that the journalist in question had access to more information than they were able to publish - but to have an article that doesn't clearly explain what was going on and putting it on the front cover is odd...

‘Man overboard’ lie sparks huge search

Published 02/06/07

A CLAIM that someone had been lost overboard sparked a full-scale search and rescue operation yesterday.

And one man has been arrested for wasting police time. In a twist to the ‘rescue’ story, police and Customs investigations are ongoing. Channel Islands Air Search, the lifeboat, harbour workboat Sarnia and an RAF Puma helicopter heading to Jersey from Swansea were all involved in the search off the coast at Icart. The call came in at about 10.43am and police ended it just after 1pm. Icart Tea Gardens manager Alan Thoume went to open just before 11am. ‘When I arrived, lots of people were looking over the cliff. There was a helicopter circling and it was soon joined by Air Search,’ he said. ‘At first I thought it was an exercise, but it went on for so long it was obvious it wasn’t.’

Up to 30 people watched what was going on from the cliff-top car park. Other boats in the vicinity were also involved in the operation.At about 12.25pm, a policeman walked down to Le Jaonnet Bay. He was followed about 20 minutes later by two Customs officers, although the department has not discussed its involvement in the matter. They all returned at about 1.15.The search was sparked after a call from 24ft fishing boat Never Despair. Conditions were described as ideal by Channel Islands Air Search’s Colin Ferbrache. He added that the call from the Never Despair had said it had picked up a man aged between 30 and 33 from the rocks who had then been lost overboard. ‘We absolutely saturated the area. We were sure that if anyone was in the water, we would have found them because the conditions were so good. ’The Lions’ Pride crew could see about 5ft down into the water, he added. In addition, tidal flows were not strong.

Mr Ferbrache said they had also heard that the fishing boat was heading back to St Peter Port because it was taking on water by the bow. The vessel came into the harbour low in the water with the skipper at the helm and one policeman on board. A team of Customs officers searched the vessel after it had been brought ashore at Boatworks+ yard. It had a large gash forward on its port side. The Never Despair had been in the water for only a few weeks following repairs. In March, the boat had sunk at its mooring in St Peter Port.

Motor Tax

In the paper yesterday I noticed this letter from Trevor Hockey, which appears to state something of the obvious (though indeed it might have needed stating!). It would be naive to think that Guernsey businesses would not pass on the cost of the fuel hike to consumers.

However, as I strap on the essential sandals & 'life of Brian' beard it seems to me that if we are seeking to discourage unneccessary road use, then a motor tax levied on petrol is the most sensible way of going about it. For a start it will save that horrible queue in the motor tax office (more on that to follow!) but for it does mean (or rather ought to) that those people who use the traffic network the most contribute to it the most. Further this is a 'polluter pays' tax & Trevor is missing the point - the consumer IS the polluter - whether it be through direct consumption of the fuel (not drinking it readers - putting it in the vehicle) or through purchasing items that need to get from A to B.

Further, this is a polluter pays tax & that has to be a good thing for all of us. Although I am not sure that the tax currently proposed will in fact do a great deal to get any motorists off the road (i certainly won't be swapping my car for the bus) I do wait to see a miriad of improvements on the way! (I am hoping for sensibly sized buses at least!). Let us hope that in addition to the inevitable sight of more holes being dug, perhaps some of the monies can be diverted into a "green pot". It would be great for all & I am sure a benefit to Guernsey's tourism if we could get Guernsey totally carbon neutral. We now see some of the caribbean islands doing it - so why not us?

However, another point in Trevor's letter brings to mind something that I heard about a recent visit to the Motor Tax office. The person went down to the Motor Tax office in their lunch break, which they took early to avoid the queue. On arrival they founf that the queue stretched to the door. Behind the glass screens were two people, one stamping log books at a snail pace, and the other seemingly shuffling a pile of paper and very busily ignoring the simmering queue. We have all been there & I defy anybody to stay that this hasn't been their experience too!

40 minutes pass and our intrepid tax payer with great relief arrives at the counter and hands over the essentials. To make light chat whilst the log book is being stamped (a process which apparently on average takes 5 minutes per person) out tax payer asks - so what are you girls going to be doing come January? Have you all found work elsewhere? The log book stamper looks up from her task - oh no - she replies - we aren't going anywhere! If they tried to make any of us redundant we would go on strike!

So what was that about the only benefit being a £70,000 salary saving?


Trevor HockeyGuest
Posted on Saturday, May 26, 2007 - 09:57 am:

AFTER seeing the features in the Guernsey Press of 16 May regarding fuel prices, I find it a great pity that the Commerce and Employment Department cannot get UK consultants to investigate far more important issues, such as what is charged for food in local supermarkets. For instance, Lift reduced-sweetness instant lemon tea, priced at Checkers and Alliance at £1.29, is 84p at Asda for exactly the same product. The Asda price for a loaf of bread is 25p - Checkers charges £1.09. I am sure your readers can come up with many similar price anomalies. I would like to know how much this UK 'expert' has cost the department and ultimately us as taxpayers.

I do know that the issue of putting the road tax on fuel from 1 January is causing great concern to many of my customers, which is allegedly being done to save a mere £70,000 per annum in staff salaries. This increase will be highly inflationary and I see this fuel price issue as being a 'red herring' to divert attention away from the criticism which will come the way of the States when most people get hit by a whopping extra 14p per litre.

To put things into context, anyone using more than around £8-worth of fuel per week will be worse off. You will be paying a road tax to mow your lawn and even to use an outboard motor on your boat. Some bearded sandal wearers will say that this is the 'polluter pays' policy. Let's get one thing absolutely straight here: it is a 'consumer pays' policy and anyone who honestly thinks that the cost of having anything delivered will not increase is living in cloud cuckoo land.

While delivering some diesel recently, a truck driver commented that his employer had calculated that his truck would cost an extra £800 per year to run under the new system. Does anyone really think that a £16 per week, per vehicle increased cost can or will be absorbed? I certainly don't think so.

TREVOR HOCKEY, Joint proprietor, Trev's Motorcycles.

Shooting at Vazon Bay - Channel TV news 24.05.07

The body of a man and a seriously injured woman have been found in a car park at Fort Hommet in Guernsey's Vazon Bay.

Police say they believe a firearm was used and that they are not looking for anyone in connection with the incident. The area has been sealed off and officers have been called in to investigate the scene.

Officers, including a firearms unit, raced to the headland at around 7.50 last night. People nearby said they heard the sound of three gunshots and some screaming. Two ambulances - both with flashing lights and sounding sirens - left the scene. The woman died later in hospital.

Elderly Drivers

Watching Jo Brand this evening in her programme about elderly drivers.

An interesting fact that she quotes is that whilst young drivers do indeed have the most accidents, elderly drivers have the most accidents per mile travelled.

You only have to drive a few miles in Guernsey to see bad driving from all age groups. I mean who hasn't been on the roundabout at the bottom of St Julian's Avenue (where virtually nobody indicates) and watched somebody in front of you change lanes (again without indicating) particilarly if they are headed towards the town church & don't want to head in the direction of La Vallette.

There are in Guernsey a great number of elderly drivers who should no longer be on the road (many of whom drive pastel coloured Hyundai Jazz's and the like).

I remember a year or so ago driving along the coast road from Vazon, behind one elderly gent, who was driving slowly, then speeding up and weaving all over the place. I managed to overtake at Cobo & pulled in at the Grandes Rocques car park as did the elderly driver (although he pulled in through the exit, ignoring the no entry sign). He looked completely confused & I asked if he was lost. He asked which part of the Forest he was in. When I explained that he was nowhere near the Forest. His response was that he was not used to driving at night & set back off in his car. This was despite the fact it was only just getting to dusk.

I think that drivers in Guernsey ought to be re-tested at a certain age to ensure that they are still safe on the roads. If they then pass, all well and good.

Of course likewise, perhaps the age at which young people are permitted to drive should also be reviewed. Or introduce P plates so that it is clear to all other drivers that these people are newbies

We would kill two birds with one stone - getting unsafe drivers off the road and reducing the amount of traffic on the islands roads.

Deputy Jones - Digger Driver

Today's news showing Dave Jones showing off his digger driving skills made me sit back and wonder.

The Register of Member's interests available on the State of Guernsey website is fairly vaguely worded and does not allow for declaration of subsidiary interests.

It begs the question - does Dave Jones have an indirect interest in Paul Rouget? If so how can he & it be involved in any quasi States Housing project?

Belle Greve Poll

New to the site is the Belle Greve poll! The poll is in a box on the right hand side of the page. There are the three options, choose which one reflects your opinion!

Morning Commute

Travelling to work this morning has made me return to something of an old theme - the size of the buses in Guernsey. Or rather, where the buses are permitted to go. As I drove down Les Huriaux (the road between the Dairy and St Martin's Garden Centre) I came across a bus headed in the other direction. All of the traffic headed towards it wedged into the hedge, whilst it tried to inch past a (relatively small) van.

We are told that we must be resigned to the fact that these were the buses purchased & apparently it is not possible to buy anything smaller that is suitable for the island's needs. But you only have to drive down Les Huriaux to see the hedgerow being eroded & frequently smaller cars & vans seem to have some difficulty passing one another, let alone the hulking great buses. Surely there should be a restiction on what vehicles can use the islands smaller roads & you can't help but think that for the small amount of extra time it would take the bus an alternative route should be found.

We have relinquished a much stronger position - Guernsey Press 03.05.07

GUERNSEY has been set back seven years in its relationship with the UK Government, a leading constitutional lawyer has claimed.

In response to yesterday’s 10-point framework on the island’s international identity, Advocate St John Robilliard criticised its wording, claiming Guernsey had gone ‘backwards rather than forwards’.

Citing a UK Government anti-bribery report lodged with the OECD in 2000, the Ozannes partner believes Guernsey has now relinquished what was once a far stronger position.One section of the report said ‘the ratification of international conventions and treaties may be extended to the (Crown Dependencies) subject to the agreement of the insular authorities’.This wording is in contrast to the document unveiled yesterday, which states: ‘The UK Government will not act internationally on behalf of Guernsey without prior consultation.’‘I’m very disappointed,’ he said.‘This wording, as the Guernsey Press correctly pointed out, is different. I hope the States debates this and I hope an explanation is given as to why this earlier statement has been abandoned.’

Advocate Robilliard was also concerned that the document had failed to do what it set out to achieve.‘What it doesn’t do in any way is spell out how our identity is different to the UK,’ he said.‘Without that explanation, it’s pretty meaningless.’He said UK influence could already be seen in policies on tax information exchange and corporate tax rates in Guernsey.

Advocate Robilliard was one of 12 prominent islanders voicing support for more debate over the issue of independence.Blue Diamond Group chairman Geoff Dorey, also among the group, accused the States of creating a ‘fait accompli’.‘This document, about such an important subject, has been cooked up in secret,’ he said.While accepting it was right for the States to hold an educational seminar on the issue behind closed doors, Mr Dorey was concerned there had been no opportunity for public scrutiny.‘Our executives in the States have been involved in drafting it and I think a decision like this should be brought before the States of Deliberation to be debated in a proper manner.’

Mr Dorey said history suggested the UK Government could not always be trusted to look after the interests of the Channel Islands.He refererred to an EU working party chaired by Treasury minister Dawn Primarolo.The group met in secret in 1999 to examine ways of stamping out unfair tax competition.Of the 60 proposed measures, 22 applied to the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.‘She committed the Crown Dependencies to a quid pro quo agreement, which was essentially the origin of zero-10 and again never came before the States of Deliberation,’ he said.In relation to the different wording of ‘consultation’ and ‘consent’, he said, ‘I would approach the debate with an open mind.’

Closed for Business - Guernsey Press 02.05.07

As this pretty much is what I was saying I have posted the article written by Tom Bradshaw:

ONE of the island’s most senior bankers has joined the criticism of the States’ decision against bringing in more off-island workers.

RBSI chief executive Alex Rodger says that freezing the population could threaten the zero-10 growth plan.

Alex Rodger said Guernsey politicians and the public at large had become complacent about the economy’s ability to grow and that was a dangerous mentality.

Mr Rodger, who this month retires as chief executive of Royal Bank of Scotland International after 15 years, said one of the biggest challenges during his time in the local industry had been housing licences for key workers.In Guernsey’s employment market, he said that inward net migration was essential. ‘I am disappointed that the States made the decision for zero growth – which is effectively what they did,’ he said.

The States last week approved an amendment from Deputy Peter Roffey to stabilise the population rather than back a Policy Council proposal to allow net inward migration, which could have seen it rise to 64,000 over the next 25 years.‘Commerce and Employment is trying to build a policy to complement zero-10 and have proposed an uplift by a minimal increased population which did not seem unreasonable.’

Mr Rodger, who also heads up the Jersey, Isle of Man and Gibraltar operations, said competitors would seize on it as an opportunity to claim Guernsey was closed to business.‘The speed of information flows is almost immediate in this day and age and our rival jurisdictions will be quick to emphasise our shortcomings,’ he said.‘Word will get around fast and it could work against the growth strategy.’

Vodafone arrives in Guernsey - Forbes.com 01.05.07

Vodafone Group signs deals with Bharti Group units; enters Guernsey, Jersey

Vodafone Group PLC said it has signed a deal with Guernsey Airtel, a wholly owned unit of the Bharti Group, which will see Vodafone's global products and services available in Guernsey for the very first time.

Separately, Vodafone also said Jersey Airtel, another subsidiary of the Bharti Group, will launch its mobile services on the Island of Jersey under the brand name 'Airtel-Vodafone'.


The Vodafone products, together with other services, will be brought to customers in Guernsey and Jersey by Airtel on a phased basis from launch, the telecommunications group said.

TFN.newsdesk@thomson.com

Comment on population

You do have to wonder at our government don't you. Sometimes is seems difficult to accept that our population is genuinely under 60,000 people & here we are saying that it must remain capped at that rate for the next 60 years.

One does have to raise an eyebrow at "Former Deputy Peter Bougourd's" comments. The population of Guernsey just has to make the cap work? I accept that I am picking this up from the BBC News website & it is possible that the statement is out of context. How will the island make it work if there are no ideas forthcoming from the States of Guernsey on how to do so?

My fear is that at this rate us poor Guerns are going to be working our fingers to the bone! What with all those extra hours we will have to work to fund the blackhole & grow our economy, but now we are not going to be given the outside help to be able to do so - we are also going to have to become more efficient at what we do too!

I have to say that I agree with Peter Budwin. The decision must send out wrong signals to anybody thinking of setting up in Guernsey & must discourage entrepreneurialism in the local population as you know up front that it will be a nightmare to get any housing licence for much needed external skills.

Service issues will necessarily be exasperated. We already have 100% employment with people being employed in positions for which they are unsuitable? This can only be worse if more skilled people cannot be brought in from outside.

Perhaps the States will elaborate on their proposals for maintaining the population - are we going to see euthanasia return to the forefront?

BBC News - Efficiency needed for [population] Strategy

A former politician says the States will have to look for ways to make Guernsey's workforce more efficient if the population strategy is to succeed.

The Policy Council wanted to bring in 200 extra people a year to ensure there were enough people of working age, but the proposal was defeated.

It was agreed to keep population levels at the current level of more than 60,000 people over the next 60 years.

Former deputy Peter Bougourd said the island would have to make that work. No decision was made on how to keep the population at its current figure.

BBC - Housing Licence Ruling Criticised - 01.05.07

A business leader has criticised a States decision not to allow 300 new housing licences a year in Guernsey.

Deputies rejected the plan in a move to stabilise the population at 60,000.

But the decision angered Peter Budwin, Confederation of Guernsey Industry director, who is concerned it implies the island is "closed for business".

"I don't know how we are going to look at diversifying the economy and how we are going to attract new businesses to the island," he told BBC News.

'Responsibility to locals'

"The big problem that I perceive is that our competitors are going to pick up on this and put a spin on this that Guernsey is closed for business."

He said licences would help bring more workers to the island, and the decision would make it difficult to implement business growth goals outlined in the island's business plan.

"I don't think we can function as efficiently as we could do with additional people," he said.

The States has said they have a responsibility to see that locals are considered first for jobs.
Guernsey has about 1,100 guest workers, mainly working in retail, farming and hospitality, who have been given housing licences in the island.

Development at Belle Greve

It is so sad when you see those people clamouring to shout that nothing should be done to Belle Greve - regardless... Detailed plans haven't even been drawn up, all we have are proposals put forward by Longport & now others too.

Already there has been a march and a petition and I do hope that these vocal people don't drown out the wishes of others. I don't know how many people marched or signed the petition but I do wonder what a percentage of the population it is?

Are the pro development people remaining silent? Why - is it for fear of being labelled an incomer? of if a Guern a traitor to their heritage? It seems that those are comments that fly freely through the air these days.

For those people who have come to the islands - it appears to be thought that they have arrived for personal gain only & that they have made no commitment to the place. This is often despite evidence to the contrary, the investment that incomers make to the island both personally & financially is frequently overlooked.

There is criticism of the development of Fort George!! Memories are long. But whilst with one breath the people there are lambasted by some - they appear to forget that a small company of apparent insignificance was founded there. You may have heard of it it is run by a couple called Doug & Mary Perkins and is called Specsavers. Of course you are quite correct. They living in the palatial confines of their mansion at Fort George do nothing for the island and neither does their company!

If we allow this development where will it end I see is a comment that appears to be thrown in the air to deflect the psotive comments of the pro development camp. Surely this must be to build up the fear? Where else is as ripe for development as this part of our coastline? This is not going to be an open the floodgated situation with the entire coastline being expanded!!

People also knock the North Beach and asks whether the Guernsey person benefits from its construction? Well sure any body with a little hindsight can see how it could have been done better (see the Longport proposals!) but nobody can say that it doesn't benefit every single person in Guernsey. Imagine driving into Town on a saturday without it being there!

My fear is that those who reflect these views are dreaming of a Guernsey that is long gone in a world that is also long gone. This is not development for developments sake - the island has great opportunity to look at this part of the island and see how it can be used to benefit all Guernsey people (indiginous & import alike). It does not necessarily have to be the Longport group.

Doesn't the island need a sewage treatment plant?

A method of dealing with all of our rubbish in as environmentally friendly manner as possible?

Affordable housing?

Housing for essential workers (& by this I refer to nurses, teachers, police etc).

All of these can be made conditions of any planning consent being granted (or at least could in the UK). This is an ideal opportunity to solve a number of the islands problems at the cost of a third party & without further burden on our "black hole".

Certainly it would be naive to expect that any developer is doing this for the love of the people!! We are not living in a communist state (are we?). They will expect to make a shilling out of it! & I say why not.

Naturally I caveat all of the above - it should not be a development that will destroy the eco system or damage the other islands - but we should not allow the proposals to be cut off in their prime. All plans should be thought through and examined carefully before they are rejected outright by a bunch of people who are living in the rosy nostalgic past & with their heads buried in the sand as to what Guernsey has become (& what they should be proud of) an internationally respected finance jurisdiction full of highly skilled people keen to make a name for themselves and their island irrespective of their birthplace.

http://www.guernseywaterfront.com/

http://www.sas.org.uk/

Two UFOs spotted by pilots - The Sun 27.04.07

AIR investigators are probing sightings of two UFOs off the Channel Islands — one up to a MILE wide.

The huge cigar-shaped objects were reported by pilots on separate flights. Aurigny airlines captain Ray Bowyer, 50, saw something strange hovering west of Alderney.

He said: “It was about 40 miles from us. A very sharp, thin yellow object with a green area. It was 2,000ft up and stationary. “It could have been as much as a mile wide.”

He later spotted an identical object to the west — nearer Guernsey. Capt Bowyer, a pilot of 20 years, added: “It was visual for nine minutes. “I’ve never seen anything like it before.”

An unnamed pilot on a Blue Islands airline also saw the objects, which didn’t register on radars.
Air traffic controller Paul Kelly, 31, said the pilots saw the objects from opposite sides on Monday afternoon.

By JOHN COLES

Go-ahead for paid parking scheme

Laws enabling the introduction of paid parking in Guernsey have been agreed by State members.

The scheme will apply to long-stay spaces in St Peter Port, including the main car parks of North Beach, the Odeon and Salarie Corner.

It will now cost 15p an hour to use the long-stay car parks in St Peter Port.

Deputy Al Brouard had filed an amendment calling for the proposed scheme to be overturned as he said it would cost about £100,000 to collect.

He said lower paid workers would end up funding the transport strategy for the whole island and an increase on petrol would take minimal effort and cost.

Traffic

Compliments can only be given to those people in Guernsey's traffic department that made the decision to allow the Ruette Braye to be closed at the same time as road works on the Fort Road & in La Charroterie too!

On Tuesday (24th) there was complete chaos as what appeared to be the whole island can to a complete halt in traffic grid lock.

The journey to work (bearing in mind that the usual commute is typically no less than a couple of miles) took a whole hour this morning! So far this week I have tried three different routes all taking about the same length of time - I am thinking of investing in a rib to get to work!

What a great way to start the day at work full of pent up frustration & road rage!

Pilot spots 'UFO' over Guernsey - BBC News 25.04.07

A commercial airline pilot has reported seeing two unidentified flying objects in the sky near Guernsey.

The bright yellow flat disc shapes, estimated to be twice the size of a Boeing 737, were spotted on Monday, 12 to 15 miles north east of the island.

Captain Ray Bowyer was about to fly an Aurigny plane from Alderney to Southampton when he saw the objects through binoculars.

Mr Bowyer said he was "pretty shook-up" by the sighting.

"This is not something you see every day of the week - it was pretty scary," he said.

At first he thought it was the sun reflecting from greenhouses in Guernsey. He said the objects were bright like the sun, but did not hurt his eyes when he looked at them.

The stationary objects were also observed by other aircraft and the passengers on the plane.

Disappearing pilot

John Spencer, deputy chairman of the British UFO Research Association, said: "These types of sightings have been reported by pilots - generally accepted to be reliable and sensible observers - since the 1940s and they have excited attention to this day.

"Such light effects are often popularly thought to represent alien visitors but many UFO researchers believe they more likely represent natural, atmospheric, phenomena not yet fully understood by science. However, a similar encounter in 1978 over the Bass Straits in Australia, where the pilot was in radio contact with the ground throughout, resulted in the pilot never being heard from again, so these phenomena are important to study."

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence said it does monitor air space for any unusual foreign objects which might pose a threat.

However, he said they would not be carrying out an investigation to establish whether it was a UFO as their job was to "keep Britain safe".

Licences 'hurting finance firms' - BBC News 22.04.07

A leading Guernsey lawyer says the island's current housing licence system is restricting the finance industry.

Advocate John Greenfield is urging the States to be more flexible when handing out long-term licences, which allow workers to live on the island.

He says the finance industry is facing more competition than ever, but short-term licences mean a lack of continuity in the work force.

He thinks it is vital that top quality staff are attracted to the island.

A new country? - BBC Arabic 20.04.07

استمع إلى الكلمات في البرنامج ومرن

نفسك على استخدامها في الفقرة أدناه

Today Abigail and Liliane are talking about an island that might become a new country.

The small island of Guernsey sits in the English Channel between England and France, but it is not part of either country, nor is it part of the EU.

It has a rather complicated status.

Guernsey already has its own national anthem, its own parliament, and its own flag, but it is not fully independent.

It is what is called a British Crown Dependency, which means it belongs to Britain and Britain can pass laws which affect Guernsey.

But local paper the Guernsey Press and Star reveals that a secret meeting is to be held in the island's parliament to discuss the possibility of independence.

This would end an 800 year link with the UK, as the island chose to accept English rule rather than French rule back in 1204.

If it were to become independent, it would be one of the smallest nations in Europe, with a population of only 65,031. This would make it what is called a microstate.

It would not be the smallest country in Europe however. Monaco has a population of around 35,000, and the Vatican City is the smallest sovereign nation in the world with a population of only 600.

What do you think? Must a country be a certain size before it can declare independence? هل يجب

ان يتوقف استقلال بلد معين على مدى حجمه و مساحته؟ اكتبوا لنا بالانجليزية

Whispers of Rebellion on Guernsey - Telegraph 21.04.07

A whiff of insurrection hung on the sea breeze over Guernsey yesterday.

Talk of independence is in the air on Guernsey
There was talk - barely audible on this most genteel of islands - of independence; of breaking an 800-year-old link with England and facing the big, wide world alone. Or, just maybe, taking along neighbours Jersey for moral support.

Behind closed doors, members of the island's parliament, the States of Deliberation, discussed an agenda that included independence, a federation with Jersey or forging closer links with mainland Europe.

Not that anyone was meant to know that the discussion was going on: even the agenda was a secret until The Daily Telegraph let the constitutional cat out of the bag

on Thursday. All of which left the island's 60,000 inhabitants bemused.

Most people in the bailiwick yesterday appeared content to leave their defence and foreign affairs in the hands of the UK, as long as the UK kept its hands off everything else.
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A restaurateur in St Peter Port explained:

"If there are the three certainties in life of birth, death and taxes, then
we are quite happy to be a bit British when it comes to the first two, but don't
mess with us when it comes to the third".

Michael Torode, the chief minister, said yesterday's discussion was a constitutional seminar:

"to stimulate free thinking".

However, Bailiff Geoffrey Rowland insisted that it was simply an:

"educational seminar".

By David Sapsted in Guernsey