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Group: Administrators
Last Login: 15 September 2008
Posts: 81, Visits: 309 |
| GIBA is opposed to the proposals from Deputy Rhoderick Matthews to delay the implementation of the zero-10 taxation policy for one year. Confidence is paramount to the success of Guernsey’s economy. The success of financial services, in particular, depends on the confidence which our clients have in Guernsey. We will not succeed if the outside world does not trust us. That confidence and our reputation takes years or even decades to build but it can be damaged very quickly. If the outside world sees that we do not have the commitment to adhere to a path and timetable that was democratically agreed nearly eighteen months ago, then that confidence and reputation may be irreparably damaged. Zero-10 represents the response by the island to remain competitive in the international arena. Business has flowed to the island in response to the decision taken by the States. To delay now, just 6 weeks before implementation, would be disastrous to confidence in financial services. Any potential short-term revenue gain would be more than wiped out by the long-term damage. To portray confidence we need to convey a clear and consistent message. Whilst not everybody agreed with the Policy Council’s zero-10 proposals, democracy prevailed. Those who did not agree should accept the democratic decision, reached by democratically-elected Deputies and commit to making that decision work. If there is not sufficient commitment to making the strategy work in accordance with the timetable agreed and to portraying a clear, concise and confident message about our economy, then the risk of failure is significantly increased. That failure would be to the detriment of the people of Guernsey as a whole. Enquiries should be directed to: Paul Meader Deputy Chairman, GIBA Tel: 701329 E-mail: p.meader@ddmci.com
Regards Administration Teamwww.guernseychamber.com |
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Group: Administrators
Last Login: 15 September 2008
Posts: 81, Visits: 309 |
| From GP Story: http://www.thisisguernsey.com/code/shownewsarticle.pl?ArticleID=003060A FURIOUS rallying call has been made for business to stand up and be counted as the flak continues to fly over zero-10.Housing minister Dave Jones has gone on the offensive as his frustration has spilt into outright anger over regular criticism of the policy.
He has emailed an open letter heads of business to rally them to the cause following continual attacks on zero-10 in the letters page of the Guernsey Press and on radio phone-ins.
‘Most of the calls I have heard and the letters I have read have been, in the main, abject rubbish, full of inaccuracies and I suspect deliberate misrepresentations of the truth designed to fuel the campaign to get this decision overturned. While all of them deliberately or otherwise forget collectively or simply have no grasp of the importance of keeping this island competitive,’ said Deputy Jones in the letter.
‘So they are not difficult to counter and, as I said, you had no problem doing so previously. I urge all of you to engage with the media between now and Christmas and again early in the new year and start to help us fight some of this deliberate misinformation. If you don’t, after the next election you truly will get the government you deserve.’
The Policy Council recently discussed the issue and the actions of Deputy Rhoderick Matthews in his attempts to get zero-10 delayed.
‘We are not going to allow people like Deputy 'Rhoderick' Matthews and others to call Treasury officials incompetent when they are clearly not, or the people in the business community incompetent because they backed the only sustainable way forward given the circumstances,’ said Deputy Jones. ‘Who do these people think they are? Do they think they have more collective knowledge then the 500 people that wrote in to Treasury, more knowledge than 'Treasury and Resources former chief officer' Dave Clark, or the chief executive of the States, or two chartered accountants on income tax, or others in the business world.
‘If we got it wrong, then Jersey States must be incompetent as well, as must be the Isle of Man and Switzerland.
The whole thing is a nonsense and these people need to be shown up for the charlatans that they are.’
Business leaders met last week to discuss the anti-zero-10 lobbying. Both the Chamber of Commerce and Confederation of Guernsey Industry restated strong support yesterday for the path chosen. ..................................................... This story is a slightly different take on the Radio Guernsey interview of yesterday morning, where Minister Jones appeared to be somewhat critical of the business communities silence. In the GP story there has been some balance/counter to the live interview. So the question is, has business failed government? Should Chamber have been more vociferous, were GIBA too quiet, should business get involved with campaigning for government policies.
Regards Administration Teamwww.guernseychamber.com |
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 03 September 2008
Posts: 26, Visits: 30 |
| Time will tell whether the States failed Business and at the moment its too early to say.
I think it is imperative we keep measuring local Business closures and closely monitor the situation.
Personally I didn't rate the Radio interview I heard yesterday.It sounded like buck passing to me.
It could be that TRP payments exceed previous income tax bills for many small businesses and if
it was only Big business that was being thought about.This can always be reviewed given a fair wind and a will.
As for my local customers well they all still pay 20% tax but now have significantly higher costs and arguably less facilities(school dentist etc) so are they finding the money supply a bit tighter?Probably.
2008 can be summed up in one word - Challenging!
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 05 August 2008
Posts: 33, Visits: 39 |
| So the question is, has business failed government? I don't feel it's my personal duty to bang a drum for a government strategy. As far as I'm concerned both Chamber and GIBA, CGI along with prominent businessmen showed support when the strategy was in consultation. |
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