04/03/2014 BBC Channel Islands News

European Union, that is certainly not shared the further east you go

into Good evening.

A goods and services tax cotld be introduced in Guernsey in fhve

years' time. A confidential document's been leaked to the media

highlighting ideas to tackld the island's deficit. It suggests

Treasury and Resources should look at the implications of introducing a

consumption tax by 2019, but as Mike Wilkins reports not everyond is in

favour. GST, VAT, sales tax, whatevdr you

want to call it ` Guernsey doesn't have one but the government is

considering introducing it. This wasn't supposed to be public

knowledge but a confidential Policy Council report has been leaked to

the media, something the Chhef Minister Peter Harwood has described

as disappointing, counter` productive and not helpful for good

governance. Say no to GST! Say no to GST!

GST was introduced in Jersex almost six years ago amid protests that

ultimately failed. We managed 16,000 signatures on our

petition. Perhaps, if they lanaged 60,000 signatures on their petition,

their ministers would actually pay some attention and not introduce it

` unlike ours. So, if there's so much resistance to

a goods and services tax, why is the government considering it? Well

it's concerned the present tax system is too reliant on direct tax,

such as income tax and soci`l security contributions. Therefore,

states revenues are very exposed to the health of the jobs markdt. This,

coupled with an ageing population and less people paying incole tax,

means the government could see their revenues drop significantly. Some

high street retailers are fhercely opposed to any GST.

You are chipping away again at any form of profit that the ret`ilers

make. Rents are going up all the time. This is just another `dded

burden. However, there are some in the

business community who feel something does need to be done to

balance the books ` but whatever it is, it needs to happen quickly.

Yeah, I think there's a bit of politics here. There is a c`se of

putting it out there when everyone is dead set against it. Those that

are against it should at le`st come up with an alternative. I think

that's partly why they're s`ying, do it for five years. They do need to

take steps to try and protect those who will be adversely affected by

it, but I'm not sure it takds five years to get to that point. I think

the shame of this is that wd're putting something off. I can

understand the political re`sons for putting it off, but it would be much

better if they reached a decision quicker, whatever that might be and

just get on with it. GST is not guaranteed ` no decisions

have been taken yet, and a report will be put before the Statds in the

summer. Well, one of the Ministers who has

been heavily involved in discussions about the future role GST could play

is Deputy Allister Langlois ` Guernsey's social security linister.

I asked him how likely it w`s that the tax would be brought in.

We have had to look at all the options. If we didn't look `t every

possibility in a review likd this, we would be criticised. A broad`base

consumption tax has been mentioned, and will almost certainly form part

of the report. Fresh allegations about conduct by

some staff members at Jersex's La Moye Prison are to be investigated

by the Home Affairs Minister. The allegations were sent in an

anonymous e`mail to Senator Ian Le Marquand, as well as certain states

members and the media. William Bailhache will be Jdrsey's

next bailiff. Currently deptty bailiff, he will take over from Sir

Michael Birt when he retires next year. William Bailhache's

appointment follows in family footsteps ` brother Sir Philip

Bailhache also served as bahliff. Jersey's Field Squadron is to begin

recruiting army reservists hn Guernsey for the first time. Next

week will see the start of ` drive to encourage islanders to shgn up,

as the British Army seeks to boost numbers of reservists. The Jersey

Field Squadron is the only @rmy Reserve Unit in the Channel Islands.

Voters in two St Helier districts in Jersey will go to the polls tomorrow

to elect two new deputies. Five candidates are standing for the seat

made vacant by Trevor Pitman in St Helier number one, and four for

Shona Pitman's seat in St Hdlier number two. We'll have the latest on

BBC Channel Islands tomorrow night at 6.30 pm and 10.25 pm herd on BBC

One. Major repairs will be needed to one

of Guernsey's sea walls, after extensive damaged caused by the high

tides and strong winds. A l`rge hole appeared in the Vazon sea w`ll this

morning. States engineers h`ve been examining the site, today, `nd

trying to put in place temporary fix. Penny Elderfield reports.

Assessing the damage, and one gigantic hole in one of Guernsey's

main sea defences. It goes to show that nature is the overall

conqueror. It's something we will alwaxs

struggle against. When they told a bit of the Vazon

sea wall had collapsed, I dhdn't expect to come down and see

something like that. That is quite impressive. It's about 30 foot wide,

22 foot high ` you could easily fit a Guernsey bus through it.

And it took other people here by surprise, too.

It's a bit of a shock. To sde a big hole like that in the wall ` I've

never seen that before. It's such a massive hole. Obviously,

it's quite good for the surfers I suppose.

There's a silver lining to dvery cloud, I guess. Work started

straightaway to try and infhll the hole, in the hope that come the next

high tide it stands put. But whether it will is another question.

It's going to have to. If it doesn't, we start again in the

morning. It's got to. The storms have already takdn a toll

on the island's sea defences ` with Environment saying its budgdt is

rapidly running out. But thd money for a permanent fix here will have

to be found. An unforeseen incident has occurred.

It will be costed, and the loney will come out of budget resdrve once

an application is put in to T There'll be a lot of fingers crossed

that the temporary fix works tonight. But it does highlight the

vulnerability of Guernsey's coastal defences ` and the need for Guernsey

States to look long term at whether they're up to the job.

Let's look at the weather. Hello, good evening. We might get some

sunshine tomorrow, which wotld make a change. Higher temperaturds and

light winds cash it might even feel like spring. Just enough cloud

around to give us a spot of drizzle. That will move awax

tonight, and with clearing skies it will also turn quite chilly. Inland,

we might get down as cold as three or four . Tomorrow, a chillx start.

For most of us, it's plenty of sunshine. 11 degrees is the top

temperature. Wind direction changing during the day, becoming

southeasterly. On Wednesday, it stays predominantly dry. A bit misty

in places. Similar conditions on Friday. Fine weather can stomach

returns on Saturday. That's all from me. Here's the summary.

will stay miles into the weekend. And with more on that, here is the

National forecast. Good evening. The skies across

England and Wales are clearing. It will turn cold once again. A

different story for Scotland and Northern Ireland. But ahead of that,

the skies are clearing for England and Wales. It will turn cold, so we

will start tomorrow with a frost and will also be some fog around. The

frost will set in, getting down to three below in rural spots. It is

not until the latter part of the night where we will see the fog

thickening up. All while, the wind is increasing. And