From David Warr, president, Jersey Chamber of Commerce.
I WRITE in response to Mr Schmidt’s letter (JEP 8 March) as he has completely misstated the Chamber of Commerce’s position with regard to Senator Breckon’s request for a review into the cost of doing business in Jersey.
The Chamber’s position is that we welcome any inquiry into the cost of doing business on this Island as we believe that the vast majority of businesses have nothing to hide and long to be able to prove that they are not ‘ripping people off’.
The reason the Chamber has suggested that Senator Breckon’s proposal is a waste of taxpayers’ money is because the Channel Island Competition Regulatory Authority is already looking into this matter. It also follows on numerous other reports that have been carried out on this subject matter.
Senator Breckon suggests that his inquiry would cost the taxpayer £60,000. Now, given that there is a public body that already costs the taxpayer in excess of £1m per annum to run, I think that even Mr Schmidt might agree that Senator Breckon’s £60,000 could be better spent elsewhere.
