Islanders will, therefore, have to pay an extra 3% on just about everything they buy from May next year. There is still one last glimmer of hope on the horizon for those who want to see the Treasury Minister’s GST plans watered down – the States are to debate exemptions for food, books, newspapers and magazines in a fortnight. Members also agreed plans to include GST prices on the shelf, after a ‘grace’ period for businesses (see page 2). Despite warnings that to implement the controversial tax without further delay would further disconnect the government from the people, members voted by 28 to 23 to reject St Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft’s proposition calling for a delay. Had just three Members voted the other way, the introduction of GST would have been deferred. Mr Crowcroft had proposed the deferral to give the 19,209 people who signed the petition – the biggest in Channel Island history – a voice in the States. The signatories had called for the States to put off the introduction of GST until alternatives to a sales tax had been examined further.
GST: It’s all systems go
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