Age Concern and Senior Citizens’ Association chairman Daphne Minihane has expressed dismay at the decision, but Citizens Advice Bureau manager Francis Le Gresley says he believes the Income Support system will cushion the impact on the lowest paid Islanders.
States Members voted on Wednesday to rule out exemptions on basic foodstuffs, medicine and medical products, education fees, childcare, books and newspapers, children’s clothes and domestic fuel and energy when they rejected Health Minister Stuart Syvret’s proposition.
Mrs Minihane said she was worried about the impact not just on her members, but also on families who would see their shopping bills rise.
But Mr Le Gresley said he had faith in Treasury Minister Terry Le Sueur and Social Security Minister Paul Routier to set up an Income Support system that would protect vulnerable people from the worst effects of GST.
He said: ‘Provided Income Support comes in above the parish welfare scale rates – which is what we have been promised – I am reasonably convinced the system will help those families and individuals who are most deserving.
‘I do not really think lots of exemptions was the way forward, personally.’
