Protesters criticise 'gagging' of deputies

Protesters outside the Royal Court have hit out at deputies for "gagging" their colleagues and stopping debate on proposals to change Policy and Resources' (P&R) tax plans.

Guernsey States members voted against debating amendments from deputy David Goy which if approved, would have forced the States to look at taxing underused properties and taxes on high-net worth individuals.

Goy said he was "deeply disappointed" his proposals were not debated by the States.

Outside the Royal Court, Lance Vaudin - who was part of a group of 50 protesters - said deputies had been "gagged" by their colleagues.

Politicians in favour of P&R's tax package have accused deputies opposed to their plans of filibustering.

Filibustering is a tactic primarily used by politicians to deliberately run out the time allotted for a debate.

If a decision on tax reform is not made at this week's States meeting, deputies will likely return on 30 September to debate the rest of the proposals.

So far politicians have rejected plans to stop all work on a GST, a referendum on introducing a GST and the creation of a spending and savings committee.

Following the States decision to not debate the majority of his proposals Goy said: "I am deeply disappointed that my four alternative tax amendments, each designed to provide constructive alternatives to GST and other broad-based taxes, were never even debated by the assembly.

"My focus has always been on developing sound policy and finding fair, sustainable solutions for Guernsey.

"To see these proposals not even receive a debate is deeply disappointing. I know many of my colleagues share that same disappointment."

During debate on the only one of Goy's five proposals that was debated, former Deputy Chief Minister Mark Helyar defended the decision not to debate the others.

He said: "It was a democratic decision to do that.

"Accusing members of acting undemocratically for using the rules in a democratic way is not in my view acceptable."

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