Tax reform fears after arrested deputy quits P&R

A Guernsey politician says he is concerned about the "noise" and fallout after the former chief minister resigned from a committee driving tax reform following his arrest.

Deputy Gavin St Pier was arrested on Friday for the second time in less than a year, this time on suspicion of misconduct in public office and offences related to the reform law. He then announced his intention to resign from Guernsey's Policy & Resources Committee (P&R).

He was held along with his wife and both were released without charge. He has denied any wrongdoing.

Deputy Garry Collins said he was concerned the "noise" could delay decisions over the future tax system, due to be voted on later this year.

St Pier, who was chief minister - otherwise known as president of the P&R committee - from 2016 to 2020, said he would stand as a candidate for the vacant P&R position.

He said his resignation from his current post as P&R's vice president was in order to "seek a fresh mandate from the States of Deliberation in the election for the vacancy created by my resignation".

Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez, president of P&R, which is preparing to publish final policy ideas for the public, said this course of action was "appropriate".

But Collins said the lack of clarity over whether St Pier was being backed for the role left "a vacuum of silence" due to unanswered questions, while also creating "noise", which was distracting from key issues.

"He had resigned so there was no need for them to start hares running for an election," Collins said.

He said St Pier's return to the role would mean time had been "wasted", while the appointment of someone new "to lead the tax debate" could lead to a delay to the whole process.

"I'm still struggling to get my head around all of this," he said, describing how the committee had been working "non-stop" at a time when "major issues like tax reform" were due to be debated.

"It's mind-boggling," he added: "My fear in all of this is just adding to a delay.

"All of this noise is really a distraction."

Suggesting that one path could be for the remaining P&R committee members to step down, he added: "Yes I am one of the voices - but I was trying to add some clarity.

"We need to understand if you are supporting him back into the role."

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