A packed audience at Moore’s Hotel heard Deputy St Pier outline his vision for the Island, citing that his goals for Guernsey were ambitious but eminently achievable.
Deputy St Pier said that social policy should not be sacrificed for economic growth, and the community’s well-being is not only a question of fiscal performance, but also heath, social and environmental development. He believed that a goods and services tax should not be on the agenda, and zero-10, the least worst option and now, should be retained to ensure competitiveness and stability for the island’s economy.
He outlined a number of initiatives brought in by the current States over the past four years. These include extending the tax base – which allows an additional £15 million pounds to be collected per year, securing lower borrowing costs, and putting place the foundations for the delivery of long-term effective social policy so the next States assembly must work hard to ensure islanders feel the benefits.
Deputy St Pier went on to state his belief that the future can be different. The island is in good order compared with some other jurisdictions but needs the right leadership and the right decisions in order to make his bold vision achievable.
To read Deputy St Pier’s presentation in full, click here.
The Heritage Insurance-sponsored IoD lecture lunches are held on Fridays over eight months and are to include a States departmental president, newly elected under the revised system of government.
