Protestors to meet deputies ahead of Guernsey's GST debate

Wednesday, 15 July 2026 08:50

By Euan Mahy

Islanders against GST will make their presence felt outside the Royal Court for the tax reform debate.

Deputies will face protestors outside the Royal Court in a second public show against GST, following Sunday's rally in Market Square.

Some have promised to stay there all day.

Elsewhere, Deputy Garry Collins says he's personally received 700 emails from islanders, with the vast majority, nearly 680, opposed to GST.

He says many fear they will be made worse off by the 3% tax:

"300 had real stories, struggling families, pensioners on reduced pensions, people already about to leave the Island as the cost of living is too much, stories I cannot share publicly."’

P&R maintains its tax reform package will ensure those on low incomes are better off.

Ahead of the tax debate, the senior committee has clarified its stance on the 22 amendments already laid to its policy letter.

It will, unsurprisingly, oppose a move to delay debate for two years and calls to throw out GST and have a referendum on it.

P&R will not support a raft of amendments from deputy David Goy that aim to tax the wealthier on assets like property and luxury cars.

But it will support four amendments that it views as useful to its reform package. Among those is a bid to have a six monthly review of States savings targets.

The committee members will either not vote against, or abstain from voting, on a bid to tax the earnings of the Lieutenant Governor and three other amendments related to tax reform.

Debate is expected to last until late on Friday (17 July).