GST debate to continue in September
BBCGuernsey's politicians will have to wait until at least 30 September to have their say on whether to introduce a goods and services tax (GST).
They spent almost three days debating a number of proposals to change Policy and Resources' (P&R) tax package, which centres on a 3% GST and tax breaks for lower earners, which officials say will raise about £40m.
By the end of their July States meeting they ran out of time to debate the proposals, with at least 10 amendments still to be discussed.
In principle a decision to give tax breaks to parents was approved alongside a proposal to investigate a flat tax rate - with a final vote now due at September's States meeting.
P&R's plans for tax reform remained unscathed after the first three days of debate as plans to stop all work on the introduction of a GST, have a referendum on it, create a new spending and savings committee, and tax under-used properties were all thrown out by the States.
During debate the Presidents of the Committees for Education, Sport and Culture, Paul Montague, and the Committee for Employment and Social Security, Tina Bury, both criticised anti-GST deputies for filibustering.
A filibuster is a parliamentary device where politicians make long speeches so that a debate runs out of time.
Deputy Haley Camp hit back at the claims that she was wasting time by giving long speeches.
Deputy Garry Collins said he would take all the time he needed to debate this subject as it was so important.
States members did face criticism for stopping discussions on four out of five proposals from Deputy David Goy, which he said looked to raise money but without a need for a GST.
Campaigners said deputies had been "gagged", a claim which former Deputy Chief Minister Mark Helyar pushed back on.
Throughout the week a number of protesters against the tax package gathered on the steps of the Royal Court.
However, as the week went on fewer people came to the protests.
A push to enforce greater spending restraint on the States was passed.
During the debate, Bury pushed back hard on the proposals from Helyar to limit any rises in spending to inflation for the next three years.
Health and Social Care President George Oswald warned of "very significant knock on effects" if that proposal was approved.
He said it would mean longer waits for treatment in Guernsey or some people not being able to have treatment at all.
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