Too Taxing for Ken!

The ex Mayor has got it into his head that despite all of the efforts of the Inland Revenue, Guernsey and the other Channel Islands are depriving the UK Exchequer of huge amounts of tax revenues!

What seems to have alluded Ken is that the island, like the UK, is free to set its own regime and he doesn't seem to object to the wealthy foreign nationals who use the UK to avoid higher tax rates in their own countries.

It also seems to have escaped Ken's attention that Guernsey isn't part of the UK. The island gets no National Health Service, no UK pensions, no essential services, no voice in Government, nothing much at all in fact....unless of course you count defense and perhaps Ken can remind us what happened when we last needed that!

Bob

Guernsey States Deputy in Racist Row

The number 2 in command of the States of Guernsey, Bernard Flouquet is so far refusing to stand down following a racist joke made about President Elect Barack Obama.

Others however are out to bring him to justice and a vote of no confidence has been called to throw him out should he continue to hang on to his role as Deputy Chief Minister. 

It is clear that his remark was highly offensive to islanders who do not wish to be branded as racist. Nobody I have spoken to supports Flouquet although some seem to suggest he was simply stupid rather than malicious and should therefore be spared the sack.

It is clear however that stupid or otherwise he isn't suitable to represent the people of Guernsey and is completely out of touch with their views. He should leave, and not just the senior role, he should step down from government altogether.

Islanders do not want any hint of racism from their elected representatives or senior officials. 

Bob

Novel Features Guernsey, Alderney and Herm

A recently released novel 'Rachel's Shoe' set in the islands is tipped to be a future movie by some reviewers!

Atmospheric scenes from the period spanning the occupation to the upbeat 1970s are the backdrop to this riveting story about a young Jewish girl rescued from the German forces on Alderney by a local lad.

The author, local man Peter Lihou created his debut novel to capture the images he remembers from his grandparents who lived through the occupation years in Guernsey.

Pre-publication sales came in from as far away as Tasmania, Spain and several parts of the USA where interest in literature from this period remains high. 

A webiste promoting the book can be found at www.rachelsshoe.com