La Baguette

At serious disadvantage
From Donald Brown
Dear La Baguette. I haven’t yet met anyone who likes the idea of paying GST so my objections to the new tax are in danger of sounding like just another whinge. After all, what’s 3%? It doesn’t sound much! Surely it can be added to next year’s prices – like inflation, which will no doubt rise out of sight as a result of rising fuel costs and the mounting costs of housing? I have heard this argument raised quite frequently and I would probably use it myself if I were selling goods and services to the well-paid members of Jersey’s public and financial sector. Put up my prices by ten per cent a year? What’s the problem? This is Jersey! The people can afford it!
The problem is that my clients don’t live in Jersey. They are students from France, Germany, Switzerland and Spain who have to decide whether to choose the attractions of a language school in Jersey, despite the higher costs of accommodation and travel, over a variety of cheaper options in the UK.
Yes, but businesses in the UK are subject to a much higher goods and services tax called VAT! That’s the problem that makes my situation unique. Under the 1994 VAT Exemption Law, language schools in the UK are VAT exempt.
So, please think again, Senator Le Sueur! I explained all this to you in a letter which I sent you last August. Does it really make sense that a Jersey language school should pay more tax than a school in the UK?
St. Brelades College
Mont Les Vaux

..and: A subtle word of caution from Finland
From Hannu Verronnen
Dear Editor. Being aware that an item about St. Brelades College and GST would appear in your newsletter has prompted me to write a few lines regarding my recent stay at the college as part of a group of journalists from Finland.
We have a foundation that makes us able to use our copyright money, tax free, for education. Yes, it’s always the taxes. They control what we can or can't do. Good tax laws make good things happen and bad laws can ruin things.
Our group was the first group of Finnish journalists to study at St. Brelades College, and other groups may follow. There were sixteen of us, from TV, radio and newspapers, drawn from all over Finland.
Before this our foundation has sent journalists to study English in Malta. But for us and people in general there’s a growing interest in finding new places to visit.
Adult education is a growing business in Finland as well as elsewhere in the world. You are privileged people to have a college on your island that can cater for this need.
Finns are quite discerning people. Finnish journalists can be very fussy and if necessary rude enough to say what we think. We are not easy people to please.
I know that everyone of the sixteen of us says that St. Brelade’s College is a fine place to learn English.
The teachers are great at their work. Thanks, Tina, Christina, Nicky, Alan and the others.
An equally important component for the success of the college is the host families. They are the ambassadors of your island. And we think that the host families are people who are committed to the good of Jersey and the college. Thank you, family Hathaway! You are lovely people, all of you. Jeff, I miss your gourmet cooking, mate.
Päiväläntie 10
84100 Ylivieska
Finland

That will not do nicely!
Name witheld on request
Dear La Baguette. Thought your readers might like this. I run a small business. Having successfully negotiated all the obstacles and minefields of GST, all properly registered and legal, I was left with one last task. Pay my dues to release goods held harbourside. Easy they said. You can pay online. I logged on, and yes, found my account - this is great!
What next? Right. Enter my business credit card number, expiry date and all that....submit...wait...ah! ‘Transaction Failed’. Hmmm. OK, there’s a helpline.
“Hello” ... and proceeded to explain. “Sorry” says the helpline lady, “You cannot pay GST by credit card”.
Now is it me, but that’s exactly what you do when you buy something on your card in a Jersey shop - innit ?
La Route de Petit Port
La Moye

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