A heavy agenda of amendments means a vote on a 3% goods and services tax is delayed.
After three days of extended debate, time ran out for Guernsey’s States Assembly.
Wholesale tax reform meant there was never going to be a short meeting, but with just hours remaining, multiple amendments were left to be debated.
Earlier, the amendments that would have delayed, derailed or rewritten Policy and Resources' tax reform package were the first to fall away. But, by the end of day two, only a handful had been voted on.
The defeats were by clear margins and indicated early on that this Assembly may yet vote in a 3% goods and services tax.
An attempt to introduce a new committee to examine spending, saving and government efficiencies was lost, alongside amendments to tax the wealthy.
Deputy Mark Helyar warned that the States was too big and inefficient:
"We waste a vast amount of time talking about stuff instead of doing things."
By Thursday afternoon, deputy Simon Vermeulen suggested that the longer hours that deputies had signed up to were taking their toll.
Problems with the States WiFi made a long afternoon feel longer, and a number of procedural votes had to be taken the old fashioned way, by shouting pour or contre, which took up more time.
There was a feeling among some that anti GST members were filibustering, or making deliberately long speeches to draw out debate.
By 9am on Friday (17 July) more amendments had been laid, leaving a sizeable number left to debate and a distinct possibility that a decision could be drawn out over the summer and into the September meeting. More amendments followed in their wake, due to the absence of a deputy who had laid them.
One of these, an amendment to include a non means tested tax allowance per child, was passed by a clear majority.
By late on Friday (17 July) too many amendments were left to be debated.
Arguably, the long summer break favours both the pro and anti GST lobby and a number of deputies can expect a busy few weeks of emails and lobbying from both sides.
The next scheduled meeting is 30 September.
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