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Dear Sam
The below may be relevant to some of today's interviews - please convey to the panel members ASAP
If I may be allowed to 'think overnight' here are some second thoughts.
- "It would be 1½% on GST and that would be political suicide"
My response was basically: 'I don't believe it would - the mood has changed' I would add:
firstly, once again it comes down to how much you think this is right and how much you want to do it.
secondly, it does not have to be GST. For example, the cost of fuel goes up and down substantially, due to changes in the world price of oil, and no-one bats an eyelid.
I think the necessary yield is within the range of other measures which have been taken or could be taken, and within the range of oil price fluctuations.
There are plenty of financial wizards in Jersey and some are publicly in favour of the 0.7%. I would gladly serve on any working party, with some such wizards...
- If you are still uncertain about the public mood, call for a citizen's jury to be set up, to consider expert evidence on both sides and see what they think.
There is research to show that the public now puts more faith in citizens' juries to come up with good solutions than in politicians (sorry!)
COM has been discussing a lengthy paper on public consultation. Maybe here is a chance to put one part of it into practise.
2. JOAC's policies
Do these currently actually forbid the JOAC spending money on public awareness raising as to how the money is spent and why it is spent? Or on the notions we discussed of public participation in the aid-giving process and working more with local agencies, this involving spending money on training? If so, then the policies should be changed to allow such expenditure - a normal and vital component of aid programmes elsewhere.
My thanks to the panel Best wishes
Daniel Wimberley
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"The rain it falleth on the just
And also on the unjust fellah
But more upon the just because The unjust hath the just's umbrella