Dozens protest at proposed rise in Jersey's sales tax

Dozens protested about a proposed rise in GST

About 100 people gathered in heavy rain in the Royal Square in St Helier at 1200 GMT to protest against planned cuts in public spending and tax rises.

The protest was organised by the Time4Change campaign group.

The political pressure group is calling on the treasury minister to "let up" on ordinary residents when it comes to personal taxes.

There are plans to increase the goods and services tax (GST) to 5% from June 2011.

There were speeches from a number of Jersey politicians including Deputy Geoff Southern, Deputy Daniel Wimberley and one of the organisers of the event, Deputy Montfort Tadier.

Deputy Tadier said he was pleased as many people came out as they did given the rain.

"As it happened it was still very much a political event and it was important that it gets noted there has been a resistance here which would have been more significant had it not been for the weather," he said.

Reform Jersey

Comedian and political activist Mark Thomas also spoke at the event.

He said he had come to "invade Jersey" to reclaim the deeds to a number of UK government buildings owned by Jersey-based companies.

He said he was the "advanced guard" and called on islanders to help him in his mission.

Mr Thomas said: "Good luck with your struggle because this is a struggle that goes on across Europe and across the world.

"It is about working people taking control of government and making sure taxation is fair and that means the rich pay the most and not the other way around."

Deputy Geoff Southern also announced that at the next Jersey election in 2011 a new political group would be formed to field candidates.

The group will be called Reform Jersey.

Deputy Southern, of the Jersey Democratic Alliance, said: "What we are looking for is to stand candidates committed to a simple ideal, which is proper representation in Jersey and reform of the election and constitution of the States so that ordinary working people's voices can be heard in the States."