See you!

Now openly stated, what was blindingly obvious but so difficult to substantiate. The GFSC and any self-policed investigations are totally discredited. Guernsey did not need to have spent an, as yet undisclosed sum, on experts more than 50 miles from home working under ‘in the back pocket’ terms of reference. The Landsbanki Guernsey customers could have come to the same conclusion free of charge, under any such restricted terms of reference. The fact that the terms of reference dreamt up by Harwood et al and the cost of the exercise, has been kept secret from the general public makes it a discredited, worthless document. Far from it vindicating the GFSC, as our duplicitous politicians would have you believe, it dams them. The attitude of the Chief Minister and his subordinates beggars belief; the one positive effect their response has had is to harden the resolve of the more passive members, raising the profile of the justness of the saver’s campaign.

Landsbanki Guernsey Ltd. was a Guernsey Bank, run by Guernsey Directors, regulated by the Guernsey legal and political authorities; all of whom had a duty of care to the people who trusted, the now discredited mantra, ‘Guernsey as a well run, well regulated, safe haven for your lifetime savings’; your security and comfort for your old age. Hang your head in shame. Next time you feel cold Mr. Trott and turn up your central heating, think of the pensioner turning theirs down because they have lost the money to meet anything more than the basic necessities for existence. You arrogantly and dispassionately state you have not had scores of pensioners queuing up at the Social Security offices requiring help. With your attitude is it any wonder? Many would rather die than compromise their independence and dignity to satisfy some false premise to your argument that if there is no hardship, there is no need for the States to get involved with such a tiresome matter. The Island drew revenue from the interest on those savings. The least you could do is fight their corner, not regard it as having better things to do with your time. Remember it was a Guernsey Company and is now a Guernsey problem. It may have had an Icelandic parent company, but the duty of the directors was to running the Guernsey company in the best interests of its clients. Guernsey has the problem and sand will not resolve it!

A true Chief is a leader and protector of all of his clan; objective, compassionate, just. In times of crisis he stands head and shoulders at the breach; not playing the big ‘I am’ but fighting for the rights, freedom and independence of his people. What have you done other than ‘spat’ in the face of the pensioner, and those planning to refrain from being a burden on the state? You justify your lack of steadfastness in the face of adversity as ‘not wasting a penny of taxpayers’ money on greedy investors’; an argument so full of false premises it is obvious that for once you did not get a civil servant to write your reply. The Isle of Man Government have been proactively campaigning and arguing their case with a physical presence in Iceland. Where is our Chief Minister and Treasury Minister? The answer, hiding a thousand miles behind the front line. We do not want taxpayer’s money but we demand proactive support. We do not want to see disgruntled investors from around the world staging an active campaign of negative publicity in Guernsey, but that is what is brewing and you will have brought it on yourselves. This problem is not going to go away until an amicable solution has been found. Saver’s are now engaging people to look in to liability and culpability; how much will defending the Island against litigation cost? How much long term social welfare costs will be invoked by the inhabitants? It has been noted that when politicians want to spend money, it comes from General Revenue; when they do not want to fund something it is because they do not want to spend taxpayer’s money. Double standards? Of course but that is the art of politics; much to its eternal shame.

Questions Lyndon Trott has yet to answer:

A: Does the Chief Minister not think there is a moral stance that should be taken to help the depositors recover their savings as fast as possible?
B: The Administrator has made it clear that 3rd party intervention is needed to recover all savings – the UK Treasury has made it clear that it feels that Guernsey is a wealthy country and should use the benefits of its revenue to support he depositors; why will the Chief Minister not do so?
C: The Administrator has given the Chief Minister the information required to assess the cost of a support package to the savers; the chief minister has stated that this was given in confidentiality; however, in the intervening months has the Chief Minister requested of the administrator that the confidentiality be lifted so that he can discuss openly with the deputies so a consensus view can be obtained?
D: The chief Minister has claimed that there has been a net inflow of funds to Guernsey since the LG collapse rather than outflow – would it not be true to say however that the perceived inflow has been due to currency exchange fluctuations and in actual fact comparing like with like that there has indeed been capital flight from the Island since December?

I am not, nor did I ever intend to be a tax dodger. I, a 70 year old pensioner, paid UK tax on every penny I earned before it was deposited in Cheshire Building society, which without my prior knowlege became Landsbanki Guernsey.

Mr Brown should enquire further into this matter whereupon learning the truth he should make an executive decision to releave the pain and suffering of myself and many other Landsbanki depositers.
I have been rendered destitute by this situation, through no fault of my own!
My small retirement nest egg has been stolen and I have no alternative now but to become a burden on the frugal mercy of the UK social security system.
I surely have a right to be heard and have a place to state my case without government intervention