Government Responds To GSD’s Treaty Criticism

Below follows the Government’s response to the GSD’s criticisms of the work on Treaty implementation, the Chief Minister, the Hon Fabian Picardo KC MP, said: “Craig Sacarello is asking us to do what are doing, but he is not acknowledging that there will always be issues on adoption of a new system as there were when the UK TCA commenced. He seems to be holding out for an 'other-worldly' style of perfection which is unachievable in the real world. He also ignores that, whilst many traders have worked hard to get things right, others have ignored new guidance, not attended training and, in some cases, are just refusing to change to new systems. In fact, however, things are getting much better each day and are returning to normal less than a week and a half after a transformational change. There is work still to be done. Whilst Mr Sacarello bleats, the Government and its brilliant, front line public servants at HM Customs and beyond will keep working and will remember his contribution at this seminal time was to criticise their magnificent efforts.”