£92,000 spent on Horizon workers’ tests

Monday 04 October 2021

More than £92,000 was spent on covid tests for construction workers at the Waterfront-based Horizon development.

To enable the 280-apartment development – a joint venture between the public-backed States of Jersey Development Company and Group Legendre – to continue progressing during the pandemic, the Government allowed foreign builders contracted to work on the site to avoid quarantine if they followed strict rules.

Under the rules, they followed a stringent testing regime and had to work in a ‘bubble’, away from others. When not on site, they had to stay in their accommodation at all times when not on site.

10 workers from Rennes were first granted an isolation exemption back in October 2020. At the time, the Ille-et-Vilaine region was marked as ‘red’, meaning two weeks’ quarantine would have otherwise been required.

A response to a recent request made under the Freedom of Information Law revealed that testing for all exempted Horizon workers had gone on to cost a total of £92,394 and that fewer than five had tested positive for covid.

Express first asked the Government how many workers had benefited from the £92,000 regime 10 days ago, but is still awaiting a response to the question.

Pictured: How it's hoped the Horizon development will look when complete. (SOJDC)

A spokesperson commented, however: “Construction workers were tested as part of the ‘Critical Worker exemption’ programme. The aim of this programme was to ensure essential skills were available quickly in Jersey, while ensuring covid safety by providing PCR testing."

They further confirmed to Express that no financial contribution was made by SOJDC or Group Legendre.

"This was an agreed Government policy, and as such, the Government funded the tests," they said.