Estonian Ambassador says thanks for private jet

Friday 02 December 2016

Estonian Ambassador, Lauri Bambus and three of his colleagues, have thanked Assistant Minister Philip Ozouf for laying on a private jet, costing £4,050, after their original British Airways flight was cancelled on 17 November, and they had to get back to London for meetings.

Mr Bambus says the visit to Jersey last month was “mutually beneficial” and he is grateful to Senator Ozouf for dealing with the “unforeseen changes of schedule.”

Other politicians in Jersey have not been so appreciative, as Deputy Andrew Lewis, who chairs the States’ Public Accounts Committee, has called for Senator Ozouf to explain why the flight was paid for directly by a politician, and not by an officer who would be directly accountable for the spending. 

It is unclear how much of the cost will come from the public purse as it will be shared between taxpayers, and Digital Jersey, which gets the majority of its funding from the States (£1.25million in 2015), and the rest from industry members. 

Estonian Ambassadorial spokesman Triinu Rajasalu said: “The Embassy staff is very grateful to all of those involved in organizing the visit and aiding us in dealing with the unforeseen changes of schedule.

“The relations between Jersey and Estonia have become increasingly close during the recent years and we are thankful to the Jersey Government for hosting us on a visit carried out with full protocol.

“Practical cooperation on a wide range of issues, including Jersey’s ambition to become a digital leader, was discussed during the visit. We believe the visit was mutually beneficial.  The Ambassador as well as all other members of the delegation had several meetings on 18 November in London.”

Senator’s Ozouf’s decision to spend £4K on the private jet comes only months after States Ministers and civil servants were told to limit travel expenses, in the wake of the trip by two officers to South Africa for a mining conference which cost £12,000 in business-class flights alone.