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After healthy inter-island rivalry appeared to descend into full fall-out at the height of the pandemic, the Chief Ministers of Jersey and Guernsey are now suggesting relations are finally back on track, with joint work on areas ranging from wind farms to tourism and shared health contracts now underway.
Guernsey’s Deputy Peter Ferbrache infamously said in a speech in 2020 that he had been told that Jersey’s government were seen as “a bunch of bumbling idiots” for their handling of the coronavirus pandemic and said his island was a “much better-run Bailiwick”.
However, if he agreed with that sentiment, he appears to have softened his stance since Jersey’s election brought a new crop of Ministers last June.
In fact, he went so far as to say following the recent British-Irish Council summit held in Jersey that he was “impressed” with Chief Minister Kristina Moore and “her colleagues”.
Pictured: "...There is, more than ever, a wish to try to work together," said Deputy Ferbrache.
“I like what they say and like what they do in relation to Channel Island matters,” he said, going on to add: “There’s been talk since about Jersey and Guernsey working together and of course, with certain things it has happened but generally it hasn’t.
“I genuinely feel on both sides of the respective waters of our islands that there is, more than ever, a wish to try to work together.”
To illustrate the point, both Chief Ministers have since released a list of initiatives they say they’re now working on together.
Identifying cost savings through "collective contracting of some services", among other initiatives
Looking at sharing expertise and, potentially, services to "improve resilience and capacity"
Jointly examining oversight of health services and, in particular, board structures
Examining opportunities to align energy infrastructure and challenges around cost, security and resilience, and focusing on renewable sources – including offshore wind
Examining how a "shared approach" could be used to enhance connectivity to and from the islands – to bolster both supply chains and tourism
Could the islands share development projects "aimed at modernising services [and] improving standards"?
Of course, pledges to work together on projects are nothing new, and some of the latest discussion themes may evoke a sense of déjà-vu.
As long as five years and two governments ago, pledges were made to set up a joint Health Authority to promote joint working in healthcare, including sourcing of IT, goods and services, and a digital transformation board to work together on speeding up online services for islanders.
A commitment was also made to greater of sharing data and analytics, as well as developing a formal partnership for public sector procurement to improve value for money and reduce costs in both islands.
Many of these appeared to stall or fall away altogether, however, and one of the few initiatives where the islands had successfully worked together – the pan-island pandemic strategy – fell apart when put to the test.
Civil service secondments, prisoner-sharing and a joint CEO have also all been explored previously, but none of these featured on the new list of areas of joint focus.
“We recognise that we are separate jurisidiction and are proud of our individual autonomy. We nevertheless face many very similar challenges where a combined approach will benefit all of us,” Deputy Moore said.
Echoing her comments, Deputy Peter Ferbrache added: “…It is becoming increasingly clear our governments share the same challenges and that we could be stronger and more resilient from working more closely together.”
This, he said, “will require some commitment from both sides, some creative thinking, and willingness to adapt to new ways of working” – but said he and Deputy Moore “share the same enthusiasm for trying to do things differently”.
FOCUS: A decade of the island's (occasionally) working together
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