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A confidential memo sent to States Members has shed light on Jersey's hesitation in awarding the island's key ferry contract.
Guernsey – which jointly purchased a new ferry with Condor and loaned the company £26m to prevent an undisclosed "potential emergency" occurring last year – said last night that it had taken the decision to "push ahead alone" with Condor's new owner to "provide certainty for island residents and businesses".
Jersey and Guernsey have “not reached a shared view” on the future of the islands’ key ferry contract, the statement said, but Guernsey's Committee for Economic Development said they were seeking a deal which "leaves the door open for Jersey".
Pictured: The States of Guernsey helped fund Condor's purchase of the Islander.
Jersey's Government, which only saw the announcement at the same time as the public and media, responded less than an hour later, saying it had "further questions" for the two frontrunners and would be seeking urgent meetings today.
It has now emerged that Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel wrote to States Members to share his frustration over what he described as a "disappointing and unseemly end to what had been a very constructive process”.
The memo, which was marked 'CONFIDENTIAL' but which has been seen by Express, sheds further light on the delay in Jersey announcing a preferred bidder, which had sparked frustrations among the business community.
Deputy Morel wrote that Jersey required more details from both bidders, DFDS and Brittany Ferries, including financial and contractual information, before deciding which one should operate ferry services for the next 15 years.
He wrote: “I understand that you will have concerns as to why a joint decision hasn’t been reached and I must say that I am disappointed that this has turned out to be the case.
“I believe that it would be irresponsible for myself as Minister or for the Council of Ministers to have moved to the point of announcing an appointment with key information still outstanding.”
Pictured: Jersey's Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel sent a confidential memo to States Members last night.
Deputy Morel also wrote: “Earlier today [Wednesday], the Council of Ministers agreed to seek this information from both bidders and I made the [Guernsey] Economic Development Committee President aware of the pending requests via phone.
“There is no doubt that this is a disappointing and unseemly end to what had been a very constructive process, which showed the value of our sea routes by attracting three bidders.
“Jersey relies on its sea connectivity for the food we eat, the goods we buy and for our own and our visitors’ travel needs.
“It is because we understand the importance of the stability of these services that we need to be satisfied that the company that delivers them is financially sustainable and able to invest in a new decarbonised fleet, without placing excessive risk on the people of Jersey.
“I believe our fellow islanders deserve to know that we have done all we can to verify this before making an award of contract for 15 years.”
The Minister said that he wanted to reassure Members that he and his fellow Ministers were “acting entirely with the best long-term interest in the island in mind” and he would brief Members in the coming days.
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