Official caution given to hotelier over Covid rules

David Nussbaumer, managing director of the Farmhouse Hotel, was spoken to yesterday by officers from the Guernsey Border Agency.

This followed the release of leaked emails which appeared to show Mr Nussbaumer advised an employee, after speaking to Civil Contingencies Authority chairman Peter Ferbrache, to mislead Public Health about her proximity to someone who was supposed to be self-isolating.

Mr Nussbaumer said he was 'gutted' by the caution.

‘I feel kicked in the teeth. All I’ve ever wanted to do is do my best for Guernsey, whether it be sport, whether it be business, whether it be live music – all I’ve ever wanted to do is my very best.

‘If I need to go to court then I will be appalled, but obviously I will go to court [if I have to]. I’ll wait and see if this is taken any further.

'Then I’ve really got to think about the future of Guernsey.

‘I’m worried about it because this isn’t fair.

‘I can assure you I have done nothing illegal. I’m fully co-operating, I’ve got nothing to hide. At the moment my reputation is tarnished, and somebody will need to apologise when the truth all comes out.

‘Maybe I made an error of judgement, but it was an innocent error supporting a member of staff that I had no proof to believe was lying to me.

‘I’m far from perfect, but I’ve only ever done my best for Guernsey.’

Two employees of the Farmhouse appeared in the Magistrate’s Court in connection with the alleged breach.

Deputy Ferbrache was drawn into the controversy because in the leaked emails Mr Nussbaumer said the head of the CCA and the island's chief minister had advised him that there was ‘sufficient leeway’ not to report any breach.

Mr Nussbaumer has since retracted those comments, and yesterday again sought to distance Deputy Ferbrache from the incident.

‘I can’t say this enough – Peter Ferbrache has not given me any advice, Peter Ferbrache is a man of integrity and sincerity and we’re very lucky to have him as a leader of the Guernsey States.

‘[He] is 100% innocent in this. If anybody is guilty, it’s my bad judgement.

'At the time I had just got back from a serious cancer operation in Southampton, I was drugged up. If I didn’t do the right thing then I apologise.’

Mr Nussbaumer named a former deputy, whom he said had a grudge against Deputy Ferbrache, as the potential source of the leaked emails.

Before yesterday’s court case, two politicians had called for an investigation to tackle any possible perception that the chief minister and his friends were immune from the law.

Deputy Gavin St Pier published a series of questions yesterday asking for further details but they were rebutted by Deputy Ferbrache.

‘I have told Deputy St Pier that I am not answering his Rule 11 questions as I do not believe they fall within the rule and that as there is a pending investigation it would not be appropriate for me to comment until any court process has been completed.’