P&R’s plan to develop online Gazette is opened back up
PLANS for the States to develop and run a new online Guernsey Gazette suffered a knock back yesterday after deputies approved an amendment by just a single vote to ensure that the Policy & Resources Committee must seek out potential third-party providers before it looks to take the project in-house.
Members agreed an amendment from Economic Development vice-president Steve Falla, backed by his president, Neil Inder, to explore other options. P&R was planning to spend £15,000 to build a web page, end the market monopoly and take official notices within its control.
La Gazette, which dates back to the 19th century, is the location mandated by law for publishing official parish and States notices, and is currently published in the Guernsey Press and its digital platform.
But Policy & Resources has moved forward on a project, started more than a decade ago, to liberalise the market and proposed to publish its own, and allow other official notices to be published in other suitable locations.
‘We are arrogantly thinking we can do everything ourselves,’ said Deputy Falla.
‘I absolutely think that if there is anyone who knows how to do it, [the Guernsey Press] are the people.’
After the States ended discussions with the Guernsey Press and published its proposals, the company offered to post States and parish notices for free.
‘Even if it does only cost £15,000, the Guernsey Press is offering to do it free of charge, so why would we pay?’ Deputy Falla said.
The parishes pay about £60,000 per year to publish their notices, and States committees collectively pay about £13,000 per year.
Several deputies asked what would happen if the Guernsey Press was sold or went bust, but Deputy Falla pointed out that such concerns did not stop the States making a deal with Agilisys, which handles the digital infrastructure of the island’s government.
But P&R president Peter Ferbrache said the amendment was about protecting the Guernsey Press, rather than saving the States money. He said that overnight he had moved from favouring the amendment to urging its proposers to drop it completely.
‘This is to save them money. This is a very simple policy letter, it has been a long time in the making, and it should be unreservedly supported.’
Fellow P&R member Deputy David Mahoney, who opened the debate, questioned why debate focused on the Guernsey Press when the amendment specified ‘third parties’.
‘This is about dragging the Gazette into the 21st century,’ he added.
He said the proposal was about the States taking one of its responsibilities in-house, and said he disagreed with sponsoring the media in any way.
Discussion about digital platforms took place under the cloud of the States website and digital functions being down all day.
‘We have technological hiccups as we have seen today. The back-up is traditional press,’ said Deputy John Gollop.
‘It is important for inclusivity as well – age, disability, and people who prefer the paper copy. The newspaper still has a role.’
The amendment was carried by 17 votes to 16.
