Jersey hospitality bosses blast ‘indecision and incompetence’
The Jersey Hospitality Association has told its island’s Chief Minister that its members have been shocked by the ‘indecision and incompetence’ displayed by the Government of Jersey during the ferry tender process.
In a strongly-worded letter to Jersey chief minister Lyndon Farnham, signed by JHA honorary chairman Malcolm Lewis, it said it was ‘flabbergasted’ that Jersey was prepared to risk doing serious political damage to relationships with Guernsey and France.
The letter was sent prior to last night’s evening announcement that Jersey was proposing a seven-month extension to Condor’s contract.
‘If we are to develop trust and a closer working relationship with the rest of the Channel Islands and France, then you must look closely at what is at stake,’ Mr Lewis wrote.
‘I find it hard to understand why your government is seeking to risk that through the already-flawed tender process, and why you are continuing to cause damage to those relationships by not reaching an immediate decision.
The cost and ease of both travel and transportation to and from France has already been affected by Brexit, but if we care about continuing our historic, cultural and economic links with Normandy and Brittany, then an immediate decision is critical.’
It has now been a week since Guernsey chose Condor-majority shareholder Brittany Ferries as its lifeline sea link partner, over Danish company DFDS.
Mr Lewis said there was considerable anger among his members at how the situation had developed.
He added that a JHA member had already lost four large school groups, who had been unable to book travel next year.
‘It can only have done massive harm to the stability and confidence of not only the hospitality industry itself, but the island as a whole,’ he wrote.
‘This debacle can only reinforce a widely held view that there is no longer any faith in the decision-making process and that this industry is not supported by the Government of Jersey.
‘I understand that financial risk is weighing heavily on this decision, but I cannot fathom why that has become the sole issue that’s holding this up when the information should have been requested, received and considered months ago.’
He added that he was deeply concerned that decision-makers had ‘at the eleventh hour’ felt obliged to seek the views and support of the whole Jersey States.
‘That can only prolong the process, dragging it out further and causing even more damage to JHA members’ businesses.
‘The Visitor Economy Strategy launched at the end of last year sets out a road map for sustainable and diversified growth, but it makes me angry that the government has little or no understanding or desire to deliver it.’
