The island’s government confirmed yesterday that it had received no approach from Islands Unlimited – which said last year that it would be looking for money from the States of Guernsey before it would be in a position to operate – nor from the States of Guernsey about working together on the inter-island service.
The States has agreed a £150,000 funding package for the ferry operator, which is currently finalising a deal to secure a boat for the summer.
A Jersey government spokesman welcomed the additional inter-island connectivity, and said it was good news for Guernsey and Jersey residents as well as for Channel Island visitors.
Jersey politician Montfort Tadier, chairman of its Economic and International Affairs Panel, which scrutinises decisions made by Sustainable Economic Development minister Kirsten Morel, who recently selected DFDS as the island’s preferred ferry operator, said the Islands Unlimited announcement was news to him.
Deputy Tadier said he had been contacted by members of Jersey clubs and sports teams who were concerned they would no longer be able to travel over to Guernsey for competitions.
‘In an ideal world we would have a joined-up inter-island service, but I guess there’s a timetabling question with what’s just been announced,’ he said.
‘If Guernsey are paying for the service, then they must have the final say on timetables.’
He questioned why Jersey had not put out another tender for an inter-island service in light of the greatly-reduced links expected from Brittany Ferries and DFDS, saying that he thought both companies would now examine the implications of Islands Unlimited’s announcement in relation to their own services.
He added he was in discussions with Government of Jersey officials with regards to arranging a scrutiny hearing with Deputy Morel specifically to address Jersey’s ferry links.
