The value of 'facing' up to Covid
AMONG the reflections on the Covid pandemic, Dr Nicola Brink considering her own role as the ‘face’ of the local pandemic response is intriguing.
Not just honoured for the part she played, islanders rallied around the leadership that she demonstrated alongside the senior politicians – in fact she was given an elevated platform by them, to allow the island’s response to be dictated by the evidence, as she used to say, by the science.
It demonstrates the importance in communications of being led by an individual, rather than as a faceless corporation. Why the live broadcasts at the time of Covid were far more valuable than a press release.
The importance of communication was outlined in the States' pandemic planning exercise in 2019.
‘We thought it was important not to be an anonymous person, that actually being a named person, taking accountability for decisions, facing islanders and trying to explain the decision-making process, was very important,’ Dr Brink said. It made an important contribution.
Meanwhile 'Gatlandgate’ rumbles on. There were faults on both sides. The States lacked transparency in bending the rules, and some were upset with good reason. But some of the criticism was niggardly and certainly didn’t help our case to host the British Lions.
We could ask, was it worth the hassle? The benefits Jersey got from their visit must be questionable at best.