Deputy should be the one to put the boot in

Also, Deputy Kevin Stewart telling us not to put the boot in on Condor. As chief of Commerce he should be the one putting the boot in on Condor in support of our tourism – once again Deputy Stewart, no real support from you.

As mentioned in the Open Lines column, when the tender for the route was put out, others seem to be a much better proposition than what we have now.

It would be very interesting to have all the names of those deputies who attended Condor's application to continue with the route, especially with this new vessel. They agreed and signed for Condor to continue and yet none of them had any information regarding how good this ferry was to be.

They and the island now face a serious situation affecting our tourism.

What happens if companies in this island have trade shows, exhibitions etc. and can't get the equipment and their hosts over due to cancellations?

Will they pay the Guernsey companies compensation for loss of business and sales? The vessel is not suitable for these crossings.

R. S. MAUGER,

Valletta, Rue des Frieteaux,

St Martin's, GY4 6XA.

Editor's footnote: Deputy Kevin Stewart replies:

'I am grateful to have been provided with the opportunity to respond to your reader's letter which contains a number of inaccuracies regarding the arrangements supporting the island's lifeline roll on/roll off sea link services.

In July last year, Jersey's Economic Development Department and Guernsey's External Transport Group developed a revised and extended joint policy statement on roll on/roll off car, passenger and freight services for the 10-year period to 2024; this includes a 'review point' at 2021.

Jersey also has available to it legislation to license the use of its RoRo ramps and has awarded a licence to Condor Ltd, initially to 2021. Jersey has also been able to use the legal certainty which a ramp licence provides to put in place a legally binding commercial operating agreement with Condor Ltd that provides for, inter alia, service standards. The operating agreement places obligations upon both parties, that is, Jersey's government and Condor Ltd which, if substantially and consistently breached by either party, could result in termination of the agreement. While Guernsey is an equal stakeholder with Jersey in the joint policy statement on sea links, the island does not currently have legislation available to it for the licensing of sea service operators. However, the Public Services and Commerce and Employment departments will be presenting a joint States report at the July States meeting which will recommend the development of legislation that will, in due course, provide the island's strategic sea links with improved resilience. With such legislation in place, Guernsey's position would be on a par with Jersey's and it would enable the island to establish a legally binding operating agreement with a service operator. It is appropriate to mention that Guernsey has, for several years, operated under a Memorandum of Understanding with Condor, the requirements of which the company consistently exceeds each year. The MoU will remain in place until such time as a more detailed Operating Agreement can be developed.

In regard to the difficulties that have accompanied the deployment of Condor Liberation, the External Transport Group (which consists of the ministers and deputy ministers of the Public Services and Commerce and Employment departments) has been, and continues to remain, in daily contact with Condor Ferries. As has been publicly stated in recent days, Condor is working intensively to overcome the operational issues that have caused delays and this work continues with updates being regularly provided to officers supporting the group. It is also now a matter of record that Guernsey's External Transport Group, Jersey's Economic Development Department and Condor Ltd have jointly agreed to commission, at Condor's expense, an independent and expert review to confirm the suitability and performance of Condor Liberation. The islands and the operator expect that the findings will alleviate the concerns expressed recently by what is, numerically, a relatively small proportion of travellers.'