Letter to the Editor: It’s extraordinary that Gorst is overlooking Ozouf’s responsibility

The Comptroller and Auditor General’s earlier report – which prompted the Jessica Simor review – discovered that the provision of doubtful debts as at 31 December stood at £1,383,000. This included a company called Logfiller, which had been given a grant of £400,000 and had subsequently disappeared off the face of the earth leaving the Jersey taxpayer considerably worse off.

The evidence is clear as to who had political responsibility for the Jersey Innovation Fund, and for Senator Ian Gorst and Senator Ozouf to keep denying the facts insults the intelligence of Islanders.

On 14 June last year, during States question time, Senator Ozouf was questioned about the Logfiller loan and whether he had made an error in approving that loan or whether it had been an error on the part of the board. He answered: ‘Let me be absolutely clear about one thing: the minister – and that is delegated to me – takes full responsibility and accountability for the decisions.’

He added: ‘While the recommendation is to the board, it is the Assistant Minister who is the corporate sole, according to the setting-up of the arrangements…’

On the same day, Senator Ozouf made a statement about the Jersey Innovation Fund and who held responsibility for its operation. He said then: ‘As Members will recall, the fund passed formally to the Chief Minister’s office on 1 January 2016. Prior to this, I had delegated responsibility for the fund as Assistant Minister in Economic Development. The Chief Minister has delegated responsibility for Innovation to me and I am therefore responsible and accountable to this Assembly for the fund, including all ministerial decisions past, future and present that are associated with it.’

Senator Gorst has defended his decision to reinstate Senator Ozouf to his former position as Assistant Minister on the grounds that when he found out that the fund was not operating properly he took action. This totally ignores the fact that he was the minister responsible for the failings in the first place and he only acted when the balloon went up on Logfiller.

The Code of Conduct for Ministers approved in 2006 clearly states: ‘Ministers have a duty to the States to account, and be held to account, for the policies, decisions and actions of their department and any agencies for which their department has responsibility.’

That Senator Gorst is prepared to overlook this is extraordinary.

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