Deputy Inna Gardiner said that the Safer Travel Guidelines Scrutiny Panel, on which she sits, had found it difficult to obtain some relevant information.
And she said that greater transparency would foster more unity among States Members and confidence among the public.
Last month, the JEP asked how many checks had been carried out to ensure that arriving passengers were self-isolating for 14 days – prior to border-arrival testing coming into force.
In response, a statement was received about how the government was developing a compliance policy to ensure people were quarantining. Despite asking for figures again, no response was received.
It was later revealed in a response to a freedom of information request that, in the 30 days following lockdown, no routine checks had been carried out by the government on people who were meant to be self-isolating.
A few weeks later, amid reports that visiting yachtsmen were coming ashore without being tested or following Covid-19 procedures, the JEP asked the government how many times it was aware of this happening.
In a statement, a spokesperson said that ‘records were kept’ of offending vessels. But, despite repeated requests, the government again failed to release any figures.
Now, following a separate series of questions, the government has revealed that, from 9 July until 24 July, 151 people had arrived in Jersey from ‘amber-risk’ countries with 25 coming from ‘red-risk’ countries.
However, despite being given over a week to respond, the government has failed to answer questions about how many physical, in-person or over-the-phone checks have been carried out to ensure passengers were complying.
Instead, it has only said that all of those concerned received ‘compliance calls to explain self-isolation and swab tests policies that need to be adhered to following their arrival’.
Now, Deputy Gardiner has called on the government to provide States Members and the public with the information that they deserve.
‘It can be difficult to get information from the government but it is not necessarily the [fault of the] Communications Unit, because they have to go to the government to get that information,’ she said.
‘So the government has to be more transparent and, if it is, it will command more trust from the public and from backbenchers.
‘Transparency and clarity is key to allow us [States Members] to move forward and support the government in their measures. We have done really well and the public have done an amazing job and Jersey is in a really good place compared to most places and we have to keep it that way.’
Deputy Gardiner added that, as a member of the Safer Travel Guidance Scrutiny Panel, some of her questions to the government regarding STAC advice had remained unanswered.
She added that she had also asked how many arrivals had opted not to be tested, preferring to self-isolate for 14 days instead, but was still awaiting a response.
