POLITICIANS are considering “additional legal advice” as they continue to debate the future of Jersey’s passenger and freight ferry services.
Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel said that “further positive discussions” had taken place on Monday on whether the Island would choose Danish shipping giant DFDS or rival bidder Brittany Ferries, which owns incumbent operator Condor, to provide ferry services to Islanders for the next 15 years.
Jersey and Guernsey had previously been expected to make a joint decision before the end of last month.
However, the process split apart last week after Guernsey revealed that it did not want to wait any longer and announced Brittany Ferries as its preferred bidder.
Jersey ministers have since been engaged in crunch talks focusing on “operator ownership, financial viability and future investment in vessels”.
In a statement issued on Monday afternoon, Deputy Morel said: “There have been further positive discussions today concerning our lifeline ferry services.
“We are considering the legal, commercial and financial implications of the bids, including additional legal advice received today.”
Deputy Morel continued: “I understand the frustration of Islanders that a decision has not yet been made, but the complications created by the situation we find ourselves in are extensive and we need to ensure we have all the information to make the correct decision.”
He said that a further announcement would be made on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel has raised concerns about the selection process.
The panel’s chair, Deputy Montfort Tadier, said: “We believe Islanders have a right to expect that timely due process is applied to the current negotiations.
“It is not for the panel to offer its opinion as to which company, if any, is best placed to be awarded the contract, but we do believe it is important that the public are able to have confidence in the process and, at present, we do not believe that is the case.”
He continued: “While the panel understands the need for confidentiality regarding the bid process, that has made it difficult for the process to be scrutinised by either politicians or the public.
“The panel would strongly encourage the [Economic Development Minister] to call a special States meeting to consult with all States Members on the preferred way forward and bring some transparency to the process so far. It is also clear to the panel that whatever the outcome of the tender process, formal retrospective scrutiny is required, and the panel is ready to play its part as necessary.”
