Assistant Chief Minister Philip Ozouf took what he called an ‘executive decision’ to arrange the journey for Estonian ambassador Lauri Bambus and three colleagues after their British Airways flight out of the Island was cancelled on 17 November.
The group left the next morning instead on a private jet. Figures provided by the States show that the flight cost £4,050, but Senator Ozouf yesterday said that the ‘real’ cost to the taxpayer would be up to £2,500.
A States spokesman confirmed that the Island would not seek to recoup the costs from Estonia.
Senator Ozouf described the situation as an ‘exceptional circumstance’ for an ‘exceptional person’, and added that it was appropriate to ensure that Mr Bambus was not inconvenienced, as the Island was trying to develop a relationship with Estonia – one of the world’s leading digital jurisdictions.
Senator Ozouf, whose ministerial portfolio includes the digital sector, said that having investigated all options and ‘assessed the importance’ of Jersey’s relationship with Estonia, he decided to arrange a flight for four on a private jet.
He said that he had taken the ‘executive decision’ in ‘the interest of Jersey’.
Full story in Wednesday’s JEP.
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