HARCOURT Developments has made an official complaint to the Bailiff about the conduct of Deputy Sean Power, who they say tried to get a job with them in 2005.
The preferred developers of the Waterfront claim that Deputy Sean Power asked if he could become their political consultant before he entered the States three years ago.
But this claim is being strongly denied by Deputy Power (pictured), who says that he approached a former employee of Harcourt only in an attempt to bring a French supermarket and freight link to Jersey.
Director of Harcourt Developments Pat Power said that Deputy Power has become their most vocal critic since they declined his offer in 2005.
‘We have an individual who sought to be our representative and suddenly when he was not taken as our representative he is our leading critic,’ said Harcourt director Mr Power at a press conference yesterday.
‘We want to know what is motivating him to carry on as he is, because he has gone from wanting to be our representative to actually attempting to derail a several-million-pound project which was unanimously voted upon and passed.’
Mr Power added: ‘He said he knew his way around the political corridors and that he knew all the States Members personally. We said we would never engage with him and our negative approach resulted in a quite abusive e-mail. We just want to get on with the development.’
Deputy Power, originally from Limerick in Ireland, has admitted sending an ‘abusive’ e-mail to Harcourt, but said it was all done before he was elected to the States in November 2005. he said that the ‘irritation’ expressed in it and the ‘use of language’ was due to his frustration at being unable to attract support from an Irish company.’
The Deputy, who has been trying to warn the Council of Ministers about the company’s legal battle in Dublin, explained why he contacted the company.
‘I had approached a number of companies, including Harcourt, throughout 2004 and 2005 in an attempt to get support for a freight link to France and the enabling of a French supermarket.
‘These other companies included French supermarket groups and other developers. I was unsuccessful in establishing a link between any developer in Jersey, including Harcourt and any French supermarket group.
‘I never asked for any payment, nor did I ever ask for a position with a salary. I never discussed fee payments of any kind with Harcourt. Harcourt never ever replied to any e-mail from me.’
Deputy Power added: ‘I have made my colleagues in the States aware of the litigation referred to involving Harcourt and if I have incurred criticism from Harcourt or an attempt by them to impugn my integrity, then so be it.’
