Last week the JEP revealed that Economic Development chief executive Mike King and Locate Jersey director of inward investment Wayne Gallichan spent almost £13,000 on fully flexible business class flights to the Investing in African Mining Indaba conference in Cape Town.
The news has drawn criticism from Treasury Minister Alan Maclean and Unite spokesman Nick Corbel – both of whom called on the senior civil servants to publicly apologise for their actions, which they described as unacceptable at a time when the States is slashing spending and making staff redundant.
When approached by the JEP both men gave ‘no comment’ answers about the calls for public apologies, however, during an Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel hearing on Wednesday, Mr King said he took full responsibility for his actions and that he had apologised ‘unreservedly’ to Economic Development Minister Lyndon Farnham, his department’s assistant ministers and to Chief Minister Ian Gorst.
