The dispute began in April when the crew walked out following the dismissal of coxswain Andy Hibbs. They returned to duty in June after he won his appeal and was reinstated.
However, the relationship between the organisation and the St Helier volunteers continued to deteriorate and last month the crew announced plans to break away from the RNLI and launch their own service.
This led to the RNLI closing the St Helier station and standing the crew down. A recruitment drive to get the St Helier Lifeboat Station fully operational by the spring has led to more than 80 responses from Islanders.
Responding to a question in the States yesterday from Deputy Sam Mézec, Environment Minister Steve Luce said that he would investigate whether an inquiry could be launched.
However, he added that there had already been two reviews – one of the sacking of Mr Hibbs and another of the conduct of a Ports of Jersey employee – and that there was ‘little evidence’ forthcoming that would support a further review at this time.
‘I agree that it is time we had some answers to many of the questions and I will see what I can do to bring this forward,’ he said.
‘The priority is to get the lifeboats back into St Helier. While the Harbourmaster has said the risk has increased he is satisfied it is still manageable.
‘We are doing everything we can to get the situation remedied.’
He added that he had ‘nothing but admiration’ for Mr Hibbs and the rest of the crew for the many years of service they have provided to the Island and said that he was disappointed that the relationship with the organisation had broken down.
Home Affairs Minister Kristina Moore also revealed that the RNLI had spent almost £40,000 in training fire officers and ‘other associated costs’ to provide cover for the inshore lifeboat service but did not give further details.
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