TAXPAYERS paid nearly £11,000 for two ministers and a senior officer to travel to one of the remotest islands on Earth for a conference last month, a JEP freedom-of-information request has revealed.
The total cost for Housing Minister Sam Mézec, Home Affairs Minister Mary Le Hegarat, and a senior officer from the States Greffe to represent Jersey at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association’s British Islands and Mediterranean Region conference in St Helena last month was £10,917.12.
The FoI request further revealed: “All States Members are eligible to attend conferences hosted by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. Delegates attend in their capacity as States Members, not as ministers.
“Applications to attend the conference were submitted in December 2023 before either Deputy Le Hegarat or Deputy Mézec took a Ministerial role.”
Two months previously, the States spending watchdog said it would be “asking questions” after it was revealed that former Chief Minister Kristina Moore and two officials flew to a conference in Rwanda at a total cost of nearly £14,000.
That revelation came in response to a written States question from Deputy Mézec, when he was a backbencher.
Upon his return from last month’s trip to St Helena, Deputy Mézec posted on social media about the “historic event” which was the “first of its kind to take place in St Helena, since the opening of the airport”.
He said: “The CPA is an extremely important forum for our island to develop relationships with our Commonwealth colleagues, enabling us to call upon their support and expertise as we tackle shared challenges. Plus we can offer a lot back in return.
“In particular, I was heavily involved in the sessions on affordable housing and promoting youth parliaments. I was pleased that members from all jurisdictions were very keen to learn about the First Step scheme. I would be delighted to help them establish their own schemes.
“St Helena is a magical island, with so much going for it. As a fellow Commonwealth member, it deserves all of our support and encouragement. There is so much we can learn from them about sustainability, given the necessary part of their way of life it is.”
How do the costs break down?
ACCOMMODATION
Friday 17 May: City Lodge Hotel Johannesburg Airport – £230.96 per person
Saturday 18 May to Saturday 25 May: Mantis Hotel St Helena – paid by CPA St Helena – £0.00
Saturday 25 May: City Lodge Hotel Johannesburg Airport – £230.96 per person
FLIGHTS
British Airways: Jersey/London Heathrow/Johannesburg return –£2,260.87 per person
Airlink: Johannesburg/St Helena return – £900 per person
EXPENSES
Lunch: Friday 17 May – £13.92
Dinner: Friday 17 May – £34.83
