You and your 35 colleagues think it over and a few days later you tell the UK parent that you would like to go independent – but assure them that you will continue to work very hard for them through the transition phase.
The UK parent, rather than working with you on the transition, start working against you. In collusion with both the regulator and the government they sack you and your colleagues, lock you out of the local office, the regulator puts barriers up to stop you getting a licence, and the UK parent announces they will restaff the office using their UK colleagues (with government blessing). Jersey establishment names are deeply involved in this cunning plan. A committee of inquiry is therefore rejected.
Welcome to the Jersey Lifeboat Association and RNLI dispute. On 8 November 2017 the RNLI told the St Helier Crew that they could take the St Helier Station independent. ‘Where do you think you can operate best?’ the RNLI asked. On 11 November the crew decided to go independent.
Since this decision their treatment by the Jersey government, Ports of Jersey, and the RNLI and its supporters has been appalling. A fake website and Facebook page was set up, misinformation abounded, the establishment lent on people, the RNLI still refuses to meet the JLA, false rumour about kicking the RNLI out of the Island were constructed. Incidentally, the RNLI receives an annual grant from the Jersey taxpayer for lifeguard services – £222,644 in 2017, up 48% since 2011 despite ample funds in reserve.
So I close with the words of the RNLI on that fateful day. ‘Should you decide to move this to an independent place there is a phased approach and the RNLI can support that, the States can support that, and the Coastguard can support that.’ How hollow these words have proved
to be.
