Scrutiny panel to examine ferry provider agreement

DFDS won the contract to run the islands services, after a long tender process

A scrutiny panel said it welcomed the publication of the agreement that was signed between Jersey's government and the ferry operator DFDS.

The company won the contract to run the island's services after a long tender process.

After public pressure, the minister responsible released an edited copy of the contract this week.

The economic affairs scrutiny panel had campaigned for it to be released for transparency and public accountability.

It said it would now review the document thoroughly to see whether it offered the best choice for Jersey.

'Questions and concerns'

Deputy Montfort Tadier, chair of the panel, said since DFDS was awarded the contract to run Jersey's key routes to the UK and France, "a number of serious questions and concerns have been raised with the panel".

"The publication of this document allows us to question the minister further about the detail of the agreement without there being an added layer of complexity regarding what information can be shared," he said.

Tadier said the panel had pushed strongly for the agreement to be published and felt the decision to release it was "a result of that pressure.

"It will also allow all islanders to feel empowered to hold the government to account," he added.

A Government of Jersey spokesperson previously said it was recognised there was "a legitimate interest in the public knowing more about the agreement".

Chris Parker, DFDS route director for Jersey, previously said it was "not unusual" to have high levels of scrutiny around a new route, especially when it was a "lifeline service," as is the case for Jersey.