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| The Government of Jersey has proposed an extension to Condor Ferries' existing contract. |
Business leaders have criticized the delayed decision on a new ferry contract for the Channel Islands.
The States of Guernsey announced Brittany Ferries as its preferred bidder on October 30, but Jersey's government has yet to finalize its decision.
Simon De La Rue, of the Little Big Brew craft brewery and a member of the Guernsey Tourism Partnership, criticized the delay as "farcical" and said it doesn't bring certainty to the following season.
Condor's parent company, Brittany Ferries, expressed being surprised and disappointed by Jersey's offer of a seven-month contract extension.
Jersey's government stated that a primary reason for the delay was the need to ensure that the next operator would remain financially stable over the next 15 years.
Mark Cox, CEO of the Channel Islands Co-op, commented that if Condor agreed to the extension, it would provide some certainty for the supermarket chain.
He explained, In any tender process, financial stability is a key factor, along with assessing whether those entering can deliver the expected results. If they cannot, then they should not be in the running for the tender. He added, This financial information should have been available much earlier.
Extension Too Short for Stability
Mr. De La Rue expressed doubt that Brittany Ferries would accept the proposed Condor extension, calling it insufficient to provide stability for the next season. "A seven-month extension is so short that it doesn’t offer certainty for the following season," he told BBC Radio Guernsey.
He emphasized the importance of enhancing inter-island connectivity with Jersey, highlighting how it would benefit both islands' tourism sectors. A healthy tourism sector in Jersey is a positive thing for Guernsey, he noted.
Mr. De La Rue also criticized the tender process, calling it relatively farcical to go through an eight-month evaluation only to propose a seven-month extension. "I don’t see why you should do this with a ferry contract impacting the lives of over 200,000 people, he added.
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| Robert Mackenzie noted that the tourism aspect was not receiving the same level of attention and focus as freight. |
Robert Cornelius of the Guernsey Motor Trade Association stressed the need for a reliable, consistent, and regular service for businesses dependent on goods from the UK. "We understand, as business owners, that there are costs involved and that operations need to be viable," he noted.
Robert Mackenzie, managing director of CI Travel Group, pointed out that the government appears to prioritize other sectors over tourism. "This contract is primarily focused on freight and ensuring essential deliveries of food and supplies to the island, he said. "While the visitor passenger service is important, it’s not receiving the same level of attention.
Deputy Karen Wilson, a member of the Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel, stated, We intend to ensure that questions are raised in the Assembly next week about what has transpired. However, the priority right now is ensuring that by the end of December, we have a decision that serves the best interests of Jersey.
Deputy Kirsten Morel, who is overseeing the tender process for Jersey, had previously urged islanders to please trust me. He acknowledged the challenges, saying, I am in a difficult position. My goal is to secure financially resilient ferry services for our island. Financial resilience means being able to invest in a new fleet and sustain operations for the full 15 years of the contract.
Guernsey's Committee for Economic Development announced that it would assess a Guernsey-only approach with Brittany Ferries and finalize the contract within the next 10 days. Brittany Ferries' CEO, Christophe Matthieu, expressed confidence, stating that the company had provided sufficient information for the government to make a decision on the 15-year contract.
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