‘We all knew we were breaking States rules’
Saturday 20th December 2008, 9:29AM GMT.
Chief Minister Lyndon Trott and States deputy chief executive Nigel Lewis explain the purchase of two tankers to the media. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0693140)
CHIEF Minister Lyndon Trott said the Policy Council had no choice but to act without States approval to safeguard fuel supplies.
The landmark move, in which the council gave approval for Deputy Trott to organise the purchase of the only two fuel-carrying vessels currently available and capable of servicing the island, goes against States procedure.
It was a decision that exceeded the Policy Council’s mandate but Deputy Trott said it was necessary to ‘act outside the box’ to ensure that the vessels remained available to the island.
‘Throughout this process, I and the entire Policy Council have been acutely aware that the decision to go ahead with the purchase of these vessels flew in the face of the normal approach of wide consultation, States debate, the securing of a capital allocation and so on,’ he said.
‘However, on the other hand we have also been acutely aware that unless we had reacted with the speed that we did and conducted negotiations in a confidential and commercial manner then there was the very real prospect that the two vessels, built to serve these islands and which to all intents and purposes are irreplaceable in the short term, could have been sold to another buyer. That buyer might well have relocated them elsewhere in the world.’
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Absolute bull****.
Come back and try us again. Think about a tug and its towing capabilities?
What is your answer to this then CM-NOTHING AT ALL?
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CM you may have thought outside of the box? Just don’t forget that you have acted against the LAW.
As a member of public I would be prosecuted for this kind of action!
How about our Law Officers stepping up to the plate then?
Message to our unelected CM you are not even a fraction of a single % of Boris Johnson. The sooner we all start realising it then we can all prosper.
Good luck.
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This guy does what he likes….Guernsey is turning into a banana republic ! bring back committees to the decision making process.
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I cannot believe the sheer ignorance of some of the postings on this and related threads. The States had no choice but to act quickly. There are apparently just SEVEN ships in the world capable of delivering fuel to St Sampsons Harbour. The island could have been left with no fuel within weeks, so no cras, no planes, no central heating etc. Waiting to convene a States meeting to see the matter debated just wasn’t feasible. The administrator of the failed shipping firm have an obligation to act quickly. Our current States procedures need tweaking to accomodate acts like this.
Its a sensible decision – the only one that could have been made and it had to be made quickly in the best interests of the island. Some of the posters on this blog would inevitably have equally criticised the CM and the Policy Council for not acting quickly enough if the ships had been lost and we had run out of fuel in 3 weeks time, and far more significant sums would have had to be spent, in an absolute emergency, to re-design St Sampsons Harbour.
For years our States have procrastinated when urgent decisions had to be made, yet when urgent action is vital to protect the island’s interests we see sheer ignorance from certain posters who see it as yet another opportunity to attack the CM who, in any event, would have had the go-ahead from the Policy Council. As if it was a personal decision by the CM off his own back.
Unbelievable – some people need to grow up.
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Why were two needed, with planning one vesssel was surely going to be enough anyway.
Still can always sell one/both given they are now owned assets.
Perhaps there will be a lucrative leasing deal to be made out of them.
Perhaps I am dreaming..
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Surely this man is not quite all there; he thinks and acts like Mugabe;
Come on Guernsey people; do as they do with potatoes; Get rid of the pest:
If he gets away with this then you’re lost; he’ll do even more against the law:
If he can get away with breaking the law; then what point is there with all those advocates and police force.
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But you just don’t realise! It’s all a cunning plan! Get a stranglehold over oil supplies to Jersey! The Crapauds will be back to horse and cart in no time!
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Hang on – we are calling for the resignation of one minister who hasn’t broken the law, why are we not doing the same for a minister who has knowingly broken the law!
Political hand granade to me!
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Sounds like Bull**** Bingo to me. Throw in a few buzz words and the public will swallow it apparently.
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I am astounded that our PC and CM can break States rules in such a flagrant and arrogant manner in the purchase of these two vessels. Equally, why will the CM and PC not issue the price tag of these vessels and the running costs to the tax payer over the next 10 years if these vessels last that long that is? I would love to see the audit trail of the purchase of these vessels this raises a nother important point. The CM says that they purchased these vessels because it protected the shipment of fuel into the islands. Is he saying that by not purchasing these vessels the islands would have effectively had a fuel blockade or embargo of sorts imposed if he is saying this then as a tax payer I want proof of this?
I am worried about the direction Politics is going in the island and the Flouquet racist comment and this fiasco warrant this concern. It seems the far right arrogant extremists in and out of the House who are so out of touch and so willingly leading the island down a road where the future is not bright are out of control and untouchable. We need more then island wide voting perhaps we do need party politics. Look at the way the new House is split so we have party politics in principle perhaps Gsy can between now and 2012 take the other big leap and adopt a more democratic political system and introduce party politics along with island wide voting. If we do not address the massive far right elements in our government then we will I am sure have both a CM and DCM (who it seems is despised by 99.9% of the island and 75% of the House) in such a powerful roles it would change the face of our political constitution, island life, civil rights and make the Barclay twins political ethos look like walk in the park.
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come on guys – Trott may not know much about finance but he does know a thing or two about ships. Perhaps the ships will carry banana’s as well as fuel!
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One of our new toys (Vedrey Thor) has been anchored at the St Helen’s Ancorage, off the Isle of Wight since 6am on 17 December, waiting to go to Fawley to collect oil.
God knows where the other one is.
On the question of ac ting without authority there will be a fascinating situation if the States refuse to ratify the purchase. Seems there will be some hard work going ion to persuade deputies to ratfy the purchase, no doubt scaring them silly with stories of fuel famine etc.
Why couldn’t the States have shared the cost with Jersey and why two vessels? Seems there will be plenty of sitting around time? Sitting around time costs money.
Oh, the willl be the claim there will be plenty of work for the ships. Good point, but think about it, doesn’t that destroy the case for acting ultra vires and in panic mode?
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This is a stepping stone, if Trott is allowed to get away with this, it will open many doors for him to do what he likes.
If we do nothing about this, we are passively justifying his actions.
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PB
“I am astounded that our PC and CM can break States rules in such a flagrant and arrogant manner in the purchase of these two vessels.”
Then you astound far too easily, good job you didn’t get in, it would have been hell for you.
Anyone who has an ounce of business knowledge would understnd why the PC had to act fast. I can’t be bothered to explain.
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yeah power boat racing
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David – I’m with you on this one. I’m not Deputy Trott’s greatest fan however I have some sympathy with him on this occasion. The guy couldn’t win as whatever decision he made would have been the “wrong” one. He is lambasted for breaking the rules when he acted quickly to ensure our fuel supplies were not cut off. If on the other hand he had procrastinated and gone through procedures with the result that we lost our supply line, he would be criticised even harder for not acting quickly.
Of course we will never know what would have happened if he had gone through normal procedures, it’s easy to criticise knowing that our supplies are now secure. Deputy Trott didn’t have that luxury – he had to make a decision based on the available evidence.
Incidentally, with all this talk of dictators and banana republics, let’s not forget that Deputy Trott didn’t act independently – he had the full support of the Policy Council. Oh and by the way please don’t compare him to Mugabe until he starts killing his opponents and brutalising us. If he was like Mugabe your comment wouldn’t be printed and you’d be less your kneecaps by now…if you were fortunate.
I do sympathise with politicians at times….not often…but this time.
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I have some sympathy with Deputy Trott, he’s undoubtedly realised that he would be damned for his actions regardless of the outcome, but maybe just buying the one might have appeared more prudent. Boys with their toys eh!
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Breaking states rules and exceeding their mandate is excusable, no doubt they knew this and was a major consideration in their decision to act.
For the first one.
What is the excuse for the second? For what reason did they break states rules and exceed their mandate for the second. Looks like a case of ‘more than just for personal use’ to me. Are we to become dealers?
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Perhaps a hasty decision, at least a proper ship management Co. will run them, where’s the money in the budget for that then Lyndon?. Anyway that’s glossing over the top of the issue; Whether Lyndon and his mates broke any laws is also beside the point..Jersey it appears has a deep water berth capable of taking the ‘other’ ships, these berths don’t appear overnight so why has the priority of building a suitable berth at St Sampsons not been aired in the states or was there a ‘secret plan’ to buy these ships to avoid the inflated building costs for a deep water berth..!
I’m sure John Gollop will ask some questions in due course..!!
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Jackie, going by your rather pathetic, patronizing and rude comment aimed in my direction “If one is astounded by law breakers it is wrong and one should accept this” you are quite clearly advocating that we have elected a bunch of law breakers and God help anyone who dare challenge them. You come across as a dishonest person who knows very little about anything. This was tax payers money used yet again by a PC and CM out of control. You may agree with their actions but I do not….The CM admited he and the PC broke the law….Did you miss that bit was your rose tinted glasses all steamed up. We have a mental health system in melt down and other more important social issues being ignored by these out of touch zealots but issues such as these do not really bother the shallow minded people like you do they because in your little world where rose tinted glassess are the norm……….
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Pete – Ignore Jackie, she likes to wind people up. I suspect she is actually one of those people affected from a lack of financial support for one of those social issues you mention (this will be over her head as well).
Lyndon has clearly broken the law and acted contrary to the States Code of Conduct. He should at least be sacked if not investigated by Law Enforcement has he has clearly breached a number of Code and legal mandates.
Then again, he will rule now as he has always wanted – his way.
If you thought it was bad now, just wait; I’ve seen Lyndon in action and it is not pretty.
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I am stunned that our law officers have remained quiet over this flagrant abuse of powers.
I would be remanded in custody until trial for such a stunt.
The double standards in the Channel Islands are getting unbelievable.
If we are racist in the workplace we can expect to be instantly dismissed. If you are a states member it can be forgiven. However the public have done their bit and forced action. Without these complainants DCM would still be laughing to himself.
We now have a CM that does what he likes and openly admits to breaking the rules. His arrogance astounds me.
Would the Courts be sympathetic to such behaviour?
If so I will set up a company and spend the share holders money on what ever I fancy and just palm them off with the excuse that I had no choice. I would also state that I am chirping wih my new gin palace for corporate hospitality of course.
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Paul
You have been beated to those ideas I am afraid…..
Ever heard of Robert Maxwell, or Enron, Worldcom, et al??
All bent, all greedy, all desperate for attention.
Lyndon is a bit simple if he believes he is above the law – all you need is one Police / Customs Officer with a grudge and one Crown Presecutor with a bad taste in their mouths and Lyndon would be in front of the courts toute suite. Having said that too many people will be scared of taking him on.
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As a Jersey bean, I am pleased to hear that Guernsey has taken this step. Some of us were getting worried that we might also be left in the cold.
I am sure that Guernsey will be happy to hire the ships out to Jersey from time to time. I would guess this would certainly offset some of the costs that have been bourne solely by Guernsey so far.
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