Tribunal panel members Professor Gillian Morris, chairman David Hogg, centre, and John Lee. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0873019)

A PRELIMINARY hearing was held yesterday for the inquiry into the industrial action by airport firefighters.

The States agreed last month that up to £250,000 could be spent on an investigation into ‘the circumstances leading up to and surrounding the industrial action taken by the airport firefighters in May’.

Tribunal chairman David Hogg made it clear at the outset of the inquiry that it was not a trial or disciplinary hearing.

‘It is not a lawsuit, in which one party wins and another loses,’ he said. ‘Our role is to conduct an independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the dispute and its resolution, the actions of those involved and, in the light of our conclusions, to make recommendations for the future.’

The tribunal has been set up under the provisions of the Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) (Guernsey) Law, 1949.

It will have the authority to force witnesses to produce documents, attend and give evidence.

Anyone who has not been contacted by the tribunal to give evidence but who wants to do so is asked to write to Advocate Barclay explaining why he or she believes they can be of assistance.

Anonymous information is unlikely to be acted upon.

Such submissions must be received by 30 November.