Stop Aurigny sale – former chief minister
Saturday 17th July 2010, 2:29PM BST.
FORMER chief minister Mike Torode has called on the States to throw out any suggestion that Aurigny should be sold.
Mr Torode (pictured), who was a senior manager for Aurigny, also questioned the security of the golden share legal agreement between the States and Blue Islands which is designed to guarantee the island’s Gatwick routes.
The States bought Aurigny for £5m. in 2003 to protect the landing slots at Gatwick and Mr Torode said nothing should be done to jeopardise those.
‘I think for the States of Guernsey to lose absolute control of the slots at Gatwick Airport is a major disaster.’
The States has agreed an in principle deal to sell Aurigny to Blue Islands, but taxpayers will not see any money until the company makes a profit. Debts of £7m. will also need to be paid before any deal is done.
- Read the full story in the Guernsey Press. See below for subscription details.
Island Life
All about Guernsey
Ambassador of the Year 2011
History & Heritage
Visitor Information
Guernsey's government
Campaigns
Voice For Victims
Voice for Victims is a campaign aimed at promoting the rights of those affected by child sexual abuse.
This is Guernsey
Guernsey Press
Useful Links
Excellent advice Mr Torode. Under no circumstances should the States ‘privatize’ Island owned Aurigny.
Report abuse
I agree with not selling Aurigny.
Let’s hope that enough States members vote ‘No’ to this preposterous idea to let Aurigny go.
Report abuse
Never liked that man M.Torode, but at least he’s on the right track now about Aurigny.
It was bought with Tax.Payers money, and therefore should be put to the vote.
Enough of these high falutin’ people who act like little hitlers.
You were elected to look after our interests, not your own.
‘And whilst on the subject of Transport.
WHERE ARE OUR SHIPS- still birthed ? costing more money?
How much profit did they make in the past year?
As peoples money was used we have the right to know the end results. and without fancy words-
Results. not sermons-.
Report abuse
Where is it written that governments shouldn’t own airlines? Its only someone’s opinion, for years Guernsey has owned and operated its essential utilities, it was only when we commercialised them the problems started. Just like our recently purchased Fuel ships they are owned by us because having our fuel deliveries under the control of someone else is considered quite rightly to be extremely risky for a small community such as ours. The same applies to our air links, Aurigny is an important strategic asset which is under our control to protect ourselves and in any event the government does not run Aurigny that is left to its management team.
We are small enough to do pretty much what we want and that includes own and operate any of our strategic assets we choose to do so. Nobody out there is looking after us, we have to do that for ourselves and I have seen far too many broken promises in the past from airline owners to swallow another set now. Maintaining control over those assets is I believe vital to our overall well being as an island community. If Blue Islands goes under we will be forced to buy back the airline along with all its debts and we will be right back to where we started. There is nothing wrong with Aurigny that can’t be fixed, we ought to be concentrating on doing that, instead of putting our transport security at risk. As for the Golden share i keep hearing so much about, we already have the biggest golden share of all, we own the airline, all of it.
Report abuse
It’s that bit of “our” that I can’t swallow.
Meaning the author
Report abuse
I would not beleive a word that Blue Islands
say they could cut the Dinard route just as they did the St brieuc route without any consideration
of the fare paying passengers.
Aurigny Would Not Be Safe In Blue Islands Hands
Report abuse