Unrest at Digital Jersey

Monday 02 February 2015

Digital Jersey – the States agency set up to nurture the Island’s fledgeling tech sector – has been accused of “abandoning, marginalising or ignoring” the community of IT and web professionals who helped to set it up.

In an open letter to the agency, a group of web developers and coders have criticised Digital Jersey for ignoring their views and not doing enough to help start-ups or attract new businesses, and for not having enough digital skills or expertise.

The group says in their open letter that they have shared their concerns with Assistant Chief Minister Philip Ozouf, who has political responsibility for the tech sector, and say he has positive plans for future. But their public criticism will be embarrassing for the group – who have responded with an open letter of their own saying that they are addressing the points on expertise, transparency and communications.

The group criticising Digital Jersey – which includes local tech experts Robbie Andrews, Simon Brown, Matt Chatterley, Rob Dudley and Charles Robertson – say that the agency is important, and that they want it to succeed.

But they say that things can’t go on the way they are.

They say: “There is still time for Digital Jersey to change, to pivot into the organisation that the community both wants and needs. And change is needed. Furthermore, the majority of community members are willing to support this process.

“Digital Jersey should be the catalyst for development and increased fiscal diversity. A failure to implement significant change will see increased disillusionment with Digital Jersey and, in turn, fragmentation of an already fragile local ecosystem.

“The cultural gap between the thinking and actions of Digital Jersey and the industry it represents needs to be closed. Without the support of the local community, Digital Jersey lacks any form of valid mandate to represent the Island.

“We have tried to express these concerns to you already, but we have not been heard. We hope this time we have your attention and that this letter is taken in the spirit of constructive criticism.”