Government pushed to “put Jersey businesses first”

Wednesday 06 May 2020

A backbencher is calling for Government to pull their weight in helping Jersey’s economy recover after the covid-19 crisis by buying from local suppliers as a priority.

Deputy Kirsten Morel’s proposal, entitled ‘Putting Jersey businesses first’, suggests that the Government should be held to a number of requirements ensuring that it's making investment in the local economy a priority.

They aim to put local suppliers, employing Jersey-based staff, ahead of suppliers based elsewhere – to bolster the local economy in the wake of the virus crisis.

In his proposition, the Deputy asks for all Government procurement criteria policies and processes to include a new set of criteria called the ‘Most Economically Advantageous Tender’ (MEAT) which will ensure “a preferential weighting is given to Jersey-based suppliers, or off-island suppliers that employ Jersey-based staff”.

These new criteria would not apply to specialist services that the Government can only procure from off-island suppliers.

Pictured: The proposition will be debated by the States Assembly next month.

Deputy Morel also asks that the Chief Minister report regularly on the Government’s procurement activity, with the requirement that, in an instance when an off-island supplier has been selected, the rationale for not choosing a local firm is indicated.

It also requests a level of economic analysis to show the impact of spending Government funds in the Jersey economy through buying goods and services from local firms or those who employ staff locally. 

Outlining the significance of his proposal, Deputy Morel states: “Protecting livelihoods is a key priority in the Government of Jersey’s response to the covid-19 pandemic and this proposition is designed to enhance the protection of those livelihoods in a simple and highly effective manner – by ensuring that Jersey taxpayers’ money is spent within Jersey, thereby providing an economic stimulus that will enhance the island’s recovery from the covid-19 pandemic.” 

Pictured: The Deputy wants to see Jersey taxpayers' money spent in Jersey.

The Deputy notes that “the Council of Ministers has backed an economic support package worth hundreds of millions of pounds that is focused on keeping islanders in work. There can be no doubt that the package is both bold and necessary, but it is not all that Government can do.”

His proposition continues: “The value of locally-focused procurement cannot be underestimated at any time, but the case for concentrating Government spending on-island is strengthened enormously during a time of economic crisis, such as the covid-19 pandemic.”

Politicians are scheduled to debate the plan on 2 June.