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Further details are emerging on one of the major news stories of the year so far: the costs of flights taken by two civil servants to South Africa to promote the Island at a major mining sector trade fair.
Those fully-flexible, business class flights taken by Mike King and Wayne Gallichan came to more than £12,000, and it subsequently emerged that Mr King had also taken his golf clubs, in order to play on the day of arrival. A subsequent States review cleared the two of breaking travel policy rules, and Mr King apologised for his actions.
Now, e-mails between the men and their Minister, Senator Lyndon Farnham, have been released under the Freedom of Information law.
They cover many topics, including a cryptic reference to how the story came out in the first place, with Senator Farnham writing a line on the 26th February:
"I am very disappointed that Philip (Senator Philip Ozouf) went to the media with this and will be bringing it up with CoM (Council of Ministers)," but it is not clear in the e-mails exactly what 'this' is referring to, and Senator Ozouf has denied any wrongdoing.
Last night, he said: "I can't answer a question that was not in my writing and I don't know the context it was made."
When asked by Express whether he was behind the leak back in May, he also dismissed speculation that it was him:
"I am not going to have it suggested to me that I have given any information. All information I have given about travel costs has been given appropriately. Any speculation is inappropriate. Unfortunately good officers have been caught in a tangle of political arguments about cost savings."
The e-mails also revealed that Senator Farnham challenged Mr King and Mr Gallichan to justify their business class flight tickets.
In March, on the subject of the trip to Mining Indaba Senator Farnham wrote: “I was informed of the cost of my flight (circa 5k) which is why I did not attend.
“Be under no doubt Wayne that if I had understood that yours and Mike's flights were costing in excess of £6,000 each then I would have asked you to make 'better value' arrangements.
“You may recall that not long after my appointment as Economic Development Minister I asked all senior staff to exercise prudence when making travel arrangements.
“You should know that the ministerial team strongly supports Locate Jersey and will continue to do so. However, spending in excess of £6,000 each on fully flexible business tickets, as sensible as it may appear to you, is politically undefendable.”
In another email Senator Farnham also said the pair should have exercised, “...better judgement with the cost of the flights.”
But his criticisms were dismissed by Mr Gallichan, who wrote: “Lyndon, you knew about Mining Indaba and the cost as you spoke with me on at least three occasions about coming to Cape Town.”
Mr Gallichan insisted he had acted with integrity. He wrote: “I can assure you that I and my colleagues are not frivolous and are very aware of our responsibilities and will continue to seek best value. Integrity and confidentiality is at the heart of what we do.
“I have received numerous messages from the private sector and colleagues within the public sector expressing their support for what I and Locate Jersey do. Quite a number have expressed their surprise at comments made by Ministers.
“I am not bothered about the media as they print what they like. However, I do expect support from Ministers in carrying out our duties and regrettably this seems to be lacking on this occasion. I am taking this afternoon off as time off in lieu. Regards, Wayne.”
In another email Mr Gallichan wrote to Mr King to confirm that both had paid for golf whilst in South African from their own wallets.
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