"Ministers breaking rules to push through ports plan"

Friday 09 January 2015

The Chief Minister’s support for a controversial new maritime hub at the harbour is breaking the States own rules according to one of his former colleagues on the Council of Ministers.

Former Housing Minister Terry Le Main, who served for 33 years as Deputy and Senator, is accusing Ian Gorst of breaching Ministerial conduct and actively interfering in the Planning application process.

In an open letter to him and the Transport Minister posted on social media Mr Le Main says Senator Gorst should respect the public’s views – those overwhelmingly opposed to the plans for Port Gallots.

In his letter he says the proposals “are a prime example of how not to ‘consult’ but to bulldoze and bully to get this passed” and that the public “are flabbergasted” that the Chief Minister should publicly declare support for the scheme.

He questions the way and manner the application was “thrust upon the public and lodged with Planning” with no open tendering and “nothing but secrecy”.

He says he’s worried no-one is holding the new Council of Ministers to account and that they can now get virtually anything approved whether there is public support for it or not.

Transport Minister Eddie Noel has confirmed that the plans to create new homes and a maritime facility at the harbour – which have prompted a huge response to the Planning department – are now going to be reviewed by the project team.

In the meantime Mr Le Main says the States should be looking at what’s being done on the numerous other derelict and abandoned sites that they own.