Fresh questions over civil servants trip to South Africa

Monday 07 March 2016

Ministers face questions tomorrow about disciplinary action against two senior civil servants who spent almost £15,000 on a seven-day trip to South Africa for a mining conference.

Economic Development Chief Officer Mike King and Locate Jersey Director Wayne Gallichan have now apologised “unreservedly” to the public and to ministers for taking expensive flexible, business-class flights to the Indaba Mining conference in Cape Town.

But now Chief Minister Ian Gorst will be put on the spot over what action, if any, is being taken.

In a Scrutiny hearing last week, States Chief Executive John Richardson hinted that he would be looking into the events and the decisions over the flights with a view to possible disciplinary action.

Tomorrow’s emergency question tabled by Reform Jersey Deputy Sam Mezec asks Senator Gorst: “What disciplinary action, if any, will the Chief Minister be taking against the two civil servants who travelled to South Africa on business class flights costing almost £13,000 on the basis that they were to begin working immediately upon arrival, given that they have since admitted that they actually played golf when they arrived?”

In an interview last week, Mr King told Bailiwick Express that the trip was a worthwhile exercise to generate business for the Island, but admitted the £12,884 cost of their flexible business-class tickets was indefensible.

He said: “I have apologised to the Chief Minister and other ministers and I would extend that to the taxpayer.

“It was an error of judgment and I and the department are putting in new policies and procedures to make sure that it does not happen again. There will be no more business class travel from Economic Development.”