Jersey has a “high level of preparedness” for crisis, says CM

Thursday 19 January 2023

Jersey has a “high level of preparedness” for being cut off from the UK and Europe should a geo-political crisis arise, the Chief Minister has said.

Answering questions in the States Assembly on Tuesday, Deputy Kristina Moore said that emergency planning is of "utmost importance" to the Government, but that the island “can always seek to improve” its readiness.

The reassurance came after Brigadier Nigel Hall claimed last week that Jersey had "chronic resilience vulnerabilities", citing food and energy security as some of the most acute problems.

She explained that the Supply Chain Cell of the Government’s Tactical Coordination Group had “assured” her that there are “good measures in place”, adding that the response to recent tragedies “shows the absolute state of preparedness of emergency services and first responders”.

She confirmed that food stocks held in Jersey at any one time vary between two and 21 days, whilst there are typically four to six weeks of medical stocks. 

Pictured: The island's response to recent tragedies “shows the absolute state of preparedness of emergency services and first responders”, according to Deputy Moore.

Deputy Moore said that "the Council of Ministers have committed to improving Jersey's connectivity and adding greater resilience to our supply chains", particularly through trade links via Brittany and Normandy.

The Chief Minister also confirmed that Government officers recently met with representatives from the logistical, retail and wholesale to discuss resilience planning following weather-related delays at the end of last year.