Political panels to scrutinise covid response

Thursday 25 June 2020

A review has been launched into Jersey’s covid response and its recovery strategy to ensure Ministers are held to account after “being afforded sweeping powers and making substantial commitments with public finances.”

The Corporate Services, and the Economic and International Affairs, Scrutiny Panels - two groups of politicians tasked with assessing government policies and making improvement recommendations - will be jointly running the review.

In so doing, the panels are looking to collect the views of islanders, businesses and other associations on the challenges they have faced during lockdown and are facing going forward in its aftermath. 

The joint review will focus on the effectiveness, cost and sustainability of the emergency actions and financial interventions of Government in response to the pandemic.

The panels will also evaluate the potential impact and resilience of Government decision making in the short, medium and long terms for personal finance, the economy, international trade and public finance.   

Pictured: Senator Kristina Moore, who chairs one of the panels leading the review.

Senator Kristina Moore, Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel Chair, commented: “During these unprecedented times when the Government is being afforded sweeping powers and making substantial commitments with public finances, it is crucial that Scrutiny ensures that the Government is held to account, that any potential challenges are considered and that constructive solutions are sourced now and for the future recovery of our economy and public finances.”

Deputy Kirsten Morel, Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel Chair, added: “Our island’s economic recovery will take a considerable amount of time and so it’s imperative that we scrutinise the plans for recovery to ensure that the right decisions are made to get the economy back on track as quickly as possible. 

“Doing so is the best way to protect islanders’ livelihoods. During this review, we will work constructively with Ministers to hold them to account on their plans and measures for a sustainable economic recovery.”