Row continues over Guernsey Gatland visit

Tuesday 27 April 2021

The row over Lions coach Warren Gatland’s visit to Guernsey is continuing, with the island’s former Chief Minister demanding answers to a list of questions about how it was handled.

Mr Gatland was given a special exemption to make an 'essential visit' to Guernsey to tour local facilities ahead of a possible training camp in Guernsey this summer.

That plan ultimately fell through after the rugby coach opted for Jersey.

The controversy centred upon the original media release about the plans, which said that Mr Gatland had paid a "tightly controlled visit" which included being fed by room service throughout his stay.

That assertion unravelled following further questioning, with two meals held during Mr Gatland's two-day visit, including a private dinner at the hotel he was staying at. 

Former Chief Minister Deputy Gavin St. Pier said that while he supported the decision to explore the opportunity for the island to host a British Lions’ training camp, he felt the approach taken by the States had “divided and polarised” the community.

Pictured: Former Chief Minister Gavin St. Pier said he felt the approach taken by the States had “divided and polarised” the community.

"If unaddressed, this may risk the widespread public support for and compliance with public health regulations and advice, which has been a hallmark of the Bailiwick’s management of the covid-19 pandemic and remains vital, particularly if a third lockdown should become necessary,” he said.

In the absence of what Deputy St Pier calls a "clear, proactive statement from government providing full disclosure", he has now published a list of questions he wants the Chief Minister to answer "in order to bring transparency, closure and to heal the division created".

The questions - which have to be answered within 14 days - are:

1. For the avoidance of doubt (and for the benefit of the wider community’s understanding of the decision-making process,) specifically, under which Regulation(s) of The Emergency Powers (Coronavirus) (General Provision) (Bailiwick of Guernsey) (No. 4) Regulations, 2021 was the visit approved?

2. Please provide any itinerary received in respect of Mr Gatland’s visit.

3. What, if any, expenses were incurred directly or indirectly by the States in facilitating and supporting Mr Gatland’s visit?

4. The media release of 7th April refers to the meeting at Foote’s Lane being a ‘small number of people in a large room’: how many people were present?

5. The media release of 7th April refers to the private dinner at the St. Pierre Park Hotel as being a ‘small number of guests’: How many people were present? Can you confirm that the private dining room had been agreed in advance as a ‘defined and agreed location,’ as was the description applied in the same media release to that at Foote’s Lane? Was the private dinner provided for in the original self-isolation order, or did the Medical Officer of Health vary orally or in writing the terms of the self- isolation order to allow this hospitality to take place before it was held?

6. For the avoidance of doubt, please list all meetings with Mr Gatland and their locations at which any public servants were present (whether in an official, private or other capacity) and the identity of any such public servants present at each meeting, including Deputy Peter Ferbrache, [States of Guernsey CEO] Paul Whitfield and Dr Nicola Brink.

7. The media release of 7th April says that there was ‘no risk of infection’ and ‘there was no public health risk.’ Previous public health advice has been clear that the risk in relation to coronavirus can be mitigated rather than eliminated, so is the media release inaccurate in this regard?