Deputy Ferbrache’s last public comments on the pandemic before Christmas were on 23 December when there were just over 900 cases. By the time he next spoke publicly on the pandemic – at yesterday’s CCA briefing – there were just over 1,800 cases.
In the week in between, Adrian Gabriel and Yvonne Burford were among deputies critical of what they perceived as a lack of communication from the island’s political leadership.
And Deputy Ferbrache’s predecessor as Chairman of the Authority, Deputy Gavin St. Pier, wrote on Twitter: “Political communication is clearly having a holiday off over Christmas”.
Deputy St. Pier then gave a broadcast interview in which he spoke of “a communications void that we’ve clearly had over the Christmas period” and said the Authority was engaged in “reactive communications rather than being ahead of the curve”.
Political communications is clearly having a holiday off over Christmas – it’s understandable why that is wanted (and needed in many cases) but it means the community is receiving information from social media and news sources outside the island and making own decisions.
— Gavin St Pier ???????? (@gavinstpier) December 30, 2021
Pictured: Deputy Gavin St. Pier felt there was inadequate communication in the week between Christmas Eve and yesterday which resulted in more uncertainty than there needed to be in the community. “The reality is the public are left to decide to do their own thing,” he said.
At yesterday’s public briefing, Deputy Ferbrache said: “I do wish that people who are in responsible positions would act responsibly and not seek to make political points which are vacuous and unmerited.
“We had a briefing shortly before Christmas. We’re now having one shortly after Christmas. The CCA published guidance just before Christmas. I have said – and I repeat and will continue to repeat – that we’ll only have one of these broadcasts when we have something to say.”
Similar vacuum of information here in Guernsey, huge spike of cases over Christmas. Last minute change to test regime (no pcr if lft positive) relying largely on trust. Those on zero hour or min wage jobs making difficult decisions
— Adrian Gabriel (@gabriel4gsy) December 30, 2021
Am I alone in thinking that, whatever strategy the CCA might have for where we are right now in the pandemic and where we are going, then Bank Holidays not withstanding, it would be good to hear it sooner rather than later? Preferably in a briefing rather than a Press release?
— Yvonne Burford (@YvonneBurford) December 28, 2021
Pictured: Deputies Adrian Gabriel and Yvonne Burford were among other States’ members calling for more communication from the political leadership of the Civil Contingencies Authority.
The public comments of other deputies which Deputy Ferbrache called “vacuous and unmerited” appeared to have been made largely on social media.
However, Deputy Ferbrache had this message for the media at yesterday’s briefing: “I’ve got to say also that I think the journalists have a degree of responsibility because you give people airtime.”
He later said he and his colleagues on the Authority are happy to provide interviews when they have something to say but that it is “vacuous, pointless and time-consuming” to give interviews when they have nothing new to communicate.
Dr Nicola Brink, the Medical Officer of Health, said that some public health staff had been affected by the criticism aimed at their political leaders.
She said “for the first time” since the start of the pandemic some staff felt the criticism was “demoralising” and “distracting”.
Pictured: At yesterday’s covid-19 briefing, Deputy Peter Ferbrache, Chairman of the Civil Contingencies Authority, invited Dr Nicola Brink to explain how some public health staff had been affected by other politicians’ criticism of the Authority’s recent approach to communication.
“We were working incredibly long hours over this period of time,” said Dr Brink.
“We were working 14-16 hour days at that time to institute a new programme over a bank holiday in the face of what we thought was the progressing wave.
“I’ve had several of my team come into my office this morning and they do find it quite demoralising, so I must be completely honest about that, and may I also be as bold as to say quite distracting as well.
“We’re trying our best to work under difficult circumstances in the face of infection. We launched a major programme on a bank holiday.
“I’m sorry if I sound a bit downbeat about it but that’s how we feel.”
Speaking directly to Dr Brink, Deputy Ferbrache said: “I, as a politician, would like to apologise to your colleagues and to you for the fact that you have been subjected to that criticism. I think it was probably mainly directed at me.”
