Deputy Jonathan Renouf was due to appear before the court in his official capacity this morning.
The plaintiff in the case was Colin Mollet of CBM Services, which offers pest control services for domestic, business, commercial and industrial clients.
Pictured: Environment Minister Deputy Jonathan Renouf was listed on this week’s Petty Debts Court schedule.
Responding to questions after Express reported on the unpaid bill yesterday, Willie Peggie, Director of Natural Environment, said: “This relates to an invoice received by the department in December.
“Due to the move to new financial software over Christmas and the New Year we were unable to pay this straight away during the transition.
“A technical error with the formatting of the invoice on the new system led to a further delay, for which we apologise.
“Finance colleagues have confirmed that the payment has now been made.”
The government did not confirm, however, the sum that had been owed, whether the government is facing any further Petty Debts action. Express also asked what pest control services were required, but has not received a response.
The summons came after External Relations Minister Philip Ozouf was called to the Petty Debts Court in a personal capacity on 1 February over an unpaid medical bill – his third summons in as many months.
While Chief Minister Kristina Moore originally stood by the Minister and supported his continued retention of the financial services portfolio ahead of the island’s key Moneyval assessment later this year, saying that Ministers should be “judged on how they perform on their official role” rather than their private lives, Deputy Ozouf relinquished it just days later.
Deputy Moore subsequently decided that she should take responsibility for the key role, alongside Deputy Chief Minister Kirsten Morel, and the Treasury and Social Security Ministers Ian Gorst and Elaine Millar – the latter two acting as Assistant Chief Ministers.
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