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Deputy Neil Inder has said a recent investment in Guernsey's tourism industry feeds right into his "firm belief that the island needs to immediately deal with our disastrous sea links" which is an issue he says the electorate have also repeatedly demanded is addressed.
The Vale politician has said "when I walked the parish canvassing the consistent message from practically every door was the disaster that has been Condor."
Deputy Inder, who was elected during a by-election in October 2016, just months after the island's general election, has consistently argued that Guernsey's transport links are vital to the island's economy. Now he has added his support to firms investing in the tourism sector, saying it "all hinges on viable and reliable transport; in terms of Condor something that is severely lacking."
Pictured: Deputy Neil Inder
Commenting on the impending sale of the McQuarie fund which owns Condor, Deputy Inder has expressed his worries about what that may mean for Guernsey:
"The McQuarie fund is coming to the end of its life on May 10th. The hard nosed Australian investment bank will need to divest itself of its assets (Condor) within two years. It may be sold to a sensible firm, it may not.
"Guernsey has to own the situation. We simply cannot be led by the nose and wait for something to happen and hope it is ok."
Deputy Inder insists Guernsey is in a worse position now than the island was last time this situation arose and he is concerned visitor numbers may fall further if the situation is handled correctly:
"Last time we went to pitch in 1997 the reasons for going to tender were shoddy boat, shoddy management and effect on tourism. 20 years later you just have to change the date and we are in exactly the same position - probably worse.
"In 2011, there were 120,000 sea passengers to Guernsey, in 2017 there was 90,000. That's a collapse of 35%."
Sharing a story written by Express on social media, Deputy Inder commented that the time is now right for Guernsey to make its move and it is essential the States handle it correctly:
"The Island talks a big game in new economic drivers. My message is simple. What right minded businessman would be looking at developing other areas of his business while one of its core offerings is floundering.
"It's over. No more talk. Between Economic Development, the Committee responsible for sea links. And Policy and Resources, the Committee with the cheque book and the influence it's time to think differently."
Pictured: The Condor Liberation sailing into St Peter Port
Deputy Inder's full post is below:
Meanwhile, Deputy Inder's comments on the future of Condor Ferries serving Guernsey came the same day the RMT Union announced its members intention to protest against the ferry firm on Friday 16 March.
The union claims Ukrainian Seafarers working on a 3-month contract with Condor Ferries were paid £2.46 per hour for a 12-hour working day. Now, the RMT’s SOS 2020 campaign is "calling out companies’ profiting from the exploitation of seafarers, which includes Condor Ferries’ owners, the Australian bank Macquarie who extract a management fee under the current contract with the Governments of Jersey and Guernsey."
RMT General Secretary, Mick Cash said: “UK and Channel Island seafarers cannot and should not have to compete with pay rates as low as £2.46 per hour.
“With wages like that it is no wonder that between 1980 and 2016 the number of UK Ratings fell by over 60%. There are 87,000 ratings jobs on ferries and other merchant vessels working from UK ports, with a vast majority paid below the UK National Minimum Wage. RMT is fighting to change this.”
RMT National Secretary, Steve Todd has commented: “In addition to the disgraceful low wages 81% of Channel Islanders in 2016 were dissatisfied with Condor Ferries, the result of rising fares, safety incidents, service cancellations, delayed freight supplies and exploitative employment practices.
“This is no way to run a lifeline ferry service for the people and businesses of the Channel Islands.”
In response Condor Ferries gave Express the below statement:
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