Ex-Deputy slams "lack of seafaring knowledge" in the States

Thursday 24 June 2021

During the June States debate on the future of Guernsey’s harbours one man was name-checked more than any other, despite having left the Assembly last year: Barry Paint.

Ex-Deputy Paint served 12 years in the States Assembly and with decades of experience as a master mariner and harbour pilot, emailed States members his concerns about the tidal currents at Longue Hougue South, where the States Trading Supervisory Board wanted to build a third harbour.

The proposal for a new harbour was voted out, after two days of fiery debate, during which Mr Paint’s commentary was cited numerous times.

Mr Paint wrote to all Deputies prior to the debate staunchly opposing the proposals from STSB.

He agrees that Guernsey’s harbour facilities need to be updated as Guernsey’s fuel tankers near the end of their lives, but argues that manoeuvring tankers near Spur Bay would be inherently difficult.

“The whole sea area is surrounded by a dangerous reef – a sensible mariner would avoid the area,” he said.

Pictured: “The cogs of government move very slowly – we’ve known for years that something needs to be done,” said Mr Paint, who agrees that the harbours can’t be left as they are.

The debate culminated in proposals to set up an arm’s length board to review the entire seafront regeneration, a decision Mr Paint welcomed. The States also backed the development of a new marina for leisure craft in the Pool of St Peter Port. 

“The right decision was made, and the States could see the lack of knowledge from the people [the STSB] proposing it,” he said.

He highlighted a moment in the debate where one Deputy mixed up the size of fuel tankers.

“It shows you the ignorance some have of the topic they’re discussing. You need input from people who run their business through the harbours and those who actually bring freight in,” he said.

Pictured: The Longue Hougue harbour was one component of wider £360 million proposals to rejuvenate the harbours in St Peter Port and St Sampson's. 

During a hot-tempered debate, STSB President Peter Roffey responded to criticism over the board's plan, which were devised by the harbour master and other Guernsey Ports staff with input from an external consultant - UK-based Jacobs - whose study of the many different options set the States back £350,000 in public money.

"There was language that was so dismissive of the field of experts - the harbourmaster, the ports team, the current harbour pilots," said Deputy Roffey.

"It was borderline abusive. I think the quality of expertise was given very short shrift."

Mr Paint was referenced by Deputy Al Brouard while proposing his own amendment, as he tried to convince the chamber to vote on revamping St Peter Port into an industrial harbour, while emphasising Mr Paint’s written concerns about Longue Hougue.

The £460 million amendment from Deputy Brouard was thrown out by the States. 

Pictured: Deputy Roffey has argued that “the quality of expertise was given very short shrift,” when defending opinions within his policy letter.

The final agreed solution was to set up a seafront and harbours regeneration group to review Guernsey’s offering across the whole of the eastern seaboard.

Mr Paint hopes the "specialist" board will include local mariners with real-life knowledge of the sea. 

“We have enough experience over here to not need to bring in States experts,” he concluded.