Scrutiny hearing for Home Affairs and ESC

Monday 27 July 2020

The final public hearing regarding the island’s response to Covid-19 will see the ESC and Home Affairs Committees grilled by Scrutiny.

It will be held in the Cambridge & Delancey Rooms of Beau Sejour between 14:00 and 17:30 on 28 July.

Scrutiny's hearing will concern the Committees for Home Affairs and Education, Sport & Culture. The panel will be led by Scrutiny Management President Chris Green, Deputy Jennifer Merrett and non-States member Gill Morris.

“I very much welcome the opportunity to explore forensically the issues involved,” said Deputy Green of the hearing. “We hope to collate a summary of the key lessons learnt so far and to reflect on issues for the future.”

The planned hearing with Policy & Resources had to be postponed due to the Justice Review Report’s delayed debate. A further announcement will be made if this can be rescheduled.

Pictured: The Guernsey Grammar School’s ski trip caused concern in the weeks leading up to the island’s first confirmed case. No positive cases resulted from these trips, however.

All Guernsey schools closed on 23 March as part of the Island’s initial lockdown procedures, and reopened on 8 June. Plans were in place for schools to host one half of their students on Monday and Tuesday, and the other half Thursday and Friday, with Wednesday being used to deep clean the school. 

However, it was decided that the schools would reopen fully due to the low prevalence of Covid-19 on the Island. Prior to the outbreak of the virus, the Guernsey Grammar School held a ski trip in Piedmont, a city in Northern Italy that had an outbreak of the virus. 

All of the trip goers tested negative for the virus, but attended school for two days before being asked to stay home and get tested. 

Home Affairs has political responsibility for Bailiwick Law Enforcement and the Guernsey Border Agency, who had crucial roles to play in enforcing lockdown and carrying out self-isolation checks. 

Members of the public are welcome to attend this week's Scrutiny proceedings, but are not able to ask questions or pass comment whilst the hearing is in progress.

Pictured Top: Deputy Chris Green of the Scrutiny Management Committee is leading the panel in a hearing to assess the Covid-19 response of Home Affairs and Education, Sport & Culture.