Backbencher makes shock claim about opening borders

Thursday 25 February 2021

Deputy Charles Parkinson has used social media to 'announce' the planned re-opening of our borders - however the Civil Contingencies Authority has moved to debunk his comments.

The politician used the platform to speak about the relaxation of border controls, which he suggested would come into effect before 1 August.

A direction of travel on easing border controls has been provided in the UK, so that people can plan ahead to the summer. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the ban of non-essential travel for people in the UK will be lifted on 12 April, with plans to potentially relax the borders further on 17 May.

I'm hearing that, on senior authority, our borders will be open by 1 August.

— Charles Parkinson (@dep_parkinson) February 24, 2021

Pictured: Deputy Parkinson made the unsubstantiated claim on Twitter.

Similarly, a roadmap for potential international travel in Jersey will be announced next week, with Jersey’s Deputy Chief Minister, Senator Lyndon Farnham, due to discuss the possibility of ‘vaccination passports’ coming into play.

Deputy Peter Ferbache said the Civil Contingencies Authority does not yet have a roadmap in place to relaxing border restrictions. 

“If I could say it today, we would say it today,” he said at yesterday's briefing. “We would be delighted to say it. As soon as we can give a roadmap we will."

Director of Public Health, Dr Nicola Brink, added: “We do need to have a conversation about the borders but it’s too early yet.”

One of the Advisers to the CCA, Deputy Heidi Soulsby, responded to Deputy Parkinson's comment with a series of tweets. 

"It’s not a leak as no decision has been made and can only have come from someone speculating," she said. "Either that or I was asleep when it came up in the CCA. Our focus the last month has been on managing our outbreak and getting out of lockdown ASAP."

We approached both Deputy Parkinson and the CCA for comment on the Twitter announcement. We’ve had no reply from Deputy Parkinson, but a spokesperson for the CCA replied, saying that the authority "has not set any dates for removing the current travel restrictions."

"That is being constantly reviewed, but will depend on a wide range of factors including what happens in other jurisdictions. The CCA has sought to be candid with Islanders, and they all know as much as we do at this current stage. As soon as further decisions are made, we’ll announce them."