Wednesday 31 January 2018
The Committee for Economic Development will examine the law and governance relating to the Office of the Public Trustee following a special review undertaken by the States of Guernsey's Internal Audit Unit.
The Chief Executive of the States was requested by the Committee for Economic Development to commission a special review after it emerged that £300,000 from the public purse had been paid to law firm Ferbrache & Farrell as a result of work carried out for the Office of the Public Trustee.
The special review has been shared with States Members and the Scrutiny Management Committee.
The Committee notes that exemption 2.5 (information whose disclosure could prejudice legal proceedings) of the States of Guernsey's Code of Practice on Access to Public Information applies to this review.
However given the public interest around this matter the Committee for Economic Development, with the support of the Chief Executive of the States, has taken the decision to publish a summary document of findings and recommendations set out in the review. This summary is attached.
Deputy Charles Parkinson, President of the Committee for Economic Development, said:
'In calling for the prompt review of the circumstances surrounding this case, the Committee was seeking to establish in clear factual terms all actions taken by the various parties involved. This is about good governance and, as a result of the issues highlighted by the special review, it is clear that there now needs to be a review of the governance of the Office of the Public Trustee. The Committee has directed that this review will be carried out immediately.'
