DEPUTY Chief Minister Terry Le Sueur has defended the decision to back the Waterfront development, but has admitted that those behind the scheme could have handled it better.

Speaking after a Council of Ministers meeting, Senator Le Sueur said that a thorough investigation of Harcourt’s finances and the Las Vegas lawsuit was already under way, and should allay fears about the project.

He said that the Council were as eager to get answers to the questions surrounding the debate as the public were, but maintained that the development would be a good one for Jersey.

Asked whether the debate could have been handled better, given that critical information was revealed after the vote, he said: ‘I suppose the answer is “yes”. I was aware of the Nevada dispute because Deputy Sean Power had sent me an e-mail some weeks ago but as far as I am concerned, building contractors have disputes – particularly in America – in the same way as they have breakfast.

‘Most people regarded it as a matter of no great consequence. That is perhaps where there was an error of judgment. In terms of total transparency maybe we should try and bring forward everything anyone knows about.’