From Brian Hotton.
WE are informed (JEP 2 June) that no detailed records of top civil servants’ meetings were taken. Deputy Le Claire finds this ‘barely believable’. I don’t.

We can see from what has been happening for years in Jersey – no joined-up government.
Had Jersey the right calibre of top civil servants as well as good politicians, this could not possibly have happened.

Many years ago, when I was studying for a professional qualification, it was obligatory as part of the course to undertake board meetings and minute taking. Failing to do so meant failure.

In business, even junior staff have to learn how to take minutes at board meetings just so those attending subsequent meetings will know what has been discussed and adopted.

Had this been done, I am sure the incinerator pound/euro debacle would not have happened, because when the hedging was first brought up at subsequent meetings when the minutes were read, it would have been asked, where are we with regard to the pound/euro hedging?

As far as I am concerned, more than one top civil servant, as well as more than one minister, are responsible for the pound/euro debacle, with the Chief Executive and Chief Minister at the top of my list.

As regards the top officers of the civil service, I am a bit more worried. In February this year I wrote: ‘How many of Jersey’s civil servants with their five GCSEs grade C or above have got to the top of the civil service and are advising our politicians?. It seems a majority.

Reading about these meetings with no minutes being taken, a picture emerges of the incompetence of both politicians and top civil servants.
66 Stopford Rd,
St Helier.