Deputy Peter Ferbrache cleared of any conflict of interest after quitting top government role

Guernsey’s former President of the Committee for Economic Development has been cleared of any wrongdoing.

Last November, Deputy Peter Ferbrache quit the post after concerns were raised over his professional link with law firm Ferbrache & Farrell that had been handed £300,000 of government work.

The Public Trustee, who’d approved the spending, also quit.

An independent report, commissioned by the States Chief Executive, was commissioned to look into the case. As a result a wider review of the Office of the Public Trustee will now begun.

The initial report found the Public Trustee followed “existing custom and practice throughout” and “found no evidence of a breach by the former President of the CfED of the Code of Conduct for Members of the States of Deliberation.”

Deputy Charles Parkinson, the new 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.”