The Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel has today announced that it will review the decision-making process to demerge CICRA (Channel Island Competition Regulatory Authority).
On 23rd April, the Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture announced that CICRA will demerge from 1st July 2020 to better address the different competition issues faced in Jersey and Guernsey.
Since 2010, CICRA has been responsible for the administration and enforcement of competition law across the Channel Islands and the economic regulation of the telecom, ports and postal sectors in Jersey and the telecoms sector in Guernsey.
The Panel will examine the decision-making process and its impact on competition regulation in Jersey. The Panel will also determine whether stakeholder engagement took place in the lead up to the announcement and how separating the Authority will affect competition regulation in Jersey and pan-Channel Island sectoral regulation.
Chair of the Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel, Deputy Kirsten Morel said:
“It is important to examine this decision by the Minister, particularly as it has been made amidst a global pandemic. It is essential that Jersey maintains a strong and independent competition regulator and so the Panel will be looking closely at the impact of the decision and the evidence used to inform it.”
Scrutiny News Release.