Thursday 11 April 2019
The European Union has agreed to offer a flexible extension to the deadline for Brexit until the 31st of October - or sooner - should a Withdrawal Agreement be approved by UK Parliament.
For Guernsey, it means life for islanders will continue without disruption in the immediate days and weeks with the potential risk of a No Deal Brexit on Friday 12 April now removed.
However, the preparations we have made so far, particularly for a possible 'no deal' scenario are still vitally important and will continue to be updated and reviewed.
The States of Guernsey would again like to thank everyone who has helped with those preparations, including public sector agencies, food retailers, ferry operators, freight firms, local businesses and the community as a whole. They have all gone above and beyond in their efforts to ensure any potential disruption is kept to an absolute minimum.
While there will be less intensity with regards those preparations in the immediate future, planning for a 'no deal' Brexit will not stop now.
The States of Guernsey is closely following developments in Westminster, and liaising with UK colleagues to ensure we have a clear understanding of the British Government's plans and that Guernsey's interest continue to be taken into consideration.
The Policy & Resources Committee will be meeting tomorrow to take the necessary steps to formally move 'exit day' within Guernsey's domestic law.
Policy & Resources President, Deputy Gavin St Pier said:
'While ongoing uncertainty is inevitable and undesirable, I welcome the decision to extend the deadline to avoid a disorderly exit tomorrow. It is in Guernsey's interests that the UK now makes the requisite decisions as quickly as possible. Our government in Guernsey will continue to plan for alloutcomes.'
