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Friday 2 December 2011

THE NEXT SMALL STEP TOWARD POLITICAL TRANSPARANCY …


When will we ‘meddlers’ ever give up?
 
Nobody who has read the JEP for any length of time is likely to be under any impression that the Island’s only newspaper welcomes political opinion, or indeed, political policies at variance with or critical of the elitism of their beloved Establishment Party any more than a Manchester City fan wearing a ‘6 – 1 Ha! Ha! Ha!’ tee shirt would be welcomed in the middle of the newly named Sir Alex Fergusson Stand.
After all, questioning of the newspaper’s commitment to fair and balanced political ‘reporting’ can be traced right back to the elections at the end of the Second World War when some were understandably determined to fight for a fairer society where money and might would not automatically be accepted as always right.

An in-depth subject for another time I’m afraid. – and one I think very well worth doing.  But for now anyone in any doubt should just consider the words of legendary Jersey politician, the late Senator Norman Le Brocq in his 1940’s book ‘Jersey Looks Forward’.

Readers really should check the book out for themselves – the reference Library certainly has a copy. But it is surely enough to mention here that Le Brocq highlights what he saw (and others I have actually spoken to who were there) felt to have been a campaign of misrepresentation and editorial repression from the then Evening Post in the vein of the notorious Dr. Goebals. And so it has gone on. And still goes on today. Or am I just one of Lucy Mason’s political ‘meddlers’? 

‘Meddlers’ or simple democracy - does Lucy know the difference?

I was put forward for the role of Education Minister. Unreasonable? Well, I was the only one who had a professional background in the field. The role went to a politician who I’m told has a background in the landscape gardening business. That’s democracy. Yet like others who tried, unsuccessfully for ministerial roles, it seems that I am actually a ‘meddler’?

Funny, Lucy, but I think that you will find politics is all about people holding strong and different views and policies; and as a consequence putting themselves forward for positions where they may be best placed to try and progress these to benefit the community?

But maybe you too are also one of those who believes that those who veer from the Establishment Party line no matter how discredited and redundant should know their place and either keep quiet; or perhaps occupy ourselves with Scrutinizing the proliferation of doggy-doo on our beaches?

Frankly if this is the extent of your political analysis I really couldn’t care what you think. Like so many members of the public who I have been approached by I just don’t think it is fair or professional for a newspaper to try and spin such groundless garbage. 

Nevertheless, to return to the original theme of the post, being someone always happy to be proven wrong I am actually writing a piece to send to the JEP. This is on the quite pathetically inadequate reporting of the hard facts arising from the Scrutiny investigation into the circumstances underlying the BDO review. Will the JEP print my letter in full? Well, let’s hope so.

But print it or not the point is that as Chairman of the Scrutiny review I really shouldn’t have to be writing such a letter anyway. Why? The facts are all there in plain black and white in our report: a report that even the out-going president of the Chairman’s Committee stated was “an excellent piece of Scrutiny work”.

To any self-respecting journalist let alone editor these facts surely should demand discussion? They blow the nonsense we have been spoon fed for nearly three years out of the water. No. I won’t spend time re-listing all the Scrutiny findings here – the full report can be accessed easily through the link to the States website on the www.thebaldtruthjersey.co.uk  links page. Indeed, to understand the true picture the report should be read in full.

A few uncomfortable facts…

But put quite starkly the real question that needs to be answered by our Island’s media - and not just the JEP by any means - is why are they so desperate to pretend that these facts below, as just a few key examples do not exist?
•    Why are they so desperate to continue the threadbare lie that the monies spent on the Historic Abuse Inquiry were all wasted to the very last penny?
•    Why does our media wish to continue the myth that the only faults or blame for any mistakes are all – every one – down to just two specific individuals?  That the actions of senior figures within the States Assembly and Home Affairs department are above reproach?
•    Why do they wish to perpetuate ‘the myth of the £7.5 million’ i.e. that monies actually spent both by other States departments and by Messrs Warcup and Gradwell after Power and Harper had departed the police should still be attributed to these two alone?  
•    Why do our journalists – or perhaps more accurately those who hold the editorial strings of power – wish to whitewash out, as do so many Establishment Party politicians, the reality that the individual whose opinions have largely been used to justify trashing the child abuse investigation, far from being the perfect policeman would have actually been facing very serious disciplinary action for his behaviour had he not retired?

Yes, all of this whilst the solid facts that prove otherwise along with a whole lot more are presented before them in cold black and white.

Indeed, given the predictably front page JEP story highlighting the shoddy, misleading and wholly unforgivable reporting from UK journalists out to sell more papers during the unfolding of the Historic Abuse Inquiry you would have to think that this issue was more relevant than ever.

Yet relevant it apparently isn’t. ..

Could the problem just be that real, in depth debate of such facts by our media and some in power when all of this unfolded would necessitate a process of rather uncomfortable self-analysis in the mirror?


There is absolutely no excuse for journalists or anyone else exaggerating stories just to sell more newspapers. By extension it must also be true that attempting to underplay or conceal facts that pull the rug from under a story – no matter how often that story has been spun and repeated – as our Scrutiny investigation has done with local media reporting is equally wrong.

Having no allegiance to anyone or anything but the truth I repeat again: that Messrs Power and Harper were not perfect in their investigation is beyond doubt. In fairness as the unfolding of the Scrutiny review has made clear to their credit neither man has made any attempt to claim otherwise. Yet if some of their actions have been less than perfect they are clearly not alone. Not by a long way.

The difference - at least from what I and my colleagues have seen within the course of our review? Flaws and mistakes acknowledged at least it is quite clear Power and Harper were genuinely searching only for the truth. I ask: can we really also believe that of politicians, journalists and editors who seek to pretend uncomfortable facts such as those I highlight above just don’t exist…

Which all brings me back to my headline: ‘the next small step toward political transparency…?’ 


Having won the right for the public to be able to see which way those they elected voted for Chief Minister what I had intended to write about was having today lodged a follow-up proposition; seeking to make all elections for office within the States Assembly open and transparent.

It has been welcomed by every member of the public that I have told about it. It should also be welcomed by everyone within the States. Yet that it will be opposed by Senator Philip Bailhache at least – the man who thinks that he alone should be able to construct and inflict on us his own special variance on Barclay Brothers-style, vested interest driven democracy can surely be guaranteed.


So…when will we ‘meddlers’ ever give up? 


We won’t. Looks like it is going to be a long three years…


Keep the Faith

Trevor

76 comments:

  1. Well said that man! Our mainstream media should hang their heads in shame reading your words. Hands up anyone on here who has ever seen or read the true picture reported about Gradwell on the Beeb, CTV or in the Rag? Me neither. Who is hiding what and why are they hiding it? This is what needs answering.Trevor you may well feel alone in the States sometimes but outside don't ever doubt you have support for a miniue.

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  2. Thanks. Out of interest the proposition that I mentioned has been accepted and lodged but I see it isn't yet up on the States system. Should be up on Monday.

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  3. I see you have a question about the media up first on Tuesday. Coincidence? You just don't care whose feathers you ruffle do you you little tinker? Best be careful or you could be spending Xmas with Stu.

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  4. "telling it how it is" True to your word once again.

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  5. The Leveson Inquiry has revealed corruption between the media the Britsh Goverment and the Police, they are all eating from the same trough!

    I believe the same can be said of Jersey.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/11/28/ian-hurst-corruption-metropolitan-police-leveson_n_1115935.html

    Is that last comment some sort of threat ?

    Rocki.

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  6. Trevor.

    The State Media will (have already) bury your Scrutiny Sub Panel's Report because it exposes their clear agenda of peddling the State's propaganda.

    Yourself and Ian Le Marquand were on BBC Radio Jersey and Roger Bara said that this was a lengthy Report that would take more than just 10 minutes on the Radio to cover properly and they (BBC) will be taking a closer look at it in the coming days. Have you heard the BBC mention a single word of it since???????

    This is the same BBC who have had hold of Graham Power's submission to Wiltshire, for more than six weeks, and have not reported a single word of that either. They did however report the prosecution case against Mr. Power (The Wiltshire Report) but it appears they don't believe, in the interest of fairness and balance, they need to report the defence case.

    Also Ian Le Marquand has said (weeks ago) that he would put out a joint Press Release, with yourself, concerning (at best) the poor reporting by the media concerning the HCAE expenditure........That too hasn't happened. None of the State Media have Reported that a Former Health Minister has been accused by a number of witnesses under oath at your Scrutiny Review, of leaking a confidential Police e-mail to a national journalist with a history of supporting convicted paedophiles and this alleged leak occurred while the Child Abuse Enquiry was still live.....Is there not one "journalist" on this island that might think this is newsworthy or of public interest?

    We remember when Ben Shenton, Jimmy Perchard and Sean Power wanted the AG to look into the possibility that Lenny Harper "MIGHT" have leaked something to the NOTW and the State Media were all over it like a rash. A number of witnesses, under oath, tell us a Former Health Minister DID leak something to a Journalist and deadly silence from the State Media............Go figure.

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  7. An excellent post Trevor. I was incensed when I saw the article by young Lucy Mason, who seems to have been 'groomed' very well by her editorial masters.
    Indeed, the MSM here is a disgrace, the JEP being by far the worst. It is very fitting that this is all coming to prominence here whilst the Leveson Inquiry is running.
    Meddlers indeed! For a couple of politicians who always go the extra mile for your constituents that is the grossest of insults to you and the others who were included in this statement.
    You can hold your heads high Trevor and Shona.

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  8. Didn't the media over here just report the findings of an investigation into the Harper and Power's mishandling of the Haut De la Garenne enquiry? If they the media made anything up, I don't understand why neither of the these two gentlemen have sued? Also, wasn't Power running secret and illegal background checks on States members? Why has he not been brought to account for this?

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  9. "Frankly if this is the extent of your political analysis I really couldn’t care what you think."

    But you clearly do, that is why you dedicated a blog to it. Tell me, do you believe that as a journalist Lucy Mason is free to write what she likes as long it is not libellous or defamatory?

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  10. Anonymous.

    I would have thought it is not too difficult to work out that there is a somewhat big difference between:

    one - not concerning oneself personally with a 'journalist' who clearly has little understanding of politics or the wworkings of democracy.

    And: two - highlighting for the public who are being misled the subversive nature of such 'reporting' being allowed by a 'respectable' newspaper.

    It surely isn't rocket science?

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  11. The JEP is an absolute disgrace. Such reporting is designed only to give a false impression of those States members the JEP does not like and wants to undermine. Time they changed the Evening part of their name for the more apt Establishment.

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  12. Trevor - 3 parts on the 1948 election at

    http://tonymusings.blogspot.com/2010/08/senatorial-election-of-1948-part-1.html

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  13. Of course you are totally entitled and correct to comment on Lucy Mason's juvenile commentary .Perhaps part of the trouble lies in the fact that the JEP Channel and BBC jersey are staffed either by exhausted old hacks or school leavers building up a portfolio so that they can become 'real' journalists elsewhere. I fear that a majority of the public are scared to access blogs because there is a subtext that somehow blogs are scary places full of evil viruses. Hopefully once computer literacy spreads there will be a fuller debate. Respect to you and your colleagues for continuing the struggle at a time when many of us have become mentally exhausted trying to deal with the ridiculous mendacity of so much of the information we are fed. Keep on keeping on .

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  14. It sometimes is called the filthy rag but JEP or Jersey Evening Post is much more notorious and a much worse name to be called. Keep up the great work Trevor.

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  15. Thanks for the link, Tony.

    Shona and I own some very interesting documents that date back to this period.

    Some of particular interest show the true attitude to those who would challenge the status quo from within the Evening Post of the day.

    Perhaps over the Christmas period I'll try and get some of them up on the net so that other people can read them; along with some of the other fascinating old political material.

    Keep the Faith

    Trevor

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  16. It seems in reading one of your reader's posts that it is somehow ok for the JEP to mislead the public about politicians like you. Yet you must not counter those comments? Do some people even understand democracy let alone decency?

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  17. The article by Lucy Mason is at best sloppy, amaturish journalism. At worst it might be said to be deliberately misleading propaganda designed to give a false and very negative picture. Either way it shouldn't be acceptable.

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  18. What happened to the press statement you and ILM were going to do?

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  19. Trevor, I have read your panel's report. Unlike most people who comment I would hazzard the guess. It is a very thorough piece of work as far as I can tell. The thing that I have to ask you or other readers however is how can it make a difference now? The powers that be are determined not have any of this looked in to properly - so where do you go next?

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  20. I hope to speak to Senator Le Marquand about the statement next week.

    Hopefully he will have now had time to consider how far he is willing to comment. This will obviously differ from those of us on the panel but that is fair enough under the ccircumstances.

    The fact that we all agree on much of the shoody reporting says a great deal in itself.

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  21. Has anyone ever told you that you are a very naughty boy?

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  22. I know that you said you have now banned comments on trolls. But can I just ask if you know what aspect of the law Jon was brought to court for following his heinous and cowardly telephone bullying of innocent people?

    Can anyone also advise me where to find the link to the JEP report on his court appearance when he was found guilty? I promise I won't ask again.

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  23. No and no I can't. This sad little creep is irrelevant. But I'm sure he will eventually be in the news for his activites again before very long. If someone else wants to put a link it is up to them. I don't even have a general link to the JEP on my site.

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  24. Good Trevor. The less attention this odious little wretch gets the better. Might just encourage him to get a real life instead of one in cyber space? Hope you follow through with writing something for the Jep if only to see how much it gets edited.

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  25. SENATOR LE MARQUAND

    Listen to the Senator giving it the big one when he thought he was in the driving seat then think about the Senator that turned up to Scrutiny. This is what makes me very angry. He has been exposed as a bungling fool. He is now Deputy Chief Minister lol can you make this up.

    rs

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  26. http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=9574&wfs=true

    Britain have 'qausi journalists' and the Goverment are trying to find a way to censor the Internet outside of the UK !

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  27. Are you going to be doing any more "meddling" in the States on Tuesday? I do hope so. Keep it up.

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  28. Anonymous said

    "Tell me, do you believe that as a journalist Lucy Mason is free to write what she likes as long it is not libellous or defamatory?"

    I don't know about Trevor but I think she, or anybody else absolutely should not be free to write whatever garbage they feel like. Do you realise how astonishingly stupid and destructive your position is anon?

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  29. Interesting to see the new Governor doing the JEP visit complete with the customary fawning of owners and editors.

    I imagine that, in the interests of balance, some of our local bloggers could perhaps expect a visit soon.

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  30. Reference your question to Tracey Vallois. If PPC or the Scrutiny Chairman's committee won't act on including media Trevor can you please lodge a proposition on this your self?

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  31. Another issue that needs action is this cowardly move from Gorst to try and sell out the Electoral Commission to Philip Ballsache. This just has to remain independent or it will get nowhere.

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  32. Snow White & the 7 consultants5 December 2011 at 14:31:00 GMT

    I agree with the poster on the comission needing to be totally independent.

    Politicians should be able to give their views but none of you should be on it.

    If Gorst pursues this idea then some of you ought to bring a VONC.

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  33. Hello.

    My first time on here. Not much to say apart from nice to see alternative views that are sensible rather than 187 "posts" all from the same person. Regarding the Lucy Mason comments I really think PPC should be looking at this type of bullying. Newspapers should be balanced and our newspaper is not.

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  34. The comments from Lucie Mason are silly more than anything. They certainly don't do anything for her crediblity as a political reporter.

    The real blame and criticism though should probably go with Chris Bright or whoever had editorial responsibility for letting such biased and childish reporting to go in to the paper unchecked. I mean it just screams out this is a prejudiced newspaper with little care or concern for facts.

    I suppose the other thing that needs to be highlighted is that this type of comment would simply never have been allowed if aimed at the Conservative executive and their followers. Lucie, try and grow up a bit and I'm sure you will do fine.

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  35. Lucy Mason's adherence to fact remains the responsibility of the JEP, which, as a member of the Guiton Group and several media organizations, has a professional obligation to never knowingly mislead. An examination of their patterns of reporting on some vital issues, demonstrate that the JEP has been in serious violation of their own published ethical principles, and those of the press organizations they claim affiliation with. If she wants to tell the truth, she is probably prohibited by her employer, and would have to resort to blogging. That does not excuse her from accepting paychecks in exchange for compromising her integrity. A true professional journalist would not do so. However, as it currently stands, Jersey's only responsible, professional calibre, evidence-based media is found on the internet, and is performed without renumeration.

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  36. Young Miss Mason has stirred up a bit of a hornets' nest with these daft comments. Wouldn't it be nice - just for once - to see an apology from this sorry excuse for a newspaper?

    Won't happen of course. Just consider Bright's even more childish email to Monty Tadier. And to think this is the 'Accredited' media?

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  37. I repeat my earlier question: do you believe that a political columnist should be allowed to write whatever they like as long as it is not libellous or defamatory. Yes or no?

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  38. trevor and shona
    gorst in a nutshell bailhache,s lapdog there will be no real inquiry it will be time to lift the carpet again more to brush under it things just doint change.

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  39. Anonymous just doesn't seem to get it. People should be able to write what they want so long as what they are saying is not (deliberately?) misleading and intended to misrepresent other people. To my mind this is even more crucial for a journalist. Miss Mason would fail this test completely whether through ignorance or through following out the required angle of her employer. It is that simple really. Perhaps anonymous could tell us whther he/she thinks it is fine to twist the truth if it helps damage the perception of people you don't happen to like? I would imagine this is probably along the lines of Trevor's own views given the upfront style of his politics?

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  40. May have got a bit confused but hope not7 December 2011 at 18:08:00 GMT

    "I agree with the poster on the comission needing to be totally independent.

    Politicians should be able to give their views but none of you should be on it.

    If Gorst pursues this idea then some of you ought to bring a VONC."

    I also agree, Philip B has made it known what he would prefer (less deputies and keep constables I think it is). I am not sure what Trevors ideas are but I am sure all members of the states have their own opinions. If it is not independant then it is obvious to me what the result will be but regardless of my opinion on that it should be independant and without doubt be left to the electorate to decide and not those with vested interests in the outcome.

    We are talking about the make up of the states here aren't we? If not then I have gone way off the mark but my points are still my own opinion when it comes to the actual make up of states members if that is a different issue.

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  41. Deputy Pitman

    Well done on the St. James issue. You are so right this has been costing us stupid and unnecessary amounts of money for several years. It will make an excellent youth facility not just for the young people of our number one district but for all of town. Keep up your good work.

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  42. Of course, as I said in the States the other day with regard to the media issue encountered by Scrutiny:we certainly don't want to undermine free speech.

    But what the media, especially a media that is as limited as ours, do have a duty to do is treat all in politics fairly. The 'meddler' slur was just another example of our prejudiced and slanted so much mainstream reporting is in Jersey.

    To try and defend Lucy Mason's piece is plain daft.

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  43. The singing nun. Brilliant stuff vfc! Isn't it great to see that Terry Le Main has found new work since the people of St. Helier No. 2 kicked him in to touch? Warms the heart. Or was it Jon?

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  44. Further congratulations on bringing the regeneration of St. James a step nearer to reality. I agree that this will be a great amenity for young people but above all I am pleased to see that at last we will be rid of the scaffolding eyesore. Great to see a Parish Deputy delivering true to his word too. I just hope you can have similar success with Fort Regent!

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  45. Off subject but can you answer me a question please? I voted for you, Judy Martin and newcomer James Baker.

    I am certain that I saw Deputy Baker strolling around twice on Tuesday when I was doing my Christmas shopping and when he should have been in the States.

    Can you confirm that he was not present for much of the day? If so I am utterly disgusted with him.

    The speeding incident was bad enough but if he can't even be bothered to be there having taken my vote he won't be getting it again.
    Thank you.

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  46. Baker is useless. I almost wish I had voted for Paul Le Claire when I see this clown in the House. Nick Le Cornu should have come third behind you and Judy.

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  47. Big Trev

    Reports say Jon Nolife seen chatting to Lightfingered Sean. What could this mean? Two friendless boozing bozos just keeping each other company? Or was the lightfingered one explaining how it is really a bit thick to tell people your name if making a cowardly threatening phone call? You have to laugh really. But the bozo has certainly been extra busy with his fake posts on Channelonline again. Has he been sacked again I wonder? Why do they tolerate him anyway you can always tell its him attacking you and the other progressives? Maybe his special obsession with you is a sexual thing? I mean think about it - he just can't stop writing about you like he used to do with Syvret?

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  48. JEP today reports “Wait for the Facts” regarding the population growth reported by the census. Well why not wait and release the facts in the first place. That way there would be no silly speculation. We have Ian Gorst saying it could be pensioners coming back - the fact that this could be a JEP quotation made out of context has to be borne in mind. However surely retired people coming back would have been recorded as resident on the census of ten years ago before they departed for warmer, cheaper places where they can afford to live and retired people have been coming and going each year since. Most people are blaming the influx of people from Eastern Europe which is not so fair on the people from Eastern Europe who have been encouraged to come to the island! Why on earth are the results not released until they are properly (and hopefully) correctly analysed ?

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  49. Wading through all this domestic tittle-tattle I was wondering if anybody - in or out of the States -has a Jersey dimension on the collapsing EU?
    After all, this Island is supposedly full of economic advisers and whizz kids who want to manage the world's billions - do any of them have a clue as to what might happen to Jersey soon? If Jersey still has a "foreign minister" now - what is our official policy with regard to Dave's stance or should we side with the Germans?
    Tom Gruchy wonders

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  50. What's all this stuff about Fort Regent being given to private enterprise? Bloke handing out leaflets in town.

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  51. Now that you are on Christmas break can you give us a comprehensive break down of the report your scrutiny sub panel published regarding the BDO review on the historic child abuse expenditure because we know the state media don't come out of it too well?

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  52. Anonymous

    I am not 'on a Christmas break' as I still have enough constituent work to last me right through Christmas. I also have a number of propositions that I am working on.

    Not to mention a number of meetings lined up with a few other members of the 'progressives' regarding some ideas we need to discus. More on these as they develop - or not.

    But yes, I will be writing something more about the BDO review over the coming weeks. Not least being a piece I am sending to our local newspaper! I hoped to have it done by now but I am just too busy.

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  53. Tom

    Have you read any of Ha-Joon Chang's works yet? If so what is your view on his assessment of capitalism as the best way forward - if only we would be willing to approach its operation and ethic differently? As you know Philip ozouf's assessment is that Chang 'sounds a bit wacky'!!!

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  54. I think Tom is sometimes far too dismissive about people talking about local issues. These are here whether we like it or not. We all have to see the bigger picture obviously but all too many of the incompetents of recent years like Le Sueur, Walker and Ozouf have not faced up to dealing with local problem. We can't go on making these same mistakes.

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  55. Having worked hard to get Fort Regent back on to the political agenda I don't see it being handed over, locck, stock and barrel to private enterprize.

    There is a case for moving ahead with partnerships though. Because without them too many of our Executive just don't have the will or the political vision to restore this amentity to all it can be for the Island's people alone.

    As long as we maintain control partnerships don't have to be feared. Having been behind the idea for the Steering Group I also just hope Patrick Ryan keeps the momentum going and doesn't follow the childish 'exclusion' process of Ian Gorst.

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  56. I think anonymous could be right Trev. Jon just can't stop himself going on about you. You would think that the only three people in the world are you, Shona and Stuart if you read his multiple posts to himself. Maybe you could report him for some kind of cyber stalking? Then again maybe it is just a plain old crush that he has? LOL!

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  57. Fort Regent is one thing that most islanders really do share happy memories of. It is a crying shame that things have been allowed to go the way that they have. Just getting a new pool back up there would do so much to attract more people.

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  58. I have been in town a good deal this past week and haven't seen anyone handing out stuff on Fort Regent. Does anyone know who is behind this and what the main gist of it all is? A starting point should surely be in getting some access from town and sorting out the old pool site. Is this really so much to ask?

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  59. Come on Trevor. It is now ten days. New post please.

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  60. Still waiting for the joint press statement from you and Ian Le Marquand!

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  61. Y' know maybe someone has a point about Jon the Troll possibly having some kind of crush on you? Being bored I went on to the loser's blog and it seems the order of the day is to accuse everyone they don't like of being gay.

    This kind of childish homophobic behaviour usually means the individuals in question have somnething that they haven't come to terms with. Whatever the truth the bullying and hateful tone of the nonsense on the site certainly reminded me why I stopped going on it after we learned of the evil death threat to innocent people.

    I'm off out of the island tomorrow to find a bit of sun so Happy Christmas to all. Let's hope the New Year sees Philip Bailhache see the error of his ways in wanting to try and hijack our much needed independent electoral commission, and Ian Gorst waking up the fact that talk is cheap and what is needed is action.

    Toodle pip!

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  62. Trevor,

    I cannot believe you are in favour of PPI also called PPP or public private partnerships. The BBC Panorama spelt out what a disaster they are.

    See the programme if you missed it, it is on line for a few more months.

    Why would anyone borrow money from a bank to buy a house and then bring in another person to pay as well for the life of the mortgage. You are right though regarding civil servants, most do not have the business acumen to run a sweet shop or Aqua splash pool which cost the taxpayer £10 million to set-up and today cost’s £500,000 a year in grants.

    Carlisle Hospital ( as an example ) is not just about the payments for building the damn place it has contracts in place for catering, cleaning, maintenance, rent increases etc etc all in favour of yes the private side and costing literally an absolute fortune.

    No way out, no chance to change suppliers locked into the private fund partnership even if the hospital were to stand empty.

    Back to the taxpayer the Primary Care Trust must go, that’s why the investors are so keen to tap into Government projects, just up the taxes to pay the increases, the money will always be their unlike Woolworth‘s..

    This and other poor management is why they are bankrupt and are about to be taken over by another taxpayer funded trust.

    PPP = financial suicide.

    Boatyboy.

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  63. Hi Boaty Boy

    I fully appreciate your point. However, I would suggest that there is a huge difference between exploring - and exploiting if they can be proven beneficial - limited partnerships/working together with private enterprize than going down the dangerous route that you rightly highlight hook, line and sinker.

    Jersey surely should - and I know the evidence probably does not appear too convincing studying some of our Establishment party own goals over the years - be small enough for us to ensure the control stays where it must for the benefit of the wider community.

    A differnt kettle of fish I know, but as an example, does anyone really believe that the Lime Grove House fiasco really had to be that way? No. It was purely down to the people at the top not being up to the job.

    Trevor

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  64. At least with this news on the Old Bill sending out greeting cards to criminals Jonny no mates the troll can be sure he will be getting one Christmas card from a real person this year! Ho ho ho. Stay out of trouble Jon.

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  65. Isn't it odd how the JEP still never mention the facts about Gradwell leaking stories to the media. And how even Le Marquand has confirmed your reports findings that he would have faced serious disciplinery charges had he not retired. Yet try to make a story out of nothing by linking what has happened with the NOTW reporter to Harper?

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  66. Today I have mainly been drinking Stella.

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  67. Its disgusting, basically the JEP is reporting what they want the public to think and are not willing to allow them to draw their own conclusions by reading proper journalism and not proper ganda!

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  68. Thank you for fighting the fight for the most vulnerable. I hope you and your family have a peaceful and happy Christmas. xx

    Zoompad

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  69. Yes let us have another post otherwise I will have nothing to focus on over Christmas and the New Year.

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  70. Zoompad's post reminds to say thanks to all who have been sending messages, whether they be cards, calls or e-mails wishing Christmas greetings to Shona and me. They are all much appreciated.

    As for Jon. Of course I will make sure a new Christmas post is up before the weekend. I know that you can't live without having your fixation fed!

    Regards

    Trevor

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  71. Some questions here you might follow up in the States http://st-ouennais.livejournal.com/149875.html

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