Don’t ask me why but I’ve long wanted an excuse to start a post with ‘a funny thing happened to me on the way home last night’. This past Tuesday evening finally provided me with the chance.
As some people who know me well will be aware, each week I go down to my Mum’s house and make up her cancer drugs; ensuring that they are all organised into the right compartments and dosages etc. I also usually try and take our adopted dog with me - both Mum and canine being equally fond of each other – and it was why walking said dog on La Mare beach after my ‘drugs’ visit that was to provide me with the subject matter for the first part of this post.
Nearing the steps to the car-park I was hailed by a couple of young women sitting on the sea wall. Surprisingly (not!) the reason for this turned out not to be my boyish good looks. No – these two young women were actually students and, sharing what was obviously a well-earned bottle of champagne, just wanted to share their excitement and happiness at having just learned that they had both secured a university degree!
Anyway, congratulating them both and stopping for a chat – the degrees were in Zoology and Media so they told me – something they said also really made me quite sad as it seemed to say so much about some people’s attitude to the young. For the students (former JCG girls so they said) informed me that though they had been calling out to each and every person who had passed by, on what was a beautiful and warn summer evening, not a single person apart from me had bothered to congratulate them let alone stop.
Such achievements as degrees are surely what we want to encourage our young people to strive for. So how very, very sad that nobody could be bothered to stop and offer a quick ‘well done and good luck for the future’ to these two nice young people. After all, far too many people are far too quick to jump on the bad behaviour of a small minority of Jersey’s youth – let’s hear some praise when it is so well deserved too! The girls (their description) told me that like so many young people they would be heading off to the UK for their future, not staying in Jersey, so once again – the best of luck to both of you!
Nevertheless, chatting to these students still gave me a much-needed boost coming as it did after another dismal day in the States. A day when once again the staggering cowardice and total unwillingness of Establishment Party politicians to stand up against what is clearly wrong had once again been demonstrated.
No, I’m not talking about pretend Chief Minister Gorst again failing to pull in the reins on real Chief Minister Bailhache’s wholly unwarranted ‘fact-finding’ jolly to Barbados. An investigation that could be achieved far more thoroughly and at a whole lot less expense via Skype; e-mail or even video-conferencing, as I said on Channel TV today.
I’m not even talking about the ‘answers’ to my questions to Economic Development. Which had, of course, revealed that the much-trumpeted excuse of a ‘great many more ‘witness Statements’ being undertaken by Jersey as opposed to our Guernsey cousins having fully justified our ten times higher legal costs in the LVCR court case was actually tosh. The number of witness statements was actually 12 – and unless we had to send a lawyer right around the world for each and every one the sums really just don’t add up. Well, not in the real world anyway!
No. I’m talking, of course, about my revelation of the deeply worrying fact that in Jersey people who make the conscious decision not to act as they should upon reports of heinous child abuse at an Island school – Victoria College – and are subsequently highlighted within the Sharp Report are allowed to sit in judgement of others as Jurats in Jersey’s courts!
A ‘hypothetical’ matter? Well, you might think so if you had listened to Chief Minister Gorst’s pathetic ‘we have to be careful about allegations’ response. But no – we are talking about cold, hard FACT. FACT at that which has gone unchallenged by anyone in power – whether Chief Ministers; ‘senior’ politicians; Bailiffs or Attorney Generals - for 14 long years! The questions have to be quite simply: HOW and WHY?
After all, shouldn’t any person finding themselves up before a court – perhaps quite innocently – be able to feel 100% confident that those who are going to judge them; indeed, hold the power to change the whole course of their lives perhaps, should be of sound judgement and hold a clear commitment to justice and doing what is right?
Well, how about reading this little extract from the Sharp Report Page 23, Paragraph B35 and then making your own mind up…
‘On 5 August, Mr. Le Breton wrote to Advocate Falle. He said that the police did not as yet seem inclined to press charges and that there may indeed be no case to answer. He went on to say that Mr. Jarvis-Dykes had served the College in an outstandingly competent and conscientious way. He accepted that there was now evidence of misconduct on off island trips and that in his view this was now a resignation matter. He asked that Mr. Jervis-Dykes be allowed to leave with some dignity and suggested that the Governors consider a resignation from Christmas or Easter. He did not believe that his (Jervis-Dykes) continued presence teaching Maths and as Head of Maths would place anyone at risk. “In the absence of a police case, the resignation would be seen as an inevitable consequence of an intolerable situation caused by an unsubstantiated allegation.” (Mr. Le Breton had not taken up the Headmaster’s suggestion in June that he might view the videos* and he was not aware that Mr. Baker had seen them)
*videos of abuse
Is this the kind of sound, fair or rational judgement that should enable a person to sit in a court as a Jurat ‘judging’ others – ‘judging’ right and wrong? I think not. Hell, I KNOW not! Read the extract again. A paedophile being described as having served the school ‘in an outstandingly competent and conscientious way’. Requesting that the paedophile be ‘allowed to leave with some dignity’! Refusing to actually look at the video evidence…
Frankly, the only word for it is incredible. Actually, other words do come to mind. But I won’t use such language on my blog out of respect to my readers.
Which brings me neatly to the media and what passes as ‘journalism’ at the Jersey Evening Post and so forth. On Tuesday I revealed information that really should have led to a media outcry and been front-page news; lead stories on TV and radio etc demanding an investigation – and as a constituent said: would have in any ‘normal’ place. Yet it did none of this.
Nothing on TV or radio so I am told. Certainly I have not been approached for any interviews on the subject by anyone. And in the Jersey Evening Post? Just a watered down article that completely shifted the focus away from what my questions were quite clearly fundamentally about. Oh, and a claim that the newspaper had reported ‘extensively’ on the Sharp Report back in 1999.
Well, sorry chaps. But your ‘extensive’ reporting covered none of what I revealed in the States. Not a word. I checked. Yet why am I not even remotely surprised…
As the late Malcolm X said all those years ago:
‘If you’re not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing’
Throw in most of the other mainstream media ‘journalists’ and I suggest Malcolm X’s quote sums up a pretty fair image of an ‘average news day’ in Jersey. Is it fear or are you really just ‘on message’ to the ruling Establishment Party? Come on, you journalists – let us know. I really think you should – after all, Jersey’s media has had full access to the Sharp Report for years longer than I have…
To readers - Keep the Faith – However hard it might be!
Trevor
As some people who know me well will be aware, each week I go down to my Mum’s house and make up her cancer drugs; ensuring that they are all organised into the right compartments and dosages etc. I also usually try and take our adopted dog with me - both Mum and canine being equally fond of each other – and it was why walking said dog on La Mare beach after my ‘drugs’ visit that was to provide me with the subject matter for the first part of this post.
Nearing the steps to the car-park I was hailed by a couple of young women sitting on the sea wall. Surprisingly (not!) the reason for this turned out not to be my boyish good looks. No – these two young women were actually students and, sharing what was obviously a well-earned bottle of champagne, just wanted to share their excitement and happiness at having just learned that they had both secured a university degree!
Anyway, congratulating them both and stopping for a chat – the degrees were in Zoology and Media so they told me – something they said also really made me quite sad as it seemed to say so much about some people’s attitude to the young. For the students (former JCG girls so they said) informed me that though they had been calling out to each and every person who had passed by, on what was a beautiful and warn summer evening, not a single person apart from me had bothered to congratulate them let alone stop.
Such achievements as degrees are surely what we want to encourage our young people to strive for. So how very, very sad that nobody could be bothered to stop and offer a quick ‘well done and good luck for the future’ to these two nice young people. After all, far too many people are far too quick to jump on the bad behaviour of a small minority of Jersey’s youth – let’s hear some praise when it is so well deserved too! The girls (their description) told me that like so many young people they would be heading off to the UK for their future, not staying in Jersey, so once again – the best of luck to both of you!
Nevertheless, chatting to these students still gave me a much-needed boost coming as it did after another dismal day in the States. A day when once again the staggering cowardice and total unwillingness of Establishment Party politicians to stand up against what is clearly wrong had once again been demonstrated.
No, I’m not talking about pretend Chief Minister Gorst again failing to pull in the reins on real Chief Minister Bailhache’s wholly unwarranted ‘fact-finding’ jolly to Barbados. An investigation that could be achieved far more thoroughly and at a whole lot less expense via Skype; e-mail or even video-conferencing, as I said on Channel TV today.
I’m not even talking about the ‘answers’ to my questions to Economic Development. Which had, of course, revealed that the much-trumpeted excuse of a ‘great many more ‘witness Statements’ being undertaken by Jersey as opposed to our Guernsey cousins having fully justified our ten times higher legal costs in the LVCR court case was actually tosh. The number of witness statements was actually 12 – and unless we had to send a lawyer right around the world for each and every one the sums really just don’t add up. Well, not in the real world anyway!
No. I’m talking, of course, about my revelation of the deeply worrying fact that in Jersey people who make the conscious decision not to act as they should upon reports of heinous child abuse at an Island school – Victoria College – and are subsequently highlighted within the Sharp Report are allowed to sit in judgement of others as Jurats in Jersey’s courts!
A ‘hypothetical’ matter? Well, you might think so if you had listened to Chief Minister Gorst’s pathetic ‘we have to be careful about allegations’ response. But no – we are talking about cold, hard FACT. FACT at that which has gone unchallenged by anyone in power – whether Chief Ministers; ‘senior’ politicians; Bailiffs or Attorney Generals - for 14 long years! The questions have to be quite simply: HOW and WHY?
After all, shouldn’t any person finding themselves up before a court – perhaps quite innocently – be able to feel 100% confident that those who are going to judge them; indeed, hold the power to change the whole course of their lives perhaps, should be of sound judgement and hold a clear commitment to justice and doing what is right?
Well, how about reading this little extract from the Sharp Report Page 23, Paragraph B35 and then making your own mind up…
‘On 5 August, Mr. Le Breton wrote to Advocate Falle. He said that the police did not as yet seem inclined to press charges and that there may indeed be no case to answer. He went on to say that Mr. Jarvis-Dykes had served the College in an outstandingly competent and conscientious way. He accepted that there was now evidence of misconduct on off island trips and that in his view this was now a resignation matter. He asked that Mr. Jervis-Dykes be allowed to leave with some dignity and suggested that the Governors consider a resignation from Christmas or Easter. He did not believe that his (Jervis-Dykes) continued presence teaching Maths and as Head of Maths would place anyone at risk. “In the absence of a police case, the resignation would be seen as an inevitable consequence of an intolerable situation caused by an unsubstantiated allegation.” (Mr. Le Breton had not taken up the Headmaster’s suggestion in June that he might view the videos* and he was not aware that Mr. Baker had seen them)
*videos of abuse
Is this the kind of sound, fair or rational judgement that should enable a person to sit in a court as a Jurat ‘judging’ others – ‘judging’ right and wrong? I think not. Hell, I KNOW not! Read the extract again. A paedophile being described as having served the school ‘in an outstandingly competent and conscientious way’. Requesting that the paedophile be ‘allowed to leave with some dignity’! Refusing to actually look at the video evidence…
Frankly, the only word for it is incredible. Actually, other words do come to mind. But I won’t use such language on my blog out of respect to my readers.
Which brings me neatly to the media and what passes as ‘journalism’ at the Jersey Evening Post and so forth. On Tuesday I revealed information that really should have led to a media outcry and been front-page news; lead stories on TV and radio etc demanding an investigation – and as a constituent said: would have in any ‘normal’ place. Yet it did none of this.
Nothing on TV or radio so I am told. Certainly I have not been approached for any interviews on the subject by anyone. And in the Jersey Evening Post? Just a watered down article that completely shifted the focus away from what my questions were quite clearly fundamentally about. Oh, and a claim that the newspaper had reported ‘extensively’ on the Sharp Report back in 1999.
Well, sorry chaps. But your ‘extensive’ reporting covered none of what I revealed in the States. Not a word. I checked. Yet why am I not even remotely surprised…
As the late Malcolm X said all those years ago:
‘If you’re not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing’
Throw in most of the other mainstream media ‘journalists’ and I suggest Malcolm X’s quote sums up a pretty fair image of an ‘average news day’ in Jersey. Is it fear or are you really just ‘on message’ to the ruling Establishment Party? Come on, you journalists – let us know. I really think you should – after all, Jersey’s media has had full access to the Sharp Report for years longer than I have…
To readers - Keep the Faith – However hard it might be!
Trevor
Big Trev
ReplyDeleteAnother shocking post. I nearly wrote 'timely'post but this is fourteen years overdue. Just how rotten is Jersey? No wonder the students were leaving.
Anonymous
ReplyDeleteJersey is a great place. It is just some of the people at the top who are 'rotten' and think that they can continue to be a law unto themselves.
Was Malcolm X psyhic or had he got some friends and relations in Jersey?
ReplyDeleteIf you want a different local newspaper try a subscription to Jersey Today Check the archive and you will see this blog has featured a few times.
ReplyDelete"be able to feel 100% confident that those who are going to judge them; indeed, hold the power to change the whole course of their lives perhaps, should be of sound judgement and hold a clear commitment to justice and doing what is right?"
ReplyDeleteHit the nail on the head there.
I have lived in many different countries in my life, and never have I witnessed such disgusting behaivour in all my days. Nor have I feared for the future of my children so much. I just don't get it. Unless I am totally naive! Your average Jersey resident is a kind, decent human being. And yet those within the states and upper eschelons of the civil service seem to be the most repugnent individuals that have ever tainted this island. Please dear god how can we change this vulgar culture?
Please keep the faith like Trevor says. If you don't believe in something then you will fall for anything. I think that is another one of the formidable Malcolm X's sayings, and how right and apt it is to Jersey too.
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous
ReplyDeleteHow can we change this vulgar culture as you put it. I suppose the answer is simple - though also very hard.
Stand up against things that are wrong. Don't give in to the bullying and the abuse of office. Get the truth out via the internet if the mainstream media won't carry it. And vote. Not only that but make sure everyone you know and meets votes too.
Do all of these and we'll finally begin to get somewhere. No, it isn't easy but few things worth fighting for ever are.
Trevor.
ReplyDeleteYou have got to keep asking questions in the States regarding the Sharp report, they will keep on telling you that its old news. Thats not true because Le Breton is very current in The Jersey Jurats.
If we are to have a jurat system then it has to be Human Rights compliant, which would have to include having a broad cross-section of society (which it has never yet had -ever). To be honest I don't see how this can ever be achieved in Jersey.
ReplyDeleteYou just cannot have people's mates sitting on cases that they are conflicted in either. And you can't have jurats where there are no Portuguese either, or other ethnic minorities. You also can't allow people who have clearly warped judgement.
Or a system where everyone is rich and upper class. There is research which shows that judges regularly go with class so this has to be addressed. But it won't be will it?
I couldn't agree with you more. Will it be addressed? Well, some of us will certainly try. If we haven't got justice then what have we got? The days of things just being swept under the carpet need to be consigned to history.
ReplyDeleteNew Way To Combat JERSEY CORRUPTION
ReplyDeleteThe amount of money that you highlight as being paid over the top for the lvcr farce makes me wonder if there is any point having these fancy financial strategies? My old gran used to say look after the pennies and the pounds will look after them selves. But when you see waste like the court case payment to our rip off lawyers, and then Bailhache spending thousands on a two day jollie to the Carribean you have to ask what is the point? Thanks for highlighting it anyway.
ReplyDeleteA closer look at the electoral commissions valuation of £6,700 to send the chosen three to the Caribbean.
ReplyDeletehttp://planetjersey.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,3579.msg55421/topicseen.html#msg55421
Do we know if they have taken their wives on this Jollie?
ReplyDeleteAs far as I am aware it is just the Chair,Vice-Chair and a civil servant to actually do the work - taking the notes etc.Hopefully he is in the union. Otherwise I suppose he might be asked to rub the suncream in as well?
ReplyDeleteI can't resist reposting this comment by Danrok on Planet Jersey.
ReplyDelete"Does anyone know why you would need to travel to Barbados to find out how their government functions?
Meanwhile, Prof. Hawking discovers how the universe functions without leaving his house. Admittedly, he is in a different intellectual league to these politicians."
How many jurats are members of societe jersaise or the natiol trust for jersey?
ReplyDeleteBoth of these organisations routinely object to planning applications I'd hate to think any of their members then sit in judgement at third party planning appeals?
Trevor,
ReplyDeleteWhen Bailhache returns from his Caribbean jaunt could you or another States member please demand that he accounts for every penny of taxpayer's money spent on it?
Thank you.
Hi
ReplyDeleteFor some strange reason a very interesting post giving detials about corruption in Barbados has vanished into cyber-space when I tried to publish it. Why I do not know. Can the sender please re-submit and I will try again.
Thanks
Trevor
Well, well, well! having raised the issue of unsuitable people being allowed to become Jurats, guess what?
ReplyDeleteSuddenly I am invited to a meeting of the 'Legislation Advisory Panel' to dicus the election process. A panel Chaired by...Senator Philip Bailhache. Yes, really.
I have meetings that clash with the date offered at present; and will also be lodging a proposition later in the year anyway so serious is all of this. But as the Clash asked: 'should I stay or should I go?'
Of course, if there is a sudden inexplicable rush by them to lodge something to water down what needs to be done I will amend simply it. What has gone on just isn't acceptable in a genuine democracy.
Ladies and Gentlemen, this is captain Tobias wilcock welcoming you aboard
ReplyDeleteCoconut Airways flight 372 to Bridgetown Barbados
We will be flying at an 'ight of 32000 feet and at an airspeed of approximately 600 miles per hour
Refreshments will be served after take-off, kindly fasten your safety belts
And refrain from smoking until the aircraft is airborne
Woah, I'm going to Barbados
Woah, back to the palm trees
Woah, I'm going to see my girlfriend
Woah, in the sunny Carribean sea
I don't wanna be bus driver all my life
I've seen too much of Brixton town, in the night
Fly away on Coconut Airways
Climbing high, Barbados sky
I look up at the sky and I see the clouds
I look down at the ground and I see the rain go down the drain
Fly away on Coconut Airways
Climbing high, Barbados sky
Woah, I'm going to Barbados
Woah, back to the palm trees
Woah, I'm going to see my girlfriend
Woah, in the sunny Carribean sea
Far away from London town and the rain
It's really very nice to be home again
Mary-Jane, on the Coconut Airways
Now I know, she love me so
Woah, I'm going to Barbados
Woah, back to the palm trees
Woah, I'm going to see my girlfriend
Woah, in the sunny Carribean sea
Ladies and gentlemen, we are now commencing our approach into Bridgetown Barbados
The weather is fine with approximate temperature of 90 degrees Fahrenheit
The sky is blue and the palm trees are really cool
Captain Wilkock and his crew hope you have had a pleasant flight
And that you will fly Coconut Airways again
Woah, I'm going to Barbados
Woah, back to the palm trees
Woah, I'm going to see my girlfriend
Woah, in the sunny Carribean sea
Woah, I'm going to Barbados
Woah, back to the palm trees
Woah, I'm going to see my girlfriend
Woah, in the sunny Carribean sea
Woah, I'm going to Barbados
Woah, back to the palm trees
Woah, I'm going to see my girlfriend
Woah, in the sunny Carribean sea
Nice one! What about a link to the video (if there is one?)
ReplyDeleteBarbados by Typically Tropical
ReplyDeleteTrevor.
ReplyDeleteThis posting demonstrates just how sick the Jersey culture is. It appears that here we have a man (Le Breton) who attempted to protect a Paedophile. He then is chosen (by who?) to become a Jurat to sit in "judgement" of others and the entire State Media find absolutely nothing "news"worthy or of public interest.
Do what you can to protect a paedophile and you will be given a privileged position by the Jersey Establishment. Do what you can to protect victims of Child Abuse and get illegally suspended and trashed in the State Media.
Jersey Culture...................................Sick.
Hi Trevor, great post as always.
ReplyDeleteYou and your readers will hopefully be interested in the campaign that is going on now by Reform Jersey.
Since the Electoral Commission was hijacked by States Members, this is an attempt to rally people and organise so that we can take back the commission and make it politically impossible for them to ignore our voice.
We're holding a meeting at the Town Hall at 7pm on Monday with guest speakers Daniel Wimberley and Deputy Le Herissier, with myself chairing. The commission have been invited (no excuses, because a bus to town is much cheaper than a plane to Barbados!)
If anyone wants to find out more we're on facebook, twitter and my blog!
http://sammezec.blogspot.com/2012/07/reform-jersey.html
Thanks!
Sam
Whoah, I'm going on jolly
ReplyDeleteWhoah, at the taxpayer's expense
Whoah, I can do whatever I like
Whoah, 'cos the voters sit on the fence
Tropical ..... Golden Bananas.
Thanks to Sam for the message about next Monday's meeting about the Electoral Commission. If people can go along, please do. If only to see if Senator Bailhache's suntan could have been equalled by staying in Jersey...
ReplyDeleteWoah, I've just been to Barbados
ReplyDeleteWoah, we've got to keep them Constables
Woah, they always vote the right way
Woah, you'ed get more sense from frozen vegetables
Woah, but at least they keep the cover-up merchants in!
Thanks to whoever sent the link to Typically Tropical and the lyrics. Perhaps we can get the Minkies to record a new version with some of these new Electoral Commission lyrics people are sending in? Anyone know their contact details?
ReplyDelete"I don't wanna be an Assistant Minister all my life
ReplyDeleteI wanna be Jersey's very first King
I wanna waste taxpayers mony
And spend it on loads of bling!
SING!
Woah I've just been to Barbados
And you mugs are picking up the bill
Woah I've just been to Barbados
And all your votes count for less than nil!
Yo!"
I didn't know we had so many budding song writers around. Have to get off line now as I have a meeting to get to but promise to check for any more later today. But keep them clean, please.
ReplyDeleteRe-Post from previous thread, just in case others have not read it:-
ReplyDeleteSo Bailhache wants independence so Jersey can do things their way but suddenly Barbados has all the answers. What a joke!
Reading Wikipedia I note the government has 18 ministers including a PRIME minister (alarm bells), but also I noted:-
Perception
Transparency International ranked Barbados as 17th place (of 179) in the world on its corruption perceptions index in 2010, with only 1 nation surpassing it in the Americas. ([1])
Take a read of http://barbadosfreepress.wordpress.com/tag/barbados-government-corruption/
and you will find this:-
“Currently, many Barbadians are beginning to accept that corruption is a way of life. This being the case, Barbados is now on the brink of following the path of other countries where corruption begins to eat away at the fabric of the society. The Bill has gone to a select committee of the lower and the upper houses. We do know that select committees are often seen as the graveyard for many an unpalatable Bill. Barbados can only hope that, for its sake and that of its democracy, the Bill does not lie there forever in suspended animation.”
… from the Barbados Advocate editorial Addressing Corruption
-------------------------------------
Of all the places for Bailhache to go, and its one that appears to be even worse than Jersey. I certainly would not be looking to base anything on their style of Government.
Time for Gorst to put his foot down and say no.
To add: If you are a deputy, surely your work load is delegated from the senior rank, so why is Gorst looking at Barbados? or, as the case may be, is the tail wagging the dog?
DeleteThanks for re-posting the above piece. A must read for anyone generally interested in whaat the Electoral Commission really stood to gain from the £6,700 of our taxpayers' money.
ReplyDeletehave to say that the latest revelation from this farce i.e. that the civil servant who will have been the one working overtime recording all the information had to travel economy class whilst Senator bailhahce and his Vice-Chairman were in business class demonstrates even further the attitude of some in power.
Plain arrogant. And in terms of PR yet another shot in the foot. Keep digging Senator. But next time not with spades bought with our money please!
Meant to add - a big well done to Sam Mezac for his interview on CTV tonight. Hopefully people will turn out for the Reform Jersey meeting on Monday night.
ReplyDeleteCertainly a more convincing performance than Senator Bailhache's defence of the Barbados trip. Once you have done your degree, Sam, come back and stand for election.
"Time for Gorst to put his foot down and say no."
ReplyDeleteNo, time for people like us to put our feet down and say no.
There have been many big disappointments with people that I have voted for once they are safely into the 'Big House' and I have been voting for 27 years now. Terry Le Main, Ben Shenton, Ian Le Marquand to name but three of the more recent bloopers that I have made. Though to be faie old Tel Boy did seem to genuinely start out with good intentions before joining 'the club'. I'm sorry to say that Ian Gorst is in exactly the same mould. Perhaps he is even worse because he just doesn't seem to have the political spine to stop the Bailhahces and Ozoufs running rings around him. Leaders can be many things but the one they can't afford to be is weak.
ReplyDeleteApparently the Electoral Commission are blaming the fact that their officer going to Barbados was stuck in economy class whilst Sir Philip and his vice-chairman were up in business on this blog.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, I hear that they are saying that the officer had been reading my post about the Spanish Inquizition and was heard to exclaim 'No! No! Not the comfy chair!' They claim they thought this meant he wanted his flight seat to be down-graded...
Barbados Bailhache, has a certain ring to it don't you think.
ReplyDeleteSo a former Magistrate has been found GUILTY (Christmas) thus proving that the 'respectable' job isn't automatically so respectable, and such people aren't to be trusted without question.
ReplyDeleteI hope people will bear that in mind when considering the worth of another former magistrate I can think of.
No one expects the Spanish inquisition! Our three weapons - surprise, arrogance, stupidity and sunny breaks to the Carribean to keep our complexions dark and mysterious - no, no - our four weapons!
ReplyDeleteOne thing that the Christmas (magistrate) findings utterly destroy is the myth that jurats without any legal training can somehow put aside friendships with defendants and sit on cases that they really should be barred from. Jersey is the North Korea of the Western world.
ReplyDeleteA reader has sent in a fascinating if deeply disturbing post relating to a Minister in the Barbados government - the jurisdiction just visited by our Electoral Commission Chairman.
ReplyDeleteKnowing something about libel myself - honest! - even though I have checked out the sources in Barbados and can confirm that the poster indeed quotes a real story - I suggest all intrigued readers google the name Donnville Inniss and read about this for themselves!
Thanks again.
Trevor
Anonymous
ReplyDeleteTotally agree with you on this desperately spun myth to try and maintain our no-Human Rights compliant Jurat system.
I will be doing some posts on related matters a little later during the summer. But for now suffice to say the issue is not going to be allowed to be swept under the carpet again.
If nothing else we need to know why a person with Mr. Le Breton's appalling judgment and idea of what is right/important was ever allowed to remain a Jurat for all of these years.
Come September I will make sure we find out. Promise.
Great. My question is why has it taken a politician all of these years before someone started asking these questions? You can't seriously tell me that nobody else ever noticed the incompatability of having a person like that sitting in a court judging others?
ReplyDeleteTrev,can u explain this?
ReplyDeleteI got signed off on the sick for 5 working days and I got paid 7.Seems they include the weekend- Why? How is this right?
Talking of Malcolm X, I would recommend his speech on House Negros and Field Negros
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQ_VWpJj0Dw
I'm with the Field Negro
To the poster who sent the Malcolm X speech link. Thanks - I just want to check it out myself before posting. Hopefully can do tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteTrevor
Seems like Senator Bailhache badly misjudged reaction to his highly expensive jolly to Barbados.
ReplyDeleteEven Constable Crowcroft who most of us had come to conclude had well and truly crossed to the Dark Side in his relentless quest to sspend as little time in the States as a Ben. S or a J. Baker has finally begun to come back to his senses.
With the September States sittings little more than a month away we can only hope that our Senator, the Electoral Commission Chairman did not use taxpayers' money to meet up for a chat with the very 'interesting' sounding Minister Donville Inniss!
Then again - question time could be fascinating...
Though I am not 'religious' many people are so can I just politely remind readers to steer clear of what some may feel to be blasphemous. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteBelieve me, I know how easy it is to offend without meaning to. Just the other day the wife had cooked a lovely meal and I said to her quite innocnetly 'that piece of halibut wa good enough for J-'
Whoops! Typo - should have typed 'innocently'. Time for bed. Or maybe another drink?
ReplyDeleteOne will surely follow the other, the order is irrelavent :)
ReplyDeleteOne gets the feeling that you are a fan of Monty Python? Which in my book makes you worth a vote on its own.
ReplyDeleteLoved the joke about El Presidente Bailhache last night. But be fair to him there is one thing he could only get by going to Barbados as opposed to a video conference. That cracking suntan!
ReplyDeleteWhat should be said is a big well done to Sam Mezac for organising last night's meeting so well. Same goes to James Eondel and those other youngssters - Dan Wimberley and Roy le Herissier for their part too.
ReplyDeleteA really good turnout from the public too although I'm sure the JEP will whittle the figure down when 'reporting' it.
If I had one criticism it would be with regard to a couple of well established 'Progressives' who relly appear unable to resist going up the front and showboating everytime a camera is around. Give it a break guys.
The JEP haven't even reported on it by the looks of it.
ReplyDeleteHi
ReplyDeleteSorry for delay in getting a new post up. Trying to pull together all the loose strings of constituent work prior to being able to take a bit of time off for a break. Hopefully get a post up by the weekend.
Haven't seen the 'news' at all this week. Has there been any coverage at all of Monday's meeting - on any 'mainstream media'?
Trevor,
ReplyDeleteAll the speeches from Monday's Reform Jersey meeting in the Town Hall can now be found on YouTube. Not a prima donna in sight.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HqG8wx24Zs&feature=player_embedded
Hard work well done.
Nick
No real media attention anywhere but plenty on the next trip to IOM.
ReplyDeleteNo prima-donnas in the political left? Oh pleeeeeeezzze! When will some people on the left get it in to their heads that valid as their thoughts may well be the public don't want the same people taking over meetings again and again? I don't know who Trevor was referring to but I have to say I agree. Just start to work together all of you that is all I ask. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link Nick.
ReplyDeleteAnd fair comment as well anonymous.
We all like to be heard and sometimes it is hard not to risk being seen to take over in putting your views forward.
What you say about working together is absolutely key though. The 'Progressives'; the 'Left' have not managed to do that anywhere near well enough yet - and we need to.
Can we have a new post please?
ReplyDeleteYes, hopefully later this evening.
ReplyDeleteCan I also just remind anyone interested that there is a public meeting tonight at the Town Hall regarding the placement of the new police station by the Green Street roundabout. Starts at 7.00pm.
How did the new police HQ meeting go? Couldn't go myself.
ReplyDeletePutting the police station right next to a round-about is typically daft. I honestly don't know how the council of millionaires manage to keep coming up with such nonsense.
ReplyDeleteHi
ReplyDeleteHave had a few technical problems with the next post. Hopefully these can be sorted for early tomorrow.
I will also be putting up a further post over the weekend.
This will be the submission that I am making to the Keep the Constables Commission and discussing with them on the 17th August at the public hearing.
Trevor
"..congratulating them both and stopping for a chat – the degrees were in Zoology and Media..."
ReplyDeleteFrankly I would have thought a "media" degree and the resulting prospects for future gainful employment would have elicited commiserations rather than congratulations?!