FROM DEEP WITHIN ‘THE BALDTRUTH’ BUNKER…A STORY THAT STILL HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH RESPONSIBLE, REGISTERED GUN OWNERS…

Does your neighbour have a petrol bomb or two under the bed; maybe even a rocket launcher? A few crates of old Nazi stick grenades left over from the Occupation perhaps?  Has he or she already admitted wanting to kill you; maybe even already attacked your home?

Not nice things to consider for sure. But in the event of such information coming to light then – like me – you would probably think it only commonsense for the Police to advise you and your family about the potential danger you were in? Just so you could take any additional precautions and the like.

But you would be wrong.    

Home Affairs Minister, Senator Ian Le Marquand says you have “no right to know whatsoever” because it would be a “breach of your neighbour’s Human Rights!” Oh yes, and that bolshie Deputy Trevor Pitman really should stop “exaggerating” about such things -.blooming scaremonger! Apparently I had even upset the gun clubs – even though my question had not once mentioned them or even…GUNS period!

IF YOU WANT THE REAL FACTS GO ON TO CITIZENS’ MEDIA

As if it isn’t already worrying enough to learn that journalists within the Island’s ‘professional Accredited Media’ appear to think that you spell ‘bomb’ with a ‘G’,‘U’ and an ‘N’ Senator Ian Le Marquand’s latest performance in the States should have everyone supporting the introduction of a ‘recall’ mechanism into local election law as a matter of urgency.

Okay, so after the shambolic farce that was the Minister’s handling of the suspension of former Chief of Police, Graham Power (when he ran away from a fair fight that would have been a full disciplinary hearing) you likely wouldn’t be expecting too much to be fair. But surely a modicum of commonsense might be applied in an instance like this – after all these are potentially matters of life and death we are talking about?

But no – not a bit of it! Just as we have seen with the attitude from our Establishment Party to the victims of abuse at Haut De La Garenne these past few years; the rights of victims count for nothing when set against that of perpetrators. Indeed, Senator Le Marquand was once again about as much use to vulnerable people as a chocolate teapot

So do we give up? Hardly – I actually have a lot more information on this matter than I am currently putting forth. Come next Tuesday I will be giving the Attorney General his chance to tell us his version of just what the heck has gone wrong here. Just as importantly, hopefully give people like my constituent Tony and his poor family a bit of reassurance …

Meanwhile, for the full details of an incredible story that has NOTHING to do with seeking more restrictions on responsible members of shooting clubs and the like please do visit www.voiceforchildren.blogspot.com. or watch Tony tell it in his own words - see below. If you are not disgusted your name is probably Jon. Or Ian…

IS THERE HOPE THAT REALITY IS FINALLY SINKING IN AT THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT?

Having been hammering home the proven reality that giving multi-millionaires undeserved preferential tax breaks doesn’t automatically then make the ‘economic pie’ bigger for all of us for the last 18 months I am pleased –if admittedly surprised – that finally the Treasury Minister might be taking the blinkers off. I stress ‘might’…

Though admitting to me that he had still not got around to reading the economist that all discredited ‘free-market’ Capitalists should read – Ha-Joon Chang – in conversation Senator Ozouf did confirm that the Treasury are now finally beginning to look at putting proper regulations in place: i.e. that would enforce new 1 (1) K residents needing to commit a set and realistic amount of income to investment in the Island.

This is the only way; of course, that the much-spun and largely mythic ‘trickle down’ benefit to other people can ever have any significant degree of guaranteed impact. Will Senator Ozouf actually follow this through? Let’s hope so. Indeed, if he does I’ll even promise to give him full credit and not make one of those annoying ‘I’ve been telling you to do this for years!’ speeches.

WHAT DIFFERENCE DO A FEW MILES OF WATER MAKE?

Not a lot you might think. But if we’re talking legal advice to the governments of Jersey and Guernsey in regard to the challenge to the UK’s LVCR ruling you actually couldn’t be more wrong according to my genuinely good friend, Deputy Mike Higgins. About £360,000 cost to us and only £60,000 to them!

Think about it. The same issue which means pretty much the same type of questions needing to be answered. Not to mention a similar amount of work and research to be done. Yet we are being charged six times as much!

Of course, the fact that Economic Development Minister Senator Alan Maclean says that he is “quite happy” with the charge will ensure that these concerns go no further in terms of the Executive. For those of us who live in the real world, however, the next question is to request a breakdown of exactly what this is buying us – and then comparing it with our counterparts in Guernsey.

There can, after all, be only two conclusions. Somebody is getting very good value for money. Or somebody is getting badly ripped off! Either way the Islands’ taxpayers deserve to know about it.

SHOULDN’T A ‘POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT’ ACTUALLY KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT POLITICS?

Isn’t it the way it always happens?  You are one of those who actually understand that for a community to really flourish long-term government has to work for ALL in society – not just for the benefit of the rich.

So you understandably breath a big sigh of relief that one of the local media ‘Tory Boys’ has apparently given up writing gushing nonsense praising any local politician to the right of Maggie Thatcher (or the slightly more socially-aware orientated Genghis Khan). Moved on instead to apparently reminisce about his secret love for 80’s Brit-Pop band Blur,

And then, whilst you’re cutting up Monday’s JEP to put it into the smallest room in the house for safe-keeping you are stunned to notice that this apparently was nothing more than a pleasant dream! Yes, that’s right. My old friend Ben Quérée (quite a nice bloke for a Chelsea supporter!) is spouting lyrical on behalf of the Establishment Party yet again! Not only that but what he is writing is about as accurate as the shooting of £50 million pound, one-goal-a-year flop striker Fernando Torres.

Yup! Not content with last week’s ‘The Fly’ column where I was described as asking ‘silly’ questions about a mere ‘dispute between neighbours’ (see the petrol bomb story for how insulting this must have been to my terrified constituents) now old Ben is trying to shift the blame for the likely sabotaging of the Electoral Commission on to the ‘left-leaning opposition’ in the States!

You really might have thought that barely four months on the JEP would have been quite content to have gotten away with giving far more slant, focus and space to supporting the regularly incoherent political ramblings of Senator Philip Bailhache during the election than was afforded to others standing? Yet apparently not if you read Ben’s latest offering.

No. Senator Bailhache now attempting to hijack the long-agreed, fully independent Electoral Commission to try and ensure the role of the Constables is a non-negotiable; not to mention Senator Ian Gorst doing a good impression of a forked-tongued Hissing Sid in going back on his stated pre-Chief Minister election vote commitment to this were apparently wholly irrelevant.

The real villains it seems – at least according to Ben’s deep and obviously unbiased ‘political’ analysis is that it now ‘gives the left-leaning opposition (I think you mean democrats, Ben) an excuse to back out of any reforms that don’t suit them’. Something which apparently comes close to ‘defeating the point of the whole Commission!’

Well, thanks for clarifying that one for us, Ben! I must confess I had completely missed it. As apparently had every other person that I have spoken to! There was us – even that old radical Deputy Roy le Herissier - foolishly all getting agitated over one man putting what he wants ahead of the interests of the ordinary people who made this Island the success it has been. Really, where do we all get it from?

You know at this point I must admit I was quite tempted to write something a bit cutting about my good friend, Ben. But then I mellowed a bit. After all, I thought, given that there is now about as much likelihood of his once dominant football team winning any silverware this year as there is of Senator Bailhache still being in politics in a year’s time if his attempt to hijack democracy is unsuccessful, poor old Ben has probably suffered enough!

I just hope he has a holiday booked if his latest hero doesn’t get his way…

Keep the Faith

Trevor

SO OFTEN A ‘DAMP SQUIB’ LOOK OUT FOR A STATES QUESTION TIME THAT REALLY COULD BE ‘EXPLOSIVE’!

AND I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT LAST YEAR’S POLICE ‘BLITZKREIG ON THE GERMAN CONSUL…

Another post – another apology for being a few days late! C’est la vie! I am a politician first; blogger second as I have said a hundred times. My first duty is helping my constituents and beyond so I can’t sit around all day like some sad maverick internet troll! Is that fair enough ‘Alan’ - or whatever you are calling yourself this week?

As readers will know I had hoped to make this post an in depth one about two of the complaints I am investigating from constituents relating to police cases. Unfortunately, I have had to delay this slightly whilst some important information is confirmed by a contact. But hey…we can still light the ‘touch-paper’ toward getting to the bottom of one of these.

So below I outline my questions – oral and written – for next week’s States Sitting. I don’t feel the need to comment on them all as I think they are straight forward. Indeed, with reference to the first oral one I would remind readers that sometimes saying less for a short while brings more results in the long run.

It is, after all, about getting the full, bald truth that matters! I’ll also be doing a dedicated post relating to my written question about a Jersey casino in a few days. However, I also want to comment briefly on another matter. This being to pay credit to the likes of Rico Sorda and Voiceforchildren for their continued tenacity in seeking that said bald truth no matter how deeply it might have been buried.

MY FIRST ORAL QUESTION IS TO THE MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS:

“Will the Minister advise what rights, if any, members of the public have to be informed by the police that their neighbours have a large arsenal of weapons in their homes?"

‘Explosive’ it could be and not in a good way if Senator Ian Le Marquand hasn’t got a reassuring answer! Indeed, should he not have I will also be back in two week’s time to grill the Attorney General.

To be quite honest a politician really shouldn’t have to be putting him (or her) self in the position that I am with this. We should be able to rely on the combination of our police and courts to do their job. Sadly, from what I have seen in this case both have failed good, thoroughly genuine people very badly.

Indeed, it does seem, as my constituent states, as if some want this first case hushed up; buried; swept under the carpet. The question has to be: why? The member of the public came to me because of this very feeling. He turned to me because in his words ‘You have the reputation of being a fighter and standing up for people’. Praise indeed and I will do my best to try and ensure that this case is settled with the best interests of everyone involved at the forefront.

So I ask readers for the time being to just consider these simple questions: how would you feel if you had been attacked – quite out of the blue – within what you thought was the safety of your own home? How would you feel to know that your attacker clearly badly needed some help – but discover nothing had been done about this for over a year? How would you like to live in fear for that year and still be doing so now?

Bad enough already. But then, what if you found out that the weapons your attacker possessed were an awful lot worse than you had been led to believe. Not just knives and swords etc but even ‘ready-to-go’ petrol bombs! Not only that but the said individual was now back right next door to you – having incredibly been found ‘not guilty’ of possessing offensive weapons.

Yet the police had not even had the decency to advise you of the risk…

This really shouldn’t happen, should it? If someone needs help they should get it within an affluent society like ours. And innocent people should be able to feel safe in the knowledge that police and courts will take their well being seriously. Your home should not become your prison.

I will leave my observations at that for now though I obviously could say a lot more. I just hope that after fourteen months of misery for my constituent and his family my involvement can finally stir the authorities into ensuring the best outcome for all involved. Then again; as a contact in the police said to me in confidence. Lenny Harper was on about these types of weapon arsenals and worse ages ago – yet was regularly mocked by our Establishment politicians for his concerns.

Now where have we heard that sentiment before?

MY SECOND ORAL QUESTION IS TO THE CHIEF MINISTER:
“Will the Chief Minister advise the Assembly as to whether the former Minister for External Relations was informed about the raid on the German Consul's home last year and, if not, why not?”

Now here’s another truly fascinating matter. What is going on with this?

As you heard at the end of last month Senator Le Marquand really got a bit tetchy about me asking him about this. No, I don’t want to be interfering in ‘live’ police matters for the sake of it. I’ll leave that to my ex-colleagues Ben and Jimmy and current ones like Sean. But this incident didn’t happen just a few days ago. It happened while former Chief Minister Terry Le Sueur was still on the throne”

So why is it taking so long to resolve and for the public be quite rightly informed as to what went down? Because – and I have a chronology of events leading up to this – the way the operation was undertaken was one great big …..

Now, of course, the police have to investigate complaints and concerns. And, as a supporter of good policing I believe that most times they will do a good job in what are often very difficult circumstances. But when mistakes are made they should be acknowledged.

After all, let me assure readers that if this had happened under Graham Power letters would be being typed up on several different computers and cut and pasted together the very next day. More than half-a-dozen of our Establishment Party ‘senior’ political leaders knew about this incident according to my information - but have done nothing to see that it is put right.

Yet I also have it on good authority that one man who very definitely should have known – as it was technically a ‘diplomatic incident’ apparently did not. Why?

As with the first question I know even before the Sitting that the answers that I will get will be ‘economic’ or downright evasive to the point where I will have to be back at the next Sitting. Nevertheless, out of fairness to all involved the pressure has to be kept on so that neither good or bad/justifiable or unjustifiable can be swept under the carpet.

The truth needs to be dragged out into the open on this incident too. The people at the centre want this so what’s stopping us?

MY WRITTEN FIVE QUESTIONS FOR 21ST FEBRUARY

As indicated I will hopefully be doing a post on the casino question early next week. But I list it along with the other written questions for reader’s information.

QUESTION TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MINISTER:

“Following the decision to proceed with moves to bring in revenues from the online gambling market, will the Minister advise whether or not he and his Department are giving consideration to the possibility of a casino being developed in the island and will he further advise what research, if any, has been undertaken to date on the potential revenue that might be forthcoming in the event of a casino being allowed to operate in the Island; and where any official research/reports may be located by States members?”

QUESTION ONE TO THE HOME AFFAIRS MINISTER:

This is being asked in the light of the completely misleading answer given at the last States Sitting – in the hope that by persistence we can finally put another piece of long-standing spin to bed. Just like the ESC Scrutiny Sub-Panel did with the garbage that everything Power and Harper did was unjustified; the money all ‘wasted’ and 50% of the said £7.5 million actually spent after they had left service apparently down to them.

As I have said so many time spin like this will always get found out in the end. But more on that theme later…

“Will the Minister provide for members a complete account in relation to the retirement date of the former Chief Officer of Police, setting out in particular –

i)    when he was first due to retire;

ii)    what extensions and reductions there were to this initial retirement date, and for each extension/reduction, the date of the request, details of who requested it and the grounds for the request;

iii)    what further retirement dates there were as a result of these extensions or reductions?”

QUESTION TWO TO THE HOME AFFAIRS MINISTER:

Has the Home Affairs Minister bought himself a bottle of Tippex yet? That’s all he needs – I know!

“Will the Minister inform members whether he is planning to publish the following documents and, if so, provide members with the target date for publication in each case –

i)    the statement made to the Wiltshire Police by the former Chief Officer of Police in relation to the handling of the historic abuse enquiry (Operation Haven);

ii)    the report by Matt Tapp Associates;

iii)    the letter from the then Deputy Chief Officer of Police to the then Chief Executive in November 2008;

iv)    the “Interim Report” of the Metropolitan Police into the review of the historic abuse enquiry which arrived in Jersey on 10th November 2008?”

QUESTION ONE TO THE CHIEF MINISTER:

“Further to the answer given on 31st January 2012 by the Minister for Home Affairs that the then Chief Executive “discovered that Mr. Tapp was very concerned in relation to the press aspects of the handling of the [historic abuse] case” and that he became aware that Mr. Tapp was available to do work for the Chief Executive as he had just been advised his services were not required by the Chief Officer of the States of Jersey Police, will the Chief Minister outline for Members exactly how this “discovery” by the Chief Executive took place?”

QUESTION TWO TO THE CHIEF MINISTER:

“Further to the answer given by the then Chief Minister on 19th October 2010 (Hansard 2.2.1) in which he stated that he was happy to research the records given to Mr. Napier and to then give ‘chapter and verse’ to the Deputy of St. Mary in relation to the details of any formal meetings with the former Chief Officer of Police by the people involved in his suspension to talk to him about the concerns that had been raised and to elicit his response, would the Chief Minister now undertake to make this information available to all members?”

So there we have it…

Look out for lots of fake posts from Jon, Alan, Dave, Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch (not to mention a hundred other of the troll’s aliases saying the usual guff like “but no one is interested!” I might even let a few through for a laugh, eh ‘Alan’? But the fact is, fortunately, that many decent, ordinary people - people who genuinely care about justice, truth and democracy DO care.

And no amount of abuse from trolls and thugs; or even Senator Sir Philip Bailhache misguidedly trying to scupper the ‘Historic’ Abuse scandal Committee of Enquiry behind the scenes is going to change that. However long it takes.

This is a war for the truth – a fundamental aspect of political democracy.

This is a war of attrition - We are in it for the long haul.

Get used to it.

WHICH BRINGS ME NEATLY TO THIS…

Over recent months in particular, people like Rico Sorda and Team Voice have put compelling and regularly damning evidence in front of politicians. They are not right all of the time, of course, no one is.

But by chipping away they have, inch-by-inch, shown that all too many things relating to both the denigrating of the ‘Historic’ Abuse Enquiry and the suspension of former Chief of Police Graham Power need a whole lot of explaining. And explaining to a far higher power than friends and colleagues scrutinizing themselves.

However, just as the Scrutiny investigation that I undertook with Deputies Le Herissier and Wimberley was to all intents and purposes deliberately buried by establishment figures – politicians, media and others - who did not want to face the unpalatable truth I would imagine Rico Sorda and those at Team Voice perhaps may well be feeling the same sort of frustration that we did.

After all, we knew we had uncovered so much. Yet it seemed that no matter what we uncovered those who really should know better just wouldn’t listen. They didn’t want to listen. They didn’t want the inaccuracies and even downright lies spun to the public over a period of years undermined. Why do I write this now?

For no reason other than to remind those individuals, should they need it, not to be discouraged. The work they have done has been sterling. Indeed, that they have shown ‘professional’ journalists what it truly means to be ‘investigative’ – yet are still laughably barred from filming a Scrutiny now slipping rapidly into the Executive-cuddly and thus completely ineffective secrecy beloved of the Establishment – while the Mainstream Media who have failed to report so much are - should be worn as a badge of honour.

I repeat. They should not get downhearted. But instead remind themselves that the truth will out eventually. It always does no matter how long the wait. As for those ‘senior’ figures who either have something very dark to hide; or those who just haven’t had the political ‘testicular fortitude’ to stand up to those bullying them into an unholy alliance of silence…

They should remember that what goes around comes eventually comes around. When it does for all of those who have taken the threats and insults in trying to do the right thing it will be all the sweeter.

Keep the Faith

Trevor

NEVER HAVE SO MANY PAID SO LITTLE; THE GREATEST THREAT TO DEMOCRACY IN 60 + YEARS; AND OTHER UPDATES…

Just a few fairly brief pieces in this post as constituent cases seem to increase by the day. Not that I’m complaining – ordinary people and their issues are what politics is all about or should be. But short as it was if not particularly sweet this Tuesday’s States Sitting still threw up some interesting information. Though perhaps not as interesting as the information that our slowly crumbling Old Order continue to cling desperately to keeping suppressed!

DON’T MENTION THE GERMANS…

Worth asking if only to see the Home Affairs Minister’s face when I sprung it on him! The question of just why our police raided the German Consul last year; not to mention what they took away; why, and did they have to give it back is a fascinating one. Even more so what happened between the German and UK governments next!

The Establishment Party ‘Big Wigs’ have been trying to pretend that it didn’t happen. But it did, trust me. I have had the information now from three different reliable sources; both Island-based and from across the water. Thanks to all of them. A ‘Diplomatic’ incident? Ssshhhhh! I can say no more just now.

The big question that has to be asked once again though is surely: where were our ‘accredited’ investigative media? To be fair the JEP did surprise me with a phone call asking for info. Funny how when they had a highly detailed press release blowing out of the water all of the nonsense being spun about the Electoral Commission by Senator Philip Bailhache  they didn’t use a word. Then again, I suppose they were among those helping him spin it…

But this particular story will be blowing up a storm very soon!

DON’T MENTION SIR PHILIP TRYING TO SCUPPER THE ‘HISTORIC’ ABUSE SAGA COMMITTEE OF ENQUIRY…

If the Home Affairs Minister’s face was a picture last Tuesday then it still probably had nothing on the scarlet, rosy cheeks of the biggest ego in politics, Senator Philip Bailhache when I revealed the fact – and it is FACT – that he has been lobbying to get the Committee of Enquiry agreed by a large majority of us after Senator Francis Le Gresley’s proposition last year torpedoed. How do I know? Again, that would be telling.

Let’s just say that sometimes you have to play people at their own game. Who knows – I might even be adding a new series of ‘guest’ posts to the blog in the near future. Never mind the JEP’s ‘Fly’. What about the ‘Ministerial Mole’? Contrary to the report in the newspaper if you heard the answer to my question put to the Chief Minister; or read through Hansard it is quite clear that Senator Gorst DID acknowledge the accuracy of what I said.

But the question that the media really should be putting to Senator Bailhache - and any and all - of the motley little band of ex-Senators; farcical hate bloggers etc who continue to be so desperate to scupper the full truth coming out about the Abuse Saga is simply to ask: WHY?

Meanwhile, look out for some massively inflated, deliberately exaggerated estimates of ‘likely’ costs that are going to be spun soon as an excuse not to do it. Likewise an attempt to at the very least try and sabotage Deputy Montford Tadier’s essential amendment…

THE GREATEST THREAT TO DEMOCRACY FOR 60 + YEARS… COME AND SEE THE BATTLE TO SAVE IT INSIDE PPC…

Just as Senator Philip Bailhache wants to sabotage the Abuse Saga Committee of Enquiry his other reason d’etre is, of course, is to ‘reform’ the States. ‘Reform’ it into a sham institution where the interests of the wealthy and powerful will for ever be protected by hamstringing any potential for strong representation for the ordinary people who have made Jersey the success that it has been.

As you likely know the Senator has already managed to convince the right-wing dominated PPC to propose whittling down the contents of Daniel Wimberley’s excellent Electoral Commission into just the bits he wants to bend to his own ends i.e. primarily reducing the number of States members whilst simultaneously making keeping the Constables a non-negotiable.

An off-shoot of this, however, has been the setting up of three PPC Sub-Committees. The first to examine Public Elections. The second to examine Standing Orders and Internal Procedures. The third to look at the Machinery of Government. The only one of these Senator Bailhache wanted to be involved on was – surprise, surprise – looking at internal procedures. His goal being to disenfranchise all of those in areas such as St. Helier and other urban parishes by reducing the ability for their Deputies (who will always be excluded from ‘inclusive’ government) to hold Ministers to account.

This would be achieved by a brutal hacking away of ‘back-benchers’ rights to ‘dumb down’ government to the aforesaid ‘rubber stamp’. For example: reducing question time; limiting speeches and, perhaps worst of all in a display of total contempt for democracy seeking to restrict anyone wishing to propose alternatives to Ministerial policy via propositions. To this regard it was essential that we didn’t allow these Sub-Committees, which will have a heavy workload, to be dominated by the Establishment and their sycophants. 

As such I am pleased to be able to report that I am on both the Public Elections Sub-Committee and the one looking at proposals to change Standing Orders and Internal Procedures. Hope you have your gloves ready, Sir Philip…

NEVER HAVE SO MANY PAID SO LITTLE IN TAX…

Finally for now, anyone still under any delusion that giving totally unwarranted preferential tax breaks to the most wealthy automatically then makes the pie bigger for all of us really should go back to my first post on the works of award-winning economist Ha-Joon Chang.

Better still - go read the full works of the Great Man himself. They are highly accessible to anyone and unlike the vested-interest driven con men who will seek to tell you otherwise Chang never attempts to baffle people with jargon. Sorry, Senator Ozouf and Co but –shock, horror - he isn’t even anti-capitalist!

But in the mean time just to give you further food for thought. Here’s the latest very interesting statistics for how much most of our multi-millionaire  1 (1) K residents REALLY pay. Read the spin that they ALL pay at least £125.000? Think again…

Less than £5,000                23 individuals!

Between £5,000 - £10,000                   10 individuals

Between £10,000 - £20,000                 14 individuals

Between £20,000 - £30,000                 14 individuals

Between £30,000 - £40,000                   7 individuals

Between £40,000 - £50,000                   4 individuals

Between £50,000 - £60,000                   4 individuals

Between £60,000 - £70,000                   4 individuals

Between £70,000 - £80,000                   No individuals

Between £80,000 - £90,000                   4 individuals

Between £90,000 - £100,000                 4 individuals

Those paying £100,000 and above      39  individuals

Number paying less than £100,000      88 individuals!
 

Funny, but with the ‘personal’ taxation burden growing for so many of us, at the ‘Top’ end where the very wealthiest lord it over us mere peasants the number of individuals actually paying LESS appears to have never been higher? But hey – I guess I’m just following the politics of ‘envy’? Hell, it’s what the apologists for Greed Appeasement will try and say anyway.

Sleep well. Your government is fully committed to a ‘fairer or more equal’ society. Honest…

Keep the Faith

Trevor

PRESS RELEASE: MET REPORT (S) – ANSWERS OR MORE SPIN?

PRESS RELEASE:  MET REPORT (S) – ANSWERS OR MORE SPIN?

DATE:  JANUARY 25th 2012

FROM :   DEPUTY TREVOR PITMAN        CONTACT: 07797 824243


"Given that a letter summarizing damning criticism allegedly contained within the ‘interim Metropolitan Report’ led to the suspension of the former Chief of Police and severe criticism of the Senior Investigating Officer of the Historic Abuse Inquiry, will the Minister be apologizing and/or resigning now that the Independent Police Complaints Commission have confirmed that no such criticism of the two officers was contained in the ‘interim’ or final reports?


Deputy Trevor Pitman has lodged the above oral question to be put to the Home Affairs Minister, Senator Ian Le Marquand at the next States Sitting on Tuesday 1st February. This question follows on from e-mail correspondence relating to the findings of the Independent Police Complaints Commission sent by the former Senior Investigating Officer, Mr. Lenny Harper to the Home Affairs Minister and also copied to local media.

The essence of the relevant findings by the IPCC is that it appears to destroy once and for all the stated justification for the original decision – taken on the back of a letter from the former Acting Deputy Chief of Police Mr. Warcup - to suspend the former Police Chief Mr. Power and which initiated the tirade of sweeping criticisms and inaccurate reporting of the handling of the Historic Abuse Inquiry by both men.

Sweeping inaccuracies and misrepresentations that have largely been laid bare by the recent Scrutiny Sub-Panel review of which I was the Chairman; and which have even been acknowledged by the Home Affairs Minister himself.  Of course, as the Scrutiny Sub-Panel also made clear there is no doubt that some elements of the investigation were not nearly as good as they should have been.

However, the content of Mr. Harper’s e-mail raises serious questions that go to the very core of the democratic process for which government is responsible. As such I have been shocked – if sadly not surprised - that I am yet to see or hear any reporting of this by any one of our four local mainstream media organisations. 

Since the issuing of our report - while the extensive findings contained within were largely ignored by all mainstream media - we have in contrast incredibly already witnessed the appalling attempt by some to reinvent an officer  confirmed by the Minister as having leaked misinformation to the UK media during a live child abuse investigation as some kind of ‘whistle-blower’.

I find myself asking: will our mainstream media now simply also sweep this emerging new evidence under the carpet too because it conflicts with the picture already painted? As you will all be aware, I am one of the few politicians who have taken the time to follow this sad and sorry saga in Jersey’s history from the beginning. Not only followed it but persevered in researching and asking questions in the hope of helping those rightly angered and determined members of the public bring the whole truth to light no matter how long it takes.

Persevered while so many of my colleagues (former and present) have simply kept their head down out of fear of being attacked, ridiculed or misrepresented for their commitment to natural justice. So I also ask our media in this statement: is there really any surprise that a lack of trust in so much of Jersey’s government as you all regularly report is likely surpassed only by the profound lack of trust in much of  the accredited media itself? The role of professional media should not be about suppressing, let alone spinning or distorting history I hope all would agree?

It should be about simply investigating and  reporting; fairly, squarely and without prejudice or favour to any party regardless of allegiance. If that demands asking difficult, even potentially damaging questions to those at the very heart of power than surely the courage to do so must be found. We have enough cowards within politics – we cannot afford more in the other key arena on which the ordinary public must rely so heavily for accuracy of information and integrity.

I appeal to the media: please do start asking the uncomfortable questions that clearly need to be asked about this. If simple ‘bloggers’ – just members of the public can find the resolve then surely there is no excuse for any of the rest of us if we ultimately want to be able to hold our heads high in years to come. The victims of abuse who continue to put such faith in the two former officers who initiated the police investigation surely deserve no less.

Answers or more spin?  It seems to me that there really is only one choice to pursue…

Deputy Trevor Pitman


As I advised readers yesterday to avoid having the question blocked as falling foul of Standing Orders it had to be re-worded as follows to first 'enquire' whether or not the Minister had actually seen the findings . The naughty word 'damning' relating to criticisms also had to go! Readers shouldn't worry about this too much. As new Members will quickly learn it is regularly the case that when a question relates to something a bit contentious you have to ask what you really wanted with your first supplementary follow-up to get it on the Order Paper. The question's new 'fluffier' wording now reads:

"Is the Minister aware of the report of the Independent Police Complaints Commission into the complaint from Mr. Lenny Harper and, if so, would he advise whether it states that the interim Metropolitan Police Report, that was a factor in the suspension of the former Chief officer and allegedly criticized the former Senior Investigating officer, contained no such criticisms and, if so, will he apologize or resign?" 

MY & DEPUTY SHONA PITMAN’S QUESTIONS FOR JANUARY 17TH; + A PETTY, COWARDLY ATTACK ON DEPUTY GEOFF SOUTHERN FROM ARCH-HYPOCRITE SENATOR PHILIP ‘THE EGO’ BAILHACHE…

TREVOR’S ORAL QUESTIONS

Below I list the oral questions that I have on the Order Paper for next Tuesday 17th January. Pitched to both ‘Chief Minister’ Ian Gorst and Chairman of PPC Constable Simon Crowcroft not surprisingly they both focus on the appalling attempt to sell out the States large majority decision of only March 2010 to put reform in the hands of a fully independent Electoral Commission.  See my last post for the full details.

QUESTION 1: Deputy T. M. Pitman of St. Helier will ask the following question of the Chairman of the Privileges and Procedures Committee –

“Will the Chairman advise whether the recent decision by the Privileges and Procedures Committee at its January 4th meeting to seek the agreement of the States to reverse its majority decision to have a fully Independent Electoral Commission and allow it to be chaired by a States Member was made unanimously and if not would he advise which Committee Members voted in favour of the proposal?”

QUESTION 2: Deputy T.M. Pitman of St. Helier will ask the following question of Chief Minister 

“What justification does the Chief Minister have for withdrawing his support for a fully independent Election Commission, and proposing instead that his Assistant Minister chair the Commission, especially given that this was a factor in garnering the support of several Members in his election for Chief Minister, and will he now be offering his resignation as a consequence of going back on this commitment?”

 NOTHING BUT THE BALD TRUTH WILL DO!

Forget the rubbish about a clear four to two vote that was claimed in the JEP. If my good – but clearly misguided friend, Simon Crowcroft says anything other than the truth i.e. that the decision to risk sacrificing all of Daniel Wimberley’s excellent hard work on the alter of Senator Philip Bailhache’s colossal ego actually was passed by just one crucial vote – that of Philip Bailhache - then the words ‘Sir, the Chairman is misleading the House!’ will be echoing around the Chamber. I’m sure I will have no need…

As for ‘Chief Minister’ Gorst it is really quite difficult to imagine what his response will be. It should be something like a short and humble: “I’m really very sorry. I apologise. I have gone back on my word about inclusive government. I have gone back on my word about revealing the details of the disgusting ‘golden handshakes’ paid out under by predecessor. I have been pressured to go back on my word to support a fully independent Electoral Commission. But today I am going to show that I do have some backbone and say “Sorry Philip, I’m not going to let you hijack this after all!” Should we hold our breath? Sadly I doubt we should…

SHONA’S ORAL QUESTIONS

QUESTION 1: Deputy S. Pitman of St. Helier will ask the following question of the Minister for Social Security –

“Will the Minister advise whether there have been long-standing problems within his Department concerning the loss of documents, data being mislaid and conflicting information given out to the public from different members of staff, if so, what measures will he be implementing to resolve this situation?”

QUESTION 2: Deputy S Pitman of St. Helier will ask the following question of the Minister for Housing –

“What action if any, is the Minister taking to ensure that Housing Trusts take responsibility for maintenance matters?”

TWO PROBLEMS THAT REALLY DO NEED SORTING URGENTLY

The only answer to Shona’s first question can really be an emphatic yes – and it really isn’t acceptable. It is also equally true to remember that this problem has not been of Senator Le Gresley’s making. It has been inherited from the former Minister, Senator Ian Gorst who proved wholly ineffectual in both accepting this and rectifying it. To be fair this was probably not helped by him choosing an Assistant Minister who was spectacularly useless, the now thankfully ousted by the public, former Deputy Angela Jeune. 

Hopefully Francis can give some assurances that he is finally going to sort things out. I mean, promising young cancer victims that the Department will meet the cost of resultant dental care – then going back on this. Just how low can government sink?

The second question is one that should have been tackled way back when the ‘partnerships’ with Housing Trusts was first set up. It wasn’t and I and a number of others have spent a great deal of time lobby the various Housing Ministers over the last three years to put it right. I am actually confident that Deputy Andrew Green will do what his predecessors failed to do so badly.

TREVOR’S WRITTEN QUESTION

Given the JEP’s disgraceful and desperate attempt to reinvent Det Sup Mick Gradwell as some kind of ‘whistle-blower’ these three questions to Home Affairs Minister, Senator Ian Le Marquand about the ‘Abuse Enquiry’ are a nice little wake up call. I say ‘Abuse Inquiry’ rather than ‘Historic’ Abuse Enquiry because we really shouldn’t be buying into the media PR nonsense that this is all something old and long ago that doesn’t matter any more.

It isn’t. It is current. Just ask the victims still suffering everyday while clowns like Ben Shenton, Jimmy Perchard, Sean Power and co try to muddy the waters with innuendo about the News of the World. Which reminds me?  Come on boys, you had a lot to infer about Harper and wholly un-evidenced ‘leaks. Surely you would like to write in and condemn what we now know about the behaviour of Mr. Gradwell? Or is that…different?

I’ll leave further comment until after we have the answers. Though the one about how much of our taxpayers’ money the Minister has spent and how many convicted/disciplined Police Officers we have had as a result looks like it may be absolutely fascinating…

As for my other written question to the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee this is an issue that I have pursuing for a long time, Not that you would know it from the JEP reporting! I will obviously be supporting Deputy Roy Le Herissier’s proposition but I think this work needs to be championed by PAC too. It is, after all, our taxpayers’ money that the Establishment Party is giving out to keep the silence of so many failed senior Civil Servants. It needs to stop and politicians and whoever else be held accountable.

QUESTION 1:   

“As a part of the Historic Abuse Inquiry did the investigators research and consequently obtain a full list of all individuals who were, at any time, on the Board of Governors of Haut De La Garenne (whether in paid or purely voluntary roles) under each of the various authorities under which the facility operated during the period of investigation?

Were all those individuals still living subsequently interviewed and, if so, will the Minister provide Members with a full list of those interviewed or advise where such information can be viewed?”

QUESTION 2:

“Will the Minister provide details of how much money has been spent on external inquiries and reviews in respect of alleged disciplinary issues since November 2008 and how many police officers, if any, have been convicted of any criminal or disciplinary charges as a consequence?”

QUESTION 3:

“What investigations, if any, have taken place in respect of the allegations that States of Jersey Police officers acted illegally during the investigation of the case of Curtis Warren and others; and if there has been an investigation, what was the total cost and the outcome?”

QUESTION 4:

“Will the Chairman advise whether the Public Accounts Committee intends to investigate and subsequently publish a report into the amount of taxpayers’ money used under the last Council of Ministers, under Senator T.A. Le Sueur, to provide ‘golden handshakes’ to senior Civil Servants leaving their posts early; further still, will the Committee be investigating the absence of detail on such payments within published States accounts?”

SENATOR PHILIP BAILHACHE – A MAN WHO HAS SPENT TOO MUCH TIME WATCHING ‘DOWNTON ABBEY’?

Disappointed that instead of improved transparency the new ‘critical friends’ running Scrutiny are going to make all of their non-hearing meetings closed to the public? Perhaps I can suggest an alternative? Get down to the next PPC meeting instead. Why? Well, if nothing else you will be able to see that regardless of what he spouted on the hustings, lecturing States Members about ‘respecting’ others what Senator Philip Bailhache says in public is very, very different to what he actually does! 

Indeed, no wonder he wanted the media – and just as importantly Daniel Wimberley and I who were also watching proceedings - removed before he would speak! Luckily this demand was challenged by Deputy Judy Martin or we would still not know exactly the low and underhand manner in which this horrible, arrogant little coward really works.

What am I talking about? Well, not content with trying to hijack the independent Electoral Commission (as documented in my last post) now Bailhache even wants to try and dictate who can sit on other sub-committees! Worse, sub-committees only being set up because he is too lazy and pompous to include them in the Electoral Commission’s work as Daniel Wimberley had set out in his successful proposition! Even worse again, of course, he wanted to try and have another member prevented from participating but wanted it done in secret so no one would be any the wiser! So much for all that pious talk of ‘respect’ eh Senator?

The target of the Egotistical One’s spite today was Deputy Geoff Southern. He had foolishly offered his services to contribute to a sub-committee being set up to look at election laws, campaign timescales etc. Bailhache’s objection? Southern (like my wife, Deputy Shona Pitman of course) had been prosecuted and convicted for the awful, heinous ‘crime’ of assisting a few elderly/disabled people to complete an application form to request that they could be registered for a postal vote in 2008

Of course, this isn’t a ‘crime’ in any known democracy in the free world. In fact it is actively encouraged. The candidate assisting the elderly/disabled person to apply to be registered to be able to participate in the democratic process is, of course, long gone by the time they are actually sent their voting slip several days later.

But leaving that aside Bailhache had then had the appalling arrogance and downright gall to insultingly compare Southern’s action with an analogy of ‘If you created a criminal law commission to look at burglary you wouldn’t invite a convicted burglar to join the commission.’

As I really had to ask of the PPC Chairman and this pompous little man when Daniel, the reporter and I had to leave for part B of the agenda. Having put forward my own name for the sub-committee hopefully we would be able to look at the legitimacy of such non-Human Right compliant local laws? Even more so the fact that why Deputies Southern and Shona Pitman were taken to court for ‘crimes’ they had stood up in the States and openly said that they would be left no option but to commit out of principle, wasn’t it funny that two other individuals in the very same St. Helier No. 2 district in 2008 did exactly the same – but didn’t get prosecuted.

Hell – Southern was even originally charged with one of these individual’s offences! We still have the relevant police documents. The only difference? The other two weren’t in the JDA.  Just for the record one individual had a five letter name beginning with the letter ‘A’. The other is detailed as having a three letter name beginning with the letter ‘R’ and is also described as having a beard. FACTS…

Still, sickening as all of this hypocrisy and spite is at least the ‘Historic’ Abuse Committee of Inquiry should be safe from hijack. I mean you, wouldn’t invite a former Attorney General who allowed a convicted paedophile to be sworn into the Honorary Police on to a body set up to investigate best practice on child protection matters would you…

Keep the Faith

Trevor

NEW ASSEMBLY, NEW YEAR – BUT SAME OLD ESTABLISHMENT PARTY WRECKING TACTICS OF SELF-INTEREST OVER THAT OF THE WIDER PUBLIC’S…

Maybe it is because other, more important demands on my time as a politician have meant that I just haven’t got around to blogging for the past few weeks – but this post has ended up considerably longer than usual. Then again given what is actually going on behind the scenes and its potential highly negative impact if left unchallenged the length of explanation is probably wholly justified…

THE EGO HAS LANDED

Though in the classic children’s tale the Grinch may well have seen the error of his ways and not gotten away with stealing Christmas, unless we are very careful what is now happening at PPC will see Jersey’s own political Grinch, Senator Philip Bailhache, stealing the absolutely essential - and very hard won at that – independence of the Electoral Commission.

The result in my view will be what I can only describe as a further ‘rigging’ of the democratic process to try and ensure that the already under-represented voters in Jersey’s urban areas like St. Helier are forever at an insurmountable disadvantage to the self-interested ‘Great and the Good’ and their ‘I’m alright Jack’ supporters who think Jersey is their own private club to exploit as they see fit and stuff the consequences for the rest.

MAINSTREAM MEDIA GET IT WRONG AGAIN

Readers and anyone genuinely interested in democracy should be aware that what was reported in the JEP this Saturday is a woefully inadequate report of what tactually transpired at the PPC meeting. Trust me – I was there; the JEP had not a single reporter there throughout. If they have been fed their story as fact then they have been misled.

The apparent ‘clearing of the way’ reported for our most egotistical of Senators to usurp the agreed independence of the Electoral Commission and pervert it to the desired ends of the Establishment (a Party finally waking up to the fact that the challenge on behalf of true democracy coming from the motley bunch of peasant democrats like me isn’t going to go away so easily no matter how underhand their tactics) is just more ‘spin’ to make this most poisonous of pills a bit more palatable to a misled public.

Indeed, the JEP report that this decision – which isn’t actually to change what was agreed following Daniel Wimberley’s excellent proposition, but to give States Members the chance to do so – was not passed by the emphatic two to one ratio claimed at all. No. With Deputies Montford Tadier and Kristina Moore not even present it was actually slipped through by just three votes to two.

Incredibly – and I bet readers could never see this particular sham coming – the decisive vote to allow the possibility of Senator Philip Bailhache being able to hijack the ‘commission’ with the collusion of new Chief Minister Ian Gorst was actually taken by…

Senator Philip Bailhache!

As you have probably fallen out of your chair in shock I’ll repeat that for you. The decisive vote was Senator Philip Bailhache’s

SHAMBLES OR PLOT - THE DIRE CONSEQUENCES WILL BE THE SAME

As a former member of PPC I can state as fact that in my experience of past meetings if what was being discussed involved one of the members in a highly contentious issue then he or she would not vote on the matter. Common sense really as I am sure most would agree.

Yet whilst hiding behind the complete baloney that the move wasn’t actually being engineered to allow Senator Bailhache to take the Chair of the review but rather allow any politician to potentially do so this common sense dictate was not adhered to.

Other politicians and more importantly the ordinary people of Jersey need to be aware of what is going on here. It is that serious. Not least Chief Minister Gorst’s part in what can only be described as another betrayal of what he promised within his pitch to become Chief Minister and his stated intent to bring about a brave new dawn in local politics.  Check for yourself – its all their within Hansard and various media reports from the election.
In the meantime should anyone think I am being too harsh on the Chief Minister then just consider the following facts? The reality is that Senator Gorst was only elected to the role of Chief Minister on the back of securing the decisive votes of the political ‘Progressives’.

ONCE, TWICE, THREE TIMES A ….

The key fact here is that this ‘Progressive’ support for Senator Gorst was given on the back of promises of wholesale political ‘inclusion; and of equal importance his firm stated commitment to an INDEPENDENT Electoral Commission. Yet as we have subsequently seen this first promise of political inclusion was jettisoned no sooner than the Senator had been safely secured in the top job.

Indeed, maybe some readers are not aware of this fact; but this betrayal can be emphasised further by the fact that according to Senator Gorst every Minister was to be ‘instructed’ by him to take on an Assistant Minister with a ‘different’ political perspective to theirs to ensure this happened. A great idea but whatever happened to it, Senator Gorst?

Obviously not every Member can be a Minister. Yet even the most rabid of right-wing buffoons (Jon the Troll aside perhaps?) could not maintain an argument that the likes of ‘Progressives’ such as Senator Alan Breckon and Deputies Geoff Southern, Shona Pitman, Montford Tadier, Mike Higgins and yes- even me! -  had less ability or appropriate experience than many given other roles within this new ‘inclusive’ government: some who didn’t even give the Senator their support for the job!

And tell me if I’m wrong, readers but in what way exactly does Deputy Eddie Noel have a ‘different political perspective’ to his new Minister at the Treasury, Senator Philip Ozouf? I think the appropriate term is: I rest my case - unless being even more right-wing than your Minister is seen as meeting the instruction’s criteria?

‘THE BEST POLITICIAN WE HAVE HAD FOR A VERY LONG TIME’

No, don’t worry I didn’t proclaim the above nonsense: JEP reporter Ben Quérée did. I wonder what the said reporter – who I seem to recall only a year or two ago held the very same rose-tinted view of Senator Ian Le Marquand – thinks now?  Because just days after giving Gorst the above glowing testimonial Ben Quérée had to report on the next act of betrayal.
This was the new Chief Minister going back on his word to me that he would bring some transparency to the shameful scandal of taxpayers’ money being used to line the pockets of discredited, incompetent senior Civil Servants under the Le Sueur regime with obscene ‘golden handshake’ pay-offs amounting to hundreds of thousands of pounds.

So here we are in only January let us remember. We are still to have the first States Sitting of 2012. Two promises made. Two promises broken. And now we get what has the potential to be the most damaging of all: the selling out of the independent Electoral Commission to pacify one Senator’s hugely inflated ego. It is to put it quite bluntly sickening.

As I have highlighted, being the only States Member who sat in on the PPC meeting this past Thursday (for the record the only reporter there was the BBC’s Chris Raynor) I witnessed the contempt with which the ordinary public of Jersey and all fair-minded politicians within the Assembly are being treated by the likes of Gorst and Bailhache for my self. 

WILL THE REAL CHIEF MINISTER PLEASE STAND UP?

Though under no obligation to do so having defeated Senator Bailhache for the role of Chief Minister, Senator Gorst is now displaying all the political backbone of a jellyfish in colluding with him to ensure real, beneficial change to the make-up of the States that an independent Electoral Commission could not fail to recommend does not happen.

Worse that as a result while the people of less fortunate countries are risking their lives for genuine democracy we will likely slip backwards toward something resembling some shambolic, oppressive hybrid of a neo-Feudal State and the Weimer Republic! If it doesn’t worry you it really should.

Believe me – if Philip Bailhache gets his way democracy in Jersey, flawed as it is, can be kissed goodbye for at least the next generation. We will be on the way to a legalised dictatorship. The result will include the removal of the limited and wholly inadequate checks and balances that exist now.

Checks and balances such as the ‘Troy rule’; creating instead myriad extra token ‘Assistant Ministers’ that effectively mean no questioning of the ‘leader’ and thus no meaningful ‘opposition’. In truth almost unfettered power for a Chief Minister who will alone pick his chosen ‘inner circle’ of sycophants. Worse still a permanent imbalance in representation between country and urban parishes that will dwarf that which we all know exists already.

And all of this is being justified, legitimised with excuses that I’m afraid are at best garbled, pseudo-intellectual nonsense; and at worst downright untruths. It is quite frankly shameful, morally bankrupt, and the public must be made aware of it before it is too late. Yes, it seems that while Senator Gorst may have won the vote for ‘Chief Minister’ he clearly already holds the title only in name? Or surely he would not let this happen?

WE ARE BEING SLEEP-WALKED INTO A DISASTER

Check it out for yourselves. Senator Bailhache is desperately spinning the myth that he somehow ‘has a mandate’ to usurp the States agreed independent electoral commission simply ‘because he topped the Senatorial poll having talked about reform’.

Even by the Establishment Party’s long record of 1984-style rewriting of history this is nothing more than demonstrable garbage. Indeed, it is absolutely risible. Should you be tempted to disagree just consider the case of former Senator, Stuart Syvret.

Love him or loath him – and I have certainly had my serious disagreements with him as I have observed before – Syvret was the most popular politician in Jersey for the best part of two decades. With the advent of Ministerial government (and the lack of a mature party political system as exists in most proper democracies) Syvret surely could have had every justification to claim that he was the majority choice of the public to become our first Chief Minister.

Cast your mind back. Did this hold any water with the Establishment Party members inside the States in 2005? Not a bit of it – the role went to Frank Walker who had scraped in to be re-elected by the skin of his teeth. In the words of so many Establishment figures at the time Syvret’s popularity apparently gave him no such mandate whatsoever.

Yet now, surprise, surprise we are being asked to do an about turn; ask no uncomfortable questions and agree that Philip Bailhache can hijack the Electoral Commission just because he topped the poll in the latest elections of 2011! But let’s also get a few further points spelt out quite clearly as well.
 
There are others in the States even now who might not have topped the Senatorial poll but have been elected not just once, but twice, three and even four times on a reform platform. And a reform platform at that far more coherent and considered than the elitist hotchpotch being put forward by Philip Bailhache.

Senator Bailhache is also on record, of course, as saying he doesn’t even support the idea of an electoral commission process. He in his boundless arrogance it seems thinks he knows best even though analysis clearly demonstrates otherwise.

Indeed, though having sat in the Chair as Speaker for many years whilst Assembly after Assembly have failed over countless debates to manage to agree meaningful reform that would be beneficial to ALL of the Island’s community Senator Bailhache incredibly further states that the problem apparently ‘isn’t too difficult’. In fact he said it again in the PPC meeting. Oh to be so superior!

THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION HAS TO BE INDEPENDENT – AND ITS RESULTS HAVE TO BE PUT TO THE PEOPLE FOR SUPPORT OR REJECTION

Without so many vested interests at play it would be possible to agree with the Senator on coming up with a wholly workable reform. But then… all I want from electoral reform is a system that is constructed so that all, rich or poor, town or country Parish dweller has fair and equal representation.

This is also all that every other ‘Progressive’ that I know wants. Sadly it isn’t what the Establishment party wants. They want to maintain their grasp on power and control; and the fact that this grip is slowly loosening means they will fight all the more desperately to try and cling on to it. Don’t make any mistake – this attempt to hijack the Commission is a mark of their growing desperation.

Vested interests are what make the independence of an Electoral Commission and the public having the ultimate power of rejection or support absolutely essential. I repeat: the potential for the influence of vested interests are precisely the reason why Philip Bailhache, like any other States Member, cannot be allowed to shape the reform process.

Deputy Daniel Wimberley’s successful proposition made this clear and that is what we must continue to support under this insidious attack.

THE COMMISSION HAS TO BE GIVEN A BLANK CANVAS

I’ll leave readers with these final thoughts. Whatever one thinks about reform – for example, whether the Island-Wide mandate should go as would happen under Senator Bailhache’s adoption of ‘Super Constituencies’; whether all seats should need an Island-Wide vote; or any other variant – this in itself is not the issue.

Suggesting that Deputies should go, the Constables, the Crown Officers, the Dean or whatever – it is all absolutely fine. Let the Commission examine it all. Let them reach conclusions. And then right or wrong let their recommendations be put to the people.

What is wholly wrong, divisive and what must not be allowed to happen is doing what Senator Philip Bailhache wants to do: i.e. say that we must reduce numbers but that retaining the position of the Constables is non-negotiable. Perhaps even worse is to attempt to justify this by misleading people by spouting supporting facts that simply aren’t true. Why do I highlight this point so forcibly?

One of the few amusing moments in the meeting came when Senator Bailhache came out with the complete fabrication that it was quite clear that the vast majority of the Island’s people wished to retain the Constables in the States.

For a man who is busy desperately trying to give everyone the impression that he alone is the great font of all reform wisdom; someone who can succeed where all mere mortals have failed, one might have thought even the Senator would know that his claims were absolute nonsense. Perhaps he did know?

Whatever the truth I did have to smile when the Greffier – a really genuine repository of reform debate knowledge – politely interrupted him to point out that, even at the time of the last Mori poll, opinions were pretty much hotly split down the middle between those who strongly wanted the Constables to remain and those who equally strongly wanted them removed. Exposed the Great One fell silent.

The most telling point of all? The fact that by his own words Senator Bailhache said he would not be content to just have a seat on the Electoral Commission – he will accept only being able to control it as Chair. If this doesn’t give cause for concern to all of those who might be tempted to be sleep-walked into this disaster then frankly there really isn’t any hope. Let this happen and who knows - before long we’ll likely even begin to believe that collagen can be found in coconuts…

But just to stop all you democrats from having nightmares and to leave you on a positive note. Don’t despair. We aren’t a dictatorship yet. There are ways to fight this. Oh yes, Senator Farnham would be proud of us…

Keep the Faith.

Trevor

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