K2 - CHIEF MINISTER GORST TO GO ON TOUR WITH JIMMY CARR... STATES IN FULL DAY SITTING SHOCKER…

Having been laid low with the flu for a few days the States Sitting of 26th June 2012 really looks like it might be just the tonic to put a smile back on my face.

I mean, not only does the ‘vote of censure’ e-mail fisticuffs that have been flying around between Senators Ferguson, Ozouf; Constable Refault and Deputy Tracey Vallois seem to suggest that for once the part-time ‘politicians’ of the Establishment Party are actually going to have to put in more than a half days shift in the Chamber – but in both question time and public business alike there are even some really interesting issues to be explored as well…

8 out of 10 cats say that Jersey is a Tax Haven…

In his bestselling book ‘Treasure Islands’ Nicholas Shaxson put forward a very good definition of what he felt a tax haven to be. This was, and I quote, ‘a place that seeks to attract business by offering politically stable facilities to help people or entities get around the rules, laws and regulations of jurisdictions elsewhere’.

Throw in my own additional caveat that suggests that a second key giveaway is that those behind a tax haven will always both deny the charge furiously AND attempt to discredit and even viciously smear any who dare put forward such an argument and you have to say it all fits Jersey like a glove. As anyone who fully appreciates the basics of what lies beneath so much of our Off-Shore ‘business’ activities will, of course, know full well - even without the recent K2 headlines in the Times.

However, knowing this truth and admitting it publicly are two completely different things. After all, such a political admittance at a Ministerial level could be very bad indeed for the carefully contrived whiter-than-white ‘well regulated Finance Centre’ image. Which probably explains why Chief Minister Gorst has now joined long-time ‘haven deniers’ like Senator Ozouf and his Assistant Minister Deputy Noel in putting out the strident message that there is in fact, apparently, no place in Jersey for ‘aggressive tax dodging!’
You see, Lucy Mason had it right for once. Senator Ozouf (or ‘Phil’ as I like to let Lucy think I call him!) and I really do agree on some things: tax avoidance/evasion by multi-millionaire parasites really should be stamped out! Meanwhile, let’s also hope that the Chief Minister makes some kind of statement to scotch these strange rumours that he is actually planning to grab a share of Jimmy ‘K2’ Carr’s lucrative stand-up comedy routine by heading for the stage himself…

How to spot a politician not worth a vote at the next election… 

Thanks to my good friend Deputy Mike Higgins (actually Mike genuinely is a ‘good friend’ - when I used the term in the States to describe the Constable of Grouville recently it was only to win a dare!) the population now have a quick but sure-fire way to assess which politicians will be worthy of your vote come 2014. Forget manifestoes, posters and even the hustings. Thanks to Mike you really won’t need to bother with a single one belonging to any sitting States Member!

What do you need to do? Simples – just watch to see who votes AGAINST Mike Higgins’ move to finally make public the transcript of the 2008 ‘in camera’ debate that shows that former Police Chief Graham Power was suspended on wholly false and contrived grounds. This will provide cast-iron evidence that any such person is both completely untrustworthy and wholly supportive of corruption. What could be simpler?

If you want to know the truth probably best not to ask a mainstream media journalist…

Writing in the ‘Evening Andrex’ columnist Paula Thelwell suggested that should one want to discover the truth then the last person you should ask would be a politician. Sweeping comment as this is (come on, this is the JEP we’re talking about!) such a view is one that so many of our Council of Ministers certainly regularly do inadvertently give some weight to. Indeed, if Paula was ever to sit through our fortnightly States ‘Questions without notice’ or as most of us call it ‘Questions without answers’ she would likely conclude her case was already 100% proven.

Nevertheless, be this as it may if there is one particular profession that even puts these Establishment politicians in the shade then, sorry Paula, I’m afraid it just has to be… good old mainstream media journalists. And no, I’m not even talking about the JEP’s long history of misrepresenting; lying about; and even downright smearing of ‘anti-establishment’ politicians who might dare to challenge the status quo. Though, of course, anyone who wants to see how far that goes back need only to read the late Norman Le Brocq’s book published way back in 1946. What I’m talking about is the constant misrepresentation of facts that those at the Establishment party house journal obviously don’t like.

For a recent example just consider the newspaper’s article only last week reporting what were apparently the key issues that the public were calling for in giving evidence to the ‘Electoral Commission’ at their first public hearing at the Town Hall. Reading Jo Hutchinson’s report you would have certainly thought that it was about moving the election to a Sunday and reducing the number of States Members. Yet these were actually only a side-show.

What the real concerns were that kept coming up again and again from some very articulate men and women from the public were these. Removing the Constables from the States (unanimous) and doing away with the ‘loaded’ and immoral system we have had for decades that means that a vote in the small country parishes carries far more weight than that of the urban parishes such as St. Helier. Yes, essentially people just wanted a system that was fair. Judging from the sour looks from the politicians on the ‘Commission’ this sadly wasn’t what they wanted to hear at all.

Funny how Jo missed all of this? You could almost begin to suspect that there might be some kind of hidden agenda…

Why do some lawyers think they can be a law unto themselves?

As regular readers will have noticed I have an oral question lodged for Tuesday that seeks to shed some light on why a number of politicians keep getting complaints about some lawyers refusing to provide itemised bills. In first pointing out that this question has nothing to with my own lawyer I have to say that this problem really does need investigating urgently. Fortunately a number of colleagues are increasingly agreed on this. After all, as a constituent put it to me: they had in recent months been to their dentist; had their car serviced and had some work done on their property. 

Three very different trades and yet all had given detailed, itemised bills outlining exactly what they had done to reach these final totals. Clearly highly professional services. Then you come to a lawyer and a bill that dwarfs all three arising from the other professions by many tens of thousands of pounds. Yet incredibly this ‘lawyer’ expects a person to pay them without any proof whatsoever of the work that they claim underlies the staggering figure! Not only unprofessional and wholly unacceptable I have to say that I fully agree with my constituent – such individuals and/or firms really should be prevented from practising. Makes you wonder if the Minister at Economic Development got an itemised bill for the ‘fulfilment’ advice that cost us six whole times more than Guernsey paid for the same service?

Nothing like a bit of consistency…

Finally, to close I really had to mention how very good it is to see Senator (Sir Philip) Bailhache once again sticking so doggedly to his election commitments to making the States a more efficient and better place. No, not the one where he lectured us about how we all needed to ‘respect’ each other. Then straightaway implied ex-Senator Syvret was not fully compos mentis for no apparent reason other than the former Health Minister evidently held different views to him.

But that other one – you surely must remember it? Sir Philip went on about it all of the time. Complaining about how ‘some’ States members were so undisciplined that they kept on bringing back issues for debate that had only been decided a comparatively short time before. Issues decided by the States at that after many long hours of debate; and as the Senator reminded us angrily, cost the public significant amounts of money in the process.

Of course, obviously Sir Philip couldn’t have meant issues like his recent hijacking of the independent Electoral Commission? Or holding the Plemont debate all over again as he now wants to do? What was that old proverb about ‘do as I say – not as I do? Indeed, you really might think that a ‘political correspondent’ like the lovely Lucy Mason might pick up such hypocrisy and write a full page spread about it? I mean they’re not ‘establishment poodles’ at the JEP, you know – Lucy told us so only two weeks ago…

Keep the Faith

Trevor

SOME NEW ‘FRIENDS’ I DIDN’T KNOW I HAD & THE ESTABLISHMENT PARTY’S ‘NIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVES’ – CANCELLED OR JUST PUT ON ICE?

Let’s be quite honest about it - there have been many strange days in the States Chamber, even during the comparatively short number of years that I have been in politics. But Tuesday 29th May 2012 must have been one of the strangest ever. Indeed, so strange were some of the events unfolding that even my 81 year old Mum  -  very ill as she has been - still being an avid follower of States debates subsequently felt the need to phone me up to express her concern about some of my newly acquired political ‘friends’! But more on this a bit later.

Whatever your feelings on Senator Ozouf you have to ask just how much of this campaign to remove him actually has to do with Lime Grove House…

As I wrote some weeks ago that a couple of ‘votes of no confidence’ were being mooted around the Corridors of Misused Power was a fact that everyone seemed to be aware of apart from the Island’s mainstream – or so-called ‘accredited’ – media.

One appears to have been averted, of course, now that Mike Higgins has again shown the necessary resolve to not take William Bailhache’s attempt to prevent the lodging of his proposition to have the Andrew Lewis incident finally made public lying down. The second – the plot from deep within the festering political bowels of the Establishment Party itself - to have Senator Philip Ozouf removed from office is still very much alive however: even after Tuesday’s belated show of support from the Chief Minister.

The JEP up to its old tricks yet again…

Now, while I certainly had to have another good belly laugh at the childishness of my friends at the Jersey Establishment Post completely erasing me from their front page coverage of the questioning of the Treasury Minister on Tuesday – even though it was me who had been the only politician with the backbone to actually lodge the question on the matter – the fact is anyone reading their ‘reporting’ would still be none the wiser to what really underlies all of this.

For trust me – it isn’t nearly as simple as the inappropriateness of alleged political bullying. That these allegations of bullying are the ones that Senator Ozouf really has to address should go with out saying – for they possibly go even beyond the unacceptability of the shambolic, and hugely mishandled process of the Lime Grove House affair itself. This being said, given that the excellent interviews carried out by Voiceforchildren  have done much to make up for the mainstream media’s investigative shortcomings I don’t intend to waste time rehashing the whole of the CAG’s report again here.

As I say the interesting aspect of all this is getting to the bottom of how Senator Ozouf has been transformed from Establishment Party leader-in-waiting to the man half the party’s troops and crucially their attendant media want to see politically buried. After all, if costly, embarrassing shambles are the issue at hand then how come no party witch-hunt to bring about the removal of Home Affairs Minister Senator Ian Le Marquand? Or for that matter Deputy Anne Pryke at Health?

Millions wasted in both cases and at Home Affairs what most fair-minded people would likely view as ‘bullying’ on an obscene level with the Graham Power case. So where did Senator Ozouf go wrong?  What is so different in this latest case? Are his Establishment Party colleagues really as concerned about the bullying allegations as those outside the party fold are? Or is it that someone has decided that Senator Ozouf’s face and style no longer fit?

Infamy! Infamy! They’ve all got it in for me! (Well, HIM actually)…

Given that those who have been running around in the political shadows asking ‘anti-establishment’ politicians to ‘please not bring a vote of no confidence motion’ themselves - because they want to ensure one succeeds are those whose voting record would generally make Margaret Thatcher look like Arthur Scargil, clear evidence surely that the real issue here is the latter one.

Indeed, add in the JEP’s new hostility to the Senator on a level almost exclusively reserved down the years for trying to politically destroy the likes of ‘lefties’ such as the late Norman Le Brocq; Stuart Syvret; Ted Vibert; Geoff Southern; Shona, Monty Tadier and me and you don’t need to be Jeremy Paxman to work it all out. What is at stake here is the desperation of an Establishment Party that is terminally in decline - even with its apparent current dominance.

A party  desperately trying to ensure the smiling false mask of  a new, caring, ‘moderation’ doesn’t slip off. Slip off to reveal the same old snarl of elitist, ‘we’re alright Jack’; ‘go for growth at all costs and never mind the long-term  consequences’ arrogance that turned Jersey into a precarious monoculture in the first place.

For put in a nutshell what really worries so many of the Establishment – and I acknowledge that even some of the major players are just too plain stupid to see it – is that Philip Ozouf is rightly or wrongly seen by many as the last reminder of the Horsfall; Walker; Le Sueur era – and all of the political policy that went with it. As such there are cracks starting to widen in the right that are potentially more threatening to the Establishment than the left has managed to be in sixty-odd years.

The consequence of all of this for Senator Philip Ozouf is that if I were him I would be keeping my political enemies very close but my ‘friends’ even closer. For unlike those of the left who regularly fall out over such ‘quaint’ things as values and principles all that matters to Jersey’s right is maintaining their grasp on power. It has always been thus. If the Senator’s continuance  as a high profile Minister is now seen as a risk to hanging on to all this he could well find himself marked as the party’s new Ernst Röhm -  metaphorically speaking of course! 

Meanwhile, on my office notice board I have pinned two sealed envelopes...

The first one (I can share this with you but please don’t tell anyone else!) contains a 2013 Valentines Day card for Lucy Mason. Come on – she has been so fair and nice to me - I just had to! The second one contains the name of the politician carrying the no confidence  proposition ‘silver bullet’ with the Senator’s name on it. You see there are three main plotters and the envelope is part of a wager with a political colleague as to which one we believe will ultimately be carrying the ‘revolver’. Yes, I could name the person now – but that would be far less fun. And besides - I’m very confident of winning that bottle of red…

New ‘friends’ and another small victory for political transparency…

Changing the subject, what triggered all of my dear old Mum’s concern about the appropriateness of some of my new found political ‘friends mentioned earlier was the long-delayed ‘Open ballot’ debate. Though as you may well have forgotten about this so long has the proposition been lodged perhaps I had better quickly explain.
Following up my having won an ‘open’ vote for the public last year to allow them to know who voted for whom in the election for Chief Minister; this time I was seeking to widen this move toward even greater political transparency. This involved seeking to spread this openness further to include all Ministers; all Scrutiny Chairmen; both PAC and PPC Chairmen and also that of the Jersey Overseas Aid Commission. After all – YOU vote them in and pay their wages why shouldn’t you know?

I’m pleased to say I won the vote comfortably by 27 to 18 with one abstention.  A good majority – especially given that four people who I knew would have been supporting me were absent in the end through either ill health; being on States business or away attending personal matters. Of course, much as some people talk hopefully about a new mood of working together in the Chamber I know the only reason I won this in reality was because what I was proposing was such plain common sense. 

Perhaps more importantly still something that should have been impossible to vote against simply because it is the type of transparency and genuine democracy that most people want and that has been promised so many times in so-called Strategic Plans.  But even so I’m under no illusions that the likes of Senators Gorst, Farnham, Routier, Maclean and co; nor Deputies Noel, Luce, Bryans, Pinel; and a few others besides will be voting for all of my future propositions as well – or even inviting me around to their place for a drink. But their support on this is very much appreciated all the same.

As someone who has always voted solely on a proposition’s merits – as I believe my record clearly shows – I just wish this would be an approach the ‘right’ would also always adopt. It is after all simply the way politics should be. Indeed, whatever the faults of the ‘left’ or so-called ‘Progressives’ it is also one thing that has to be acknowledged they collectively manage to do far better than the right.

Bailhache & Baker – Soldiers for Secrecy…
Yet there were still a couple who just could not help themselves from resorting to instinct, of course, speaking and voting as per usual against anything that might be genuinely democratic; or happened to be brought by a non-millionaire ‘lefty’ from outside of the elitist fold of the Great and the Good.

Senator Bailhache did his usual apologist speech for maintaining secrecy and keeping the ordinary public in the dark. It was, however, even less convincing than usual and, perhaps being so short on both logic and substance this time pleasingly fell on deaf ears to a much larger degree than could have been expected.  Everyone is entitled to their own views of course. But as a member of the public texted me to say; the Senator’s actions really do just reiterate how unsuitable he is in terms of understanding and/or commitment to modern democracy to be heading up an ‘electoral commission’ of such importance.

Yet perhaps most revealing of all, however, was the maiden speech – or maiden ‘rant’ to be quite honest – coming seven whole months after his election as it did - delivered by Deputy James Baker. For if the prodigy of Establishment ‘Grandees’ such as Messer’s Horsfall, Walker and Routier thought he was going to swing things with the blustering, Oswald Mosley-esque tone of his speech then he miscalculated spectacularly. In fact what it did do was generate a plethora of chuckles and wry grins that went right across the political spectrum.

What was the main reason for this?  No, not the ironic gobbledegook about people ‘fighting for democracy’ but the bit about the Deputy apparently ‘not coming into the States to have his time wasted’ by such propositions. Truly priceless given that Deputy Baker has not thus far ‘wasted’ or even positively utilised very much of his time in the Chamber at all since his election. In fact it was just so plan foot-in-mouth funny you just had to smile and give him a ‘Brownie point’ anyway for sheer effrontery.

Don’t let the ‘electoral commission’ become an even bigger sham than it is already…

The only really disconcerting thing about all of this, of course, was that here was another politician sitting on the ‘electoral commission’ even though on evidence so far he clearly wouldn’t recognise the meaning of true democracy if it were to bite him on the leg. All I would thus say to people as a consequence is make sure you follow the lead of people like Sam Mezec and Voiceforchildren and get your views on genuine democratic reform sent off to the ‘commission’ as soon as you can.

Just as important – make sure you copy any submission made into another politician that you know you can trust. This will help ensure submissions that go against the already decided ‘findings’ that the Constables must stay forever; the huge weighting of votes in favour of smaller country parishes is perfectly fine; and that Deputies – urban Deputies of course – must be reduced don’t end up mysteriously being ‘lost’ in the post.

Keep the faith

Trevor

THE BALD TRUTH BLOG TO CLOSE… NEW ‘WIND OF CHANGE’ IN THE STATES.... JERSEY IS ‘NOT A TAX HAVEN’… SIX MONTHS ON AND ROD BRYANS SPEAKS….

Four eye-catching  headlines – even if only one of them does have any truth in it. Come to think of it, a bit like the ratio of true and accurate answers you’re likely to get from some Ministers at a States ‘Question Time’?  The second, third and fourth headline, of course, do relate to today’s States Sitting. The first one I admit: yes,  I did just put it up to give everyone’s least favourite internet ‘stalker’ a tiny  bit of excitement in his sad and bitter life of trolling and posting cowardly abuse.  

But first to a real man the like of which we could certainly do with a few more of today….

Sad passing of René Liron – Funeral held for a legendary fighter for social justice…

Knowing René’s son, Bruce well I was very, very sad to learn of Mr. Liron’s passing on April 19th. As a union leader of real stature René Liron really personified the type of focal point the unions in Jersey really need today.

By this I mean not only a very genuine, sensible and ‘up front’ man who was passionate about social justice and looking out for the least well off. But just as importantly the quality of man that would not be ‘rolled over’ by the Establishment Party bully boys who dominate the Executive today knowing the cost of everything but the value of nothing.

Believe me: the unions and public sector generally are going to have to find some of René’s backbone very soon or they will be the ones being made to pay for the stupidity and incompetence of the Establishment party’s policies for a very long time…

A final point on this. Having received a few e-mails on the issue I can say that: yes, I too fully agree that it was sickening to see the Jersey Establishment Post now gushing about what great men René and the late Senator Norman Le Brocq were - when they had so little good or true to say about them when they were in their prime and politically active. But then again – what’s new?

When will this new Assembly come to life?

I think it is fair to say that regardless of the clichéd nonsense about ‘inclusive’ and new, ‘positive’ government etc spouted by the likes of Rod Bryans – making his first contribution to a States debate – ANY debate – a full six months after his election the Strategic Plan today really summed up what a mess this new States is in.

Indeed, when you actually get Officers (who don’t officially have or give opinions) confidentially confiding in you as to what a worrying, ‘dumbed ‘down, shadow of a democracy our States has now become since the 2011 election you really have to conclude that something is very wrong in Jersey politics. And you can’t even blame it all on the pathetic and totally unwarranted deferring to ‘Sir Philip’ sycophancy as some people would try to say!

Hardly any questions – again. Hardly any attempts from the new Members (with very honourable exceptions such as the excellent Deputies John Young and Richard Rondel) to hold the Great and the Good of the Executive to account; or even to contribute to debate - again. Et cetera  But more on this important issue in a full length subsequent post..

Strategic Plan passed in record time…

To a degree I felt some sympathy for Chief Minister Ian Gorst with this Strategic Plan. At least he had tried to – and succeeded to be fair – in cutting down much of the superfluous spin, padding and downright lies traditionally put in Strategic Plans in the past. But the problems with what was presented were very well articulated by Deputy Geoff Southern.

Still nothing about the real, core issues that underlie all of the problems that we need to overcome if we are to move forward to a genuinely ‘inclusive’, ‘fair’ and socially cohesive society. But though Senator Philip Bailhache got very tetchy with Deputy Montford Tadier during one of his brief sojourns into the Chamber the fact is Montford too was pretty much spot-on: this Executive not only know we aren’t going to get a ‘fair’ and genuinely ‘equal’ society under their redundant ‘free-market’ and ‘elitist’, ‘them & us’ ideology – they very likely wouldn’t want it anyway!

As for the lack of amendments – Geoff Southern really summed this up very well too after I reminded him just how many there had been last time, when he said that actually one almost could not amend the plan because it was so fundamentally wrong in its starting point. Sadly exactly the way I felt this time myself.

Tazers – No we don’t need every officer to have them…

It is funny but chancing to be talking to a constituent last week when the news came in about part of St. Helier being sealed off and flooded with armed police because somebody was apparently running amok with a screwdriver we both looked at each other and said: ‘this is being used to justify pushing through Tazers!’ That these devices should probably be available I am quite happy to accept may well be true.

But the argument that all of our police need to carry them is a complete, and in my view, ultimately dangerous joke. If we are going to have them then let’s just have them available to the armed response teams. Intending no disrespect whatsoever I would also absolutely not, 100% ever agree to these being made available to our Honorary Police. To this degree I was consequently very pleased to find the two Constables I spoke to about this issue wholly agreeing with me.

As someone who also used to do crowd control at premier league football matches back when I was at University (initially in the hope of being able to catch a few games I can now admit!) the key to dealing with this type of thing really is, at the bottom line, proper training. Most of my friends in the police agree with this view in private it is interesting to note.

And as one of them said: ‘Suppose we get these Tazers. What happens when the criminals up the ante? Do we just escalate what weapons we want to carry as police?’ I will consequently be very interested to see what the final outcome on this issue is.

Hey…I wonder if they will start ‘Tazering’ people who attack pensioners in their own home with heavy catapults and steel ball-bearings; go for a stroll with swords and throwing knives – maybe stockpile a few petrol bombs? Nah – that would be just plain silly, wouldn’t it…

The Sharp Report. No wonder the Executive don’t want ‘backbenchers’ to have it…

I won’t say too much on this issue today because having read the report at length (having had to acquire it from a Child Protection website in the UK let us not forget having been blocked by our ESC Minister in getting it officially) there are a great many things included that are still very relevant and need consideration and action today.

All I will say for now is how utterly sickened I was to read of a former Vice Principle of Victoria College being stated as arguing that a colleague of his who had been found to ply boys with alcohol and then abuse them should apparently be allowed to both ‘resign with dignity’ and ‘work out his notice period’. Even worse, arguing that he felt no pupils ‘would be at risk’ if the offender was allowed to continue teaching in the classroom! Can the judgement of such an individual have ANY credibility whatsoever?

I also really must add that I found the fact that the current Minister would not condemn such a stance and confirm that it would not be acceptable today both disappointing and rather worrying. Has so little really been learned? A school’s ‘good name’ is worth less than nothing set against the safety of those in its care. Really, if the community and more importantly the victims of abuse are to have any confidence in the Haut De La Garenne Committee of Enquiry then this just isn’t the way to set about it.

Finally, a big ‘Thank you’…

I really couldn’t finish this post without saying a big thank you to all of those people who have sent in messages of best wishes and support for Shona and her 87 year old Grandmother who is very ill in Scotland. Though things are not looking very good they are still very much appreciated and I will ensure that they are passed on. 

Having had to travel at short notice on Monday Shona’s question about the compensation for abuse victims on Tuesday obviously fell by the wayside. She has asked me to assure all of those people who had been in touch about the issue that she will ensure the question gets answered at the next sitting.

Regards

Keep the Faith

Trevor

PS

Coming soon – a PPC ‘special’…

ONE STRUGGLE THAT DEMOCRATS EVERYWHERE SHOULD BE ‘PRAYING’ IS WON…

In a world where the greed, self-interest and all-too-often just sheer, plain stupidity of ‘free-market’ capitalism has finally brought us to the brink of the global tipping point into the Abyss this week has reminded us of one battle that really IS crucial in helping shape a better world for the future.

The local matter of whether Establishment newspapers and multimillionaires should be able to collude to spread lies about those who dare challenge them? No. Don’t be stupid – far more important than that. I’m talking, of course, about that legendary champion of democracy, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and his on-going battle against cancer.

This week saw him flying to Brazil for further treatment which will hopefully see him fit enough to contest the forthcoming election on October 7th 2012. For the sake of Venezuela’s poor and ‘ordinary’ people that he should be able to do so is absolutely essential. Being able to also continue the example he has offered to so many others internationally in empowering them to also throw off the manacles of the corrupt ‘Washington Consensus’ is no less so.

Having first been elected back in 1999 that Chavez is a brave man is beyond question – a fact acknowledged even by the likes of the infamous former George W. Bush regime in America that was quite happy, let us not forget, to covertly support and initially excuse the attempt to have him abducted and murdered back in April 2002. Not that such behaviour is anything new for the US ‘champions of democracy’ of course. In fact it is standard practice.

Chavez for those who do not know any different than the propaganda spread by right-wing newspapers has won countless political battles and elections, and, just as importantly, has done so again-and-again wholly legitimately under the watchful gaze of international election monitors. He has proven not only that a better way is worth fighting for – but that it can begin to be achieved if only you can keep going and have long enough to deliver.

It is also I suggest a truth equally as relevant to us here in affluent Jersey as it is on the other side of the world in the slums and barrios. Put it this way. The bottom line is that whatever his undoubted faults the principle of what Hugo Chavez and his supporters are striving to do in reclaiming their oil rich country from the corrupt and parasitic ‘elite’ minority that have bled it dry and exploited it for their own ends for generations is a torch of hope for all committed to equality and justice in the 21st Century.

We must only hope Hugo Chavez is given enough time to complete the transformation by winning what is likely to be his greatest battle in trying to reclaim his health. Should he do so another election victory ought to prove a doddle. I can only wish him all the very best.

Jersey does not exist in a vacuum – no matter how much our ruling ‘elite’ would wish it so…

Anyone who doubts the relevance of the Venezuelan situation locally really should try and get hold of a copy of the award-winning documentary ‘The Revolution Will Not be Televised’ that I blogged about only a couple of posts ago; the John Pilger film ‘War on democracy’ likewise.

Forget the ‘oil’ aspect of the economy there – it is the moral that all who think they have the right to ‘more’ and/or to hold power just because they are already rich needing to be confronted that is important. Such a world view belongs to the dark ages - period.

After all, who could forget the sick and twisted hypocrisy of the super wealthy Venezuelan ‘elite’ rattling their jewellery and chanting ‘Democracy! Democracy!’ whilst tearing up the Venezuelan constitution and bundling off the elected president to be murdered; while the massed ranks of the ‘peasants’ who had wanted nothing more than to be treated equally were locked out in the streets?

Indeed, it is amazing how terrified of equality and of being held to account for their actions such people are whatever their country of origin; how desperately they will seek to hang on to or regain power.

Chavez’s example is, indeed, an inspiration. But what we in Jersey really do have so very much to learn from our far worse off contemporaries both in Latin America and even in so much of Europe is simply about standing up together and saying that ‘enough really is enough!’ and showing that we really mean it. Should we begin to do so in numbers then truth and justice really WILL win out in the end.

Yes, the recent elections as I have commented before were a significant disappointment; the hijacking of the independent Electoral Commission and continued attempts to fatally sabotage the Committee of Enquiry into the ‘Historic’ Abuse scandal even more so.

But in the words of that other great democrat Mahatma Ghandi: ‘First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win’ By my reckoning – tough as things seem right now - we’re actually already three quarters of the way there!

So Keep the Faith & Keep putting the truth out there for the entire outside world to see. It is what vested interest-driven, ruling ‘elites; everywhere hate and fear more than anything because it takes away their ability to control. That and anti-establishment politicians who just keep coming back...

Trevor

THE ‘HISTORIC’ ABUSE SCANDAL & MINISTERIAL GOVERNMENT

Time for action to replace words of promise…
Time for justice to replace cover-up and obstruction…
Time to at last put people before pounds…

A comparatively short post today – but on a very important issue. Indeed, an issue that obviously has huge relevance to my last entry regarding how it is the ‘victor’ not the ‘vanquished’ who tend to get away with writing their version of history. I talk, of course, about the latest, painfully long in coming step with regard to concluding the so-called ‘Historic’ Abuse Saga.

Maybe I should be even clearer here and suggest substituting the terms ‘victor’ with ‘perpetrators’ or ‘the negligent’ and ‘vanquished’ with the term ‘victims’? For whichever way one spins it – and ye Gods have our first two Council of Ministers spun the falsehoods to try and undermine these people getting justice – the perpetrators and the negligent have gotten away with writing their version of ‘history’ for long decades.

Now that must finally be brought to an end.

Yesterday saw yet another ‘presentation’ of what the now third incarnation of the Council of Ministers are planning to do with regard to reach settlement with the many victims of abuse that has taken place in Jersey’s care homes, such as Haut De La Garenne, over those decades.

Abuse, let us not forget, regularly reported by victims both to the police and authorities of the time who then did nothing to rectify this horrific situation.

Actually, I am incorrect. Some evidently did worse than nothing because in failing to believe or act on the cries for help they effectively colluded with what had taken place; acts that will only have compounded the pain and anguish felt by people who had been innocent children. Innocent children who had been placed in the ‘protection’ of the governments of the day!

Some, of course, ended up taking their own lives. Some, such as one lovely gentleman I met with only last week, still lead lives totally dominated and torn apart by what was done to them whilst in the care of Jersey’s ‘government’. ‘Government’s we should also not forget lorded over by what much of our lackey media, such as the Jersey Evening Post, frequently would have us believe were the ‘giants’ of Jersey’s political history!

Sick... Disgusting... Horrific! Words in fact can actually not adequately describe such acts of betrayal as carried out by those who were approached by children yet did nothing to bring this to a conclusion many, many years ago. And yet incredibly, as I revealed in the States only a few short weeks ago, it appears that even within this new Council of Ministers we still have those who would have liked to see the hard won Committee of Enquiry cancelled.

It is often said that the people get the government they deserve. There is much truth in such a saying of course. Apathy is no excuse not to vote for people who seek to make such terrible things right. Yet on the other hand how can any vulnerable child, likely taken from an already troubled home, put into States ‘care’ to be systematically abused be said to deserve ‘governments’ like those of the past that allowed this to happen?

They cannot.

To touch again on what I was saying in my previous post this Orwellian ‘1984’ style ‘Jersey Way’ of re-writing history rather than facing up to what was done must meet its end in 2012. The victims’ pain has gone on long enough. For many it is, of course, already too late. Yet that does not mean their memory should not be honoured with final justice.

Chief Minister, Senator Ian Gorst was narrowly elected only by the votes afforded him on trust by this government’s minority so-called ‘Progressive’ politicians like me.

He made promises to get those votes that he has already broken: a genuinely inclusive Council of Ministers; a commitment to a fully independent Electoral Commission. Indeed, the new Chief Minister initially also went back on his promise to me to reveal the details of the outrageous ‘golden handshakes to civil servants who should have been sacked...

Chief Minister Gorst has now rectified this last one, of course, although to read the garbage written in the Jersey Evening Post you would never know that it was politicians like me and a few other backbenchers who forced this Establishment Party climb down not this newspaper who had always been supporters of such senior civil servants and the Establishment politicians who allowed it all to happen.

My point is our new Chief Minister Senator Gorst now has the chance to do something even more important than the issues I raise above. He can use his power to make sure that justice does arrive for the victims of abuse no matter how many years it has taken. 

What do I mean by justice?

Not just significant financial compensation. For money alone – as the gentleman I spoke of earlier made clear to me yet again – can NEVER fully compensate for what has been done to so many. No, whilst significant financial compensation is essential - both in recognition of how these children were failed and to assist in hopefully helping victims to re-build lives – what is also needed for justice is for a fully independent Committee of Enquiry to leave no stone unturned in seeking to bring all of those who failed in their duties of care to final justice.

Every one of them. No matter how ‘important’ or ‘well respected’ a figure some might have once allegedly been.

The document issued on behalf of the Chief Minister further claims that the ‘redress’ scheme now being offered is ‘voluntary’ due to the apparent reason that the Establishment Party believes that ‘claimants’ for justice against this horrific abuse are now ‘too late to bring legal proceedings’

‘Too late’?

Maybe true in legal speak. But let us just remember what some call ‘law’ when it suits them is nothing more than a man-made framework. Should there be ANY time frame on securing justice then really - to use the old and very well known saying – ‘the law is an ass’. 

There can be NO time limit on justice for people who have to live in hell every day and every night of their lives because governments and departments overseen by alleged ‘political giants’ of the past did not do their job; did not have the courage and morality to stand up and show that they cared by bringing the perpetrators and the negligent – whether underlings or colleagues - to book.

Here for once Jersey really can lead the way and set an example.
I am one of those who since my election just over three short years ago have stood up for what is right; and has taken the vicious slings and arrows of the Establishment and their media for doing so again and again. I am, of course, proud having stood up for these people though such action does not require or merit any plaudits – it is nothing more than an elected politicians’ duty.

So ‘Keep the Faith’ – No matter how hard. The days of the cover-up and Establishment Party intimidation of those who would dare challenge are slowly drawing to a close...

And… just to wind up the poster who claims I ‘must be a Communist’ because I find value in the teachings of world-renowned educationalist, the late Paulo Freire I will leave you with a quote from none other Che Guevara.

Its words say all that needs to be said in how working together to bring this stain on Jersey’s history to and end is far, far more important than nonsense of left or right political affiliation.

‘If you can tremble with indignation every time an injustice is committed in the world, we are comrades…’
Trevor

THE REVOLUTION WILL NOT BE TELEVISED - BUT THE STATE MEDIA WILL TELL US ‘EVERYTHING IS FINE’…

The prequel to a series of posts on the dangers of media manipulation by government and a public failure to question

It is interesting to recall that when Great Britain’s legendary World War Two Prime Minister, Winston Churchill was asked how he thought ‘history would treat him’ he replied that he felt it would be ‘kindly -  because I intend to write it myself!’.

I say interesting because when one considers politics even now in the second decade of the 21st Century – both internationally and even in a small, ‘democratic’ backwater like Jersey – never was a truer word spoken. History, of course, is indeed written by the victor not the vanquished – or equally as likely today – by the politically dominant and this is true even when the said recorded ‘history’ is little more than a complete pack of lies. The only remedy is to question and work to raise public awareness.

You really don’t need to read Orwell’s ‘1984’ to understand this: there are countless real examples the world over. Indeed, my decision to write these forthcoming posts actually came about as a direct result of the grateful and highly positive response from a number of people to whom I had leant *DVDs on the true political situation (as opposed to US ‘Washington Consensus’ media propaganda) in countries such as Venezuela and Latin America generally. *I list a few of these well worth anyone seeking out at the end of this piece.

But if that is too ‘in depth’, far a field or philosophical for you at first glance then just think about Jersey for a brief moment and examples also  start to come to mind thick and fast…

The shameful rubbishing of the Historic Abuse Investigation and the trashing of the reputation of those trying to bring justice for people who have been betrayed. Half-million pound ‘Golden Handshakes’ to civil servants who should have been sacked whilst even nurses are being told they must take a pay freeze. The shambles of the Waterfront development.

The con of the ‘good value for money’ energy from waste plant. The hijacking of the independent Electoral Commission. Alleged ‘High Net Value’ multi-millionaires actually contributing next to nothing to the economy and community whilst paying less tax than many ordinary workers who are increasingly struggling.

Or even this very week, the Jersey Evening Post itself which has been the rabid cheerleader of the failed politics of the powerful ‘elite’ at the expense of ordinary people for decades - now incredibly trying to reinvent itself as some kind of champion of political moderation! Almost too laughable for words of course.

And I haven’t even yet mentioned the countless examples of Island media working hand-in-glove with the Establishment Party to try and discredit wherever possible any individual who would dare raise his or her head above the political parapet to challenge them as to the anti-democratic and unsustainable folly of their ways…

All people need to do is to begin asking questions

When I think back to my secondary  school days (though I obviously did not then have the words to fully articulate it then) it was my growing awareness/suspicion of this fact that on a number of occasions would get me into trouble with teachers who should have known better. My transgression?

Daring to challenge teachers as to the ‘lessons’ and ‘facts’ taught, such as to use one classic example, whether the Allies really ‘won’ the Second World War given the subsequent necessary huge injection of resources to rebuild the country and economy of the German aggressors; all whilst the British people who had given so much in standing up against tyranny simultaneously faced hardships and rationing for many long years.

All too often those few like me who would dare to question would be shouted down; sometimes even ridiculed. Giving the stock or necessary ‘right’ answers to pass tests etc back then was a trait – for those who may not know - of what is sometimes referred to as the ‘banking system’ of education. This thesis was formulised by Brazilian educationalist Paulo Freire who I was later to study whilst at University.

Indeed, making sense of conclusions I had struggled toward myself years earlier Freire was to become something of a hero of mine. For at its worst you could say this ‘banking system’ of education is promoting children and young people to ‘learn’ parrot fashion - almost like laboratory rats that giving a certain answer will get you the desired positive response or pass mark. No better is the interrelated consequence that with children and young people ‘learning’ that this is what gets success it stifles both intuitive questioning and lateral thinking. Hugely negative things both! It also says a lot about why so few adults today are politically aware.

But I am probably digressing too much at this early stage. For this first in – hopefully - a series of posts over the coming weeks it is specifically this problem of the victor or dominant political majority spinning their ‘truth’ through abuse of the media and even education that I want to focus on peoples’ awareness needing to be raised to.

For left unchallenged this will not only be more and more abused with the massive expense governments the world over now commit to employing ‘spin doctors’ wholly lacking in scruples or any sense of morality; it is a problem that can only further undermine democracy.

Believe me Jersey is no exception: indeed, our small size and lack of diverse, competing media as a ‘check and balance’ means the potential for this is even greater. After all, with the sociological reality that so many people form their wider opinions because of what they are ‘fed’ by the media the potential for opinion manipulation is truly frightening. Let us be honest it is largely what has kept the Establishment Party in power for years.

Today our word must be our ‘weapon’…

But there is some ‘good news’. Fortunately, the growing sophistication and saturation of such spin by any ruling ‘elite’ has also brought with it its own Achilles Heel or, to perhaps use a better description potential ‘antidote’. This is the growth of so-called ‘Citizens Media’.

Not the pathetic kind of puerile hate mongers even visible in Jersey via bullying, inadequate internet trolls and right-wing/pro-concealment of child abuse websites not even worthy of naming – but genuine ‘Citizens Media’ the close relative of the truly ‘independent’ documentary makers and ‘investigative’ journalists.

Indeed, with the revolution of the gun hopefully being increasingly supplanted by the revolutionaries of the ‘word’ or of ‘education’ it is not an exaggeration to say that across the world, wherever oppression and inequality is seen as a legitimate tool of government, such individuals and groups who ensure that the real truth does leak out – however slowly - should be seen as modern day Freedom Fighters.

For the easily apparent truth in this statement one only needs to consider the groundbreaking use of the international internet over the past twenty years by the likes of the EZLN (or Zapatistas); struggling under the iconic Subcomandante Marcos against successive corrupt, US-dictated to governments for the rights of the indigenous peoples of the Chiapas region of Mexico to stop their mineral-rich lands being stolen from them. More about this (and, yes, another political hero of mine!) in a later post. But if you are already curious just Google the above names or NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) to see what this is all about..

Relevant to Jersey - you bet!

Like many things simply because Jersey is such a small geographic jurisdiction the impact of media manipulation and blatant collusion can be viewed far more easily – if only the populace are made savvy enough to know where to look. As I outline above it is with regard to these issues that I intend to write in the coming weeks. A growing number of people are already beginning to remark how they are increasingly sick of government ‘spin’. These posts will simply be about drilling down a little further.

Let us also consider this. The last election was, in my view, a significant disappointment for the so-called ‘progressives’ or ‘centre-left-leaning’ in Jersey politics. Although to be fair the election of quality newcomers such as John Young, Richard Rondel, Steve Pellett and Michel Le Troquer for example; not to mention the miserable failure of the desperate Establishment Party campaigns to oust people like myself, Shona and a few others are positives that also should not be overlooked.

But much of the missed opportunities it should be accepted were also largely down to our own failures to work to our common ground rather than be divided by our regularly unimportant differences. It is something that must be learnt and taken on board or beneficial change for ordinary working people will never be brought about.

As such for those who really understand deep down that there is a far better way than the greed-driven, virulent ‘free-market’ strain of capitalism pursued over the past decades here in the Island by an ‘elite’ interested only in maintaining their position becoming ‘wiser’ to this aspect of manipulating power through the media is something really well worth doing. In fact it is absolutely essential – for without such an increased public awareness the iceberg of economic, social and democratic disaster will loom ever closer to the Jersey ‘Titanic’.

This is what the posts will be about.

Keep the Faith

Trevor

*As indicated above, for those who are already interested in looking beyond the propaganda of government and media three acclaimed international documentaries well worth watching for starters are:

1 - ‘The War on Democracy’ by John Pilger

2 - ‘The Revolution Will Not Be Televised’ by Kim Bartley & Donnacha O’Brian (there is also a version of this DVD available with an excellent supporting book by Rod Stoneman, ‘Chavez: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised - A Case Study of Politics and the Media’

3 - ‘South of the Border’ by Oliver Stone

And should you be (foolishly) wondering… No. They never reached Jersey’s cinemas though two have made it on to TV to my knowledge.


 

TV’S ‘LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN’ TO SHOOT NEW BLACK COMEDY IN JERSEY?

Maybe it is just because we’re both apparently radical, irreverent lefties (or political democrats as they are called in proper democracies) but finding it hard to believe what even our cynical political ears were hearing during last week’s Electoral Commission debate, both Deputy Montford Tadier and I both found ourselves thinking Jersey politics had finally taken black humour a step too far.

Yes, the debate had certainly been meant to be about securing the already agreed and much-needed fully independent Electoral Commission. But unfortunately ‘real Chief Minister’ Senator Philip Bailhache and his political glove puppet ‘pretend Chief Minister’ Senator Ian Gorst actually wanted to ensure that Jersey stays in the political Dark Ages. And so the debate quickly descended into farce.

This clearly left Montford and I wondering if – depressing as it was - there was not possibly also an opportunity here to boost Jersey’s ailing tourism industry. That’s right – Jersey to be re-named ‘Royston Jersey’ after the village in the famous cult TV show. Just close your eyes; picture it…the shop from Royston Vasey to be replaced with the States Chamber… Edward and Tubbs to be replaced by Philip and Ian. Episode One. Action…

“Independence? But this is a LOCAL Electoral Commission for LOCAL right-wingers – we’ll have no democracy HERE!”

Funny? Yes, on the surface. But the truth is that what is happening in Jersey now behind the façade of ‘democracy’ is anything but. Few in politics disagree that the entry of Philip Bailhache into the local political arena was anything other than the last, desperate throw of the dice for the Old Guard that has run Jersey as a private club for the wealthy and powerful for decades.

Indeed, the truth is the old Establishment Party is slowly dying on its feet. Even with the desperate spin from the State Media the reality is obvious. Most of the ‘big guns’ of the past are either no longer in politics or long-discredited. The anticipated ‘heirs’ to the throne – Senators Ozouf and Le Marquand – have proven themselves unpopular and incapable respectively. While some of the new generation only managed to get elected by means as desperate as smear campaigns against Progressives; or via personal begging letters to constituents to support them from the likes of Senator Paul Routier.

Consequently, stopping a fully independent Electoral Commission really was essential for them if they were to hold back the clock inevitably ticking toward democracy for another decade or two. And with the surprise capitulation of Deputy Andrew Green to join with Establishment wannabees Baker and Bryans in selling out their electorate and sending a tight vote the way of the far-right just for a moment it really looked like they were going to get away with it.

Almost…

Luckily, however, our Establishment Party really are even more lacking in judgement and commonsense than most of us could ever imagine. Actually, I am probably being far too kind. They really must be plain daft! Why? Just consider the two politicians put forward to join Senator Philip Bailhache on this allegedly ‘independent thinking and fully open to the evidence’ body that we are meant to entrust with reforming our government for the 21st Century:

Constable Juliette Gallichan of St. Mary.

Deputy James Baker of St. Helier.

Noticed the little credibility problem here already? No? Then let me explain it for you…

Firstly, Senator Philip Bailhache has already made it quite clear that in his view the Constables MUST stay in the States no matter what. Foolish enough in itself given that the whole point of the Commission as agreed just last year was to appoint members not already holding publicly stated and entrenched ideas. 

Then consider the reality of the situation – as I made sure I drew out an admission of from the Senator himself during the debate. The reality is that we can either have a fair system of representation with all voters, town or country, being pretty much equal with regard to the ‘weight’ or value of their vote. Something we have never had before.

Or we can keep the Constables in the States as they are now. But we can’t have both. FACT. This was confirmed by the States visiting electoral expert only last week. The ‘democratic deficit’ between St. Helier with more than a third of the Island’s population and the tiny parish of St. Mary for example is just too large. We really need just one type of States Member – call them whatever you will. FACT.

So what does Senator Bailhache and his front man ‘Chief Minister’ Gorst do? They only nominate the Constable of that very same tiny Parish, Constable Juliette Gallichan! That’s right – the Constable with the least tenable seat in the whole States Assembly if we are to give any genuine consideration to fair and equal representation. Priceless! Absolutely priceless!

Yet after this it actually gets even better – or worse – depending on one’s outlook.

For next up we then have Deputy James Baker of St. Helier. Surely questionable in itself given that this Deputy not only never participates in any debate, EVER – three whole months into his term of office - but also appears to be striving to take over the mantle of former Senator Ben Shenton as the States new regularly ‘invisible Member’. Just where does the Deputy disappear to?

But of even more of a concern than the possibility of a Commission member who never participates and – on evidence so far - may not even turn up for hearings has to be the following. During the election Deputy Baker made a huge play out of the fact that he was the son of a former…Constable.

Not a problem in itself under any other circumstance of course. But in this situation you can surely see where this is leading? The Electoral Commission is meant to be ‘open-minded’ as I said. Indeed, this is absolutely essential if work that is going to cost the Island’s taxpayers in the region of £100,000 is to have any credibility at all. Yet what has our Establishment Party and its spineless hangers on given us? I’ll hammer it home one more time…

Senator Bailhache: Pro-Constable. Desperate to keep the reality of their bloc vote in favour of whatever the Council of Ministers proposes. Wants ‘reform’ to be sure - but only along the lines of the Barclay Brothers in Sark. His ideal reduction in numbers would see St. Helier being even further under-represented in numbers than it is now – and the Parish is already a full four Deputies under. FACT!

Constable Gallichan: Pro-Constable. As the sitting Constable of little St. Mary thus having the least tenable seat in the Assembly Constable Gallichan has the most to lose. And consequently the most to gain by managing to find the ‘evidence’ that the Constables’ position really needs to be protected regardless of the ‘democratic deficit’ that will make fair representation impossible

Deputy Baker: Pro-Constable. Not only the son of a former Constable but supported by and supportive of ‘Chairman’ Philip Bailhache during the election – just remember the back-slapping ‘love-in’ with Establishment Party ‘Grandees’ outside the Town Hall. Indeed, even supported Bailhache for Chief Minister and voted against the wishes of the St. Helier parish Assembly to say ‘no’ to any politicians sitting on the Commission!

What this all means? With an Electoral Commission now going to number only six following the narrow defeat of the amendments of Deputies Le Herissier and Young the above demonstrates quite clearly that already the ‘Keep the Constables in’ vote cannot be outgunned. No matter what the argument. No matter what the evidence.

This is no longer an ‘Electoral Commission’ it is a farce and an insult to the people of Jersey. It should be abandoned. Now.