Taking aFENCE

The Story behind this interview with Deputy Le Herissier which is part of This one comes from a moment of inspiration, Let me explain.

I went to the “reform” meeting out at St Ouen which was chaired by Constables Juliet Gallichan, Ken Vibert and John Refault. I (mistakenly) believed, as it was a “public” meeting, there would be no objection to me filming it, how wrong I was.

Before the meeting started I began setting up my camera equipment. No sooner had I started and Constable Ken Vibert strutted over to me and exclaimed “I hope you don’t intend on filming this meeting”? To which I replied “yes I do as it goes, is there a problem with that”? After scratching around for any excuse he could find, including the public might not want to be filmed and I assured him if the public didn’t want to be filmed then I wouldn’t film them. Then he came out with an absolute peach! He said “yeah, well you just want to put it on your Blog with your opinion on it” and I replied “yes! That’s exactly what I want to do, that’s what a Blog is”!

Enter stage left Constable John Refault who said “Ken if you permit him to film, I’m going to walk out” To which I replied, “I’m not going to film the public and only point the camera at the stage and film the three constables” He then tried to tell me that he has “a right to privacy” so could refuse me permission to film him. Him being an elected member of the “public” at a “public” meeting to discuss “public” matters declared his right to privacy! This is the calibre of Constables we have “representing” us. One telling me I can’t film because I will have my own opinion and another one telling me he has “a right to privacy” at a “public” meeting that he’s co chairing!

I know people across the Channel and Atlantic are going to think I’m making this up but believe me I wouldn’t, more to the point I COULDN’T!

Back to the interview with Deputy Le Herissier. The good Deputy was at the said “reform meeting” as, I suppose, a member of the public. He got up and spoke and, not so much what he said, but how he said it truly inspired me. He was frustrated, passionate, perhaps even angry at the direction our government were heading, as in his words, it was in the direction of an ice berg and it was going to sink them and us.

He was critical of the way our government were, and are, dealing with the child abuse scandal, he was critical of the media campaign mounted by Mick Gradwell, and more than likely, the States communications unit which was (in my opinion Constable Vibert) an out and out assault on Lenny Harper which was backed up with no real evidence and was designed to discredit Lenny and his team so the States could put this “embarrassing” child abuse scandal to bed and go on expecting the public to believe in Tooth fairies.

With that (Deputy Le Herissier’s speech) I thought “great” here is a politician, and serial fence sitter, actually coming off the fence and just as importantly was as frustrated, passionate and angry as the rest of us. I was disappointed I was not able to get his speech on video.

I contacted the Deputy and asked him for an interview. Without probing me what I wanted to talk about or what questions I intended asking him, he agreed to the interview.

The Deputy has a nickname (he’s probably got a few) but in certain circles he is known (affectionately) as “the hedgehog”. So after his speech at St Ouen and agreeing to an interview I already had the title of the Blog set up, it was to be, “Hedgehog jumps off fence” but unfortunately during the time of the “reform meeting” and the interview he had, sadly, climbed back up again!

The fundamental point to this is, some of our States members arses are going to be chewing their Y fronts knowing that “the hedgehog”, the “serial fence sitter” is starting to “jump off” on occasions and talking about that horrible subject of Child Abuse.

Deputy Le Herissier (in my opinion) is one of the hardest working States members we have, he is always accessible and is one of the few members who votes with his conscience, which is more than I can say for any of my elected “representatives” in St. Clement.

In this video (in my opinion) the Deputy concedes Mick Gradwell has provided us with “words” and Lenny Harper has provided us with “evidence” even if he does jump straight back on the fence.

Lenny Harper has questioned the Deputy’s choice of phrase when he says it has turned into a “slagging match” between Lenny and Gradwell. My opinion is Lenny had no choice other than to defend the slurs against his character and professionalism made by Gradwell and backed it all up with “evidence”.

If Lenny should have any questions for Deputy Le Herissier I’m sure he will be only too pleased to answer them on here.

I would like to give a mention to Senator Stuart Syvret, Senator Alan Breckon, Deputy Roy Le Herissier and Deputy Debbie Da Sousa for having the COURAGE to attend the Jersey Care Leavers meeting yesterday, let’s hope you can encourage some of your colleagues to start “taking part”

Submitted by VFC.