I’m a Jersey Politician……Keep me in here.

Now that we are at the end of the television show “Big Brother” and will soon (for those that choose to watch) be subjected to “I’m a celebrity get me out of here”. These shows offer viewers the chance to vote out the contestants by phoning up a premium number phone line.


The contestants that get voted out early on are those that “rock the boat”, are “controversial”, put their “heads above the parapet” and are not “afraid” to “stand up and be counted”. They get noticed and offer the viewer a reason to vote them out. They get “bad press” horrible things written about them by the “accredited” media.

Then you have the quiet ones, they fly under the radar, don’t get noticed, keep their mouths shut. Even if they do have an opinion, are too cowardly to voice it in fear of being voted out. They make for very boring viewing but manage to weasel their way, relatively un-noticed to the final, despite the fact they have contributed nothing or very little to the show or the viewer and get nice things written about them by the “accredited” media.

So then we get to our politicians.

I am conscious that Rico Sorda is soon to start a series on his Blog where he will be writing about “The Foot Stamping Lackeys of the Motherland” (FSLM). Those are our politicians that say, or do, little in the States other than to grumble, grown, or shout down anybody that mentions anything about the Child Abuse scandal or related issues.

Deputy Kevin Lewis doesn’t fit into the FSLM category, because he doesn’t even do that. Despite being an authority on the Haute de la Garenne building and having spoken with former residents he is able to supply contradictory information to that of which has been published in a Press Release by Mick Gradwell and David Warcup but he has (to the best of my knowledge) said or done nothing with this contradictory information at any States Sitting.

In November 2008 Mick Gradwell and David Warcup released THIS Press Statement. Part of that Press Statement reads “These are floor voids. They are not cellars, and it is impossible for a grown person to stand up straightin the floor voids under Haut de la Garenne.” but in an e-mail to me, some time ago, the Deputy said this  “I met up with the senior investigating officer (Lenny Harper) and took him around the building pointing out cellars (my emphasis) and how to gain access.”

In the same Press Statement Mick Gradwell and David Warcup had this to say “This bath in the under floor voids has no water supply and has not been used as a bath since the 1920’s” but in another e-mail to me some time ago, the Deputy said this “the comments below is information I have received from former residents from 1935 onwards (my emphasis)” Deputy Lewis also said “originally the Bath area was accessed by an external door (existing)” . so if, according to Mick Gradwell and David Warcup “This bath in the under floor voids” then how come there was an external door leading to it? Furthermore if Deputy Lewis was told by former residents of Haute de la Garenne - post 1935 residents - “all the boys had to line up and were sent in ten at a time having to scrub the back of the person in front then out and the next ten in.” then why has he never mentioned any of this in the States?

I am led to believe (and stand to be corrected) that all States members were given a copy of the Gradwell/Warcup Press Release and it certainly has been quoted from in the States. Then why has Deputy Lewis been so silent about it all? I did ask him and he said “The reason I have not made any comment is that the investigations were ongoing”

Well if ever there was a time to “make any comment”, surely it is while the investigation is still live isn’t it? If he, as a States member, is being given contradictory information to what he has been given, in most cases from the Home Affairs Minister, then surely he has a duty to impart that information doesn’t he?

Why has the Deputy been so quiet over the HDLG affair? Why has he never (to the best of my knowledge) shown any States Member, who have questioned and put their head above the parapet, any support?

Is he a shrewd “contestant” who doesn’t want to get voted out for rocking the boat or voicing his opinion on controversial issues? Does he want to stay in the “show” for as long as possible? Do the wrong people get voted out and receive the bad press? Shouldn’t all the attention be turned on those that are doing and saying nothing in our States as apposed to those that are questioning and attempting to hold Ministers and their Departments to account? Those that aren’t afraid to put their heads above the parapet and tackle controversial issues?

I reproduce the latest e-mail sent to Deputy Kevin Lewis. The e-mail was sent on the 3rd of September (a week ago) and despite sending him a “reminder” on the 7th of September he still has not even acknowledged receipt of the e-mail. You will see by the e-mail that I was prompted to send him it due to the comments on the previous posting

E-MAIL TO DEPUTY KEVIN LEWIS 07/09/2010

Kevin.

I would like to point you towards my latest Blog posting.http://voiceforchildren.blogspot.com/2010/09/bewilderment.html
You will see in the comments I have written this.

"This is something very curious.


Here is some “redacted” parts of an e-mail correspondence I had with Deputy Kevin Lewis, some time ago."

“the comments below is information I have received from former residents from 1935 onwards” 


“originally the Bath area was accessed by an external door (existing) to enable buckets of hot water to be brought in I believe the bathroom then was uncovered, at that time it was a boys only school, all the boys had to line up and were sent in ten at a time having to scrub the back of the person in front then out and the next ten in.”

But in the Gradwell/Warcup Press Release they say this

“This bath in the under floor voids has no water supply and has not been used as a bath since the 1920’s”

Like I said this is very curious. Deputy Lewis, it would appear, has witness testimony from residents of Haute de la Garenne who used the bath which is from 1935 onwards. But Gradwell and Warcup have another story."

What I would like to know is - did you inform Mr. Gradwell and Warcup that you had this witness testimony that contradicted what they had published in their Press Release, if not why not, and if so could you please elaborate?

END E-MAIL.

One can only hope that Deputy Lewis will start asking some meaningful questions of our Home Affairs Minister regarding these contradictions and other related issues concerning HDLG in order that we can get to the TRUTH. If he chooses to keep his head down he might just find that the game has changed…….keeping your head down just might get you some bad press and inevitably get you voted off the "show."

Deputy "Kevin" Lewis should not be confused with Former Deputy "Andrew" Lewis.

Former Deputy "Andrew" Lewis held the posistion of Home Affairs Minister for a matter of weeks. During that time, the only significant "Ministerial Decision" he made was to suspend our most Senior Police Officer and then retired from politics. The Royal Court, and others, were critical of the procedure, or lack of, that Andrew Lewis employed, or didn't, in the suspension.

Submitted by VFC.