Can Social Networking help the people of Jersey?

Do you remember the days when you would go on holiday and whatever country you were in the locals would ask where you come from? And you would say “Jersey”. Then they would say “oh Bergerac” or “you must be a millionaire” or “I’ve been there and it’s a beautiful island, you must feel so lucky to live there.”

Well thanks to our Council of Ministers, Law Office(r)s and Judicial system those days are gone. If you are now brave enough to admit that you are from Jersey, as has happened to friends of mine, you run the risk of being beaten up. Bergerac, millionaire and beautiful island have all been replaced with “kiddie fiddler,” “paedo’s paradise”, “island of secrets,” “cover-up merchants,” “paedophiles” and far worse.

These accusations have further been strengthened by our Council of Minister’s decision to go back on a promise made to the people of Jersey, the Abuse Survivors and indeed the watching world, to have a full, public and "independent" enquiry into the Haute de la Garrenne and other “care” homes scandal.

Because the Council of Ministers decided this and brought it to the House as a Report and not a Proposition then that meant that this could not be democratically debated. Ten minutes of questions is all that is allowed. That is not democracy, that is a dictatorship, the COM make a decision that impacts on the island as a whole, a decision that we are all going to be judged on and it doesn’t even get debated in the States.

Thankfully our newest Senator has seen the damage this decision will cause (has caused) the victims and survivors of the atrocities that have been allowed to thrive for decades in State run “care” homes. The damage it will cause to the reputation of Jersey as an open and democratic 21st century society.

Senator Francis Le Gresley has lodged a “proposition” (P19/2011) asking the Council of Ministers to reconsider their (in my opinion) very ill-thought out dictatorial decision that can, and more than likely will, cause more damage to all involved than a Committee of Inquiry ever could.

Further to Senator Le Gresley’s Proposition, Deputy Bob Hill, it is reported, has lodged an amendment further in support for a Committee of Inquiry. Deputy Hill’s amendment is rumoured to be extremely well researched, very detailed and a conclusive argument as to why there is no choice other than the Committee of Inquiry to go ahead.

During these past three years or so many people have been accused, and have had the finger pointed at them, for either abusing children or covering up for those who have. Not only do the Abuse Survivors, the people of Jersey and the world deserve the TRUTH to be told, but so do those who have been accused, either rightly or wrongly. This Committee of Inquiry should give them/us that TRUTH, and possible closure for some.

If you are not a paedophile or some-one who is protecting one, if you are a person who wants to be able to put this very dark and sordid part of Jersey’s history to bed, if you are a person who believes this can only happen with a full “independent” Inquiry. If you are a person who resents being called a paedo or a paedo protector because of the actions of a few members of our government and Law Office(r)s. If you are a person who believes the survivors and victims of Child Abuse deserve the public Inquiry that was promised to them. If you are a person who believes the reputation of Jersey needs to be restored. If you are a person who believes, those wrongly accused deserve to have their names cleared. If you are a person who believes that those who have escaped justice should be brought to account. If you are a person who is sick of this “alleged” cover-up and secrecy then please speak out.

There are a number of ways you can do this without moving from your computer. You can e-mail/phone your Deputy or Constable and ask them to support Senator Le Gresley and Deputy Hill with their proposition for this Committee of Inquiry. Likewise you can e-mail or phone any Senator and not least any of the Council of Ministers who are the ones who are showing Jersey in a bad light and abusing the victims/survivors all over again by going back on another promise. You can also contact Deputy Hill and Senator Le Gresley to give them your support.

What I would really like to see is social networking and citizens media putting pressure on our government and Law Office(r)s (because their “accredited" media won’t) that has just been witnessed by the toppling of the Egyptian government. We must show some kind of unity and strength in numbers.

With that in mind, could I ask my readers with a Facebook account, who are in agreement, to go to this LINK and all you have to do, when there, is press “like.”

We must show the world that we are not happy with being tarred with the same brush as our dictatorship, they are not representative of the "good" people of Jersey. For those of my readers that are not from Jersey and are in agreement with all that has been said, then please show us your support by going to the LINK and pressing “like.” Please put the link as your status on Facebook and encourage your friends to do the same. Paedophilia and the cover up of it is a worldwide problem, not just Jersey’s..........We NEED support, our government and judicial system have been allowed to spiral out of control (with the help of the "accredited" media) and all we have left is social networking.

Submitted by VFC.