In the interview we ask the questions that are not asked by our State Media. "Will she bring a vote of no confidence against the Treasury Minister?" Will she stand for the post of Treasury Minister should he lose a vote of no confidence?" We ask "when is it time to stop learning from the past and moving on?" When are fingers going to start being pointed at those who are responsible?"
It is apparent that the CAG's Report does not show the Treasury Minister in a good light and in the interest of fairness and balance we asked him for his response which he gave us........And much more besides!
Some of us have recently come to the view that there could be a campaign by the Jersey Evening Post, and others, to oust the Minister from his post. That's not to say he doesn't deserve ousting, but why ONLY him?
There are other Ministers, in our opinion, that should have been ousted a long time ago. Home Affairs Minister Senator Le Marquand for his shambolic handling and actions concerning the (possibly illegal) suspension of our Former Police Chief Graham Power QPM. The millions of pounds he squandered on what has been described as "a personal vendetta" against the Former Police Chief. The total waste of time, and taxpayers money, on the disgraced and discredited Wiltshire Report. The Kangaroo Court and trial by media he was allowed to get away with by dropping any disciplinary charges against the Former Police Chief and then publishing the prosecution case against him and not the defence case! The Home Affairs Minister didn't face, in the media, the onslaught that the Treasury Minister is.
The Health Minister, Deputy Ann Pryke, has never faced the criticisms that the Treasury Minister is in the media after the avoidable and tragic deaths of patients and the Hospital being in a shambles, some eight years behind that of the NHS, the damming Verita Report(s) and so on........So why, all of a sudden, has the Treasury Minister fallen out of favour? Why should he be held to account when no other Minister is?
Could it be that there is a new "Establishment Party" after the arrival of Philip Bailhache becoming overtly political? Senator Ozouf, not that long ago was "Golden Balls," in our opinion, when it came to the JEP. What's changed? What has he done (if anything) to upset them?
In our interview with him we ask these questions. We dicuss the power, and influence of Jersey's ONLY "news"paper. We also ask if he will be resigning as Treasury Minister and despite what the JEP (online) say;
"Senator Ozouf has said he will not comment on his position or the allegations until after next week’s States sitting"
We can exclusively reveal that Senator Ozouf HAS, in our interview, commented on his position and told us whether he will be resigning, or not. Once more Citizens Media brings you the news BEFORE the State Media who are increasingly being left in our wake.
Viewers are asked to consider, before jumping on the "Anti Ozouf Campaign," are you only playing into the hands of the (new) Establishment Party?
Should he be held to account? Hell yes, but why ONLY him? Why aren't Senator Le Marquand or Deputy Pryke being dragged over the coals by the Jersey Evening Post and others? Something about this just doesn't smell right.
Is this really about the Lime Grove issue or is there another agenda?
What we, as Citizens Media, offer here are in-depth interviews from BOTH sides of the camp in an attempt to bring you as balanced a view as possible and leave it to you to draw your own conclusions from what our interviewees have to say. Can the same be said for the State Media????
Journalism at work in Jersey? That is the real news. Good job.
ReplyDeleteWhat can we say about you bloggers apart from a very well done. Balanced and exclusive congratulations on this posting.
ReplyDeleteAren't Jersey's msm just laughable?
ReplyDeleteA joke - were their performance not so tragic, with desperate consequences for so many powerless people in the island.
Occasionally, some of the clowns still try saying hello to me if our paths cross.
Meanwhile, a few men with laptops continue to show the utter redundancy of the entire expensive traditional media apparatus.
Stuart
Excellent Interviews VFC. Below is my email to all States Members. There are movings. They are trying to get a new Treasury Minister. My money is going on Senator Ferguson. She could have just said NO when asked but she hesitated and just stopped short from telling the truth.
ReplyDeleteSenator Bailhache is the one to watch. Senator Ferguson is a royalist she is from camp Bailhache. This isn't anything to do with Lime Grove.
Some people including the JEP want Ozouf out
Dear all,
On this link is an interview by Senator Ferguson and Senator Ozouf regarding Lime Grove and wether he will resign.
This is a very important Blog posting as it also looks at how the Jersey Evening Post are setting the agenda in trying to get Senator Ozouf to resign over Lime Grove. Why are they setting this agenda? Do they really care about Lime Grove? This is looking very personal between the JEP and the Treasury Minister.
Why no clamour from the JEP regarding the atrocious actions of the current Home Affairs Minister, Senator Le Marquand.I don't remember them attacking him and forcing a resignation. The Ministers actions regarding Graham Power far out strip any of the wrongs coming from the treasury minister, yet he is still sitting in there. Why are we have these double standards? Its a complete mockery. Yes, the Minister must be called to account regarding Lime Grove but not with the JEP leading the agenda.
More and more people are wising up to the JEP. Bright and Shiply have had a major falling out with Senator Ozouf. They nailed Freddie Cohen at the last election and now its time to finish the JOB
So very obvious
http://voiceforchildren.blogspot.com/2012/05/senators-ferguson-and-ozouf-exclusive.html
Kind Regards
Rico Sorda
Rico.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt you'll not get a reply to your e-mail from our "accessible" politicians but there will be those of them starting to realise that if the island's only "news"paper starts a negative campaign on any of them, then they could be at the end of their political career.
The State Media won't go against one another and for those (politicians) who are attempting to silence Bloggers they might just start seeing the value of having an alternative "independent" media over here.
While the likes of Stuart, Lenny, Graham and others are getting the bad press they all seem to think it's OK. But now they (State Media) have turned against the likes of Philip Ozouf there will be those wondering what happens when they do it to me, who can I turn to?
Politics is a very fickle game and with no mainstream independent media over here if the only "news"paper on the island says "your time is up" then your time is up.
Who will be next?
Hi VFC.
ReplyDeleteThis is how it should be done, balanced, straight down the line not Gun-Oh & bi-est towards a gender.
I've said it before & I'll say it again, they don't know how to handle Citizen Media because we do it Right Balanced & in Full. No sound bits or Spin, Just the Truth. Which the JEP wouldn't know about if it hit them in the Face. I would include Channel TV & the BBC in that is well.
Congratulations on these two interviews.
Here's to the new era of good Journalism in Jersey.
TJW.
Thanks Voiceforchildren kudos for asking and obtaining these interviews.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised at how Mr Ozouf comes across almost to the point of, this is not quite the man I read about in the Jersey Evening Post. Yet, the cynic in me still feels he is establishment and this is all part of PR for the public and Ozouf is taking this one for the boys, so to speak.
On saying that, he holds his hands up to mistakes he admits to making and he clearly feels that he took the best option of value for money with the decision on the police station. Yet to see his evidence on thisperhaps I missed it.
I do appreciate he and Sarah Ferguson gave the interview to citizens media.
The empire is crumbling. This would never have happened a year ago. Who do the JEP want as treasury minister? Rico has gone for Ferguson (not Alex) I will go for Le Marquand.
ReplyDeleteShould he be held to account? Hell yes, but why ONLY him? Why aren't Senator Le Marquand or Deputy Pryke being dragged over the coals by the Jersey Evening Post and others? Something about this just doesn't smell right.
ReplyDeleteWhat else can you say.
looks like we are in for quite a show.
ReplyDeleteThe JEP is trashing Philip Ozouf almost in every edition. He must know whats rattled them though surely?
ReplyDeleteA commenter asks an interesting question, "Who do the JEP want as treasury minister? Rico has gone for Ferguson (not Alex) I will go for Le Marquand."
ReplyDeleteLe Marquand? That makes sense to me as well, because they have to find some place to put him, away from Home Affairs. He is a huge embarrassment and you and Rico have exposed his ridiculous lies.
Citizen Media triumphs again. You now have current establishment senators and ministers sitting for your interviews. Even these two, who might not support your investigative journalism when it pertains to child abuse, have been forced to acknowledge your legitimacy. Must really rankle the old Jersey Don, ILM and those others more closely tied to the abuse cover up.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite part of this interview?
ReplyDeleteThe fact that you clearly recorded it INSIDE Cyril Le Marquand House.
You ARE the legitimate media.
And, as you rightly say, the Leveson inquiry has shown up the PCC, accredition and regularion to be a load of useless old bunkum.
Great work VFC.
Are you watching, former Seantor Ben Shenton?
Ozouf is lobbying loads of people at the moment so don't get too excited. His job is on the line.
ReplyDeleteBig difference between "bullying and harrassing" and "challenging" (legitimately), he says.
ReplyDeleteFunny how that didn't seem to apply to Stuart as Health Minister trying to get proper performance from his uncivil serpents :)
Amazing how they can appear in your excellent, fair and balanced, Citizen Journalist videos and thus prove that you are legit media, yet they still refuse filming in scrutiny meetings because you're not 'accredited'.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't make it up! :)
I've never voted for Ozo, but if it's him versus the filthy rag he'd have my support!
ReplyDeleteThe JEP is far more of an enemy to the islanders than any one right wing posh boy politician.
Well done on the videos, but the Jersey->North Korea thing is rather disrespectful to the interviewees, and seems very rude in this case.
ReplyDeleteIt works well to make a point when the subject matter is The People v. The Cover Up Establishment, but is very out of place on one-to-one interviews where someone has kindly agreed to work with you.
Please reconsider how you use it, as it detracts from your credibility and provides ammo to those you say you're not as worthy as the MSM. Please don't make it so easy for them to dismiss your valiant efforts.
Ozouf is no longer the power behind the throne. The Horsefall, Walker, Le Sueur dynasty has come to an end. He was supposed to take the reins but Philip Bailhache's entry made that impossible. Although very much an establishment politician his hostile behaviour and vindictive nature have provced to be unpalatable for 'the party'. His refusal to provide information to the JEP over the curcumstances surrounding Ogley's departure will have given the ammunition they were looking for but he had already compromised his position with senior figures in government through his behaviour and their annoyance was privately commuicated to the JEP editorial team.
ReplyDeleteAsk yourselves this. Has Ozouf's relationship with Philip Bailhache been a positive one since he came to power in the last 6 months? Is it mere co-incidence that the JEP has spent much of the time Bailhache has been a States member trashing Ozouf's reputation?
I doubt Ozouf has done anything to rattle the JEP. His sin is being a credible candidate for chief minister, and therefore a rival to Phil Bailhache. It’s as simple as that.
ReplyDeleteIn days of yore, when a new king of England muscled his way to the throne, the first thing he did was kill off anybody with rival claims.
Phil B’s coronation plan didn’t quite work out last time, because he didn’t see Gorst coming and didn’t have time to get his mates at the JEP to run a "briefing" campaign, but you can be sure they are just biding their time and waiting for the right opportunity.
As far as Lime Grove is concerned, we will never know the real truth. Ozouf claims that he was firm and challenging towards the former head of Property Services, who in turn claims that Ozouf was bullying and interfering. Both scenarios are credible – we all saw Stuart Syvret cast as “bullying” for criticising a children’s service which systematically covered-up and lied about child abuse for decades; we’ve also seen Ozouf casting around for scapegoats to hide his own incompetence.
I do wonder why the Auditor General chose to make allegations about Ozouf in a letter, without apparently giving him a chance to respond. Why not state these concerns in the report itself? Is it merely coincidence that the Auditor General and Sarah Ferguson are close personal friends? Was he drawn (unwittingly perhaps) into a political stitch-up?
As a final thought, why do we need to fork-out around £10 million for a new police station? What is wrong with the one we already have? It might not be shiny and new, and the Chief Officer might not have a sea view to enjoy from his office while dreaming-up schemes to put coppers on skateboards to “engage with the community”, but it does the job.
Will more criminals be caught and convicted if they have new premises? Will rates of crime fall? No – we will just end up with another grandiose public building paid for by the Jersey tax-payer, and no doubt a sweet-heart deal for a well-connected property developer to acquire the Rouge Bouillion site on the cheap.
The Jep will blow it if they keep this up. People will start backing ozouf.
ReplyDeleteThe question is who leaked the Swinson letter to the JEP?
ReplyDeleteThis shouldn't be hard to work out.
Really excellent post. Great to see a blogsite being given an exclusive that has been denied to the MSM!
ReplyDeleteAs much as I have problems with Senator Ozouf's politics, this whole episode has made me more angry with the JEP than him. Why the witch hunt against Ozouf (which may or may not be justified, that's not the point) but nothing to say about Senator Le Marquand? Or former Senator Walker? These people have been involved in far worse things than this Lime Grove mess and the JEP hasn't uttered a word about it.
Great stuff VFC. I have just watched both interviews and have to say it was a job well done, balanced and fair questioning and neither of those interviewed were defensive at all.
ReplyDeleteThe rights and wrongs of this affair are very complex, but erring on the side of caution Ozouf has upset too many people to realistically expect him to change what is obviously a character flaw.
He says challenging, others say bullying which in my dictionary is defined as using strength or power to coerce others by fear, persecute or oppress by threats, which is exactly what he has done. No one likes a bully.
On the other hand the JEP do seem to have an agenda and if Ozouf does remain in situ, he will have to change his ways dramatically because he is going to be watched very closely from now on.
All power to your elbow VFC.
Now the Prison association are involved. What the hell is going on here.
ReplyDeleteSam in particular, but others too: I think that a lot of this is to do with what has come out with the CAG's report - available here (but the buggers haven't indexed the PDF properly :(). I read it something like this:
ReplyDeleteThe JEP is still Frank Walker's baby (AFAIK he is still a board member of Guiton). Frank and Philip Bailhache went to school together and go back a very long way; Bill Ogley was Frank's appointment.
Philip Ozouf isn't part of that magic circle: he's a Constable's son, sure, but that doesn't count for much. The CAG also gives him rather short shrift when it comes to assertions about looking after resources: you get flashes that seem to portray a man who is desperate to save cash now at all costs, including making life much more expensive later on.
Given that the allegations in the CAG's report suggest there may be some truth to the allegation that PO is at the very least pushy and at worst a full-blown bully, the Bill Ogley resignation story suddenly looks more credible. Frank thinks Philip Bailhache is a better option to protect him from too many awkward questions, so PO becomes the sacrificial lamb.
FWIW I'm going to say that Ozouf shouldn't resign for the alleged bullying. There are plenty of other reasons why he should. But as others have said, if Ozouf does resign, half the rest of the States would have to do the same.
James
Strange how the States start to flex their (we don't tolerate incompetence) muscles, just as they are beginning the trashing phase of the Committee Of Inquiry, don't you think?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi VFC,
ReplyDeleteI have just published part 2 of the Verita Report concerning a Committee of Inquiry into decades of Child Abuse.
It can be read here
http://ricosorda.blogspot.com/2012/05/verita-2-terms-of-reference.html
These are the Terms of Reference
rs
VFC,
ReplyDeleteNot only have you managed to bring your blog up to a new standard of journalistic professionalism, you and other Jersey bloggers host a much more thoughtful and dynamic political conversation by your commenters, than anything affiliated with the msm. So nice to see the contrast with the mostly childish comments published on the JEP and Channel News state media sites. It shows your readers are paying close attention to the evidence available only on these blogs.
Chelloise
Bob Young@dylan1978
ReplyDelete@philipozouf Philip you upheld a decision to fire me 3 years ago from treasury very unjustified. Would you review it for me please?
@dylan1978 ebolla@jerseyeveningpost.com
Will the JEP bite?
For once Philip O has my passive support over this. What the hell does the JEP think it is? Chewing him since the report was released including today, they obviously want him out of the Treasury or damaged and it just demonstrates how low this paper is prepared to go. I hope for once this backfires on them.
ReplyDeleteAs mentioned in the Main Posting.
ReplyDelete“There are other Ministers, in our opinion, that should have been ousted a long time ago. Home Affairs Minister Senator Le Marquand for his shambolic handling and actions concerning the (possibly illegal) suspension of our Former Police Chief Graham Power QPM. The millions of pounds he squandered on what has been described as "a personal vendetta" against the Former Police Chief. The total waste of time, and taxpayers money, on the disgraced and discredited Wiltshire Report. The Kangaroo Court and trial by media he was allowed to get away with by dropping any disciplinary charges against the Former Police Chief and then publishing the prosecution case against him and not the defence case! The Home Affairs Minister didn't face, in the media, the onslaught that the Treasury Minister is.”
Should he be held to account? Hell yes, but why ONLY him? Why aren't Senator Le Marquand or Deputy Pryke being dragged over the coals by the Jersey Evening Post and others? Something about this just doesn't smell right.”
This could very well backfire on the JEP as there are more and more people questioning if there is another agenda here being peddled by them?
Now that the Chief Minster, and COM, have expressed their confidence in the Treasury Minister where will that leave the JEP and their campaign?
ReplyDeleteThe JEP has created a major problem for itself.
ReplyDeleteWill they now set about attacking Gorst in an attempt get their man Bailhache into the CM chair?
ReplyDeleteThe JEP has created a major problem for itself
ReplyDeleteIts got one already more & more people I know are not buying it anymore,next advertising revenues!!!
Their was no way Ozouf was going to go, the JEP played this out to perfection Ozouf knew he was not going anywhere the only people caught out are those buying the JEP campaign.
ReplyDeleteIf I was Ozouf, I think I'd been sending a treasury circular to all departments telling them to cease using the JEP to advertise States jobs, and also taking the role of Gazette away from JEP.
ReplyDeleteLet's face it, much easier and cheaper to do this all online now. It would save a few hundred thousand quid of wasted taxpayer money, and also remove an unjustifiable monopoly.
That would be about the only policy of his I would support.
Agreed. This has recently been done in Wales where a council, in order to save taxpayers money, stopped all advertising in their local “news”paper and put it all online. The world is moving on where more people are getting their information from the Internet and less from “news”papers.
ReplyDeletePhilip Ozouf would do well to follow the lead of the Council in Wales and publish everything online it would be a fraction of the cost and a huge saving to the taxpayer in these austere times.
Clever bit of Politics by Gorst. He now has another ally on the CoM to see off any power struggle with Bailache
ReplyDeleteA commenter suggests, "If I was Ozouf, I think I'd been sending a treasury circular to all departments telling them to cease using the JEP to advertise States jobs, and also taking the role of Gazette away from JEP."
ReplyDeleteThat would bring at least one establishment minister full circle.
And, the publication of official government notifications and advertisements on line is going to be the universal way forward, everywhere.
No wonder even JEP readers are becoming more suspicious of the propaganda. Today's headline about Stuart Syvret practically suggests the States are holding him responsible for murder! A rather astonishing headline, which can only call outside attention to the reasons they are called tools of state media. Imagine outside journalists or any other researchers, finding that in a google search.
Why are people thinking this is all over. Senator Ozouf has the backing of the Chief Minister - the backing of the States is still up for debate. I bet PO isn't cracking open the champagne just yet. A vote of no confidence in the treasury minister will have him worried.
ReplyDeleteThe ball is now in the court of the States after a well placed kick by Gorst. Don't even think that the JEP have been defeated on this. Does the Senator have the backing of the States?
The only way to put this episode to bed is for PO to face the challenge.
But lets get one thing absolutely clear
THE STATES IS NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE
They are not fit to govern us - its a complete and utter joke.
rs
A commenter suggests, "If I was Ozouf, I think I'd been sending a treasury circular to all departments telling them to cease using the JEP to advertise States jobs, and also taking the role of Gazette away from JEP."
ReplyDeleteThat should be the Ministers next action ASAP
RS
Hi VFC.
ReplyDeleteJust put up audio from today, questions & Statement from Chief Minister.
Your readers can listen HERE
Why do we get this message when trying to link to the latest posting of Voice for Protest?
ReplyDeleteSorry, the page you were looking for in this blog does not exist.
Philip Ozouf must be reading these comments and for once I ask him in his power as Treasury Minister to deal a blow to this newspaper. Why should the JEP benefit from tax payers money in any way when they deliberately use their power in an attempt to smear and destroy people? They have no right to do this to people and its time everybody closed ranks and did something about it.
ReplyDeleteHave heard Geoff Southern is to lodge a vote of no confidence against the treasury minister.
ReplyDeleteGeoff Southern would get more support if he had a vote of no confidence in himself.
ReplyDeleteIf Southern brings the vote then it will be dead in water and give Ozouf an even bigger mandate to continue with his old school bully boy tactics. Because lets be honest a leopard does not change its spots, no matter how much pleading he has done to convince Gorst and the COM.
ReplyDeleteIt has to be somebody credible who is in a safe enough seat not to feel any potential backlash should it fail come election time.
So Ferguson, Le Fondre or Vallois need to nip this in the bud and tell Southern to wind his neck in.
Well said anon. at 08.09a.m. 30/5/12
ReplyDeleteI can tell you now that there won't be a vote of no confidence. No one apart from Southern knows how to write one.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that the truth lies somewhere between what Senator Ozouf says and the guilt that some would place on him, but it is interesting to note the tactics he uses. Firstly, admit to some smaller 'crime' that what is being alleged. Remember, the C&AG was saying that he essentially gave misleading information, amongst other things. Sen. Ozouf does not address this and says that classic line 'mistakes were made'. Where? At Property Holdings. Not by him. 'I should have picked these up quicker.' So we have a two fold tactic going on here. Deflect attention to another matter, and apologise for something that is not your responsibility. Brilliant!
ReplyDeleteWell love him, or loathe him, despite a truly damming Report and almost unprecedented attacks in the State Media he has survived and has the full support of Chief Minister Gorst.
ReplyDeleteHe might have suffered an injury but he appears fighting fit, and if the whispers around the corridors of power are to be believed, he is unlikely to face a vote of no confidence either.
It is strange that you have found some common cause with Ozouf because of the JEP, but in a functional democracy, party lines are frequently crossed by agreements on single issues. Ozouf is young enough to understand that government notices in newspapers are going the way of dinosaurs, and that more people are using the internet to stay informed about anything that is of interest to them. He should take on the JEP.
ReplyDeleteOne would imagine that Senator Ozouf has had a taste of what it's like when the ONLY "news"paper on the island turns on you. Hopefully it is a wake-up call for him, and every politician over here as to who holds the power.
ReplyDeleteDeputy Trevor Pitman's Scrutiny Sub Panel exposed the local State Media in their Report into the BDO fiasco. Politicians will ignore it at their peril.
Question is, has Senator Ozouf and/or others got the "testicular fortitude" to take the JEP on?
THE PRICE OF JUSTICE
ReplyDelete