Advocate Philip Sinel.
Further to our exclusive and in-depth interview with Advocate Philip Sinel posted HERE. We bring readers part two of this interview (below) The interview is a direct continuation of part one but deals with, among much else, part(s) of the local mainstream media.
Advocate Sinel tells us that local newspaper The Jersey Evening Post (JEP) have run a number of stories about him and have denied him a right of reply, or at the least, and adequate right of reply as shown on Rico Sorda's Blog HERE. He explains that this is part of the reason he has decided to create his own Blog.
Also discussed in the interview (as in part one) are his thoughts on the Jersey Child abuse Committee of Inquiry, its up-coming report, some of the key players. He asks (of the Establishment)
"Who are they protecting? What are they protecting? Are they protecting a way of life/institutions and a way of thought that is abhorrent?
Advocate Sinel's Blog will be a very welcome addition to the online community.......... By some....... But not so welcome by others.
His new Blog can be viewed from HERE. With a publication posted today which, as one would expect, is well worth a read.
Excellent initiative from Advocate Sinel but I hope he does do some trawling around the basic tribunals of this Island where so many important decisions are made about so many mere mortals without legal representation - and even some with legal briefs.
ReplyDeleteIt is not enough just to comment on things reported in the JEP because many of the tribunals are hardly reported at all - yet there is a whole lot of ant-discrimination and supposed human rights issues being raised on a daily basis.
The public needs a light in the darkness...
Oh, he's just getting going, the interview is too short, or cut short. Looking forward to his new blog. Hope its up to yours and Rico's standard.
ReplyDeleteAs a lawyer Sinel's blog must be welcomed. You would like to think he will have the strong chin to speak out about Jersey's Appeal Court which is neither ECHR compliant or even real. The fact three of our Chief Judges have all allowed a former school teacher at Vic to sit as a Jurat in the Royal Court even though the police say he was 'pathetic', 'lacked any integrity' and apparently 'bullied' at least one child who complained of being abused at the college in to silence and so much else. What about our esteemed judges not abiding by rules on recusal, Advocate? What about our desperate need for a separation of powers. Come on, Advocate. Stick it to them Team Voice style! Welcome aboard, Sir!
ReplyDeleteHe should start banging the drum about how Jersey tampers with court transcripts.
ReplyDeleteThe answer to Philip's question about the JEP is that they will not publish any letter which they are not allowed to edit or they regard as libelous.
ReplyDeletePresumably Philip wanted his letters published wholly or not at all.
Presumably there are other possibilities that you have not mentioned?
DeleteThat doesn't cover my case where I simply said they should have included a source and link in their piece on the Lord Reginald video.
DeleteThey held the comment in moderation for a few days and have just deleted it.
Presumably a possibility is that the JEPaedo is not a reliable source of news and information, but is an organ of spin and opinion management on behalf of the company town shysters..........and worse.
Delete'They held the comment in moderation for a few days and have just deleted it'.
DeleteThey do it all the time.
@22:34.
ReplyDeleteI think what Mr. Sinel is saying (in the interview) is that if the paper is going to run a story on him it shouldn’t be too much to expect the paper to ask him for his side of the story it adds balance. He says “it’s fundamental in journalism if you’re going to do a piece on someone it’s good practice to ask them for comment.”
You mean something the bloggers never do!
DeleteI reckon the bloggers have been a bit more open to other views and comment lately.
DeleteIt's the JEP who block people who write things they don't want to hear.
Troll @05:50
Delete"You mean something the bloggers never do!"
On the contrary responsible bloggers and others regularly approach the 'usual suspects' prior to publishing their blog on the subject.
In fact some of the best blogs are inspires by the very failure to answer questions at all or at all honestly:
http://freespeechoffshore.nl/stuartsyvretblog/andrew-lewis-a-liar-and-a-crook/
enjoy!
The party would consider so wronged also has access to the blog comments section like anyone else but they generally prefer to hide under their stones or stay in the safe space of the dying heritage media.
Who is doing the trolling?
DeleteYou've just referred to a Blog post of 2014 which has had no effect.
Deputy Andrew Lewis has moved from strength to strength ever since and we've had to admit it.
He has Progressives like Deputy Sam Mezec supporting his matchbox reform proposal, he is on the news constantly over minimum wage and today as head of PAC he is launching an Inquiry on behalf of the Tax Payer with regard to the mismanagement of the States Innovation Fund.
Stuart's blogging always needed to go much further than just a blog to make any impact and the proof is Deputy Andrew Lewis.
@13:27
DeleteI don't think that the blog post of 2014 has had "no effect"
It provides a nice historical record with a good number of connections. The fact that it is still available to read is explained here:
http://freespeechoffshore.nl/stuartsyvretblog/the-publics-inquiry-into-the-public-inquiry-starts-here/
That too being a very topical blog even years later :-)
That Lewis got elected and is so Teflon coated is either down to a cultural acceptance of child abuse or is down to the totally partisan reporting of Jersey's owned media.
In the past if you owned the media you owned the election. It will be interesting if this is still the case in 2018
My reading of state media's support for Lewis is that he has been selected as the fall guy for the CoI
But the fall guy will not fall. He will survive whatever criticism the CoI allocates him and will be kept in place by the establishment as a decoy to take the flack from those still standing behind him.
The usefulness of that little rent boy just goes on and on!
As far as the shysters are concerned, the survivors of state sponsored child abuse can just go to hell
.....which is incidentally where the shysters and their supporters are heading :-)
This is the problem though.
DeleteStuart thinks his Blog is enough for everything when it's allegations on historic child abuse never saw the light of day in the Committee of Inquiry so what are their true worth?
You start a story and then you finish it properly.
"This is the problem though."
DeleteNo it is merely one of the problems
e.g. Will the CoI finish "story" properly without REQUIRING innumerable essential witnesses?
Can you see where this is going?
I wish to avoid this being funnelled into repetition of circular discussions about the CoI, but we can do so if you are determined.
Did you read the link below?
or this one:
http://freespeechoffshore.nl/stuartsyvretblog/child-abuse-in-jersey-2-2/
Anybody know how much Frances Oldham QC has made out if this Care Inquiry in wages, are there any accounts online, what was her hourly rate?
ReplyDeleteWe need this report asap, too many critics who support non-attendees prejudging it's outcome, then again when it is released, I hope it is not buried with other news stories or brushed aside like they will be trying to do with today's scathing report into this States Loan Fund.
She would have made a killing.
DeleteMillion easily.
A killing grown on the graves of the abused
Deletehttp://freespeechoffshore.nl/stuartsyvretblog/dannie-jarman-in-memory-tribute/
Shame you link a person who Dannie expected to give evidence.
Delete@14:20 You think it is a shame to link to rare heroes of Jersey rights and child protection?
DeleteBoth Dannie Jarman and the Health Minister who first publicly blew the whistle are such heroes to anyone who has not fallen victim to the establishment's divide and rule stratergy.
I wish to avoid this being funnelled into repetition of circular discussions about the CoI, but we can do so if you are determined.
Advocate Sinel (another accidental hero) makes fairly clear his disgust at the conduct of the CoI and we look forward to hearing further details from him.
If anyone wishes to compare the conduct of Mr.Syvret with that of another non-attendee of the CoI, here is an interesting link that is a must read:
http://freespeechoffshore.nl/stuartsyvretblog/child-abuse-in-jersey-1/
It contains "the letter".....
The letter 1:
DeleteHealth and Social Services Department
Corporate Administration
Peter Crill House, Gloucester Street
St Helier, Jersey, JE1 3QS
Tel: +44 (0)1534 622285
Fax: +44 (0)1534 622887
To All HSSD Staff : 14 September 2007
Our ref: JMP/LAW
Dear Colleague
Child Protection Services and our Children’s Services More Generally.
On Wednesday last, I wrote to you following the dismissal of Senator Stuart Syvret as the Minister for Health and Social Services, which became effective the previous day.
The Jersey Evening Post reported the dismissal and included in that report was the following statement:
“Members backed Chief Minister Frank Walker’s move by a 35 to 15 margin, effectively deciding that his attacks on his own staff, other civil servants and politicians over the recent rows have been unjustified”.
the letter 2:
DeleteIn this letter to you I wish to focus on the ‘unjustifiable attacks’. I do know that the Chief Minister and the Chief Executive to the States of Jersey are currently preparing to make a rounded, comprehensive and positive statement about the competence and professionalism of those members of our staff (and staff working in other States Departments and agencies). They will, of course, be sending these resolute messages to the general public of the Island and I expect those powerful messages to be released next week.
It is for me though, to send powerful messages to all of you who work in the Health and Social Services Department.
A letter to all our staff is important because speaking to some of those working in Child Protection Services and our Children’s Services more generally, advised me that there has been a great deal of support for them from their colleagues within the Department, who know them and who have trusted them in the past. However, they also tell me that they feel some of our staff in other sectors are not quite sure what has been going on and that they have detected some discomfort when meetings, however informally, have taken place. It is right, therefore, that I fundamentally and categorically make the position clear as far as Child Protection and Children’s Services staff are concerned.
In early August I asked Senator Stuart Syvret, the Minister for Health and Social Services, two fundamental and basic questions which go to the heart of this matter. These questions are as follows:
‘Do you know of any child who is not receiving a competent service from our Department?’
‘Do you have information which you are withholding which, if given to me, would allow me to make the lives of a child or children better?’
Senator Stuart Syvret answered both these questions by saying, clearly, ‘no’.
The letter 3:
DeleteYou will also be aware that Senator Stuart Syvret, as Minister, invited people to come forward to him with details of any incident of child abuse or any untoward incident of this nature. As a consequence of his call, he asked me to investigate two alleged incidents. The first concerns the circumstances surrounding the departure of a member of staff. Following my investigation into this matter, the Senator accepted that this had been handled correctly. The second concerns alleged incidents which occurred in the mid -1980s, which of course is over 20 years ago.
Right up to and including the debate last Tuesday, I have been expecting the Senator to give me information about unresolved issues of child abuse or any untoward incident of this nature, but I have received none. The obvious, positive and unequivocal conclusion that we can all draw from this evidence is that the Child Protection and Children’s Services have no case to answer. The truth is – as if we did not know it – that these are highly respected, caring professionals who work in one of the most high risk sectors of public service.
In addition to the investigations (referred to above) which Senator Syvret asked me to investigate, you will appreciate also that the Chief Minister and the Chief Executive of the States of Jersey have also asked me to investigate some allegations which were brought to their attention. What I expected to find in undertaking all of this work was that the vast majority of such allegations were groundless and could be easily rebutted. To be perfectly honest though, I did expect – because this is the way that the world usually turns – to find that one or two instances had not been handled as well as they could have been. What I actually found, without exception, was that every instance and every matter I looked into had been dealt with to the highest possible standard. Never before in my 30 years of practice have I found a service that has got it so right, so well and so often to such a high standard.
I trust, therefore, that this letter has put beyond any scintilla of a doubt that the Child Protection and Children’s Services operate to a very high standard and have an unblemished record. I will not take kindly to anyone who seeks to make mischief with these hard working staff on these matters.
A great deal will have to be done to rebuild confidence in these services and a number of meetings will be taking place over the next few days. Some of these will involve the Chief Minister and the Chief Executive to the States of Jersey – two very senior people who maintain close contact with me, at least on a daily basis. I do know that of all the complex and important issues on their respective agendas at the moment, the matter of repairing the damage to morale within these services is predominant.
Yours sincerely
Mike Pollard
Chief Executive
N.B. The above letter should be read in combination with the serious case reviews
Only slightly off message , is The Big Game Spot #3
ReplyDeleteWith todays truly excoriating (look it up if you need to) news on the Jersey Innovation Fund, spot the 'message massaging to the greater end'.
On BBC State Radio the Chief Minister was lightly grilled on the disaster. Followed immediately ( remember this only came out last night and was read by the Chief Minister last night) by our true White Night Deputy Andrew Lewis who waxed lyrical on probity, recommendations, and lessons learned.
This has all the charm of synchronised swimming in the paralympics (which doesn't exist so I am not being paralympicist it is merely a visual image for you).
Anybody read this?
ReplyDeleteThere are currently 87 child predators roaming around in Jersey.
Instead of wasting Police resources it would be easier to sterilise them.
http://jerseyeveningpost.com/news/2017/01/11/police-are-keeping-watch-on-child-sex-offenders/
Are any of them past or present employees of the JEP?
DeleteBBC?
CTV?
The Law Offices?
The 87 presumably only consists of those who have been prosecuted and found guilty.
N.B. It is unlikely that any powerful or well connected individuals would be prosecuted by the Jersey authorities.
Apparently a good 20 of these were involved in the downloading of vile images.
Delete10.52. You sound like Hitler. Then who would it be? The Portuguese, homosexuals, union members, anyone who was an 'undesirable'? What would then happen when a sterilised person was found to have been innocent? How would you fix that, Adolf?
DeleteFor readers who use Twitter you might be interested to know that Advocate Sinel is now tweeting and can be followed @philip_sinel
ReplyDeleteOn another note, a number of comments have been submitted concerning former Health Minister Stuart Syvret which won't be published. I'm calling time on that subject as it has been done to death and it took over the thread of the previous posting. In the previous posting there was a story about the former Health Minister so comments on that subject were inevitable.
Stuart has his own Blog site (links above) where readers can thrash it out on there with him.
Thank you (readers) for your understanding with this but it does get tiresome going over the same ground when there is (should be) plenty to discuss concerning the interview with Advocate Sinel.
Can anyone tell me what Ozouf has lodged as an amendment to P113? can't find the amendment on the States website. Bound to be a keep the status quo/shaft St. Helier thing I suppose. Time for Dep Mezec to do what he should have done and lodge an amendment to give St Helier proper numbers of reps. Are you up for it, Sam?
ReplyDeleteWhoops! That should have been P133. The Lewis disgrace. Or was that the disgrace Lewis?
DeleteBound to be something to make things worse. We all know how much Ozouf hates the people of St. Helier and democracy generally.
DeleteThis sounds ominous. Ozouf never does anything to make government more democratic. It is mentioned on the States website but can't find the details anywhere. Anyone else know more?
DeleteSee Sammy and Andy on the news together tonight.
ReplyDeleteNow that's innovation.
Did Sammy take the opportunity to call Andy a liar
DeleteAt lunchtime I left a comment/question on Sam Mezec's blog.
DeleteIt is the question I asked late on Rico's last blog (which Sam might have missed)
Sam has since published other comments but thus far The Chairman has not deemed it appropriate to publish (let alone answer.
To be fair, I think I know the answer but I did expect conformation or correction:
http://ricosorda.blogspot.com/2017/01/deputy-andrew-powergate-lewis-reform.html?showComment=1483913890514#c7389057626449240908
"If Sam was more experienced and media savvy this would not have happened."
Sam says @1:50pm "What on earth are you talking about? ....etc. ....lie about me,....liars etc. etc."
OK, please let me help you out Sam
A dictionary definition of "Savvy" = shrewdness and practical knowledge; the ability to make good judgements
"Media Savvy" = the above shrewdness relating to communications and media:
i.e. understanding how information will be received, how it might be reported, how it will be spun.
---------------------------------------
So stop for a moment Sam.
You are calling your supporters and even respected bloggers liars and worse.
Is your communications strategy and style working for you or against you in this instance???
I would suggest not and the comments on the blogs etc. would tend to confirm this.
Likely a bit of this is trolling but the majority is people honestly expressing reasonable opinions.
Jill Gracia above recommends you use more statesman like language e.g.
your "liars" are "being economical with the truth" [still insulting IMO] or
"are not in possession of the full facts" [well, who is?]
Rather than being "liars" perhaps you could say that the people who do not interpret the facts in the way that you would like are "mistaken".
that would be far less emotive and more statesman like language.
Leaving aside for the moment the merits/lack of merits of p.133 we are of the understanding that you
A. had (informal?) discussions with Lewis prior to the proposition being finalised
and
B. even provided Lewis with data/analysis which he included in p.133
Are those the facts Mr.Mezec, or are we mistaken?
Sammy has completely blown it with me when he showed his age over the Lewisgate stuff and his responses to questions on it.
ReplyDeleteHas some serious growing up to do.
Sorry, but this comment at 21.07 really does read like trolling. It is after all word for word the stuff that comes out of the drunken phone call maker's hate locker.
DeleteYou know, the one who has been spreading lies that the Deputy is gay and not "normal" because he hasn't got children. (Sensible young man being in his early 20s in my opinion).
So to be fair to Mezec, and I don't support Reform assisting rehabilitate Lewis any more than most, let us keep it reasonable and above board Voice.
"21.07 .... trolling"; I really don't think so.
Deleteimo 21.07 reads like valid opinion that more and more of us are reluctantly having to take on board.
My feeling is that if Sam is not able to moderate his language and apologise to Rico Sorda and others who he has unjustifiably called liars he is not leadership material.
Ex Health Minister Syvret may indeed have been rude to innumerable people but he *usually* did so with justification and arguably with more style. Inevitably he is bound to have made mistakes or been harsh with more innocent people who were just trying to do their best in the dysfunctional child care systems etc.
Mr. Syvret's 'rudeness' served him well for many years in politics until the point there he exposed truths the 'Dons' and perverts wanted to keep hidden.
Stuart Syvret was an independent not a party leader. Sam Mezec is in a different position as an aspirational party leader. Sam does need to wise up ("grow up" as 21.07 put it) or he will damage himself and any future his fledgling party may have.
A party leader needs to bring people on board (not Lewis obviously!) not drive them away.
I did not understand the Troll comment either and it makes me wonder who wrote it.
DeleteIf people are not satisfied with the actions of a States Member then they have a democratic right to say so.
To be fair 21:23 did write "It is after all word for word the stuff that comes out of the drunken phone call maker's hate locker."
DeleteIf that statement is accurate 21:23 may have reasonably user the "T" word
but he may be wrong.
Either way, Sam should not walk into situations with his eyes wide shut.
Will Reform Jersey and Deputy Mezec still support the Lewis proposition if Philip Ozouf's wrecking amendment gets successfully tagged on? Surely you can't be a progressive and support Lewis AND Ozouf? May as well join the Jersey Way Club outright.
ReplyDeleteYou've hit the nail on the head.
DeleteThis is why nobody knows who Sam Mezec will be rubbing shoulders with next.
Can someone please enlighten me on what Ozouf's amendment is all about if indeed he really has lodged one. Searching the SOJ proposition page is quite revealing in that there is nothing appearing recently and indeed the last activity from him that wasn't withdrawn appears to be in July 2014. Makes you wonder if this idiot isn't just running a mock under executive powers. Ahhhh wait, the mist clears, that's exactly what he is doing. His wings need clipping quickly!
ReplyDeleteCould Reform Jersey be latching onto Dep. Andrew Lewis for all the PR he is getting?
ReplyDeleteIn the news again about Student Loans today.
Seems to have a finger in everything at the moment and maybe Reform Jersey have decided that they cannot beat him so have decided to turn their back on survivors and join him?
Ozouf wants to cement the Fascist State. Reduce the Assembly to just 38 members! 6 x Senators. 12 x Constables. And just 20 x Deputies in six fcuked up Super-Constituencies!
ReplyDeleteWell done Reform Jersey. You have opened the door to the devil and the aforesaid Fascist States if this goes through. St. Helier's representation hugely undermined.
Ozouf is an anti-democrat. He should be ashamed. Once a St helier Deputy he seeks to give even more power to the country parishes. Evil little man. Never in the island either.
DeleteActually it is just five joke super constituencies.
DeleteI agree, the whole thing could go tits up for the Progressives and if States Members have been swayed by the smarmy conman Andrew Lewis then Reform Jersey are dreaming if they think there's a power take over in it for them because Lewis will not give 2 ****s about them.
ReplyDeleteIf Sam Mezec wants to save his credibility and try and stave off democratic disaster with this Ozouf farce he should amend Lewis' proposition now by proposing each of the two St Helier super constituencies have 7 Senators each. That will at least show he is putting his constituents first, and making the point that St Helier must have fairness. Ozouf is just trying to creat an elite bunch of Senators to control the COM and waste millions on crap like the Innovation Fund, and let in thousands of low skilled immigrants.
ReplyDeleteThe only States electoral reform any genuinely progressive person should support is one where all members (pick a number) are elected on an island-wide mandate - i.e. 100% senators. No parish involvement of any description, no super-constituencies, no members returned unopposed, no Connetables, no deputies.
ReplyDeleteThe idea that just because a person lives in the same vingtaine as you makes them the best person to represent you, or that a States member who lives in St Martin cannot represent a constituent who lives in St Helier, is ridiculous in a 9x5 island.
Sam might even have a chance of getting elected as a Senator under such a system.
Yeah, Go for it Sam.
Delete(but please spare a thought for poor Geof)
Unfortunately creating a system with 40+ people elected on an island-wide mandate just won't work. many people from both sides have looked at it. Let's just put a very low guess of three people contesting every seat. At only 40 representatives that would be 120 candidates. Make great hustings wouldn't it? Take a couple of days off work to attend. And as research demonstrates if you happened to be called Philip Zete-Prat then you really would be wasting your time with the ballot papers. The best system would be a one class of member, 40 - 45 seats and either in the apparently beloved parish system or super constituencies. The Ozouf proposals are from a man we now know for sure cannot even count.
DeleteCan someone living in a different parsih represent you? of course. Unless you are unlucky eneough to get useless nerds like some people have in the past with the likes of James Baker, Scott Wickenden, Philip Ozouf and yup - Andrew Lewis
DeleteOzouf's amendment won't get through.
ReplyDeleteIn any case he has enough on his mind with the Bog-Filler fiasco.
We are probably only protected from Ozouf's amendment by the 'turkey effect'
DeleteThe Ozouf amendment, for those looking for a link
ReplyDeletehttp://www.statesassembly.gov.je/AssemblyPropositions/2016/P.133-2016Amd.pdf
From Philip Ozouf's amendment:
Delete"Fast forward to 2013, a properly constituted electoral commission put 3 proposals to a Referendum"
Philip Ozouf, and others, are attempting to re-write history or at least bury history.
An "independent" Electoral Commission was agreed in the States before Philip Bailhache got elected. Part of Philip Bailhache's electoral campaign was complaining about how States Members spend too much time going over old ground debating already agreed policies/propositions in the States. His first two propositions did just that. (Plemont and Electoral Commission)
The "independent" Electoral Commission was hijacked by those with an agenda to keep the Constables, including a Constable! So when Philip Ozouf says "a properly constituted electoral commission put 3 proposals to a Referendum" It should read: "An independent Electoral Commission was hijacked by politicians with a vested interest."
Readers should not forget history and have a look at THIS.
Great response VFC. I love it that you have an almost encyclopaedic knowledge of the key events in Jersey history over this past decade, all because of you running this excellent blog.
DeleteAs a father of two who hasn't been able to find work for several years I am outraged that Senator Ozouf hasn't resigned already. This money belongs to the people of Jersey.
ReplyDeleteSo true. I have just been in the petty debts court for not being able to manage my money. Ozouf has cost Jersey millions and he won't do the decent thing and quit. Is there no accountability in the Council of Ministers no matter what you screw up on?
DeleteOzouf has to resign surely? If Reform Jersey can get their act together starting with ditching Lewis's proposition things could be looking up at the next election. So many people are finally seeing that it is all smoke and mirrors with these 'safe pair of hands' Conservatives. They are to a man (and woman) useless.
ReplyDeleteThis totally incompetent giving away of Jersey tax payer hard earned cash could be what finally make the tax paying people of Jersey realise that The Assistant Chief Minister Senator Ozouf (and his team), are not there to help and support us. He is a multi millionaire, born with a silver spoon in his mouth, and it stands to reason that he is doing politics as a hobby and to boost his huge ego.
ReplyDeleteIf Gorst does not sack him then Gorst must face a vote of no confidence. Thing is we all already know that under the Jersey Establishment one of 'the boys' will never be thrown to the wolves. So who is brave enough for a no confidence vote that actually just might even be won?
DeleteTrouble is, you get rid of Gorst, you get Bailhache...
DeleteYou get Bailhache, you then get his independence dreams, further fuelled by Brexit.
Be careful what you wish for. The best case scenario is Gorst firing Ozouf, but Ozouf is likely to throw some damaging had grenades on the way out.
Pretty toxic, huh?
Nice to see some really relevant, topical political comments on here. Your firm line was obviously the right one Mr Editor.
ReplyDeleteIf anybody bothers to read the Report they will see the finger of blame is firmly being pointed at the 6 figure earning Civil Servants, who are supposed to do all the necessary checks and assessments before asking the Minister to sign off.
ReplyDeleteBut unfortunately the buck stops with the political buffoon who even by his own words is totally 'responsible'. face it. Ozouf has gotten away with being completely incompetent for a decade. Now his luck has run out. Would not be quite so bad if he wasn't the most arrogant man this side of Philip Bailhache.
DeleteBut?
DeleteI took the time to read the Report properly and I now accuse some Deputies of twisting the facts.
I hope a Vote of no Confidence is logged because it will back fire.
Jersey is a sinking ship. What is that saying about being able to fool most of the people most of the time? The lunacy of neo-liberal economics is coming home to roost in Jersey.
DeleteGiving top jobs to mates instead of people with ability was bound to catch up one day. That day is galloping over the hills to greet us right now.
Come on Philip just go. You always were crap at politics. A bully who thought talking fast could conceal that you are to money matters what Orinoco Womble was to hanggliding.
DeleteOzouf: "incompetent for a decade"
DeleteMore than a decade actually:
http://freespeechoffshore.nl/stuartsyvretblog/jerseys-public-finances-2004-2014-and-philip-ozouf/
"Philip Ozouf had one job – and one job only: to deliver calm, reliable stability to Jersey’s taxation, economic and financial environment. The one job that mattered in particular: managing Jersey’s public finances."
Ozouf and the States were warned about the black hole back in 2004 (by guess who) but they voted against the alternatives having been swayed by 'a safe pair of hands'.
Didn't that little oik Geoff Southern do all the research for that proposition back in the days when Little & Large were friends?
Delete"Didn't that little oik Geoff Southern do all the research for that proposition... ?"
DeleteI doubt it; Syvret was invariably very well researched.
Maybe Southern did do some of the donkey work. After all, RJ members needed to get experience at playing second fiddle.
Senator Ozouf's report accompanying his pitiful P133 amendment shows how useless he is with figures. It is also the blueprint for a thousand year Reich.
ReplyDeleteOzouf must be planning to leave politics at the next election anyway. If his plan to cut the number of Senators to 6 were to get through it would be ensuring his retirement. he barely managed to come 8th last time. Funnily enough down to some very suspicious increases in his vote in St Helier of all places!
ReplyDelete'But unfortunately the buck stops with the political buffoon who even by his own words is totally 'responsible'.'
ReplyDeleteSo the 3 Civil Servants (1 already gone) can get away scott free as the Minister(s) they are supposed to be doing a proper job for can take all the flak?
I think the other 2 named (won't name them on here) should be fired and the Civil service in general should be shaken up.
They should all go. Maybe if Ozouf hadn't been one of those protecting King for so long people would have more sympathy.
DeleteJersey would be in a better economic place if people like John Le Fondre, Sarah Ferguson or even Southern had been given the Treasury & Resources Ministry. Senator Ozouf was always just a well-to-do Del Boy with little idea about managing an economy long-term. Senator MacLean is even worse if not as nasty. No wonder they are calling us the Titanic Island in London these days.
ReplyDeleteSenator MacLean is another one born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Hobbies are properties and politics.
ReplyDeleteUsed to sell double glazing. Then inherited 'a small' country estate in Hertfordshire or some such wasn't it? Remember when Shona Pitman kicked this numpty's arse when I lived in St. Helier One back in the mid 2000s. Vacuous airhead the chap was I thought. And I was right. Prefer him over Ozouf though.
DeleteWe need some proper people's politicians back in the States. Good old Bob Hill and the Pitmans spring to mind. Such a tragedy that Bob's health obviously won't allow that. Ozouf is an absolute disgrace. No shame, No remorse. *anker.
Delete
ReplyDeleteThe report by the respected and excellent Karen McConnell into the basket case innovation fund. Please remember she is not a career civil servant but on a three year contract. Will it be renewed if Philip Ozouf is still in power. A strong and professional lady - respect.
http://www.jerseyauditoffice.je/Publications/Report%20-%20Jersey%20Innovation%20Fund.pdf
As a former civil servant who has dealt with project financing and who has appeared before my own C&AG and PAC, I would be very concerned with the apparently lax governance culture and disregard for the States as evidenced in this report, not only in relation to this fund but elsewhere across the administration, as implied by the G&AG.
DeleteSome relevant sections of the report instanced below:
15.1
[notes] a culture where good governance was not central to decision-making either at the establishment of the Fund or subsequently.
15.11
Some of my findings about a corporate approach, risk management and decision-making echo findings of other reviews that I have undertaken. It is therefore important that the relevance of the findings from this review to other activities of the States is considered.
R6
Consider the implications of the finding of this review that a culture of good governance was not central to decision-making in this case for the making and implementation of decisions across the States.
Re: 3 year contract
DeleteI gather she was initially appointed in February 2013 on a 2 year contract.
New legislation was then brought in in 2014 which introduced a fixed 7 year term, but provided for re-appointment of the existing C&AG provided her aggregate term did not exceed 7 years.
Link
Her current re-appointment is from 1 May 2015 to 31 December 2019.
Link
This would not appear renewable as the legislation provides that the C&AG can only serve one term.
Link
I appreciate that this appears to leaves a 3 month gap in 2015 but I don't have the time or expertise to chase that one down.
Apologies second link above should be page 80, very bottom of page. Just do a tiny scroll up from page 81.
Delete
ReplyDeleteDear VFC,
I am sick to death of Philip Ozouf, Alan Maclean and weak Minster Gorst doing as they please with the publics money regardless of the public outcry in States spending and waste and borrowing multi millions to build half empty office blocks which only the States in crowd and selective getting a special deal companies take advantage of, mostly already connected to the States Development Company.
Then they take away or charge more ( rubbish and sewage the latest plan ) for services which are paid for already with our taxes. A quick look at the planning web site shows already that the publics started putting in complaints against the third pile of rubbish, the plans show proposed building No 6 to be another industrialised rectangular unneeded office block.
All comments are counted including one liners so far 14 ordinary residents have made their feelings known. This stupid expensive development on public land needs less time than writing a comment on your excellent blog or as long as it takes to make a cup of coffee. So please have a look and fill out the form on line from your own home or work. It could not be easier. Show them you have had enough.
The Comment section is easy to find, link below
Application Reference : P/2016/1876
Application detail - Application timeline - Application documentation - Comment on application.
Sorry cannot do hyper links.
https://www.mygov.je/Planning/Pages/PlanningApplicationDetail.aspx?s=1&r=P/2016/1876
I am 47 years old now. Lived here all of my life apart from a two year secondment once back in the late 1990s. I work in finance though I am not one of these on a six figure salary that's for sure. Struggled like most to put my daughter through uni. That burden has recently finished but life does not seem to get any easier here does it, no matter how hard you work. My point is I really can't remember feeling that we had a government as useless as this one ever. I used to laugh at some of the leftist politicians moaning that they were excluded from ministerial posts even though they claimed they could do a better job. But do you know what? I really think I was probably wrong and they were right. The Gorsts and Ozoufs of this world just waste money as if it was their own. Nobody is ever accountable either no matter how bad the fiasco. Others just spout the same thing like on immigration controls as if they really don't think any of us will remember them saying it before the last election and then doing nothing. Really it is taking the piss. I will never be a natural socialist but I tell you this. Come 2018 I will be voting for candidates from outside of the fold. I think I won't be the only one crossing over either.
ReplyDeleteThink you are probably right Anonymous. Even bullshit can reach saturation point. With these guys the bullshit is overflowing the barrel now. Why isn't King and Co being asked to pay some of the losses back from their huge salaries? Why isn't Ozouf sticking his hand up and taking the consequences like a man?
DeleteOzouf is never in the island since he lost his beloved T & R ministry. Lucky to best Sarah Ferguson last time around. he is finished come the election and won't be missed.
ReplyDeleteI hope some States Member has an emergency question lined up for Gorst about this latest Philip Ozouf negligence at next week's States sitting?
ReplyDeleteOzouf should pull his joke of a reform proposition. Reducing the States to just 38 people is all about him being desperate to hold on to power. It couldn't even work under a ministerial system. Just too few bodies. I would make the number back up to 53 as it used to be.
ReplyDeleteI am surprised people are not properly analysing this Report.
ReplyDeleteIt clearly states that the Board who made recommendations to Ministers did not do proper checks, did not follow protocol and there are also accusations of potential conflicts of interests within the Board that were not declared.
All this Ozouf hate is a deflection away from what appears to be some crooked Civil Servants.
Stop waffling Philip. You said in the States yourself. You are totally responsible. You allowed people unfit to do the job to waste my and other taxpayers' money. You have cost this island millions over the years through your arrogant incompetence. Please do one. Buy yourself a one way ticket to London where you spend most of your time and stay there.
DeletePhilip Ozouf.
DeleteThe man who led the charge to create Jersey's Black Hole. Oh how I too wish he would disappear down one!
If Gorst won't finally discover some backbone and sack Ozouf we really need a vote of no confidence in both.
It won't happen. The rot of extreme incompetence is so ingrained in Jersey's right-wing government only an election can change it. And that won't happen either because most of my Jersey brethren are just apathetic. They moan but doing anything is just to much effort.
DeleteSounds all personal against Ozouf.
ReplyDeleteAll this Report will do is change some Civil Servants because despite all the spin, there is not enough in it to take Ozouf out.
Hardly personal. Your comment however sounds like the apologist norm whenever your boys are proven unfit to serve. People are getting sick of it and Ozouf's bullying arrogance over the years has hardly endeared him to those from outside the faithful.
DeleteAs if Reform Jersey are the answer.
DeleteJust published interview with Leah McGrath Goodman HERE.
ReplyDelete