The Day Jimmy met Jill.

It was a very eventful day at the States today. We saw the election of a new Minister for Health and Social services. The candidates were Deputy Geoff Southern, Deputy Ann Pryke, Deputy Paul Le Claire, Senator Jimmy Perchard and Deputy Collin Egre.

To cut a long story short Deputy Ann Pryke got the job. The question is did she get the job because she has the experience and strength to bring some kind of order to the shambles the health service is in, or did she get the job because she does what she is told by the Council of Ministers and will be easily manipulated by Mike Pollard?

Cast your mind back to the CTV live interview with Senator Jimmy Perchard when he said he would apologise to Senator Syvret and would love to talk to Mrs. “GARCIA” about the tragedy of her son’s suicide in order to get a better understanding of suicide.

Unfortunately the good Senator delivered on neither and after resigning from his post as Health Minister a couple of weeks ago, put himself forward as a candidate today. This is after a huge public outcry for his removal after it had become apparent that he was insincere, lied to the States, used foul language in the States and it was proven, when he held the position of Assistant Health Minister he actively encouraged another States member to take his own life. Depending on whom you believe he did the same, to the same States member that fateful morning in the States.

Senator Perchards position had become untenable as Minister for Health, some argue his position as a States member became untenable also but none of this deterred him from attempting to regain his post.

Now this does not happen often but I must pay tribute to our elected “representatives”, (well, all but 10 of them) who did not support Senator Perchard in his attempt on re-election. I can’t say if they gave the electorate what they did want, however it appears they knew what, or who, the public didn’t want and voted accordingly. So credit where it is due to all but 10 of our “representatives” and let’s hope they carry on voting in line with the public’s wishes.

In Senator Perchards defence I do believe he is remorseful for uttering those words to Senator Syvret. I do believe that day has, and will, torment him for a long time. I do believe he had passion and drive and was totally committed to his role as Health Minister. Unfortunately I don’t believe he is aware of the hurt he has caused to families who have experienced mental health issues or loved ones with mental health issues or families of suicide victims.

As Senator Perchard failed to contact Mrs. Gracia, who lost her son to suicide a little over 5 years ago, she took the opportunity to make herself known to him today outside the States, before the election, and I managed to catch it on film (below). Mrs. Gracia is a very humble lady who has been to hell and back and was traumatized by Senator Perchards comments to Senator Syvret, something she finds difficult to forgive him for, but is trying, because that is her nature.

Mrs. Gracia went into the States to watch the election, praying Senator Perchard would not be successful, all the time holding up a photo of the son she lost, for all to see. She held the photo up for a couple of hours and nothing was said. Then Senator (please sir!!) Phillip Ozouf walked into the chamber looked up at the public gallery and swiftly scribbled a note and got it handed to the Balliff. The Balliff promptly instructed Mrs. Gracia to either remove the photo, or remove herself from the gallery, nice one Phillip! She put the photo away but her prayers were answered.

Anyway here is the video of “The Day Jimmy met Jill”

The reality of suicide and addiction - A mother's story.

Neil Gracia was your normal - happy go lucky- much loved son who shared a special bond with his mother who he shared some of his inner most secrets with. He was an honest, loving and caring son. Never a great lover of school and got himself into the odd bit of mischief much like other boys his age.

His story is quite unremarkable really a happy enough childhood which was filled with sports activities from golf, football, swimming and most importantly his beloved fishing. Some might say he lived for his fishing, any spare time he had he would be at either a well known fishing spot or one of his many "secret" spots.

He left school at the earliest opportunity, he was 16 years old. He had done some work experience on the States Tug boat which he loved as anything nautical was his passion. He went on to work in fishing tackle shops and eventually took a course in welding at Highlands college.

Neil was anti "hard drug" although had dabbled in a bit of "Puff" believing it was harmless enough and not realising where this "harmless puff" might take him. His mother Jill had no idea that her son was falling foul of the affects that grips most users. Neil was sharing a flat with a "non user" who, realising Neil had become dependent on harder drugs suggested he should bring this to the attention of his mother, who had absolutely no idea how far his dependency had developed.

Which he did by going around to Jill's house and saying "mum I am addicted to Heroin" The feelings and emotions Jill felt at that moment simply can't be put into words but those who have experienced this you will know that feeling, for those that haven't let's hope you never have to.

Mother and son talked very openly about it and Jill assured Neil she would be there to support him in any way she could although her knowledge on drugs and addiction were very limited. Jill will also never forget the day after Neil's revelation where the two of them were walking down a narrow road when a group of people were walking down from the opposite direction. As Neil and Jill were walking side by side they had to seperate to allow the group to pass. Neil's words were " have you done that because you are ashamed of me"? Those words were extremely upsetting to Jill, who replied "I'm not ashamed of you Neil, I'm just very saddened for you".

Going through Jill's mind were thoughts of "how did this ever happen"? "What could have steered Neil down this route"? "Am I to blame"? "Why Neil"? "Why me"? Jill started thinking was it the breakdown of her marriage with Neil's father, did I give Neil enough love, did I give him too much love? There were a million and one questions but no answers.

Neil was attending the Drug and Alcohol service run by the States of Jersey. Jill - being in unknown territory - frantically sought answers from the D & A service. They seemed reluctant to engage with Jill. The very little she did know about drugs and addiction was that the treatment on offer was not a solution but a substitute, but that's for another Blog.

By this time Neil's addiction had become Jill's addiction, in that Jill was addicted to getting Neil the right treatment. Every waking hour was filled with idea's and notions, research and the feeling of "banging my head against a brick wall", desperation and hopelessness. This was compelled by Neil's awareness of his desperate state and his desire to educate young people to the horrors of drug addiction. He would have liked to show photo's of his arms, feet, backside and indeed his whole body that was riddled with abcesses, holes and infections if it would put anybody off turning out like he had.

Neil was offered a Detox at the General Hospital (after months of Jill and Neil fighting tooth and nail to get, including staging a sit in at the D&A office) which consisted of 5 days detoxing in the hospital and put back out on the street again. He alerted the doctor in charge of his detox he didn't feel he was strong enough to cope in the outside world because by this time the only "friends" he had were either dealers or addicts who had become his world, his entire existance.

Unfortunately this fell on deaf ears. All that was open to Neil was a detox and the job of the States of Jersey was done, there was insufficient structures in place to help an addict to cope in the outside world with sobriety.

So as warned, he got his detox and walked straight into the arms of his "friends" and dealers who obviously knew what was best for him! So here he was back to square one again. After collapsing in a car park and spending 5 days in severe pain attending the hospital, on a daily basis telling them the pain he was in was unbearable he wasn't believed, rightly or wrongly, the staff believed he was just after more Morphine or strong painkillers to feed his addiction. It transpired that Neil was in fact suffering with Pancreatitis which eventually hospitalised him for the best part of a week.

Part and parcel of addiction comes the ability to be able to lie and deceive almost professionally so why should doctors and Nurses believe an addict, why should anybody believe an addict? after all they chose to be an addict didn't they? Or did they develop an illness that is still very misunderstood?

At his lowest points Neil had been very close to death several times. Jill had seen him in intensive care, deliberately overdosing to try and escape the chaotic lifestyle from which he could see no escape. He became a completely emaciated, pallid skeleton, a shadow of the young man who had been so proud and particular of his good looks and appearance. Jill had to feed him like a baby to ensure he got some form of nourishment, and bath him like a child to enable him to retain some form of dignity.

During all this time though, and despite his heavy, out of control using, he always retained a sense of morals. If he needed money Jill would give Neil her bank card to draw money from her account, (rightly or wrongly) and if he said he needed £30 that was what he withdrew, never a penny more. Nor did he ever steal from her despite having access to her flat at any time. All Jill wanted was to have Neil 'the son' back, the son she knew was somewhere inside Neil 'the heroin addict', and was determined to do anything to achieve that.

Jill wrote a letter to the JEP (our only "news"paper) highlighting the lack of "real" help in assisting addicts to, and in, recovery i.e rehabilitation. Addicts were being sent to prison with inadequate facilities and just slung out on the streets again.

The JEP contacted Jill asking if they could run her story as an article which she agreed to. This article was read by an expert in addiction therapy and rehab, who contacted Jill with the offer of help and advice. This was a huge relief and a massive weight off Jills shoulders who promptly accepted this kind offer.

Jill was put in contact with a therapist and recovering addict who was very instrumental in setting up a residential rehab facility here in Jersey, the treatment was based on the 12 step programme. This was a huge turning point for Jill and Neil. Mike Delaney was the answer to all their prayers. He listened intently to their story which was so similar to hundreds if not thousands that Mike had heard during his time as an addict and as a counsellor but at the same time made Jill feel their story, issues, dilemma, heartbreak and struggle were of the upmost importance and they, for the first time, felt they were more than just another statistic.

Neil for the first time felt a detox would be worthwhile as there would be something at the end of it, he was going to be given the tools to deal with his demons, understand and recognise his emotions, be shown a way forward by a man who has been in the same dark place and come out the other side. For the first time they were given hope and inspiration. Neil became more than a no hoper, somebody had faith in him besides his mother, somebody had faith in his mother besides him.

Mike admitted Neil into the residential rehab centre where he spent approximately 16 weeks of intense rehabilitation. He was completely free of any drug including prescription drugs for the first time in his adult life. He embraced the 12 step programme, although it was a very "sobering" and uncomfortable wake up call but necessary if he was to achieve his ultimate goal to live a drug free and productive life.

Jill very quickly noticed the difference in Neil, he was starting to look like and act like the son she thought she had lost to heroin and addiction. Although the intensive programme Neil was on, was not plain sailing he had his own doubts in places as did Jill. Jill dare not allow herself to believe unquestionably that life was now going to be a bed of roses, she had allowed herself to think that in the past, only to be knocked back down again.

During his time in rehab Neil had built some genuine relationships and amassed a wealth of true "friends" not only fellow recovering addicts but people from all walks of life, including friends who had shunned him during his using days. Jill gradually was allowing herself to "let go" of her addiction (Neil's addiction) knowing Neil had a good support network around him and she was able to relax, just a little bit for the first time, in a long time.

Everything in the garden was rosy, Neil was clean, the son had returned for Jill. Neil was accepted into Highlands College and enrolled in a number of courses with the ultimate aim to go to university and study Marine Biology. He was leading a productive and honest life which was filled with all of his favourite things, fishing, welding, socialising, studying, and most of all a proper mother and son relationship.

Things weren't to stay rosy for too long. The 12 step programme has certain guidelines, or recommendations, they suggest you follow. Things were going that well for Neil he felt he had the strength to cut a few corners, not to do all "the suggested things" one of them being not to get involved in a relationship.

True to form Neil threw himself wholeheartedly into a relationship. Addicts by nature tend to throw themselves into anything they do 100% it's all or nothing. Again things were going well in this relationship but this too was not to last. The relationship started, for whatever reason, to hit rocky grounds. Was this relationship Neil's new addiction? How was he going to cope with all these new emotions that had been numbed for years by heroin? Sadly it appeared he couldn't.

Jill believes a couple of weeks before "that tragic day" Neil had come to believe he couldn't cope with life on life's terms. He had taken the decision to turn back to his "old friend" heroin. This decision could not have been taken lightly. It is Jill's belief the day he picked that drug up he knew this would be the end.

Although for those couple of weeks Neil had started using again he managed to keep it hidden from Jill. Although he was still in regular contact, by phone, with Jill as he knew if he wasn't in regular contact with Jill she would worry. It was almost as though Neil was comfortable with the decision he had made, to end it all. For the first time ever Jill could not sense anything in Neil's voice that might be troubling him.

Unusually Neil had not answered Jill's phone calls on the Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. After Jill frantically phoning around others she learnt Neil had "picked up" again. I asked Jill how she felt when she learnt Neil was using again. She simply didn't have the words, these feelings and emotions might not even have a name but will only ever be recognised by those who have experienced them.

That fateful Tuesday the 31st of March 2004 Jill was still busy phoning anybody and everybody who might be able to give her some kind of info on Neil, where was he, how was he, had anybody heard from him? Nobody could answer any of the questions. Jill phoned the mother of one of Neil's friends in the afternoon who phoned her son (Neil's friend) and asked him to go round to Neil's flat to check on him. Another friend was able to do this and every parents nightmare had become realised by Jill.

The son she had loved and cherished, the son she had witnessed take his first steps, the son she had left toothfairy money for under his pillow, the son who came home with his first school photo and school report, the son she watched grow from a baby to a teenager, from a teenager into a man. This is not supposed to happen, parents are not supposed to bury children, it was literally incomprehensible. How could this have ever happened why, why, why, did this happen? These and many, many more questions haunt Jill to this day, knowing she will never have them answered.

Some questions have been answered in Neil's "suicide note" which further evidenced the fact he was in control of what he was doing, had planned it and was determined in going through with it. Jill, knowing Neil as she did (does), believes he saw no other alternative than to end his life. He felt he had let down all those who had helped him and been there for him and would have felt it too much to cope with the consequences of his "picking up" again.

Neil has been gone for more than 5 years now and there is barely a single minute in the day where he is not in Jill's thoughts and there is not one single minute he is not in her heart. She sleeps with the pillow case Neil's head was resting on in his last minutes in this life, she can still smell and feel him and his presence.

Jill is hoping by publishing this Blog others might gain just a little understanding of addiction (no matter what form it takes) it kills people. It has no social barriers, it knows no boundaries. Jill believes it is an illness that she has first hand knowledge of. It is the only illness that tells you, you haven't got it.

Jill has met some wonderful people on this journey, people she will never forget, people who understand and people who have been there, for Neil and her for this she will be forever grateful. Mike Delaney, Alberto, Liz Cutland and all Neil's friends who supported both Neil and Jill through all of this.

Neil Gracia 01/02/1978 - 31/03/2004 R.I.P

Alcoholics Anonymous Jersey 01534 - 726681

Narcotics Anonymous Jersey free phone 08007 351860

Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide 0800 735 1017

The silent peaceful march in acknowledgement of abuse survivors across the world went ahead today as planned. It was, surprisingly, well attended approximately a hundred people were there. I know the Belgian White March had up to 300,000 marchers with a population of over 11 million. I’m not sure how that all works out statistically but for Jersey standards today’s march was well attended. It did what it said on the box - it was silent and peaceful.

One of the main objectives of this march was to highlight the very hidden world of paedophilia and child abuse that is rife in society all over the world and to say the good people of Jersey are not going to rest until it is stamped out and the guilty are brought to justice.

I will leave this Blog short, naturally there are political and Police issues that seriously need addressing involving child abuse but I shall leave that for another day. Today is a day of recognition (not sympathy) of all abuse survivors and their families.

I took very little video footage and decided not to interview anybody as my primary purpose of being there today was to offer some support however small.

Dr Mark Forskitt, himself a Care Leaver, though I believe escaped abuse, kindly gave a speech in the Royal Square and I shall leave the last word to him.

Silent Peaceful March

On April the 25th 2009 at 12 noon there is to be a silent and peaceful march from Peoples Park to the Royal Square. The march will be in support and acknowledgement of victims of child abuse past and present across the world.

On October the 21st 1996 up to 300,000 Belgian citizens took to the streets wearing white ribbons and arm bands as a symbol of hope which became known as “The White March”. It was not only a march for hope but also a silent peaceful protest against their governments handling of the of the Marc Dutroux case which bears many similarity’s, not only to the way our government has handled the child abuse scandal that has hit Jersey, but the way child abuse is handled by some governments across the world.

We would like the Jersey White March to be non political or critical of our government or police investigation. We believe it will be an opportunity to show abuse survivors and the rest of the world that the good people of Jersey do not condone abuse of any human being - child or otherwise.

Abuse survivors, across the globe, have had theirs and their family’s lives torn apart, wrecked, and destroyed, not only by the heinous abuse they have suffered at the hands of their abusers but the wall of silence that inevitably surrounds the taboo subject of paedophilia and child abuse.
This March has the support of the Care Leavers Association (CLA) and the Jersey Care Leavers Association (JCLA) Please give this march and all abuse survivors your support and show the world the good people of Jersey DO care.

We would ask if you are able to attend the march that you wear something white, a symbol of “hope”
If you are a Blogger and support abuse victims around the world, please copy and paste this onto your Blog until the day of the march SATURDAY 25th OF APRIL 2009 12.p.m

BBC "Journalism"

Local BBC Radio Jersey and the BBC in general come in for a bit of stick regarding their "Journalism". I would like to share with you a little bit of their "Journalism" at work.

Below is an interview with Senator Terry Le Main conducted by one Gwyn Garfield Bennett of the local BBC. This was on the day Senator Terry Le Main held on to his seat as Housing Minister, narrowly beating Senator Alan Breckon. Also the same day as Deputy James Reed was elected as Minister for Education Sport and Culture who was kind enough to allow me an interview here from what I can gather, the said reporter had waited outside the States building, all morning, to say to Senator Le Main "you must be pleased"

So effectively the BBC licence fee payer are paying a "Journalist" to wait outside a building all morning just to state the bl00dy obvious! This is the sort of shoddy, sloppy and downright laziness the BBC expect us to accept as "Journalism"

What I don't get is what was the point of paying a "Journalist" a mornings wages just for her to say "you must be pleased". What was she expecting him to say? "no i'm pretty gutted really, i'm incompedent, haven't got a clue what i'm doing and Senator Breckon would have been a much better Minister and I only put myself forward for the crack".

Unfortunately this is the sort of thing a lot of people have come to accept as "Journalism" over here. When in reality it is just a little bit of a soundbite that fills a little bit of air time and requires no research or preperation, in fact it could have been done over the phone in a matter of seconds.

Christ even the filthy Rag and CTV are starting to look a little bit like "Journalists" these days. If the BBC want to be taken seriously they are going to have to come up with a bit better than this. They are going to have to start giving the licence fee payer value for money and that also means stop sh1tting themselves when Senator Syvret phones up the phone in and cutting him off.

What a mess

Enough said really.

"representation" the Dupre way

Deputy Dupre is new to the States. How she ever got voted in with her manifesto is beyond me!

Regular readers/viewers of VFC will be aware of my ongoing struggle, as a parent of 2 children in the States Education system, to find out if there is any truth in the allegations that a senior Civil Servant in the Education Department has been - or is - a suspect in the ongoing child abuse investigation.

I asked my "representative" Deputy Anne Dupre (who is also assistant education minister) to "represent" me and ask a question in the States of her Minister which would hopefully give me an answer as to whether or not the allegations were true. She told me "I can't go against my minister" although I wasn't asking her to go against him, I was merely asking her to "represent" me and help put my mind at ease. She refused to do this but said she would "have a word" with him and get back to me.

I was then forced to ask a Deputy of another Parish to ask my question which Deputy Montford Tadier did as you can see in previous posts. Needless to say Deputy Dupre didn't "get back to me" so I had to chase her up.

She first told me she is in "negotiations" with the said Civil Servant and will "get back to me", needless to say she didn't "get back to me" so I had to chase her up.

After chasing her up she told me she has written to the Attorney General on my behalf (without consulting me about what to put in the letter) and will get back to me. Needless to say she didn't "get back to me"

I have asked her what she put in the letter (on my behalf) to the AG. She has told me she has "been informed" that she can't tell me what was written in a letter on my behalf! I have "chased her up" asking who informed her and what were the reasons? and she still hasn't replied.

Let's put this into perspective I am asking whether or not a high ranking official in the Education Department is a suspect in a child abuse investigation. Deputy Anne Dupre, who according to her Manifesto is "Compassionate, Considerate and Caring won't go against her Minister? She might be the three C's but the three above don't even come close!

This woman, in my opinion, is more interested in protecting Civil Servants and the Oligarchy than "representing" any member of the public and wasted absolutely no time in "going native" as shown by her appalling voting record. And after writing this in her manifesto.

I am totally against GST on food and children's clothes. In 1973 the UK government introduced VAT, but food, children's clothes, books, newspapers and magazines were zero-rated or exempt. We normally follow the UK in a somewhat slavish way, but on this occasion, the States thought they knew best – how wrong they were! The majority of Islanders are against this tax as it affects every single person, from the young to the old. It affects the care homes, hospitals, nursing homes, nurseries etc. She votes AGAINST Deputy Labey's proposition of excluding GST from food.

I am still waiting to hear back from her as to who "informed" her that I am not allowed to see the letter she wrote to the AG on my behalf, and exactly why I am not allowed to see it. I have decided not to bother "chasing her up" with e-mails any longer as it appears fruitless. Instead I will be asking her on camera. I do not enjoy "sticking a camera" in anybody's face but after exhausting every other avenue it seems there is no other alternative.

Deputy Anne Dupre in my opinion is nothing more than an Olly Dolly and has been recruited as Lobby Fodder. I will ask her the relevant questions - on film - when I get the next opportunity until then, this is how willing she is to talk to Citizens Media and her Parishioners.

sorry

Senator Stuart Syvret gives his reaction to Health Minister Jimmy Perchard's apology..........to the States!

I have e-mailed Senator Perchard and got no reply. I have since phoned Senator Perchard and offered him an unedited interview in order to put across a fair and balanced report. Senator Perchard has explained to me that he deserves the right to privacy. He will not be doing an interview with the JEP, CTV, or BBC Jersey or me on this subject. He further believes, what he said to Senator Syvret in the States, was "a private conversation" and does not agree with me, that when he is in a States sitting he is there representing the public from the minute he walks in the door to the minute he walks out of it.

Senator Perchard maintains he has been "misquoted" When I asked him "what did you say to Senator Syvret"? he wouldn't tell me - quoting the "privacy" sketch.

He was also asked for a written statement (in the interest of fairness and balance) for this item but he refused this also. Below is the e-mail sent to Senator Perchard and below that is Senator Syvret's response to the apology............ all be it to the States.

For what it is worth Senator Perchard was very civil and courteous on the phone to me this morning and did appear remorseful of his comments (whatever they were.) On that note I got talking to a lady in the Royal Square, who's child committed suicide 5 years ago, she told me she had been "traumatised" by Senator Perchard's comments to Senator Syvret.

I would like to remind Senator Perchard he does have "an avenue of reddress" should he wish to leave a comment on here or any other Blog, including Senator Syvret's.

The e-mail to Senator Perchard.

Senator Perchard.

We are writing in order to give you the opportunity to respond to claims made , about you, by Senator Syvret. We have recorded an interview with Senator Syvret where he claims you encouraged him to "go top himself". He has also given us (on camera) his response to your apology yesterday in the States. I understand you believe you have no avenue of reddress to any of Senator Syvret's postings on his Blogsite. We would like to offer you that avenue should you wish to take it.

Also it is in the interest of fairness and balance that we should offer you the opportunity to give your side of events, not only for your benefit but for the benefit of our viewers. The Senator Syvret interview will be published tomorrow afternoon. Should you agree to an interview we would hope for it to be some time tomorrow.

Kind Regards.

Team Voice.
End e-mail.

I have had problems getting this video on here so have gone via youtube so the "aboves" and "belows" will now be a little a-se about face because I can't seem to get the text above the video without losing the video when I have gone through youtube.

The Quest continues...........

Question asked by Deputy Montford Tadier to Deputy James Reed Minister for Education Sport and Culture.

ORAL QUESTION FOR TUESDAY 10TH MARCH 2009



Deputy M. Tadier of St Brelade will ask the following question of the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture-


“Can the Minister inform the Assembly whether any senior officers in the Education, Sport and Culture Department are subject to Police investigations pertaining to child abuse and, if so, whether such investigations have been terminated?”

The question never got asked in the States due to question time running over. However Deputy James Reed submitted a written "answer" and here it is!

Sir

At present I am unable to either confirm or deny whether I have received or am aware of any disclosures pertaining to any police investigations in relation to any employees at Education Sport and Culture.
Police investigations are confidential until such time as a decision is made whether or not to charge an individual. In certain circumstances the Police may decide it is appropriate to make a disclosure to an employer about an investigation however such a disclosure is classed as confidential and the employer would not be able to disclose this information to another party.

As a result of the above, I am unable to comment further on this matter.

My question is "how is a parent supposed to have trust and faith in our goverment with "answers" like that?

Deputy Tadier gives his response to the "answer" (in the video below) and it is worrying to say the least! The Deputy suspects there could be a senior officer in the Education Department that could be a suspect in the recent child abuse inquiry.

I share the Deputy's suspicion. Although I, and I believe the Deputy, have no proof that this is the case. It is extremely alarming that the Minister will do nothing to dispell these suspicions and doesn't appear too concerned about the message he could be sending out to parents of children in the Education System.

I am waiting for Deputy Reed to contact me with a time and date that he can meet with me. When (if) he contacts me I will ask him, in the interest of fairness and balance, to give me an interview with his response to Deputy Tadiers interview.

In the meantime my sleepless nights and quest continues.

Scrutiny.....what's the point?

Following on from my last Blog below;

The letter from the public could not be addressed by the Scrutiny Panel, something to do with “not being in their remit to get involved in personal cases”! However an edited version of the letter , or question, will be asked in the States by Deputy of St Brelade Montford Tadier who is also a member of the Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel. The question to the Minister for Education Sport and Culture will read “Can the Minister inform the Assembly whether any senior officers in the Education, Sport and Culture Department are subject to Police investigations pertaining to child abuse and, if so, whether such investigations have been terminated?”

I really must try and explain, to my readers, the experience of going to one of these Scrutiny meetings. It is like walking into to a land of make believe and to my mind a complete waste of time and tax payers money.

Let me give you an example of what I mean by this;

The Scrutiny chairman said to the Chief Officer of Education, Mario Lundy, something along the lines of, "there appears to be, what could be described by some, as a significant increase in the number of pupils being suspended from school"? To which Mario Lundy replied, something along the lines of, "yes but what is important to remember that those numbers include repeat offenders".......... "there are possibly a select few, or more, that are repeatedly offending and repeatedly being suspended".

Now it doesn't take a rocket scientist to come up with the question to Mario Lundy "have you ever thought that suspending these children (repeat offenders) is not working"? On that Scrutiny Panel there is somewhere in the region of £420,000 P.A. of tax payers money (5 States Members, Department C.O. and 3 Scrutiny staff) and none of the "Scrutineers" could come up with completely obvious and crucial questions!

Furthermore Mario Lundy said, something along the lines of, "suspended children are catered for, educationally, while they are suspended". Which I take to mean they are given "homework" etc. so their education is not hindered by their suspension. That, in my opinion, is a complete load of Tosh, I know of children who have been suspended, been given no schoolwork, and relished their time off school! Which is possibly evident by the "repeat offenders".

We must also look at the "teeth" of Scrutiny. Let's just suppose Scrutiny come up with a completey damning report, or review, on a particular Ministry or policy of that Ministry. Scrutiny has no legislative power. As a Scrutiny panel (as I understand it) they can't even bring that damning report to the States, they will have to try and bring it as an individual States member! Then any propositions, recommendations, or amendments will be voted on by the Oligarchy, and others, and experience tells me the vote will go "the establishment way"

What is just as frustrating is (to the best of my knowledge) none of the Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel have children in the school system. I have two children in the system and have first hand knowledge of the Education Department's "practices" and could quite easily expose, what I believe to be, failings, and ommissions by the Education Department. But as a member of public I am not permitted to take part in any of the meetings.

Not only do I believe the public ought to be permitted to participate at these meetings I believe there should be a member of the public, with first hand knowledge, on the Scrutiny Panel.

Our Oligarchy's "war cry" is "States Members are easily accessible, you can phone them or e-mail them if you have any issues you wish to be addressed" in theory that is true you can phone them or e-mail them. But in practice they often don't answer their phones, return your calls or answer your e-mails. If they do reply to an e-mail they completely ignore the most significant questions or topics you wish to be addressed.

A Scrutiny Panel meeting could be an ideal opportunity for the general public to have their issues addressed by the relevant Minister or Chief Officer, but that runs the risk of exposing, not only the Minister and Chief Officer and their Department but also the risk of exposing the Scrutiny Panel as inconsequential and inept.

I know I have been somewhat harsh on the Education Scrutiny Panel as a whole. As individual States members however I believe they (or most) are productive, hard working States Members.

I know Deputy Roy Le Herissier (chairman of Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel) is a reader of this Blog. I also know he supports Citizens Media (for which I respect him) and would invite him to comment here on my observations and criticisms.

Scrutiny Questions, Education Answers?

The following letter has been submitted to the Education and Home affairs Scrutiny Panel which meets this Friday 6th March 2009 in the States Building at 3pm. Members of the public can attend (but can not video) see here http://voiceforjersey.blogspot.com/2009/03/scruitiny-v-free-speechthe-battle-for.html

This is the cotinuation of the Panel meeting which was attended by the Minister for Education Sport and Culture Deputy James Reed and his Chief officer Mario Lundy for which the matter of suspensions was on the agenda. That meeting overran on time and so is resumed on Friday.

Copy of letter submitted;

Dear Deputy.

Can you please ask the Minister for Education whether he is aware of any continuing Police investigations regarding a senior officer in his Department or whether such investigations have been terminated?

You will know because you asked certain questions in the States in October 2008 that a Senior Officer had recieved a Police "Disclosure Notice" and it is a matter of considerable public concern that this officer might still be in position preparing and administering Education Policies.

Since the nature of the alleged offences was concerned with "child abuse" and the (then) Chief Minister gave assurances that the matter would "be taken very seriously indeed" and that "a risk analysis of what action should be taken" would be undertaken, it must now be reasonable to ask if any action has been taken or is proposed to be taken, with regard to this employee?

I obviously won't need to remind you that the (then) Chief Minister also gave assurances that "the priority is always to protect the interest of the public and vulnerable clients".

Letter end.

It is quite normal for letters from the public to the Scrutiny Panels to be submitted and discussed at these meetings. VFC/VFJ will keep you informed............

Hospital Consultant had serious concerns about integrity of Mr Pollard, CEO of Health

Recently retired Hospital Consultant, Dr Gil Blackwood, reveals he had raised serious concerns about the integrity of the Health service CEO, Mr Pollard, with the then Minister of Health, Senator Ben Shenton, and his Deputy, then Deputy Jimmy Perchard.

Dr Gil Blackwood had worked as a Consultant Psychiatrist since 2003 before his retirement in March 2008. In January 2008 he took his concerns to the recently appointed Minister of Health and his Deputy. Although his concerns covered a number of incidents, which Voice for Children may cover in depth at a later date, they focussed one specific serious allegation, which could be relatively easily checked.

This concerned the resignation of a deputy CEO of Health in December 2005. This resignation was announced in the JEP. Dr Blackwood is concerned that the Deputy CEO has told him that she had never resigned. According to the newspaper article their source was the then Minister of Health, Senator Stuart Syvret. According to Senator Syvret his source was Mr Pollard. Mr Pollard has been silent on his source.



Dr Blackwood left the meeting with the two Senators (Perchard and Shenton) expecting that they were going to check whether there was a letter of resignation, as both Senators had agreed that it was inconceivable that one had not existed. He still considers that the extensive doubts about this matter should be cleared up by locating that letter, if it exists..........or has it been shredded?

Doctor Gil Blackwood part 2

Who Are they?

The "Independent" Advisory Group have resigned. I have just learnt on the local BBC "news" they were set up to be the liason between the community and the "historic" child abuse police investigation team.

Before I get to that, I would like to know just who exactly assembled this team in the first place? I thought it was the chief ministers office but apparently the police assembled them. So why? and under who's suggestion/direction?

If they were supposed to be the liason between the community and the "historic" abuse team, why is it, - to the best of my knowledge - they never held a press conference, released a press statement, or indeed "liased" with the community? What did they achieve? Was it money well spent? and more interestingly, how were they chosen?

If we had even a half competent media over here none of these questions would need answering let alone the other couple of hundred questions that arise from this group and it's members. One of whom is Caron Kanavan chairman of the "independent" review board. I'll not say too much about her just now as she will be the subject of her very own Blog in the not too distant future.........."independent"?

If anybody can shed any light on this group I would be most grateful to learn. As things stand it is my belief they are a product of yet another hair brained idea concocted by our previous Chief Minister in order to keep the child abuse investigation under his control.

I believe there is a massive can of worms to be opened just by scratching the surface of the "Independent" Advisory Group and it's members. But alas I fear now that the little sounbite we have been given which - passes as "news" over here - we'll not hear too much more about it.

On a different note I shall be publishing an "indepth" interview with Senator Freddie Cohen on http://voiceforjersey.blogspot.com/ very soon. I have had the interview on film for a couple of days but it is 28 mins long so needs some serious editing to get it to a short enough piece to put on the Blog and will put the fuller version on Youtube. Unfortunately my editor has taken ill but will hopefully be firing on all cylinders in the next couple of days.

So if anybody has any answers to my questions on the "I"A G or, for that matter, any questions of their own I would love to hear them.

Blog direction.

Regular reader(s) of VFC will have noticed a slight shift in direction of it's content. This has happened unintentionally and is just part of a natural progression.

I never thought for a minute, when I started this Blog, that I would become aware of such, in my opinion, disgraceful goings on with our goverment and local media and quite honestly wish I never did become aware.

I had seriously considered giving up Blogging altogether, for a number of reasons not least because of the threats I have recieved which have esculated to threats to my children. I have had to think long and hard, wrestle with my concience and do some serious soul searching.

Why would I want to carry on Blogging after recieving threats to my children?.....good question! Well I believe my children are in harms way for as long as this government are in power and if I say or do nothing about it that would make me as guilty of cover-up and concealment as our "ruling elite".

It came down to one question, what can I live with easier,...............fear or guilt? fear that I am Jeopardizing my childrens welfare by speaking out, or the guilt of knowing what I know and doing nothing about it. I chose fear, I can live with that a little easier than I can live with guilt and keeping my mouth shut would not guarantee my children's well being.

So back to the direction of this Blog! I would like it to concentrate predominantly on giving a voice to the voiceless and exposing the failings of our childcare system. Now that we have a new Minister for Education Sport and Culture and he has had time to settle in to his new post I intend on striking up a dialogue with him and hope he will provide me with answers to questions the previous Minister failed to.

One of my fears is there have been allegations that a senoir civil servant in Education Sport and Culture is allegedly under suspicion or is a suspect in the ongoing "historic" child abuse investigation and remains in his post. I have absolutely no proof that these allegations hold any merit. The reason I have no proof, one way or the other, is because the said civil servant will not reply to my e-mails or meet with me, and when I asked the previous Minister for a comfimation or denial of these allegations I was told "the States have a duty of care to their employees" and failed to put my mind at ease by allowing me to believe there could be some truth in the allegations.

So this Blog will get back on track and hopefully be a "Voice for children" and parents alike.

My new Blog http://voiceforjersey.blogspot.com/ came about as the natural progression. I was becoming more and more frustrated and curious as to why our local media appeared very selective as to what they would or wouldn't publish/broadcast and indeed the way they published or broadcast certain subjects.

After being approached by a few people we decided to get together and offer some alternative media to the online community and start asking questions our local "journalists" don't or won't. It is still very much in it's early stages but all going to plan we have some rather big names in local politics who have agreed to an "indepth" interview on camera. http://voiceforjersey.blogspot.com/ will cover, when possible, current affairs and hopefully report on subjects that you don't see in our local media, or at the very least, give an alternative view.

It's good to be back!