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!

suspensions.............Guilt or Innocence?

Karen Huchet believes suspension is Not a neutral act and now Deputy Roy Le Herissier agrees.

Are standards on suspension different for a chief of police to a senior civil servant,or a bus driver? Can there be a common standard for everybody or are some people more equal than others?

I am totally confused! Did the States of Jersey suspend Chief Police Officer Graham Power because they believe he is guilty of something, or is it a neutral act? Can suspension ever be justified? What is the purpose of suspension? Why can't Graham Power or any of these people remain in post pending inquiries?

Woolworth scandal latest part 2

Ann Marie Le Bloas speaking for the now redundant Woolworth's workers outside the St Helier store.........

The question still remains - "where has all the money gone"? With all our finance centre expertise and our "open and transparent government" why does nobody appear to know the answer?

And where are our Ministers? The ex Woolworth's staff need as much support as we can give them. They are holding a public meeting in the Royal Square Tuesday 20th of January at 9.30am - be there if you can.

Woolworth scandal latest

Woolworth staff have been forced to occupy the premises as Senator Alan Breckon explains............

But it is still uncertain whether the workers will recieve any money unlike their colleagues in the Isle of Man who are guarenteed to be paid out.

Mystery also surrounds the role of "Hilco" the administrators apparently engaged by Delloittes and whether there are any Woolworths assets in Jersey which could be sold for the benefit of the ex employees or other Jersey creditors.

Deputy Hill Calls Time on Crown Officers?

Deputy Bob Hill, tireless campaigner for Human Rights has lodged a proposition to the States of Jersey for an "independent" review into the roles of the Balliff, the Lt Governor, The Attorney General, The Solicitor General and the Dean of Jersey.

This proposition echoes much of the Clothier report - you remember that report the one which cost the tax payer £234,481.83.!! which led us to Ministerial Government but told us not to cherry pick its recommendations as it would not work.

This proposition will be one step closer to a democracy and deserves the backing of our elected "representitives" I shall be lobbying my States members to back it and would urge my readers to do likewise.

On another note I would like to thank Deputy Hill not only for his proposition and tireless work on Human Rights issues but for showing his support for Blogging and Citizens Media by agreeing to be filmed.