Sunday 8 March 2015

Jersey Child Abuse Rally 7th Anniversary.

As PREVIOUSLY REPORTED today saw the seventh Anniversary of the first Jersey Child Abuse Rally and it was marked in the Royal Square by around 50-60 people which included Victims/Survivors, Politicians, (past and present) whistle blowers and supporters.

Below are a couple of videos with the speeches given by, in part 1, Deputy Montfort Tadier and former Senator Francis Le Gresley. In part 2 former Deputy Bob Hill and former Health Minister Stuart Syvret.



39 comments:

  1. All I want to know is how mant States Members past and present turned up? Most don't give a s**t as we all know. I just hope some of the good ones who have helped in the struggle throughout were still there. Can you give us any names? Surely Education Minister Bryans was there and Andrew Green from Health?

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    1. The only other former politicians who were there (as far as I remember) was Trevor and Shona Pitman who have campaigned tirelessly for the Victims/survivors from the very start and continue to do so. No-one from the COM were present, although Ian Gorst did send his apologies.

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    2. I believe that Deputy Mike Higgins was out of the island so I will forgive him. But what an utter disgraceful response from our elected members otherwise. What makes it worse is it is predictable.

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  2. hats off to those who went along. We will get there in the end.

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  3. What is it with Syvret and Pitman and their military style jackets? Are they planning a coup? Probably needed to be fair?

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    1. We need a full scale invasion not just a coup.

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  4. As Stuart says The train is comin' down the tracks, and another good one of his is Its the beginning of the end.
    Light at the end of the tunnel is a more topical saying these days.

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    1. Until he sticks his neck out and gives evidence to the Inquiry what Train?

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    2. Yes indeed. Do it Stuart.

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  5. Anne Pryke served long after Stuart Syvret and Jerseys' child care administration still had serious weaknesses and flaws, some cases were actually published and reached serious case review.

    For those people who think Jersey should not spend the money to see the inquiry through to the end, just type “ child abuse Jersey UK “ into Google to see what the rest of the world sees and thinks of this island, the reports, opinions and worse, for all to read, and they do.

    You will see over fifty anti Jersey articles and websites all about child abuse and Jersey. Chief Minister Gorst knows the damage inflicted by past inaction and incompetence and that the island’s whole reputation has been severely damaged. Even rich investors have children.

    To stop the inquiry based on cost, on a wealthy island holding more than £200 billion in it’s banks, and a strategic reserve of £720 million would be a disaster of nuclear proportions, yet the JEP writes:

    " Handing over a blank cheque could wipe out savings in the Strategic Reserve which have been built up over decades "

    Yet the JEP is quick in quoting Senator Bailhache's completely unsubstantiated guess at a £50 million cost. There needs to be fewer lawyers protecting establishment figures and tighter grips on spending agreed. The rest is just scaremongering.

    Lessons have been learnt. March 2010.

    It made 32 recommendations and found that social services, the courts, the police, schools and other agencies failed the child, to a greater or lesser extent, for 12 years.

    http://www.thisisjersey.com/latest/2010/03/27/lessons-have-been-learnt/

    A MAJOR review has been launched following the suicide of a young mother who was being monitored by several States agencies in the lead-up to her death.

    http://www.thisisjersey.com/news/2012/04/13/did-the-system-fail-her/

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  6. was that Bailanche & co putting up scaffolding in background to try & prevent hearing the speeches?

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    1. Maybe it was the scaffolding for some gallows or even Madam Guilotine?

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  7. I'm not surprised so many of those who have found the courage to give evidence did not come to the vigil. organised at short notice and many will simply have been intimidated by Bailhache's second scapegoating of in his insulting money speech. Could Monty please follow Shona Pitman's example and bring a vote of no confidence in this horrible bully as she did after hisshameful betrayal of Liberation Day?

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    1. Hear! Hear! Bailhache must be the new entry for 'bully' in the slang directionary.

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  8. Is it really any wonder so many victims are afraid when one considers the absolutely rabid hate being spun on Facebook by election serial failure Maureen Morgan? No wonder not one but two different parishes weren't conned into voting for her. Shameful. Leave these brave victims/survivors alone you twisted woman.

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  9. It's refreshing that Stella Pizza hasn't been commenting here recently. Or are you just exercising the appropriately high-brow editorial standards to ensure a quality debate free of the half-witted obvious multi-avatar trolling the Jersey Evening Post, with its low gutter standards is content to carry?

    Keep up the good work.

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  10. @20:41 just type “ child abuse Jersey UK “ into Google to see what the rest of the world sees and thinks of this island

    Fortunately there are some sites dedicated to protecting Jersey and "The Jersey Way", whatever the cost:


    http://proudjerseyman.blogspot.co.uk/2010/04/the-sword-of-truth-and-trusty-shield-of.html

    "The Jersey Way Explained (Part1): What may appear as corruption to outsiders is in fact a mutually beneficial arrangement between trusted colleagues." (23 April 2010)

    I only discovered his blog long after it had become dormant but I recall that Proud Jerseyman used to slip his satire past the JEPaedo censors

    Like the best satire it is 90% constructed from phrases people actually say (and believe!). The final 10% revealing the delusion and irrationality of the whole.

    I wonder if Proud Jerseyman might return to blogging and if team voice might link to his blogs.

    The only word of caution is that 'satire' is often not so funny to people with direct experience of the abuses which have been so symbiotic with The Jersey Way.

    Please be assured that PJ is very well researched and informed and that his actual message is the opposite of what he writes.

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    1. It would be god to see a return of Proud Jerseyman and I have added his Blog-site to Blog links on the lefthand side of the home-page and hope he will make a return.

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  11. Dear Team Voice. Thank you for promoting this on your website in advance of the event (something the MSM felt unable to do). Thanks to you and other bloggers (you know who you are) who have relentlessly kept an eye on what is going on and campaigned for a CoI and for the wider truth to come out.

    It was great to see Françis Le Gresley and Bobo Hill there, as well as Stuart Syvret. I know it meant a lot that they were present and spoke in contiuned support of the Inquiry and of the need for change/answers (delete as applicable).

    Here is a LIINK. to an amendment I have submitted to make sure that the CoI is not unduly hindered in its continued work

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    1. Montfort.

      Thank you for your continued support in seeking justice (as best it can be) done for Abuse Victims/Survivors. Your amendment is welcomed and I'll be listening to the debate (Tuesday 24th March 2015) with great interest.

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    2. Let's hope Deputy Mike Higgins is in the Assembly on the day of the debate. His holding the Ministers to account is second to none these days. A great States Member and one who has also fought throughout for the victims.

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  12. I agree Monty and VFC - it was indeed good to hear both yourself Monty, Bob, Francis and Stuart (you are all good men) speak on Sunday. I am sure that had there been more notice we would have seen more there, indeed I know we would.

    Very disappointed the JEP could not have a photographer or reporter present, but at least it has kept the issues alive in the public domain. Good luck on the 24th Monty - there will be interested parties present.

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  13. The 33 States Members who voted against the Liberation Day holiday and the 9 who couldn't even be bothered to be present for the vote, need to be named!

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  14. Lambeth council now being investigated for pedo ring in 90's on sky news this morning. One quote "children must come 1st" bear this in mind jersey politicos!!!!

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  15. Jeremy Clarkson has been suspended. He must have done something that even the BBC find inexcusable

    So that rules out child abuse then....

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    1. Ha, ha, ha - spot on!

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    2. Who knows. Perhaps he reported child abuse?

      Lower profile whistleblowers are habitually punished, rather than the offenders.

      We need
      http://mandatenow.org.uk/why-we-exist/

      Please sign
      www.change.org/p/educationgovuk-introduce-law-requiring-adults-working-with-children-to-report-alleged-abuse-mandatenow

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  16. From http://tonymusings.blogspot.com.es/2015/03/budgets-and-truth.html

    "All child abuse, wherever it happens, is scandalous, but it is the unjustified and remorseless denigration of Jersey and her people that is the real scandal." (Sir Philip Bailhache)

    It’s worth being reminded of these words, in a Liberation Day speech in 2008, which not only hijacked the ceremony for political ends – annoying a huge number of Islanders who were here during the war – but also put reputation above child abuse.

    This speech was made confidently before the Jimmy Saville affair erupted into the public domain in 2012. It is almost inconceivable that anything so crass and thoughtless of victims of abuse could be made post-Saville, but what I want to point out here is something else it does.

    It has to be remembered that in May 2008, the investigation into Haut de la Garenne was not completed. Witnesses were still being interviewed. Cases – some of which resulted in prosecutions and prison sentences for abusers – had not come to Court.

    And yet here we have the Chief Judge, as Sir Philip was then Bailiff – pre-empting the judicial process, and making comments about it before it was complete.

    They say that a leopard cannot change its spots, and it is notable that Sir Philip is back scaremongering, and making statements which attempt to interfere with the inquiry before it has finished. ........

    -----------------------------------

    It incredible that Bailhache apparently remains popular. Are the public poorly informed or is there really a cultural acceptance of child abuse?

    Vic collage
    HDLG
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/jersey/7351907.stm
    http://tonymusings.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/philip-bailhache-and-roger-holland.html
    http://tonymusings.blogspot.co.uk/2008/07/having-last-word.html

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    1. Tony comment@10:31
      "It is almost inconceivable that anything so crass and thoughtless of victims of abuse could be made post-Saville"

      Probably not too crass for Sir Philip!

      But Jersey polite society will still lap it up

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  17. I still do not understand why the islands Foreign Minister thought it appropriate to have a chat with the Abuse Enquiry Team, what was his remit? Furthermore, is there any statement made by PB in support of those abused, I cannot think of any.

    It would be interesting to know who was on good terms with The Fat Man and Jimmy Saville when they visited Jersey.

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    1. Isn’t the more obvious and serious question ‘why did the Abuse Inquiry Team think it appropriate to have a chat with the ‘foreign minister’ the centrally conflicted Sir Philip Bailhache?’ Seriously, what on Earth did they think they were doing? The COI has already received a lot of documentary evidence which raises serious questions for Philip Bailhache and William Bailhache. For example, their roles in the long-term cover-up of the abuse by the Maguires and that whole Blanche Pierre group-home nightmare. The Oldham Review, as the COI is known, has received documentary evidence that shows the shocking role of the law firm Bailhache LaBesse (now Appleby Global) in failing the Blanche Pierre kids, the victims of the Maguires, back in 1998 at a time when William Bailhache was the Senior Partner. Haven’t the Inquiry Team just played into the hands of those who accuse the Committee of Inquiry of being biased and a whitewash, by having closed special meetings with a man like Philip Bailhache who they’re going to have to call and grill as a core witness?

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  18. I think you should re-assess one of the links you provide on your blog list.

    http://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2015/03/14/on-margaret-hodge/#comment-area

    The owner of Tax Research UK appears to be attempting to excuse Margaret Hodge's role on Islington Council during the time that the council ignored pleas by abuse survivors (including possible victims of Savile) and shredded evidence corroborating survivor's stories. Hodge also paid compensation to a victim of abuse for referring to the person as 'deeply disturbed'. The owner also admits to being aware of child abuse whilst a primary school governor in the 1990's.

    Whilst not related to the subject of abuse on a regular basis, do you think you should reassess promoting this individual's work, given his view of the Hodge affair ? I believe Stuart also has experience of this person's behaviour in the past.

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    1. Free speech?

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    2. That's a most interesting observation re Tax Research UK. It triggers a memory which others might be able to add to? Wasn't the owner of that blog along with his allies in the Tax Justice Network amongst those who Syvret was taking advice from when researching Jersey's taxation policies? But didn't they suddenly and dramatically turn on Syvret like a pack of rabid dogs in early 2007 a matter of days after Syvret had gone public with his concerns of covered-up child-abuse and endemic child-protection failure?

      It was deeply, deeply puzzling at the time.

      Was the falling-out a coincidence?

      Or did the 'Old Labour' traditional Left, which contains people like Margaret Hodge, and which has a shocking and wretched history of child-abuse and cover-ups every bit as bad as the Tories, suddenly decide people like Syvret had to be attacked and discredited?

      Going from memory I think they decided to attack Syvret on the grounds of supposed 'hypocrisy' because he wouldn't publically endorse and follow 100% the dictat of the Comrades in the Tax Justice Network even though he shared some of their views. He then accused them of trying to coerce him. But it seemed at the time to be a very mystifying eruption by the TJN and their cadre in Jersey. Given the obviously massive and demanding battle Syvret had just embarked on, pretty much singlehandedly back then, against child-abuse cover-ups why would fellow lefties suddenly go to war against him dramatically adding to his burdens?

      Perhaps, just possibly, it's not no so mystifying with hindsight.

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    3. That was about the long and the short of it, yes.

      The TJN's closest ally in Jersey is Deputy Geoff Southern.

      Incidentally, another key TJN ally in Jersey, one of their core supporters in the island, has given evidence as a witness to the Committee of Inquiry, and - surprise, surprise - is one of the very few to have given an "everything-in-the-garden-was-rosy" account of being resident at a particular institution. An account which flies in the face of the testimony of virtually every other witness who experienced the brutality of the place in question.

      Yes - maybe the eruption of the TJN in that summer of 2007 is not now so mystifying after all.

      Stuart

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    4. That's very interesting. So I suppose the next logical question is for the owner of the Tax Research UK blog and other people involved like the senior TJN guy who used to be an economic adviser to the States of Jersey, do they now recognise they were tricked and manipulated into going to war against Syvret by their TJN allies in Jersey like Geoff Southern? Or were they fully aware of what they were doing and willing participants who shared the motivation of those in Jersey to try and damage and obstruct Syvret because he'd started exposing the child-abuse cover-ups? It could be the latter, although I very much hope not, but it could be given the that the 'Old Labour traditional Left' has skeletons in its cupboard over child abuse cover-ups like that involving Margaret Hodge who the Tax-Research guy thinks so highly of. I suppose we shouldn't underestimate the degree of misguided factional tribalism which has obviously played a big part in the British child-abuse cover-ups for decades.

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  19. Comment at 11:27,
    Don't forget Edward Heath. He also "visited Jersey".

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  20. "I still do not understand why the islands Foreign Minister thought it appropriate to have a chat with the Abuse Enquiry Team" Maybe someone can lodge an oral question to try and find out why.

    JRCbean

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  21. Nice little piece in this weeks Private Eye page 12 headed " Jersey Ploys"

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