Following the broadcast of the documentary DARK SECRETS OF A TRILLION DOLLAR ISLAND:GARENNE and in continuation of our series of interviews with those involved in the film, part four of our series is of an interview with award winning author and investigative journalist Leah McGrath Goodman. Leah was interviewed by YouTubers/Podcasters ONRECORD as was VFC HERE and HERE. We are told that OnRecord will be interviewing further key participants involved with the documentary and/or those who have been fighting for the truth to be told. We highly recommend subscribing to OnRecord's YOUTUBE CHANNEL.
Long time/regular readers of VFC will be aware of Leah's struggles, as a journalist, to report on the Jersey Child Abuse cover up and related events, or to coin a phrase, "THE JERSEY SITUATION." This includes her being being (possibly the only western journalist in a so-called "western democracy") BANNED from entering the UK and Jersey after she told Jersey immigration officials that she was investigating (as a journalist) the Child Abuse atrocities at Haute de la Garenne.
Her banning caused outrage and condemnation for those who support free speech and freedom of the press and former Deputy TREVOR PITMAN launched an online PETITION to restore Leah's visa so she could return to the UK/Jersey and continue her vital work in holding power to account since all our local "journalists" (yeah I know) had no appetite for seeking the truth. The petition helped put pressure on the Jersey/UK authorities to do the right thing and allow her to carry on her work on the Island. Leah was eventually allowed back on the Island after her two year ban was reduced to one year which we reported on HERE. We exclusively interviewed Leah some six days later HERE.
Readers/viewers would do well to click on some of the links in this post (and indeed watch the video interview below) to get an idea of the horrific ordeal Leah McGrath Goodman was put through because she answered a question honestly. She merely told the authorities she was investigating Child Abuse on the Island.
We hope this posting (including its links) gives some background to the story of Leah's experiences, as told in the interview. We also hope that those living in the Jersey bubble might try looking at "The Jersey Situation" from the perspective of an independent international journalist. What is aloud to go on, and unreported, over here just isn't normal/democratic/ethical or even legal.
Part one of this series (interview with former Senior Investigating Officer Lenny Harper) can be viewed HERE.
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ReplyDeleteThank you, Neil. As you noted, anyone who is transparent about doing investigative journalism on the island will run into trouble. Working on 'Garenne,' I took this lesson to heart. Whenever I traveled to the island with the director (it was a plus she was British, so as not to stand out too much), we simply never discussed the film with anyone we did not completely trust. It is because of that, and many other efforts along these lines, that the film was able to get done without constant 'official' interference. By the time the highest-level interviews were being completed, we had already shot too much of the documentary to keep it from succeeding in going forward. I do look forward to the day when openly 'committing acts of journalism' on the island are welcome and I believe that day will come.
ReplyDeleteIn the meantime, for your more open-minded readers familiar with "The Jersey Way," there is a recent paper out on how the social norms of a society and 'the way things are done' tends to undergird, perpetuate and reinforce cultures of corruption. Worth reading here:
https://sites.tufts.edu/ihs/files/2019/10/SN_CorruptionRefGuide_AUG2019-linked.MR_.pdf
This is a really good interview and well worth the watch. Leah has been on top of this issue for a decade and has put her heart and soul into it.
ReplyDeleteOnRecord here have given her her head and she has woven as fascinating fabric. Even though I am familiar with most of it, each time I hear her interviewed I get a slightly new angle on the ongoing scandal.
Thanks Neil for bringing all this stuff together here. It is one of the strengths of your blog that you cover stuff in detail and with links and that enables you to put a quality brief together at short notice.
ReplyDeleteBeats the MSM hands down.
Donations for disgraced Crook Chris Taylor Please
ReplyDeleteYou have got to be kidding. How can you donate to a man like this?
DeletePhilip Bailhache's rogue Jersey Liberal Conservatives Launches at the Pomme d’Or Hotel at 5.30 p.m and they are out of invites. How does he manage to get so much support?
ReplyDeleteHe will appeal to the 14,000 Finance people, property developers, tax exiles, high net worth individuals, business, the list goes on. Reform Jersey wanted more political parties but this one may be a problem for them.
DeleteWatched the whole presentation on live feed.
DeleteI will not be voting for the JLC but so much for Stuart Syvret taking Sir Philip Bailhache out.
The Alliance Party made up of around 10 current States Members is due to be announced shortly.
DeleteBailhache's JLC Party said behind the scenes on Friday that a handful of people will forever use the Roger Holland affair and the infamous Liberation Day speech to try and attack him and the JLC.
He's never shown any remorse for the Holland affair because he never cared.
ReplyDelete