Dark Secrets of a Trillion Dollar Island:Garenne (Graham Power QPM)

 

Former (possibly illegally suspended) Chief Police Officer 

Graham Power QPM

As part of our "Dark Secrets of a Trillion Dollar Island:Garenne" series we bring you the latest instalment from Podcasters/YouTubers Jill and George of ONRECORD who we thoroughly recommend subscribing to on YouTube.

After watching the documentary, which can still be viewed on iplayer HERE, Jill and George took a real interest in "THE JERSEY SITUATION" and have interviewed a number of those who appeared in the documentary and other campaigners, who weren't in the documentary, but campaign against "THE JERSEY WAY."

Their latest interview (below) is with former (possibly illegally suspended) Chief Police Officer Graham Power QPM. Mr. Power will need no introduction to our long time readers who will know that Team Voice has reported extensively on this huge miscarriage of justice that saw Mr. Power suspended, on what looks to be, a pack of lies.

Disgraced Former Home Affairs Minister Andrew Lewis

He was suspended by disgraced former Home Affairs Minister Andrew Lewis who told our parliament he had seen a "damming report" from the MET Police criticising the handling of the Child Abuse investigation under the leadership of Mr. Power. Team Voice (Rico Sorda) exclusively exposed this "variation of truth" from Andrew Lewis when he (Rico Sorda) was leaked, and published, the secret parliament sitting's Hansard HERE.

Andrew Lewis went on to have his pants (metaphorically) pulled down by the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry and we published the transcripts of the evidence given to the Inquiry by Mr. Lewis HERE, HERE and HERE. He later faced, and lost, a vote of CENSURE in the parliament. He was defended by the disgraced former Bailiff, and then Senator, Philip Bailhache which we reported on HERE.

The former Chief Police Officer, Mr. Power did lodge a criminal COMPLAINT against Mr. Lewis which (because, in my opinion, our judiciary is so CORRUPT) didn't see any charges brought against him. We're not even sure if there was any kind of investigation let alone charges. This is, however, something we hope to be returning to in the near future.

We hope for those not familiar with the story that the links provided will help explain some/most of what has gone on and covered up by the local Lamestream MEDIA but exposed by BLOGGERS. For those wanting to learn more please click on the labels at the bottom of this post.

The interview with Jill and George gives a fascinating insight into Mr. Power's credentials, the way Jersey "does things" and if you speak out, how "they" will come after you. 

A huge thanks to Jill and George for taking an interest in "The Jersey Situation" and we look forward to the up-coming interviews with key players from the documentary, and indeed not from the documentary.

Please take the time to subscribe to the OnRecord YouTube CHANNEL.

Part one of this series (VFC interview with former SIO Lenny Harper) can be viewed HERE.

Part two of this series (VFC interview with Graham Power QPM) can be viewed Here.

Part three of this series (Jill and George interview VFC) can be viewed HERE.

Part four of this series (Jill and George interview award winning author, and investigative journalist, Leah McGrath Goodman) and be viewed HERE.

Graham Power QPM. Dark Secrets of a Trillion Dollar Island:Garenne.

Former Chief Police Officer Graham Power QPM

Further to our PREVIOUS POSTING where we interviewed former Senior Investigating Officer of the Jersey Child Abuse Investigation (Operation Rectangle) Lenny Harper. And in continuation of our series of interviews with those who participated in the BBC4 Rogan Productions documentary "Dark Secrets of a Trillion Dollar Island:Garenne" which can be viewed on iplayer HERE.

We were granted an exclusive interview with the former Chief Police Officer Graham Power QPM to ask him about his thoughts on the documentary and related matters. Regular/long time readers will be aware that we at Team Voice have interviewed Mr. Power on a number of occasions following his (possibly illegal) suspension in 2008. We have covered the story of this huge miscarriage of "justice" for much more than a decade and we continue to do so....................

What is quite often overlooked is that, in the early days 2008/9/10/11 former Jersey politician, and 30-year MET Police veteran Bob Hill was the politician keeping Mr. Power's (possibly illegal) suspension on the political agenda. It should also be said that St Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft played a huge part ALSO.

Many people played a big part in keeping Mr. Power's (possibly illegal) suspension on the political agenda and indeed continue to. The problem with attempting to name them all is that one might forget somebody and create a resentment which is why we won't try and list them all here.

Former Deputy Bob Hill

Former Deputy Hill DOES deserve special mention because his pursuit of the truth and justice for Mr. Power and Survivors of Abuse almost certainly cost him his career and contributed to his near fatal stroke. Back in 2015 Bob, and his family, were delivered a severe blow when he was struck down by a stroke which we reported HERE. We followed some of Bob's progress HERE and HERE. We were pleased that the documentary (Dark Secrets of a Trillion Dollar Island:Garenne) used the footage, supplied to it by VFC, of Bob up at Haute de la Garenne showing Gradwell and Warcup to be "less than authentic" when they tried to tell us that the cellars at Haute de la Garenne didn't exist. The film footage of Bob was taken from HERE.

Mr. Power, in the interview below, gives Bob a mention and we thought it was high time we did. Readers can view Bob's Blog HERE.

Mr. Power, just as in the case of Mr. Harper in our PREVIOUS POSTING, first, and foremost, pays tribute to the Survivors of unimaginable abuse that was covered up by the Jersey Establishment for decades. He points out how the State Media got people talking about how much Mr. Harper spent on a prawn cocktail in a London Restaurant and other such mundane diversionary twaddle. It (State Media) took the focus away from the decades of suffering, and covered up Child Abuse, that Lenny Harper (and the Operation Rectangle Team), under the leadership of Graham Power, was trying to investigate. How did that happen and just as importantly "why" did it happen? How and why did the State Media turn a story of a police investigation into decades of covered up Child Abuse into a story of the lead investigator asking for a second helping in a restaurant?

Francis OldhamQC

Further discussed in the interview is the fact that neither Mr. Power, nor anybody else (who wasn't involved in it) knows why he was (possibly illegally) suspended. Fourteen years later and we are all none-the-wiser. We do know that Judge Oldham QC, Chair of the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry (IJCI), found that Andrew Lewis, who (possibly illegally) suspended Mr. Power, lied to both the States Assembly (the Island's parliament) AND the IJCI with his "reasons" for the (possibly illegal) suspension.

The irony is (discussed in the interview) that Mr. Power was ready to retire from the police force. He was well past his retirement date and had they have asked him to resign then he would have walked away. They chose the route to suspend him or "SCAPEGOAT" him which clearly was not the wisest of moves - or to quote Mr. Power from the interview: "it was a damn stupid decision." he further goes on to remind us: "This is not just a legal, political, academic point. While they were showing no political interest, people were suffering life changing harm. It's about real blood, real pain and real suffering that they allowed to happen"

Plenty more is discussed in the interview which we hope will open the eyes, or educate viewers, of what has been allowed to happen and what is allowed to continue to happen in this island that I was once proud to call my home. 

Lenny Harper. Dark Secrets of a Trillion Dollar Island: Garenne

Former Senior Investigating Police Officer Lenny Harper

Last night (Mon 15th March 2020) saw the broadcast of the long awaited (four years in the making) documentary "Dark Secrets of a Trillion Dollar Island:Garenne. It was broadcast on BBC4 and can be viewed on iplayer  HERE. For those having problems getting on iplayer it can be viewed on YouTube HERE.

The documentary told the story (as best as it could in ninety minutes) of the Child Abuse scandal/cover-up (and much more) that put Jersey on the world stage for all the wrong reasons back in 2008 onwards.

This documentary sought to sift through all the myths and complexities surrounding the abuse, the cover-ups, and tell the story from both sides of the fence. The film (in the opinion of Team Voice) was (rightly) Victim/Survivor focused and, with thanks to people like Survivor/Campaigner and Former Chair of the Jersey Care Leavers Association, Carrie Modral. Survivor Marina Cremin, many other Survivors including the late, and great, sorely missed Dannie Jarmin who appeared in the documentary. The bravery of ALL Survivors shone through in this film which is a tribute to its makers and the Survivors.

We, over the next few weeks, will be interviewing some of the film's participants and indeed we have been granted an interview with its director/producer Camilla Hall early in April.

Today we interviewed/talked with former Senior Investigating Officer of the Jersey Child Abuse police investigation (Operation Rectangle) Lenny Harper (video below). Both, he and I, being participants in the film discussed our opinions of it. We both agree that it is impossible to tell the "The Jersey story" in ninety minutes but this documentary did as good a job as could be done while attempting to be fair to all those involved.

Hopefully the interview/discussion will help viewers understand some of the "stories" given by some of the participants from the perspective of the Senior Investigating Police Officer and long time Anti Child Abuse/Anti Cover-Up campaigner.

Deputy Montfort Tadier Suspension.

Deputy Montfort Tadier

Deputy Montfort Tadier was suspended (Fri 29th March 2009) from his duty as Assistant Minister for culture. The decision to immediately suspend the Deputy was made by Chief Minister John Le Fondre following an email exchange between a few States Members (including the Chief Minister) where there was a discussion about the prescribing of medicinal cannabis (or not) for patients with chronic pain.

Deputy Tadier, it would appear, was calling for the dismissal of a pain consultant who, it seems, has refused to prescribe the pain reliving drug despite the the Island's parliament voting overwhelmingly to allow cannabis to be prescribed. The pain consultant was copied into the e-mail. The e-mail itself (from Deputy Tadier) was a reply to an ongoing thread and was not a stand-alone e-mail calling for the pain consultants dismissal. (As some media outlets would have you believe)

So firstly this is not some surreptitious Machiavellian conspiracy to get rid of a States employee on Deputy Tadier's behalf, it was an open, honest and transparent call for the employee to go. The employee could have responded to the e-mail fighting his corner. We've not seen evidence that this has happened. 

For those who keep an eye on Jersey politics; the calling of the pain consultants dismissal/removal is nothing new. Deputy Tadier has made his position clear in a number of States debates including HERE.

The old media (formerly known as "mainstream" media) has been doing what it always does and "reported" (or not) on this story but to the best of our knowledge "questioned" nothing. That's where the "New" Media (formerly known as "Social" Media) continues to carry the slack and actually question the government line rather than just report (repeat) it.

We ask: Has the Chief Minister overplayed the severity of the incident by suggesting there could be a claim for constructive dismissal?

As far as we understand it; JACS states that constructive dismissal occurs when an employee considers it necessary to leave their job against their will because of the employers conduct.

We ask: Surely Deputy Tadier isn't the employer? The employer is the States Employment Board? Could a case of constructive dismissal really have any merit?

Since the "offending e-mail" had nothing to do with the Ministry Deputy Tadier has responsibility for (culture), nor did it relate to a member of his department, then one must assume he was acting as an independent States Member.

We ask: Is the Chief Minister over-looking these facts in order to justify the severity of his (what looks to be) over the top, (and possibly wrong) sanction? How can an independent Member of the States be bound by the Ministerial Code of Conduct?

We hope to follow up on this developing story very soon and also hope to have as many answers as questions.

#Panodrama - An Exposé of the Fake News BBC!

This is a must watch video/documentary of how the "elite" BBC and mainstream media conduct their business. It (the documentary) will come as no surprise to those who have been reading the local Jersey Blogs since 2007/8 during Operation Rectangle and the trashing of the names (by the MSM and Establishment) of those who have tried to protect children in Jersey.

The documentary appears to expose homophobia, racism, elitism, bias, classism, blackmail (and much more) by the BBC and its associates.

You won't have seen, or be seeing, this documentary in the mainstream media and after you have watched it you will know why.

"Exonerated."

Discredited, and disgraced, ITV Channel Television continues to mislead its viewer(s) with what looks to be a carefully orchestrated/rehearsed piece of media spin/opinion management led by Senator Philip Bailhache.

In the video below readers will hear Mark McQuillan, and Senator Bailhache, claim that the Dean of Jersey, Bob Key, has been "exonerated" by the un-finished, and un-published Steel Report.

The interview would have come about as a result of Senator Bailhache publishing, a misleading and inaccurate, Press Release which was shown for what it is on this Blog posted HERE. In that Blog Posting I published an extract from an e-mail I sent to ITV Channel Television pointing out how the Steel Report had NOT exonerated the Dean of Jersey nor had it exonerated the Island's clergy and asked if ITV/CTV was referring to another Report?

After having to be chased up ITV/CTV responded to my e-mail and a subsequent exchange took place between them and I where CTV/ITV explained it was indeed referring to the Steel Report and concluded that what was reported was "Entirely Accurate." Regular Readers will know that ITV/CTV (or CTV as it was then) has a very strange understanding of the phrase "Entirely Accurate" as has been demonstrated on this Blog HERE and HERE. Yet ITV/CTV has gone one step further this time and, for all intents and purposes, claims the English Dictionary to be wrong while ITV/CTV is "Entirely Accurate."

On Monday 25th Nov 2013 I wrote to CTV/ITV;

"On tonight's edition of your 6pm news programme Senator Philip Bailhache was interviewed by Mark McQuillan concerning the Dame Heather Steel Report. On a number of occasions Mr. McQuillan, and Senator Bailhache, stated that the Report had exonerated the Jersey Dean/Clergy.

Could I ask what Report Mr. McQuillan, and Senator Bailhache, were referring to? It clearly can't be the un-finished Dame Heather Report because that hasn't been published.

Is there another Report which has exonerated the Jersey Dean/Clergy? If so could you tell me where I could find a copy of it please? I'm not aware of any Report that has exonerated the Jersey Dean or Clergy."

After not receiving a reply, or acknowledgement of the e-mail, after a couple of days I sent a reminder e-mail and then got a response where on Wednesday 27th Nov 2013  ITV/CTV wrote;

"Thank you for your email.  I have taken the time to consider your query, reviewing the programme concerned and discussing the matter with the news editor and programme producer of the day.

Our interviewee Sir Philip Bailhache was indeed discussing the Steel report, which, as you correctly point out, has not been published.  However in a press release received by ITV Channel Television from the Bishop of Winchester, it states: "...based on Dame Heather’s findings to date ... I will not be taking disciplinary action against any member of the clergy in relation to the handling of the safeguarding complaint in question or the subsequent review process."

Sir Philip clearly used the word 'exonerate' as an interpretation of that statement. Mark McQuillan repeated the term in a question back to him which we do not believe is unreasonable or would have misled our viewers.  Our coverage of this story was entirely accurate and we have not make any misleading claims as part of the report or subsequent live interview.

I hope that clarifies the matter."

To which I replied on the same date;

"I'm sorry but I do not accept your interpretation of "not taking disciplinary action" as "exonerated" they are two completely different things. Viewers, in my opinion, were given the impression that the Dean, and clergy being "exonerated" would mean they are blameless which clearly isn't the case.

If you will not make clear, to your viewers, the difference between "exonerated" and "no disciplinary action" then I will take up my complaint with OFCOM or whoever it is that are supposed to regulate ITV. Could you send me the contact details of the relevant body who deals with complaints to ITV if you will not accept the difference between "exonerated" and "no disciplinary action"?"

To which ITV/CTV replied;

"I have given you my response to your original complaint.  If you wish to take your complaint further, Ofcom is indeed the correct regulatory body.  The contact details are:

Ofcom

Riverside House

2a Southwark Bridge Road

London

SE1 9HA

Tel 020 7981 3040

Ofcom's website is: www.ofcom.org.uk"

I then responded;

"I find it incredible that anybody with the slightest understanding of the English language (let alone a professional Journalist) could interpret "no disciplinary action" as "exonerated."

My complaint is that your viewers would have been misled by Mr. McQuillan/ITV and after reading the dictionary interpretation of "exonerated" 1 (esp. of an official body) absolve (someone) from blame for a fault or wrongdoing, esp. after due consideration of the case."  I would ask that you reconsider your response and agree with me that your viewers (according to the dictionary) would have been left with the impression that the Jersey Dean/clergy are blameless.

OFCOM will insist that I have attempted to resolve this matter locally before they will accept my complaint which is why I am once more asking that you reconsider your response (in light of the dictionary definition of "exonerated") and don't expect OFCOM to defend your interpretation of the English language which is contrary to the English dictionary?"

ITV/CTV were having none of it by responding;

"Thank you for your email.  We stand by the response I have already sent you, so I suggest that if you are not satisfied, you contact Ofcom for an independent adjudication."(END)

So there we have it, contrary to the English Language and Dictionary, ITV/CTV claim it has been "Entirely Accurate" in its reporting.

Moreover, despite being in possession of a document(s) which completely contradicts what Mark McQuillan and Senator Bailhache were peddling, ITV/CTV or Mr. McQuillan ("accredited" "journalist") didn't see fit to tell its viewer(s) of this contradiction. The Dean has apologised for his so-called "mistakes" when he wrote;

“I regret mistakes that I made in the safeguarding processes and I understand that, upon reflection, it would have been more helpful if I had co-operated more fully with the Korris Review. I now add my own apology to that of the Bishop of Winchester and Archbishop of Canterbury to the vulnerable person at the heart of this matter." From HERE

To any objectively minded person ITV/CTV's report (below), its subsequent refusal to acknowledge the English Language, and its total refusal to question Senator Bailhache's misleading and contradictory, Press Statement, one has to come to the conclusion this is nothing more than "OPINION MANAGEMENT"

We must also remember there is an alleged victim here (besides ITV/CTV viewer(s)) who is conveniently (for some) being air-brushed out of history. The lady who should be at the centre of this mis-managed shambles who claims she was abused by the churchwarden, then dragged through Jersey's so-called "JUSTICE SYSTEM" and kicked off the Island and left penniless, and destitute, in mainland England.

The victim, known as "HG" might very well feel she has been kicked in the teeth by ITV/CTV but hopefully will gain a little satisfaction in the knowledge that she is not alone when it comes to CTV kicking Abuse Victims/Survivors in the teeth CTV HAS FORM after accepting an award for cutting and pasting another, evidence lacking, REPORT.

So contrary to the media spin peddled by ITV/CTV and Senator Bailhache, there is no document, I am aware of, in the public domain that exonerates the Jersey Dean, or the Island's clergy, other than Philip Bailhache's Press Release. There are, however, at least two documents that say the Dean, and others, are far from exonerated and have serious questions to answer HERE and HERE. 

For those who have an interest in the facts behind the media spin concerning the whole sorry case of the way "HG" has been treated, and related matters, they can be read on the very informative, and researched, Blog of former Jersey politician and 30 year MET Police veteran Bob Hill B.E.M. HERE.

To quote George Orwell "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printing: everything else is Public Relations."

Good work ITV/CTV you really have Philip Bailhache on the ropes with this grilling. 

BBC State Radio Reaches New Low.

Deputy Shona Pitman, tells us, she was assured by Managing Editor of BBC Jersey Jon Gripton that she would be afforded a right of reply in response to an interview given by disgraced former Housing Minister Deputy Sean Power on State Radio last week. Deputy Pitman turned up to the studio this morning but what transpired was truly beyond belief even for the standard of the discredited, and disgraced BBC.

It appeared that every time Deputy Pitman attempted to answer a question her microphone was cut off in a blatant display of double standards and media suppression the BBC is so notorious for.

Below is one of the lowest levels local State Radio has reached and a politician who won't be bullied into playing along with the agenda of the BBC. Below that is an in-depth interview with Deputy shona Pitman (un-edited with no microphone being cut off) discussing this morning's "event" some documented evidence and the vital role of Bloggers (Jersey's only independent media) in offering politicians, members of the public and just about anybody who challenges the local judiciary/Establishment and their media a voice.

VFC credit TJW for the State Radio recording.

Deputy Trevor Pitman Blog TV Guest.

Jersey Politician Deputy Trevor Pitman is the confirmed guest on tonight's live, and interactive, Blog TV broadcast.

The outspoken Deputy will be discussing such topics as the Rule of Law (or not) in Jersey, the Judicial System, policing, Jersey's mainstream media, the "real" Chief Minister, Child Abuse cover up(s), the hijacking of Democracy, Parliamentary Privilege and much, much more.

If you have an opinion or questions on any of these subjects (and others) then come and share them tonight, Thursday 27th Sept at 7pm.

The live, and interactive, show will be broadcast HERE.

Re-Launched. (With A Challenge To Local "News" Editors).

Last night saw the Re-Launch of Team Voice's live and interactive Blog TV broadcast and we are pleased to say it proved fairly popular attracting in excess of 300 viewers, which is a good start for the re-launch but we hope in time the numbers/viewers will grow. Although by the same token we would hope there would be no need for these broadcasts.

Team Voice Member and Blogger RICO SORDA spoke on a number of issues concerning our island, not least, Child Abuse and cover-up, the real Chief Minister, the State Media and their desperation. The refusal of our government to hold Committee of Inquiries, whether they be into Child Abuse or the resignation of the Controller and Auditor General. Rico also went on to throw out a challenge to the editors of Jersey's only "news"paper, which incidentally applies to all island State Media editors.

Come onto LIVE broadcast head to head with Bloggers and let's debate hard evidence and fact. Let's see who has the courage of their convictions and who's "evidence" stacks up. Home Affairs Minister, Senator Ian Le Marquand, has backed down to a Head to Head will ANY of the State Media have the courage and integrity to go live, as Bloggers do, and answer questions of the readers/viewers? Will they challenge us Bloggers face to face with a live audience?

Due to the lack of any, what we believe to be, independent media on this island, Bloggers are HAVING to report the facts, and when an independent author and investigative Journalist (Leah McGrath Goodman) from outside of the island wants to research the "facts" she is prevented from entering the island. Regular readers will know that Ms. McGrath Goodman WAS on the island researching and everything was fine. But it was when she revealed that she was researching the atrocities of the decades long Child Abuse that she, and many others, believe everything changed and she was/is not welcome on the island any longer.

Jersey politician and Blogger, Deputy TREVOR PITMAN heard of Ms. McGrath Goodman's and has set up an e-petition in the hope enough pressure can be applied in order that the journalists Tier-1 visa can be restored. We ask our readers to sign and share the petition in order that the TRUTH of Jersey's culture can reach a wider audience and Jersey might start to get cleaned up. The petition can be signed HERE

In the recorded, live, broadcast (below) from last night Rico Sorda gives his "opinion" on what is going on in this island and that's all it is an opinion. It is up to readers/viewers to make up their own minds as to what, or who, they believe, the State and its media, or Bloggers.

If we had a fit for purpose and independent media in Jersey would these broadcasts be necessary?



Rico Sorda Re-Launch 1- Broadcast your self LIVE


Rico Sorda Re-Launch 2- Broadcast your self LIVE

#FreeJersey: Please Help Us Restore Democracy To Our Beautiful Island.

Today is not a day to focus on right-wing versus left-wing politics, but the difference between right and wrong. 

When a democratic government abuses its substantial legal, legislative and financial powers to crack down on journalists’ freedom of speech, force policemen and elected officials from their jobs and systemically dismantle its own checks and balances so as to deny each of its targets due process, clearly it is a government that has lost its way.

Jersey, the jewel in the crown of the Channel Islands, may be one of the world's leading offshore financial centres, but it has begun to use its clout against its own people – and it is keeping the rest of its population in the dark about it. This is now a place where court and legislative records – those that are public anyway – can now be redacted. This is an island where secret trials are now allegedly taking place and elected officials are forced to debate key issues in secret. Web content is banned and journalists booted out. This is not the way a democratic government is supposed to be run.

Again, this is not about politics. It is about standing up for truth, honesty and integrity. It is about restoring the good name of our beautiful island whose reputation has been dragged through the mud by those attempting to cover-up the facts surrounding some of the most heinous crimes known to man – crimes of violence against children. Crimes the vast majority of islanders would never defend, yet most of those who stand accused of committing them have not been brought to justice and continue to walk among us and our children. Worse, these alleged perpetrators remain entrenched in some of the very highest echelons of Jersey’s government – working in departments that focus on children! It is beyond comprehensible.

On an island where children in need of care have been let down by the government for decades – and continue to be let down – we cannot afford to ignore or repeat our mistakes. More broadly, challenging the government’s current decisions, particularly when not made in the best interest of the public, should not require bottomless financial resources and friends in high places. We are supposed to be a democracy, right?

With our checks and balances hamstrung, the international and independent media may be our last chance at reclaiming our democracy and re-establishing rule of law.

Today, Jersey politician Deputy Trevor Pitman launched an e-petition on Change.org in support of the return of U.S. investigative journalist and author, Leah McGrath Goodman, to the island to continue her research into decades of child abuse at Jersey’s state-run “care” homes and allegations of cover-ups in the wake of the government’s removal of the chief of police and shut-down of the entire investigation.

One year ago today, Ms. Goodman was banned from the UK and Jersey for two years after revealing to the Jersey Customs and Immigration Service during a voluntary meeting that she was writing a book on atrocities against children at Haut de la Garenne. According to the UK Border Force, she was flagged by Jersey Immigration authorities for removal upon her next border crossing – and that is exactly what happened. After the intervention of UK Member of Parliament John Hemming, the ban was reduced to one year and it expires today, 11 September 2012. That said, the UK and Jersey have so far declined to restore Ms. Goodman’s visa or allow her cross the border to continue her research. In order to do so safely, she will need to have her Tier -1 visa status fully restored – hence, the reason for Deputy Pitman’s e-petition today.

Leah McGrath Goodman should be permitted to complete her work in order that there is an accurate record based on the available facts and evidence. Jersey needs to confront the failings of its past so it can redress them and, most of all, ensure the safety of our children’s future.

We ask readers who care about the island’s children, who care about the island’s reputation, who believe in a free press and who want the truth to be told to sign Deputy Pitman’s e-petition. We also ask fellow bloggers to copy and paste this blog onto their own Web sites so that we may show the world that Jersey wants the best for its future and its children. It is time to leave our island’s culture of secrecy behind and demand the kind of free and open society our island deserves. Those who would do otherwise are not representative of the majority of islanders.

Please spread the word and sign this petition (ten seconds). The Internet is the one thing Jersey authorities have not been able to lock down.....yet! The petition can be signed HERE

For those who tweet this campaign, please use the #FreeJersey hashtag. While Jersey may try to keep journalists out, it cannot keep us for letting the truth in.