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.

A tribute to Haut De La Garenne Survivors

To all the victims of child abuse, past present and future your voice will be heard!!

I cannot begin to imagine the torture and torment you have been/are going through.

As this might be my last Blog I couldn't think of a better one to end on. I would like to thank ozzyuk1961 for uploading the video to youtube from where I got it.

The New Education Sport and Culture Minister.

Firstly I would like to thank Mr.Reed for taking the time out to answer my questions therefore engaging with the electorate and showing himself to be accessable. I am a little less impressed with his evasive answers this is more than likely just as much my fault as it is his.



I never think for a minute that one of our elected "representatives" will actually stop and talk to me especially on camera. So I have to think on my feet when they do! As I have always maintained I am not a journalist, I am a father who is worried for his children's safety at the hands of this government and am only having a go at journalism because I have become so disselusioned with what passes as "journalism" over here.



By contrast Mr.Reed was "interviewed" by our local BBC not seconds before he spoke with me on camera. It will be interesting to compare my "interview" with their's and see who asked Mr.Reed the questions the public might want asked. After all isn't that a "journalists" job?



I know I was going to have Senator Terry (GST28) LeMain as my next Blog subject but the film I have of him will take some editing which is a little beyond my capability at the minute but do hope to have a finished item by the middle of next week.



Once again I would like to thank Mr.Reed for giving me his time, as did Mr.Le Sueur who will both be going in my "hall of fame" I will also have a "hall of shame" which will consist of prominant figures who not only refuse to give me an interview but in some cases "leg it" more about that in a later post.



In order to gauge if I am starting to get things right in a "journalistic" sense please vote on my poll, if you prefer my interview with Mr.Reed or if you prefer the BBC'S.

Chief Minister Le Sueur

Yesterday we saw an election for a new chief minister. It was a very predicatble outcome and possibly for most, including myself, not a very welcome one! However one must give credit where credit is due.

Chief Minister Terry (GST28) Le Sueur has been on a bit of a platform of engaging with the public, listening to the public etc. And if I am to be honest I did not believe one word of it. As my regular reader(s) will be aware I have tried to engage with a number of our politicians on camera, none of which have been very accommodating. Indeed I tried to engage with Senator Terry (GST28) Le Main on camera yesterday and I will be posting that encounter as my next Blog.

As you will see, although my journalistic skills still may leave something to be desired, Chief Minister Terry (GST28) Le sueur engaged with me, entertained me, or humoured me. He didn't run away from me and answered my questions.

So like I have said "credit where credit is due" Let's hope other establishment figures will take a leaf out of his book and start to recognise citizen's media is here, it is growing, and is influential.

Respect to you Cheif Minister It's a good start.

BBC Jersey.

The poll is now closed and the result is resoundingly conclusive. 74% of you would like Senator Syvret to be a guest on the talkback show to discuss the report made by the Howard League of Penal Reform. Will the local BBC give you/me what we want? somehow I doubt it very much!!



According to Senator Syvret he has written proof the editor of local BBC agreed to have him on as a guest and then went on to renege on the deal. I believe it was in order to give the elections some coverage. So how did they cover the elections (on talkback) in a fair and balanced way?



The week before last they had the two candidates from St John as guests, last week they had the three candidates from St Brelade No 1. So out of, I think it was, 63 candidates they allowed 5 of them two hours FREE airtime. How is that fair and balanced? what about the other 58 candidates? I'm sure they would have loved the opportunity of 2 FREE hours of advertising and electioneering for votes!!



Worse still somebody has come up with that idea and got it passed!! Here's the choice. option 1. Do we have a talkback programme on a subject that has seen a manager in child welfare and a minister for health and social services lose their jobs after blowing the whistle on what they desribed as, and the HLPR described as illegal and abusive treatment to our most vunerable..........children. Possibly one of the most important reports we have ever had published, a report that could possibly totally vindicate Senator Syvret and Simon Bellwood and affects the whole island's population. A subject that almost everybody will have an opinion on and would stimulate a lot of thought, discussion and more importantly offer some much needed ANSWERS.



Option 2. Do we have a talkback show where the guests might talk about issues that affect only those who live in their parish, mains drains, speed limits on certain roads, unruly kids in certain area's and the Battle of flowers float therefore alienating a vast majority of the listeners who don't live in that Parish, also might be seen as giving favour to some of the candidates by not including them all.



So somebody has gone with option 2 who is this person? under what basis did they come to this decision? How can it be described as fair and impartial? How can it be deemed as something that deserves to be in the public domain over such an important report?



Senator Syvret has come in for some criticism (on the talkback show) for it being "his watch" while all this alleged abuse was going on. He phoned the show up with the offer to appear as a guest and answer all his critics, so far this appears to have been ignored by the BBC or Bridget Broadcasting Corporation.



I have lost almost any respect I had for the BBC and I strongly believe our local BBC have "gone native" I have repeatedly e-mailed Matthew Price to ask why they won't hold a talkback show with Senator Syvret as a guest to discuss the HLPR's report, he hasn't reponded to the e-mails. This does nothing for the BBC's credibility and can only add fuel to the fire the local BBC have "gone native".



A cracking Talkback show would, in my opinion, be Simon Bellwood, Stuart Syvret on with any of the following, Jimmy (GST28) Perchard, Mike (GST28) Vibert, Joe Kennedy, Frank Walker, Ben Shenton to name but a few. This show could answer a lot of questions, clear up alot of confusion and possibly expose some politicians as liars, complicit in covering up the truth, seriously negecting our children, etc. etc.



Seventy four percent of you, 76 out of a hundred believe this show should happen and thank you for voting in the poll. In order to give the local BBC an idea of where their credibilty lies with the online population I am going to ask you to vote again on what you think of the BBC. please vote, the more votes there are, the more they will have to take heed!!! You can vote on more than one option as there are four.

Breaking Point

Regular reader(s) of my Blog will be aware of the violence and Bullying my son has been subjected to. The last episode I Blogged about which is here http://voiceforchildren.blogspot.com/2008/09/you-coldnt-make-it-up.html My son and I recieved some very welcome support from Bloggers and the general public for which we were/are most grateful for.

You might remember I was told by the school an "incident" had occured that "incident" was five kids kicking my son repeatedly whilst he was on the ground. One witness, I have since found out, said one of the kids were kicking my son "like a football". Two of my son's attackers were suspended (given a couple of days off school) because others were kicking my son from behind, although they were the only people behind my son it was said my son could not see them so couldn't prove it was them kicking him so they recieved no sanction.

Please read the link above in order to get an understanding of the situation which will help to bring this entry into context.

Yesterday I recieved a call from the school telling me my son had been involved in "an incident" the "incident" was described to me as "a bit of fun" a "bit of mucking about" "A friend" of my son's had scraped him a bit with a pen so I said something along the lines of "well these things happen, thanks for letting me know"

My son returned home after the school day and showed me his neck. There was, what one might describe as, a 6 inch abrasion, slash mark, across his neck! which looked pretty red raw baring in mind this was approxiametly 4 hours after "the incident".

Naturally (as any parent would be) I was somewhat alarmed and proceeded to ask my son what had happened? He told me he was chatting with his cousin in the playground and this kid, came out of nowhere, from behind and slashed me across the neck with his pen. I said "What...... as a bit of fun"? he said "well it was fun for him but not for me" I said was it "a friend" of yours? he said "well not a friend but he doesn't bully me as much as the others do" I said "the teacher told me he was a friend of yours" my son said "well i've not get many friends and he doesn't bully me as much as some others so didn't want to lose the chance of making a friend and if I told the teacher he wasn't my friend that might have got him in trouble and there would be no chance of him becoming my friend and I didn't want to get him into trouble"

I phoned the teacher this morning and, to cut a long story short, got the same old "party line" "We take these "incidents" seriously". We have explained to the child he COULD be up for a charge of serious assault. He COULD be reported to the police, He COULD have to go to a parish hall enquiry, he COULD go to court. So with all that COULD be done, I asked "what have you done"? to which he replied "suspended him" (gave him an afternoon off school).. Yes an afternoon off school, you really couldn't make this lot up!

I asked what kind of a pen was it because to inflict that kind of injury it must have taken a fair bit of force? He said "I agree but it was the top part of the pen and it was a little bit rough around the edge"

During the phonecall I said "since all this COULD happen, and you take these incidents seriously, naturally you took photo's of my son's injury"? Suprise, suprise nobody had!

Another alaming factor in all of this, it appears the child only recieved threats of what COULD happen to him, not what effect his actions could have on his victim. It doesn't appear the time has been taken out to explain to this child the detremental effects, the emotional damge and harm it might cause. In order to give the child some kind of understanding as to why this sort of behaviour is unacceptable. He's just been told he COULD get into trouble and was given the afternoon off.

Then we must look at the school's statistics. This "incident" was sold to me as "a bit of mucking around" "a bit of fun" Where in my opinion it is bullying, or a serious assault. How will it be logged? under what heading? Statistically speaking it would be more beneficial to call it "a bit of fun" and keep it out of the bullying statistics.

What also confused me somewhat is the "policy" I was told about the last time my son was involved in an "incident". I asked for the names of my son's attackers and I was told it was not "policy" to give other pupils names to parents. When I asked who's "policy" is this? Is it the school's policy or the education departments? to which they couldn't (or wouldn't) give me an answer. After a couple of days of me persuing this answer, it came about, it was "data protection". Then why with this most recent "incident" did the teacher voluntarily give me the name of my son's attacker, surely that puts him in breach of the data protection doesn't it?

Bullying, in my opinion, is rife in our school's. Our children (Bully's and victims) are being failed by hopelessly inadequate, non existent poilcies and self regulated statistics, a non independent complaints proceedure and civil servants and ministers not held to account.

My son feels because somebody doesn't bully him as much as the others that this person could be a friend and feels the need to protect the child. He believes if he tells the truth it will only make matters worse for himself.

I as a parent feel I am sending my son into harms way every day he goes to school, but if I take him out of school for his own safety I'll be prosecuted!! When I try contacting Mario Lundy he doesn't reply to my e-mails or return any of my phone-calls. All the while I am dreading my phone ringing to be told my son has been involved in "an incident" only one day it is going to be from the hospital. Maybe it might be from the police to say my son is being held on an attempted murder charge after finally reached breaking point, after all there is only so much a child can take and I am not only amazed but very proud my son has been able to endure so much violence against him without resorting to violence himself but like I said we all have a breaking point, and the other breaking point doesn't bare thinking about!

Divided you stand united you'll fall?

The handling of Lenny Harper's investigation of the of the HDLG scandal has been bought into question, some might argue it has been discredited by his replacement Mr.Warcup and our oligarchy. Graham Power has been suspended from duty (as a neutral act) for, as far as I am aware, his handling of the investigation. Senator Stuart Syvret was releaved of his post as health minister for whatever reason you want to believe. Was it because he, like Mr. Harper and Mr. Power was attempting to bring some justice and closure to victims of abuse or was it because of his conduct and demoralising States employees?

All three men, to my reckoning, are taking a bit of a beating from certain parts of the media and our oligarchy. The credibility of all three men is now almost certainly questionable at least to those who have no access to the internet.

The reasons and timing of the two press conferences yesterday (Wed 13th Nov) is also very questionable. Mr Harper appears to be somewhat bemused as to why the Police called a press conference which in his words told us very little that we didn't already know, and possibly only reinforced what Mr.Harper had been telling us all along, there was not enough evidence to conduct a murder inquiry. It also appeared to me that Mr.Harper might believe there is some credibility in Senator Syvret's allegations the press conference was called to smother, what might be, for our oligarchy, a very damming report from the Howard League of Penal Reform due to be published tomorrow.

Senator Syvret was sacked, Lenny Harper retired and was not asked, to the best of my knowledge, to stay on as a consultant and Graham Power has now been suspended. All three have something in common, they were trying to bring the guilty to justice and offer some kind of closure to any victims, if indeed they could ever get any kind of complete closure. All three men are no longer in their posts and will no longer be privvy to the information, evidence or witness testimony they once were.

It looks to me that the States of Jersey have come out with an all out political and media war against these men and the States of Jersey look to be showing a united front. Individually I would summise none of these men would stand much of a chance against the entire "establishment"! But if all three got together along with their, I'm sure vast, media and influential political contacts they would then stand a better than average chance of exposing our goverment for what they really are and give the abuse survivors some hope.

If anything needs to be learnt by our last "democratic" election where the opposition got more votes than the establishment it is this. For as long as there is division those divided will perish, they will be defeated by "the establishment".

Senator Syvret, Lenny Harper and Graham Power now need to join ranks and piece together their own assault on this horrible dictatorship, go on the offensive, blow the whistle, expose the guilty. Put as much fear into our goverment as our goverment puts into us.

I can only hope, behind the scenes, the three men are uniting, working together because until that happens I reckon they are dead in the water along with any hope of the victims seeing any justice. This whole episode just reeks of that ever so familiar stench of goverment cover up. The only chance any of us have is if there is some kind of unity against this stink.

I know national and international journalists read my blog, if any of you are worth your salt, don't just look for a few soundbites and a little bit of sensationalism. All you need to do is scratch a little bit below the surface start investigating, expose our goverment expose our goverments relationship with our media. Outside Journalists looks to be about the only hope us islanders have of being liberated from this, Oligarchy, dictatorship, occupying force. Call it what you will but it certainly isn't a "democracy" .

I think the writing is on the wall, if Syvret, Power and Harper go on the backfoot individually then that is where they'll stay along with the rest of us! Unite, Gather your many supporters launch your own attack on our Oligarchy and you, along with the rest of us will stand a chance.

Senator Terry (GST28) Le Main

So just what exactly is Senator Terry (GST28) Le Main so scared of? Why is he so keen to silence Senator Syvret? Why did he shout Senator Syvret's Christmas speech down last year? these are all questions our elected "represenatives" should be asking him, so should our local media!

It appears our local BBC are inadequately funded and resourced, and appears they are questions none of our local "journalists" have thought to ask him. Although to the best of my knowledge nothing of Senator Terry (GST28) Le Main's attempts to silence Senator Syvret's Christmas speech has been reported on our local BBC news despite CTV, JEP and Channel 103 giving it a bit of a mention.

I have recently been in e-mail contact with Senator Terry (GST28) Le main in an attempt to get an interview with him on camera where I could ask him these questions. He refuses to give me an interview and also denies saying he is in fear of Senator Syvret, or his speech, as published in the JEP. He also denies threatening me and my family and like I have said in one of my e-mails to him "one of us is a liar"

Although I have never asked a question of any of our elected "representatives" that any concerned parent or citizen of Jersey should deserve an answer to, alas as regular readers will know, I haven't been very successfull.

Anyway here is my e-mail correspondance with Senator Terry (GST28) Le Main.

Mr.Le Main.

I have copied and pasted this statement from Senator Syvret's Blogsite. ("Senator Terry – Tel Boy – Le Main – used car salesman extraordinaire – has been secretly organising a claque of oligarchy Senators who wish to take it upon themselves to prevent me, as Father of the House, from delivering the Christmas speech").

Could you please let me know if there is any truth in this?

VFC.

Dear VFC.
Thank you... I have not been secretly organising a claque of obligarchy Senators because in that case why was Senator Syvret as one of the 12 Senators or Senators elect copied in to all the emails in which the 12 Senators ( including Senator Syvret ) are invited to attend a meeting to discuss the matter of who delivers the speech on behalf of the Senators...this is democracy in which just like the Connetables did some years ago the Senators will decide or otherwise who delivers the Christmas speech on their behalf... is this secrecy as claimed by Senator Syvret... I think not...

Mr Le Main.

As you have threatened to sue me if I publish any lies or defame you in any way on my Blog and also told me "if I care about my wife and children I should watch where I poke my nose", which I also take as a direct threat. I would like once more to offer you the opportunity to give me an interview on camera not only to explain these statements to your electorate and myself but also to answer a few more questions.

I believe in a democratic society our elected representatives ought to be answerable to their electorate. Unfortunately it appears our local media have come up a bit short when it comes to any real indepth "journalism"

As I am sure you are aware you have come in for a great deal of criticism not only for "shouting down" Senator Syvret's attempt to aknowledge alleged child abuse victims and catastrophic failings by the States of Jersey in protecting them, but now you wish to prevent him from giving his "Father of the house" Christmas speech all together!

You have been quoted as saying you and a few others are "in fear of what he might say" but have not elaborated in any way what you and others are "in fear of".

In order to produce a fair and balanced Blog on you, I would ask you would reconsider your threats and agree to an interview on camera. I have absolutely no wish to lie about, or defame, you in any way. I would just like to give you the opportunity to answer the questions that are being asked of you by your electorate and maybe explain, what appears to be, your very un democratic behaviour.

VFC.

VFC.
What are you saying... " if I care about my wife and children I should watch where I poke my nose " where on earth did you get this from... certainly not from me and that is untruthful....I never ever said that and you know it... and you state that " I have been quoted that I am in fear of what he might say " ie Syvret....just to say this is again untruthful because I have never said such a thing or do I fear this awful man Syvret....it seems to many people in Jersey that Syvret with his lies and untruths and character assasinations of senior civil servants etc that he is medically unwell or otherwise .... that is the view of many people, its not mine but others...you know very well I only threatened you in regard to " defaming me on your blog with untruths or otherwise " I did advise you that in a democracy you can say what you like in regard to my public office policies, decisions and actions but any personal attack, lies or untruths will be dealt with appropriately with my Lawyer and the Court....just like it happened to a certain gentleman some years ago whom the Royal Court jailed for 48 hours...

Don't be silly VFC. I have no intention of being filmed or even meeting with you and I would be grateful if you ceased emailing me as we have nothing in common to discuss not even in the name of " Democracy "

Mr.Le Main.

I Maintain your words to me on the phone were "if you care about your family, you know, your wife and kids you should be carefull where you poke your nose". I think it might be safe to say one of us is a liar.

As for being quoted as saying " I have been quoted that I am in fear of what he might say " ie Syvret....just to say this is again untruthful because I have never said such a thing or do I fear this awful man Syvret. maybe this might jog your memory. "there are quite a few of us who fear that he intends to use the speech to say certain things".

That does look to me that you and others are in fear! I grant you it did come from the JEP so might not hold a lot of credibility and they may have misquoted you then perhaps that is something you need to take up with them.

I am sorry you are denying your electorate the opportunity to be given any explanation as to your, what appears to be, bizzare behaviour in the continual attempts in silencing Senator Syvret.

As for having nothing in common with eachother, I couldn't agree more! one of us is seriously misguided and completely out of touch with who needs representation in the states on top of one of us being a liar.

As you know I shall be doing a Blog on you and see it as being "Democratic". Should I unwittingly defame you or publish anything that might be deemed as untrue, rather than having to live under the fear of being dragged through the courts and threatened with being sued. Could I ask if I e-mail you the Blog as soon as it is published, you have a look at it and alert me of any defemation or untruths and I will happily remove any offending material? There really is no need to be so threatening. I have absolutely no desire to defame or lie about you and am only trying to give the electorate a clearer picture of the poeople they elected.

As for e-mailing you, I am sorry but that is my "Democratic right" and I shall continue to do so if I have any democratic questions I believe deserve an answer from my democratically elected representatives. I also believe you are bound by your ministerial code of conduct 5) where it states "Elected members should at all times treat other members of the states, officers and members of the public with respect and courtesy and without malice, notwithstanding the disagreements on issues and policy which are a normal part of the political process"

To the best of my knowledge I have treated you with nothing less than proffessional courtesy and would thank you to treat me likewise.

VFC.

Well that appears to be where our e-mail correspondance has ended as he has not replied. So I still don't know what he might be scared of i.e. Senator Syvret's speech, if indeed he is scared as he says to me that he isn't, according to the JEP he says he is, and one of us is a liar!

I suppose I should have asked him what "it seems to many people in Jersey that Syvret with his lies and untruths and character assasinations of senior civil servants etc that he is medically unwell or otherwise" Medically unwell or otherwise? otherwise what? otherwise he isn't medically unwell? and what "medical" condition could he have?

Why Blog?

The question "why do people Blog"? has been asked many times by many people including our local BBC. I can only speak for myself but know others Blog for the same reason.

It is widely believed we have a very partisan media over here. We also have, what has been described as, "an elected dictatorship" with none of our elected "representatives" being accountable to anybody for any thing.

Senator Stuart Syvret on his Blog http://stuartsyvret.blogspot.com/ has been publishing items one would believe would make headline news. The internet is full of stories ranging from alleged establishment spin doctors bullying, progressive, senatorial candidates mothers at hustings, to senoir civil servants being served with a notice of disclosure and indeed has named this civil servant in the States sitting which went out live on local BBC radio.

I have been trying to find out if what Senator Syvret is claiming has any truth to it regarding the name of the civil servant allegedly being served with this notice of disclosure. I have gone through, what I believe to be the correct channels in order to do this. I have e-mailed the civil servant directly, I have phoned the civil servant, in order to meet with him/her, not been able to talk to him/her and up to now have only spoke to his/her secretary who up to now will not reply to my request for a meeting.

I have e-mailed the minister responsible for this civil servant to ask if there is any truth in Senator Syvret's allegations, have phoned the minister and have attempted to engage with this minister only to be told "we have a duty of care to our employees" and the minister has made a complaint of harrassment against me.

I have been "forced" to take my concerns to the local media, namely the local BBC. It appears they see nothing in my experiences that deserves to be in the public domain. The fact a Senator and father of the house makes these truly frightening allegations I attempt to find out, through the correct channels, if there is any truth to them and for my troubles? a charge of harrassment made against me!!

So why Blog? well what other choice is there? do I want to be Blogging? hell no! I am living in constant fear, like many others, because I have dared to speak out and share my experiences in the hope others will know they are not alone with the same or similar experiences.

I am no Journalist in fact far from it! so therefore am not familiar with libel laws and everything else that goes with publishing stories/experiences on the internet. I am a father trying to protect his children. It turns out in order to do this I have to run the gauntlet of libel, defemation and harrassment laws.

It has become increasingly apparent if you want any answers to legitimate questions that might reassure you you're children are safe under the "care" of this goverment you'd better be ready to face prosecution, with no help from certain parts of our local media. Indeed having to go to the local media in the first place shouldn't have to be an option, if we had an open and transparent government who put the "duty of care" to the people who elected them and their children before the "duty of care" to their employees there would be no need to involve any media including Blogging.

I am merely a product of my enviroment, this government has propelled me into a position I have absolutely no wish to be in. I believe by being forced to Blog my experiences I have/will become "an enemy of the State" and now an enemy of the local media. I have no wish to be an enemy of anybody least of all such powerful organisations. But it appears my choices are shut your mouth and bury your head in the sand and everything will be rosy, or stick your head above the parapitt and risk having it shot.

In order to prove I believe I have been forced to Blog my latest experiences I shall re-produce my e-mail correspondance with a prominant local BBC Journalist. I don't even know if I am allowed to publish the journalists name as his/her position is not paid for by the electorate/taxpayer. None the less I hope it will prove I have tried to bring this into the public domain without having to Blog about it.

The E-mails.

Dear sir/madam

Thank you for returning my phone-call this afternoon and explaining to me why I am not allowed to repeat what Senator Syvret said in the states sitting yesterday, on the radio.
As I explained to you I was under the belief the BBC and myself were protected by "qualified privilege" and you have now explained to me that isn't the case.

I would very much like it made extremely clear I have no wish to defame anybody. I am merely a parent of two children under the "care" of the said department.
I suffer greatly with anxiety which is triggered greatly when I read and hear that a very prominent civil servant in the said department might be a suspect in an on-going child abuse investigation and nobody will either comfirm nor deny these allegations. One reason being "the States have a duty of care to their employees".

I believe the first "duty of care" should be for the children and indeed the parents of the children. I would like to offer you a news story, I believe deserves to be in the public domain.
It is my story of how a very anxious parent tries to get confirmation or denial of a senior civil servant who might be a suspect in child abuse. I have asked the particular civil servants secretary if I could have a meeting with the civil servant, I have e-mailed the civil servant, I have e-mailed and phoned the minister in charge of the department all to no avail.

As a very concerned parent I believe I should have the right to know if one of the people charged with the "care" of my child is a suspect in a child abuse case. I believe I should have the right to know if the states of Jersey have been issued with a notice of disclosure concerning the said civil servant.

All this has been denied me and possibly many others. Surely this deserves to be in the public domain?
I truly hope you will consider running this story as I believe it is a travesty, that a leading politician can make these allegations, which puts the fear of god into me. Only to discover it appears I have no right to know if his allegations are correct.

voiceforchildren.

Dear voiceforchildren

As I explained on the telephone, we have been working over a prolonged period of time to substantiate the allegations made in Senator Syvret's blog. To date they remain unsubstantiated.

In addresseing your personal concerns and anxieties, you may care to listen to Jersey Today tomorrow morning at five past eight, where we will be able to broadcast the results of our on-going work to date.

After our conversation today, we have again re-visited the story and we have been running the following story this afternoon:
Jersey police served a disclosure notice about a senior civil servant to his employers, as part of their inquiry into historic abuse.

Question were raised in the States yesterday over whether the senior civil servant should have been allowed to continue working.
A disclosure notice warns an employer that one of their employees is being investigated for alleged crimes -but does not imply guilt.

Roisin Gauson reports.
Yesterday in the States, Deputy Roy Le Herissier asked the Chief Minister what happened after the police issued a disclosure notice against one of Jersey's top civil servants.
He suggested such an employee should be suspended as a precaution, in a neutral manner which did not imply guilt.

The Chief Minister Senator Walker said he would not discuss individual cases but was satisfied the matter has been handled in the correct way.
Senator Stuart Svryet then used parliamentary privilege to name the civil servant in question.
Senator Svryet was reprimanded by the Deputy Bailiff who said he was well aware that he should not name individuals unless it was unavoidable.
You can hear more in tomorrow's Jersey Today, at five past eight.
Best wishes.

Sir/mamam

Perhaps I did not explain my situation thoroughly enough for you so I will try again.

Before I do that I would like to say I took your advice and listened to the today programme this morning. I am sorry to say I found it somewhat "hollow" or perhaps "shallow" and certainly nothing like "investigative". That is not a critisism it is merely constructive feedback from a listener with no journalistic qualifications.

However back to my "situation" It appears the local BBC and myself have the same problem. You have told me you have been either investigating or researching Senator Syvret's allegations concerning a very high ranking civil servant alledgedly being investigated for violent physical abuse on children.

Despite all your researching and investigating it appears you have only ever come across a brick wall and are unable to substantiate any of these claims.

Well you and I both! the severity of these allegations should not be underestimated nor "hushed up" The story I wish you to cover is exactly what you too appear to have experienced.

A democratically elected representative of the islands electorate informs his electorate that the very person trusted with the "care" of our children is (alledgedly) under investigation for serious violent abuse against children and if a parent, and now it would seem a journalist, were to ask for any kind of confirmation or denial of the allegations, ask why the said civil servant has not been named, why the civil servant has not been suspended, who decided the civil servant should not be suspended, how he/she came to the decision not to suspend the civil servant.

I am frantic with worry my children could be at huge risk if Senator Syvret's allegations have any truth to them at all. Nobody in Jersey will do anything to put my mind at ease, seemingly under the guise of "we have a duty of care to our employees". What about "the duty of care" to our children and the people of Jersey? Why does a parent not have the right to know whether their children are safe under the "care" of the States of Jersey?

As a proffessional Journalist, if you are telling me you see nothing here that deserves to be in the public domain, I can only see Blogging and citizen media, in a matter of time, becoming bigger and more popular over here and possibly becoming "mainstream".

On another note I was hoping to phone Roger Barra on the phone in today to unreservedly apologise for my comments yesterday and explain that I must have been ill informed with the "limitation of qualified privilige" and that now you have put me right. Could you tell me if I will be permitted to do this?

I trust and hope you can see a legitimate news item in my very worrying situation, which I'm sure is shared by many, many islanders especially parents.

voiceforchildren.

Dear voiceforchildren,

If you are concerend about the welfare of your children, you must contact the Education Department and or Social Services.

You are always welcome to offer yourself as a contributor to the BBC Jersey phone in and/or Talkback.

You can be assured we are working constantly on this issue and are devoting our investigative resources to the matters you raise.

We work closely with the BBC's legal department and at present they advise us it is "legally unsafe" to name the person in question.

Sir/madam

I can't but help think you might be taking the p1ss out of me. So I'll not waste too much more of both of our time and effort.

What I might suggest is you look over the e-mail correspondance between us where I have explained I have contacted the said department, the civil servant and more and have only come up against a brick wall. Which again is the story I would like the BBC to cover.

In order to prevent wasting any more of our time and effort. Could you explain to me as a proffesional independent journalist how you see nothing in our correspondance that deserves to be in the public domain?

voiceforchildren.

Sir/madam.

I understand you may be busy but I am still waiting for a reply and answer to my question(s) in my last e-mail to you (above).

On top of this Senator Syvret has posted on the internet that Jersey does follow England with the law of absolute privilege, and qualified privilige and claims the media are able to report the name of the civil servant. You have told me that Jersey does not follow England with this law. Could you please clear this up for me? in order to help me understand why the media will not name this civil servant.

And naturally I would like to know how you might see nothing in our correspondance that deserves to be in the public domain.

Dear voiceforchildren,

Thank you for your email.

If you are concerend about the welfare of your children, I strongly urge you to contact the relevant authorities. The BBC in Jersey cannot help with private matters between you, your children and the authorities.

I refer you to the BBC Producer Gudielines - avaialble online and in the public library with the regard to the reporting of parliament - like The States.

As I have explained previously, our lawyers have advised us it is "legally unsafe" to name the people involved.

This correspondence is now closed.

Yours sincerely

sir/madam

I am absolutely distraught you see nothing with my situation that deserves to be in the public domain. The fact that you have refused to give me direct answers to direct questions is also very concerning to me.

Our correspondance regrettably only adds fuel to the fire we have a partisan media over here which alarms me even more and leaves me no other option than to Blog about my experiences.

I am sure you are confident with your decision to close our correspondance and see nothing that desrves to be in the public domain from it. However I strongly disagree with you I am a parent frantic with worry and despite all my best efforts have only come up against brick walls from the States of Jersey and now the BBC.

Blogging is the only hope I have left

voiceforchildren.

I have done everything I can to conceal the identity of the said civil servant and the said journalist in order to avoid any kind of prosecution. Also as I am somewhat computer illiterate the paragraphs are not publishing with the same seperations I am writing them, I don't know how to remedy this but hope you the reader(s) can see past this.

Elections

I thought I'd just do a quick post after last night's elections. Unfortunately the result was of no real shock and indeed fairly predictable. That is to say the poor and working class did not come out and vote in significant numbers to make a difference.



The media are going to have their view as to why and how "the establishment" got back in and the rest of us are going to have another. One reason could be that the majority of the electorate are in fact demoralised, they believe they can't make a difference. A demoralised majority (non voting) electorate suits our establishment for as long as they continue not to vote. Make no mistake our "ruling elite" and it's media know there is discontent and unrest with "the peasants" and it is only a matter of time before they rebel and by that I mean start voting.



Citizen Mike Vibert should get a mention as should Senator Phillip (GST28) Ozouf as they have appeared on here in the run up to the elections.



Firstly citizen Mike Vibert. I heard him on the radio today trying to put some of the blame of him losing his seat down to hecklers at hustings. What is so tragic about that statement is I truly believe he believes it, he went on to say "there will be one or two members of that crowd that will be feeling pleased with themselves today".



Firstly I did, and many others, heckle citizen Vibert at the hustings, I also heckled Senator Phillip (GST28) Ozouf, Sarah (GST28) Ferguson, Alan (GST28) Maclean and they all kept their seats. I believe the statement "there will be one or two members of that crowd that will be feeling pleased with themselves today" could have been aimed at me.



To that I would say there's a good chance everybody in that crowd will be feeling a bit pleased with themselves today but not for the reasons citizen Mike Vibert might believe. Speaking purely for myself I believe he has failed our children and failed them miserably. He ran his department with only his and his civil servants interests at heart, regardless of any impact on the children or their families.



I have only asked citizen Vibert questions that any concerned parent should deserve an answer to in order to be assured he is, sorry was, providing their children with a safe place of learning. I was only ever fobbed off and met by a wall of secrecy. I was foced to phone him, and he would hang up the phone on me, I would e-mail him and he would not reply, I'd try and engage with him at hustings and he would tell me he has made a complaint of harrassment against me to the police.



Like I said earlier, the tragic thing is Citizen Vibert is apparently oblivious as to what impact his actions have on others and still seeks to blame others for his downfall. I am not "pleased with myself" in a way that I get satisfaction out of another man's downfall. I am just pleased my children are no loger under his "care" and I can't say I am pleased they are under the "care" of Mario Lundy either but more of that at a later Blog.



Now for Senator Phillip (GST28) Ozouf. He, like citizen Vibert and others, was heckled at hustings, and has been the subject of a couple of my Blogs. The difference between the Senator and ex Senator (on a personal note) is Senator Phillip (GST28) Ozouf sought to engage with me!



He chose to do that after a hustings one night when I was sat at a table in the local bar. I was sat with a group of "anti establishment" people. Senator Phillip (GST28) Ozouf came through from the other bar for whatever reason and spotted us. He had no hesitation in coming over to "the lions den" and said something on the lines of "I see I made it on to your Blog" (my last post). He opened up a dialogue with me and was ready to discuss ANY issue with me, didn't ignore me or threaten me with an harrassment charge.



I found, and have since found, him to be very aproachable and, on a strictly personal level, easy to get along with. On a proffessional level I totally disagree with his policies, his voting, his unsustainable population and economic growth policies and his taxing of the poor and needy in order to fatten up the already fat cats.



One must give credit where it is due, as a politician he is good, let's face it he kept his bl00dy seat!! I believe he is a good enough poltician to realize these elections were a warning shot across his bow, topping the poll in his last election and coming in fifth at this one, he has had to pull out all the stops to get re-elected and has had to work like probably never before to keep his job in the states.



He has told me he will give me an interview on camera (mind you that was before the election results) so I shall seek to hold him to that. But that will be after I have attempted to get an interview with one Terence (GST28) Le Main.



On that note, thanks to the people who have e-mailed me questions you want putting to him and if anybody has any more questions please e-mail them voiceforchildren@gmail.com



I won't analyse any more of the election results as the bottom line is, "the establishment" have won this battle, but the war has a long way to go!