Planning for the future - living in the past....

Deputy Bob Duhamel appeared before the Environment Scrutiny Panel today.

As this was a "hearing" yours truly was admitted to observe only - provided  I made no noises, ate food or drank. Every day there is something new - now we "the public" must wait until the witnesses are comfortably seated before we are allowed into the room - and outside a new notice has appeared;
"Members of the Public"
"Please be aware that public hearings may be filmed by the accredited media"
which is a variation on the protocol previously published.

We the public are also to keep mum until we have left the room after the hearing has finished - so it affords little opportunity to set up an interview such as this with any of the participants.

It's all part of the "them and us" syndrome which seems to affct so many people who become part of this little Island government as does the policy that the identification of scrutiny particpants is only done for the purposes of the electronic recording machine. It is not to assist any members of the public to know who all these people doing the talking actually are!

Scrutiny still has a long way to go in the engagement with the public stakes and so it is especially sad when an enthusiastic chap like Deputy Duhamel mumbles so quietly when responding to the scrutineers. There is no sound system to improve amplification for the public and of course, we are not allowed to speak to complain.

Nevertheless Deputies Young and Luce with Constable Rondel made a reasonable job of interviewing Minister Bob and his team of two - although their probing did not elicit a squeak from one of the senior civil servants beyond his (inaudible) name at the outset. It must be quite a feat of dedication to remain so silent for 2 hours and 35 minutes but clearly Deputy Young has a keen interest in the business of planning since he was a former Chief Officer at South Hill .
Whether familiarity is a good thing was not clear but Deputy Young does know the subject matter well enough - but those of us who dealt with him when he was in the comfy planning executive chair would hardly say he was a notable reformer....

Here Bob Duhamel answers my questions for 15 minutes and the transctipt of the hearing will be on the scrutiny.gov.je website in due course for anybody interested.
On today's showing - the public is not interested since their seats were empty. Pity really because Bob outlined some new thinking and proposed changes which will probably mean that he is dumped by the savings obsessed Council of Ministers at the first opportunity...
he will also need to speak up and be more authoritative if he wants to impress the Chief Minister and his bean counting team....ironically it was the very same CM who appeared after luncheon before the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel and bean counting was at the centre of their population and immigration controlling agenda...
frightening is not an adequate word so it's no wonder that Deputy Bob wants to claw back some powers to his Planning Department....not a chance alas...what on earth can we do?

St PATRICK JOINS SCRUTINY PANEL

Call me Deputy Sean Murphy…

Yesterday the very heavily controlled Scrutiny Hearings were concerned with the current Population and Migration controlling policies of the States.

It being the day before St Patrick’s Day there was a large degree of Irish tinking in the air and Deputy Sean actually was so carried away that, following Constable Murphy of Gr’Oville, he introduced himself as Deputy Sean Murphy. It was the highlight of some dismal proceedings.

Total control is planned and as is so usual, it was the immigrant element supporting the latest oppressions against outsiders with the greatest vigour – although in one unsteady moment Constable Murphy did express concerns for Human Rights! He was probably a bit battle weary by then and confided later that he was, as always, in his Jersey way, just concerned for the underdog.

In fact, Sean’s little slip of the tongue revealed just how pathetically frail the whole new controlling plan of the States could be. It’s all built around an absurd POPULATION REGISTER which will be in force from 31 December this year – and this will have ALL the names and address and places of work of everybody in the Island on it besides much much more information to be gleaned from the latest Census, Police, GPs, Social Security, Housing, Treasury (aka Income Tax), Health, Education, Planning, Parish, Utilities departments etc.

Of course, we will ALL have to carry a card  - an ID card by any other name - just as people did during those dark years in the 1940s O’ccupation. Even then though they didn’t have a control system like that now being prepared – O’pressive! – you ain’t seen nothing like this since feudalism!!!

Strangely though, although then it was the Prussians with strange names seeking to control things then – now WE are seeking to control people with funny names from all over the world - but especially the old Soviet bloc countries (remember them?)- and we all know what impossibly funny names they tend to have. All consonants and no vowels Carole – and impossible to pronounce – or enter into a computer DATA file accurately.

Now there’s the rub. ACCURACY – never mind Murphy’s Law on the underdog for the moment.

Let me digress slightly. Back in the days of  Bailiff Sir Frank EREAUT (now there’s a name to conjure with, spell or pronounce) yours truly was waiting in the Friday afternoon court to present my Representation against the then Housing Committee President HENDRICK  VANDERVLIET (no comment necessary) about the oppressive nature of the Housing Law and Regulations.

Sir Frank soon threw me out as can be imagined but whilst I was waiting for my 30 seconds of fame, an unfortunate Portuguese man appeared to answer to living illegally, without qualifications in a flat. Yet his extraordinary defence was that the Housing Department had actually issued him with a permission to occupy – having mistaken him for somebody with a similar name….you are probably catching my drift….but there’s more as the Irish comedian with the green wellies used to say….because Sir Frank ruled that since he had been granted the permit, he was in legal and proper occupation and could not be removed or prosecuted.

Well, just imagine, if all the names of dwellings and their occupiers, or employers and their workers are to be accurately entered into some immense DATA file by mere human beings and the very right to breathe the air of this Bailiwick depends upon the information being correct and up to date…

Doesn’t bear thinking about does it – especially since every government department will be using the DATA to discover people not paying tax, or social security or creating and letting a spare bedroom without permission or sleeping on somebody’s floor, or sharing a bed with somebody else’s wife or husband…so many people will have reasons for not wanting to be on the Register at all…

The star of yesterday’s hearing was Duncan Gib’O. He is the numbers man. He is a scientist producing the arithmetical scenario that induces governments to take draconian actions just such as this whole farce. It does not really matter whether counting potatoes or people because he is entirely independent and in love with stats. Names and address and places of work are not important in his growing department – he is not a peoples’ person but exudes a sort of Prussian air of technical superiority which sends the likes of Senator Ferguson into a swoon….

So that is enough for now. Next time perhaps we will consider in more detail just why these people are wasting their time in trying to control Jersey’s population whereas they only really want yet more ECONOMIC GROWTH and in this capitalist Island that demands more and more people….

In the meantime, consider the traditional Irish role as an exporter of people and the currently collapsed Irish home economy and how all such small Islands are so vulnerable…and try to enjoy St Patrick’s Day.

WORLD INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY in Jersey

Jersey has Senator Sir Philip Bailhache whizzing around the world to raise Jersey international profile but he won't be promoting the ratification of human rights treaties here.
Similarly, the unequal representation of women in Jersey's government or the heights of the administration (when did Jersey ever have a woman Bailiff?) is hardly a priority of his Chairmanship of the Electoral Commission.
But what about our other 50 elected representatives?

Today is International Women's Day yet Jersey along with Somalia and Iran is one of very few places that have not ratified the UN Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
186 countries have already ratified.

This blogspace today is left vacant so that our 51 Elected Reps can explain their views on this extraordinary international and Island neglect and so that they might tell us - the electorate- just what they propose to do about it......

Jersey Electoral Reform - the Public Speaks

Following the success at St Clement on 21 February the long suffering Jersey voters will have another chance to express their views on Wednesday 29 February - this time at St Helier Town Hall.

Anybody can attend this special Assembly which starts at 7.30pm but only voters of St Helier will be able to vote for or against Deputy Le Herissier's Amendment proposition regarding the PPC attempt to seize control of the proposed Electoral Commission.

Of course the initiative against reform is led by Senator Sir Phillip Bailhache. He seeks to hobble the Commision as already approved by the States and put it under the control of himself as Chairman and other States Members.

Deputy Le Herissier is leading the fight to maintain the composition of the Commission as an independent body with a wide mandate and should be able to state his case here at this Assembly which will be chaired by the Chef de Police.

Constable Crowcroft will be out of the Island on Wednesday but he expresses his views here which are in favour of an independent Commission. Ironically he will have to present the Bailhache version of the PPC policy when it is put before the States! Such is the Jersey way of politics.

Other views are expressed here by Nick Le Cornu and Darius Pearce who signed as two of the four Parishioners calling for this special Assembly under the 1804 Law.

Elsewhere, on an earlier posting on this blog,  the Minority PPC Report of Deputies Tadier and Martin has been discussed.

This is a most important matter. The future government of Jersey for decades to come will be decided over the next few weeks. TAKE PART - this may be your last chance.

RESULT St Clement Four 16 Ex Bailiffs Eleven 0

The special St Clement Parish Assembly called to consider Deputy Le Herissier’s amendments to the PPC Electoral Commission proposals turned out to be a very special event.

First things first - the vote went in favour of supporting Le Herissier’s amendments with none voting against - which was amazing in all the circumstances.

We recorded the Deputy’s address and this appears here but it was touch and go whether the somewhat grumpy Constable would allow him to speak at all.

Clearly Constable Norman is not at his best health-wise so we must make allowances but it was always a bit odd to have a member of PPC chairing this particular Assembly. He did appear to be hostile at times towards the four St Clement Parishioners who has signed the unusual request under the 1804 Law to summon the proceedings. He had also laid down some quite severe restrictions on the scope of matters to be discussed or who could speak.

It would have been useful to have somebody from PPC to present the official line but the Constable declined to do so and nobody in the audience came forward. If Senator Sir Philip Bailhache had turned up it would have been interesting to see if he was denied the right to speak. Unfortunately, neither he nor anybody else out of Jersey’s 100,000 population volunteered – so we shall never know.

None of the accredited media could be bothered to attend either, although CTV had said they were sending a crew. Roger B had interviewed Parishioner Tom Gruchy aka Mike Dun on Monday morning (7.45am) about the forthcoming assembly but the BBC carried no further information on news bulletins on today’s (Wednesday) morning programme. Tom (Mike) phoned the studio and offered to go on air to give the result etc but the offer was not taken up. Wonder why?

Channel 103 broadcast an interview on Tuesday and have a follow up on the result going out today.

The JEP did not speak with any of the four Parishioners who called the Assembly directly but cobbled together a piece from stock material with photos of two on Tuesday, but no reporter attended to observe the event and there was no mention in Wednesday's edition.

Fortunately Neil recorded Roy Le Herissier’s presentation which the Deputy proposes to deliver again at the coming St Helier Assembly on the 29^th if allowed by Constable Crowcroft (who also chairs PPC). It is thus now available on You tube in case any others should want to view it.

The attendance at St Clement was very good.

16 Parishioners voted for Le Herissier and 11 abstained (so total 27). About a similar number of others, including States members, were also there but could not vote.

St Clement Deputy Gerald Baudains spoke very well in favour of the amendments but curiously declared that he had a policy of never voting at Parish Assemblies (although he was legally entitled to do so as the Constable confirmed). If he did vote it would have been for.

Deputy Susie Pinel the other newly elected Deputy for St Clement (and Assistant Minister already at Social Security) remained silent and could not be drawn into participation.  

This was also curious because (as she explained afterwards) she did not know enough about the subject to make a decision. Yet in her election manifesto she had promised;

“States Regeneration: reduce the number of members; cut waste from the public sector; undertake a full review of Ministerial Government; re-focus on the major issues; improve the quality of decision making and cut out personal attacks.”

Sir Philip might well have written that for her! As it turned out she joined the abstainers which was a mathematical curiosity in itself. How was it possible that eleven people ALL decided to abstain whereas not one voted against?

Was this the St Clement mafia at work?

Clearly their spokesperson on the night was Advocate Sue (“Superman”) Permain who had come with a ready prepared lengthy script based upon the wonderful and ancient traditions of Jersey etc. Typically too (even as a Jersey lawyer!) she protested ignorance of the PPC proposals and thought that the St Clement Four should educate her!

Fortunately even the Constable soon tired of her monologue and invited her to sit down and shut up but it is always interesting to see the covert lines of support emerging at such gatherings.

As Susie Pinel warned in her election leaflet;

PLEASE THINK WHAT YOU WANT YOUR FUTURE TO BE.”

How true – but be doubly warned about who you vote for - and we must ensure that even those we have been minded to elect do not sit on the Electoral Commission.

Next – possibly our final chance – to save our meagre level of democracy is at St Helier on Wednesday 29 February. It will be the first item on the agenda commencing at 7.30pm.

Make sure you are there… IF YOU CARE.

Jersey Electoral Commission - here we go again

Daniel Wimberley's parting shot as the Deputy for St Mary in the States of Jersey last year was to gain approval for his Proposition to establish an Electoral Commission.

Now States Members have commenced yet another attempt to reform the composition of the States along with many other changes to the way they are to be elected by the long suffering public. This latest show will run for years.

Senator Sir Philip Bailhache (the former Bailiff) has taken the opportunity - surrounded by so many weak States members - to grab the initiative and seeks to control the Commission's activities in line with his own agenda. As a member of the Privileges and Procedures Committee he has already proposed that the Commission shall include States Members (not part of the original Wimberley plan as approved by the States) and to choose its own outside consultants.

Senator Bailhache's agenda includes the retention of the 12 Parish Constables in the States whilst reducing the overall number to just 42 elected members in total.

Tom Gruchy and the other heroes of 1769 would recognise the role now of the former Bailiff. They bravely fought to establish democratic government in Jersey - risking their lives to do so - against the all powerful Crown Officers of their day.

Their battle continues. It is now our legacy. The representation of the public of Jersey is at risk today if the Commission is hijacked by the old guard centred on existing and past autocratic Crown Officers.  They must not be allowed to stifle democracy and debate.

The public must enter this debate at the earliest opportunity - it is no use waiting for a yes/no Referendum vote on such complex and important issues. A Referendum will be yet another stitch-up.

Here Deputies Monty Tadier of St Brelade (above) and Roy Le Herisssier of St Saviour (below) explain their current roles and views.

The first public opportunity to discuss these matters in a meaningful way has been arranged by the voters of St Clement who have called for a Parish Assembly on Tuesday 21 February 2012 specifically to consider the merits of the PPC proposals and the future  of the Electoral Commission.
Deputy Roy Le Herissier has agreed to attend to explain his lodged Amendments which seek to ensure that local politicians do not sit on the Commission etc.

A vote will be taken at the special Parish meeting expressing support or otherwise for Deputy Le Herissier's amendment.
Only St Clement voters will be allowed to vote but it is important that the public from other Parishes should attend to hear what is going on. Other meetings are being arranged in other Parishes etc.
The public must now show the initiative and lead the discussion to ensure that long fought for rights are not taken away - the reform of the States and of the democratic process must continue but not in accordance with the 18th century feudal concepts of the Crown Officers and their followers.

The St Clement meeting starts at 7pm.

La Ville Davy Retreat Centre - Peter and Mo Henderson explain...

Mo and Peter Henderson will be known to many people in Jersey already through their Mindfulness teaching and other professional work in the Island.

Here, in this February (not January!) interview they explain about the Retreat Centre that they have created and run at St Helen near Dinan for some years.

With Jersey’s Health Service now facing so many challenges it is useful to hear people who have independently established their own successful initiative towards mental well being using meditation and related practices.

La Ville Davy Retreat Centre, 22100 St Helen France further details can be found on Facebook or

http://www.lavilledavy.org

or email

villedavy@orange.fr

This is not an advert – the information is offered as part of the eternal search for knowledge and understanding for those who seek it.

Please don’t complain about the poorish lighting on this interview …it’s the best I could manage on the day…just try to concentrate on the information that is being offered…..