Jersey Reform Day.
This site is dedicated to the day, now officially recognised annually by the States of Jersey, to mark the anniversary of the events of 28 September 1769.
Jersey's own Independence or Bastille Day.
21 Jersey residents are known to have died in Concentration Camps during WW2 and about 300 more were deported to continental prison camps for such offences as listening to the radio
Jersey's Holocaust Memorial Day is centred upon their memory but with a world-wide perspective.
Every year there is a guest speaker, readings, prayers and the laying of wreaths by officials of the Island and many groups and individuals.
Unfortunately, Jersey has not ratified such important UN Conventions as CEDAW - to Eliminate All forms of Discrimination Against Women - and the government does not treat human rights and the elimination of discrimination in all its forms as a priority.
Discrimination on the grounds of Disability has not yet been enacted for example and the relevant UN Convention has also not yet been ratified.
Very little information about the application of human rights and related international treaties and obligations is published by the Jersey administration.
Chief Minister Ian Gorst laid a wreath today on behalf of the Government of Jersey but declined to be interviewed.
This year Bob Le Sueur MBE delivered the keynote speech which is presented in full here;
Andium Homes the "arms length" company that has taken over the role of social housing provider for Jersey Government has just refurbished a small block of two bedroom maisonettes at Clos de Sables, St Brelade
Originally built in the 1960s the block had major structural faults and Andium has made the building look better than it ever did - but the flats do not offer "lifetime homes" standards and at over £300 per week rent they are hardly "affordable" to many.
A few hundred metres away on the other side of Route Orange are some of the Island's more expensive private properties including the stylish 1930s Les Lumieres - alongside which a very large private dwelling is now being constructed.
So there is no shortage of money available in Jersey for new housing or to pay for old properties and this area of St Brelade could be further developed or redeveloped to provide many housing units. But who should enjoy them....
Here Deputy Tadier discusses some of the many and complex issues relating to this area and other matters that can apply across the Island
This is a recording in four parts of the Jersey Disability Partnership meeting at the Salvation Army premises, St Helier on 16 January 2017.
PARTS one to three include a talk from Tristen Dodd of Infrastructure explaining about buses and taxis and related matters.
There is a short contribution from Nikki Withe of Liberty Bus at the end of Part Three with some information on the new Accessibility Card
Part four is an extract from the Committee meeting which discusses present and future plans for JDP and the relationship with ENABLE.
There is a short report at the end on a visit to the Jersey Airport and progress with regard to the installation of Changing Places toilets at the several Ports of Jersey.
The public is invited to submit comments on the new Disability Strategy for Jersey.
It is planned to enact legislation in due course and to ratify the UN Convention to Eliminate Discrimination against Disabled Persons.
This is a video recording in 4 Parts of the talk given by Ann Hamon at St Paul's Centre on 20 January 2017.
Comments can be submitted via the online survey on www.gov.je/consult.
Printed copies of the survey form are also available.
Contact the Disability Strategy consultation at Cyril Le Marquand House
POB 140 St Helier but be warned that this building may now be operating with limited opening hours for the public.
Chris Dunn of Adult Services at the Health Department gave this talk to the Jersey Disability Partnership meeting on 16 January 2017.
It is presented here in 3 parts and explains the proposed new structure for the assessment of carers and the cared for.
It is separate from the assessment of care needs by the Social Security department for Income Support purposes but the speaker explained that the two systems ,may be combined in the future.
Roy Le Herissier was a States Deputy for fifteen years and his booming voice is much missed.
Here in this two part interview he discusses why the current system of Jersey government is failing, why the public is so disenchanted and what - if anything - might be done to change things with a particular focus on the 2018 Jersey elections.
Part One below (about 14 minutes);
Part Two below (about 14 minutes) ;
As always, if you think that you have something useful to say and want to record your views, please make contact.
I posted a three part video on 4 July 2014 – the day that the Reform Jersey Party was registered in the Royal Court. Then the party had four elected Deputies – it now has just three following the demise of Nick Le Cornu. Deputies Tadier and Mezec appeared with Nick on the interview - but Deputy Geoff Southern did not.
Since then, the Reform Party has put forward other candidates for election including Ann Southern, Shannen Kerrigen, Beatrice Poree, Debbie Hardisty, Mary Ayling Phillip and Laura Millen - none have been successful.
But what has happened to their political ambitions?
Generally speaking, in other places, unsuccessful candidates carry on campaigning to build up their own political profiles, gain experience of public speaking and knowledge of issues – besides promoting and building-up the party. But not so it seems in Jersey.
Also absent from Reform Jersey are the like-minded retired politicians who might want to offer their knowledge and support. The likes of Roy Le Herissier, Rob Duhamel, Wendy Kinnard and Alan Breckon could have a useful “elder statesmen” role and put their specialist expertise and knowledge to very good occasional use if they were so inclined – and made welcome.
Have they been invited?
Presumably approaches have been made to such retired politicians - as well as the likes of John Young and others who retain obvious political ambitions.
Similarly there are many existing “liberal” members of the States who could usefully join with an established party such as Reform.
Have Deputies Vallois, Higgins, Martin, Macon, Doublet and Labey x2 refused to join or to give visible public support on key issues?
And where are the “shadow” ministers to speak out for Reform with consistent and agreed policies to counter those of the “establishment”? Why does Deputy Southern not speak on Social Security matters, or Deputy Tadier on Housing or Deputy Mezec on Education? Could not somebody such as Deputy Vallois be persuaded to speak on Finance matters etc?
Of course, Reform could just as well have “shadow speakers” who are not elected members of the States but who are competent to research and explain issues and to formulate alternative policies.
There are many lobbyists in Jersey - especially on “green issues” who could be much more effective if their efforts were channeled through or in conjunction with Reform or other groupings
Election to the States is not a private business activity. It is supposed to be motivated from public spirited motives which ultimately depend upon gaining a majority of the votes cast in the States Assembly.
For too long the Jersey “establishment” has effectively been beyond challenge. It was never so “all powerful” - not since the 18th century - and it is obvious that a bunch of “independent” well meaning but disorganized individuals cannot divert its intended path or policies.
Extraordinarily, it is doubtful if the elected government of Jersey has ever been so unpopular with the people yet it remains so difficult to replace it through the ballot box, to out-vote its policies in the States or even engage it in a meaningful dialogue.
The next Jersey General Election will be upon us in the spring of 2018 but there is no evidence of an effective opposition being formed or that the Reform Party might yet blossom into a more effective political grouping.
Following Donald Trump and the antics of the Tory and Labour Parties after the UKIP inspired EU Referendum plus the huge uncertainties of a post BREXIT world – it is not easy to image what an “effective political grouping” might look like or how any “party” might be managed in Jersey.
But there is no shortage of political talent in Jersey.
The “establishment” certainly has no great problem in drawing out political support through the various business organizations, the wealthy, the media, professionals, social and faith networks and such like
The “opposition” too has many potential assets and talented people to draw upon, but unfortunately, has historically always attracted too many prima donnas.
Whether Reform can change sufficiently over the next few months to become an effective political force based upon democratic principles, with popular support, I do not know.
There have been many failed attempts to form a “democratic opposition” in Jersey since the Liberation and that is a far cry from aspiring to be the government.
Unfortunately, it is not clear to me what the specific aspirations of Refom might now be but I hope that there might be a clearer plan published soon.
