Tuesday, January 29, 2019

UNDER STARTERS ORDERS - District 3/4 St Helier, Jersey, Bye-Election for Deputy...29 January 2019 - Polling 27 February



There are 10 runners entered in the St Helier District 3/4 Bye Election...
They were paraded this evening at the Parish Hall Assembly Room at the First floor....which was unfortunate because the lift was not working (it had been damaged that very afternoon)


but the proceedings went ahead and at least one disabled person had been turned away...

The Constable chaired the meeting and warned the candidates about their obligations in this election NOT LEAST that they must submit returns of their expenses within 15 working days of the ballot....


With 10 Candidates my TRICAST forecast  - since I do not have a vote in this bye-election would be as follows.

The three are not in order - just the most likely candidates in my view....

Ant Lewis


Nick Le Cornu


John Baker



....but of course there are other brands available.

Polling Day is 27 February 2019
 

Monday, January 28, 2019

"Health and Care Delivery in Jersey" - "The Future Plan" 28 January 2019


A new management team has produced a new plan for the future of "Health and Care Delivery" in Jersey.

They explained this on 28 January 2019 at a meeting of the Jersey Disability Partnership.

The following are the 3 video recordings of the presentations as delivered. They are not edited but a general discussion followed which was not recorded.

Below - Rob Sainsbury, Managing Director of the Jersey General Hospital.
Video about 21 minutes;


Below - Sean McGorigle - Director of Local Services
Video about 8 minutes


Below - Helen Sargeant Dar
Video about 3 minutes

Sunday, January 27, 2019

Jersey Holocaust Memorial Day 2019 with Jenny Lecoat, Bailiff Sir William Bailhache and Chief Minister John Le Fondre

Jersey Holocaust Memorial Day is part of an international initiative to remember the victims of genocide and to remind us all to combat racism and bigotry

Jenny Lecoat gave  this year's opening address;



The Bailiff of Jersey Sir William Bailhache (below) gave the closing address;


Jenny Lecoat was interviewed for this post;



Jersey's Chief Minister, Senator John Le Fondre was also interviewed for this post;



Sunday, January 20, 2019

Jersey Election Scandal - Ramifications and the role of the Media




With some help from Neil we recorded these interviews in progress with BBC Jersey and Channel TV.

We wanted to record what these “accredited media” actually recorded and to compare it with what they eventually broadcast.

It is not so much that they tend to use “sound- bites” only but more their attitude towards “bloggers” and “citizens” media that we wanted to test.
 
The video linked below is more or less the broadcasters' uncut version of their interviews with Nick Le Cornu and Mike Dun following their disclosure of the Jersey “Election Expenses Scandal.”

Neil’s video was not intended for posting  - it was more for research  and the sound is not really good enough - but we think the public needs to have access to it.
 
Would the “media” acknowledge Nick’s research we wondered and give due credit for exposing this important information because, as it transpired, there was no initial enthusiasm on their part to research the facts and inform that public accordingly.
 
So what is the role of the so called “accredited media” in Jersey? Who awards their “accreditation” and who shall be invited to “Press briefings” or to receive “Press releases”?

Who regulates the media in Jersey?

We have always to be mindful that it was the “News of the World” that set the lowest standards of journalism known in the UK prior to it being closed down by its owner. Many “accredited” journalists were prosecuted and some went to jail.

Could such a thing ever be imagined for the JEP or Bailiwick Express?
 
We all know that there is now a very large “Communications Unit” in Charlie Parker’s version of the Civil Service and he wants more “good news” to be fed to the public under his “My way or the Highway” mantra.  BUT the recent John Young announcement of his Ministerial Planning decision re the New Hospital was a “Private Press Briefing” at the Town Hall from which the public and bloggers were intended to be excluded. Why?
 
In fact, some bloggers and members of the public were eventually allowed to hear Deputy John Young, after mounting a protest. But there are only a handful of “accredited media” outlets in Jersey so it’s hardly a management issue of Donald Trump proportions at any time.

Why the presumed need for such control and secrecy at all in Jersey?
 
Why are the “accredited media” allowed to attend some court hearings whilst the public and bloggers are not?
 
Why can’t government and other official Press briefings simply be posted on the States Web-site and open to all when a Q and A session is needed?
 
It is noted that very little of the BBC and CTV interviews linked here were finally broadcast and all the media only gave minimal acknowledgment to the role of the bloggers if any.
 
Now it is evident that the “accredited Jersey media” prefer to minimize the topic.

Are they acting under orders?

So where does this leave the public and the “public interest”?

We must not forget that there have been previous attempts to legislate to control “bloggers” in Jersey and the use of “social media” is constantly threatened with censorship in one form or another.

Back in the 18th century Jersey’s early newspapers were similarly threatened with curtailment or closure but now it is the “accredited media” that often leads the call to suppress the bloggers and “citizens’ media.”
 
Why has the media so often been cast in the role of “defender of the status quo” or Jersey’s supposed “good reputation.”?
 
Following the publication of the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry Report the expression “the Jersey Way” came into common usage – but some want now to bury it, because like the term “tax haven” it sends out the wrong image.
 
The ramifications of the “Elections Expenses Scandal” have yet to be fully examined, discussed or digested.

The roles of the Judicial Greffier and the Attorney General need to be considered fully but who is empowered to undertake this is not at all clear.

But they must not be used as mere scapegoats for the incompetence of so many election candidates who failed to comply with the simple requirements of a clear and recent law over several elections.
 
It seems improbable that those States Members who failed to complete their election returns correctly should take any part – except as witnesses - in the subsequent inquiry or reform making process.

It may be that the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Inspectors can be invited to return and consider these matters afresh but the appointment of an external and independent body to undertake this work must be inevitable.
 
Any such inquiry must be held in public.

 
https://youtu.be/QeMCwxekmR0 
 

 

Friday, January 18, 2019

Nick Le Cornu tries to communicate regarding the Jersey election scandal 10 January to 15 January 2019

 Nick Le Cornu 'phones Jersey AG's office Thursday 10 January 2019
 
e-mail reply from AG's office....(below)

From: Howard Tobias <H.Tobias@gov.je>
Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2019, 08:59
Subject: Telephone Call - 10 January 2019
Dear Mr Le Cornu
Thank you for your telephone call of 10 January 2019 to the Law Officers’ Department.
If you have any evidence in relation to the matters raised you should take the material to the States of Jersey Police.
Yours sincerely
Howard Tobias
Director (Criminal Division)
Nick Le Cornu
engages with Jersey AG, the States of Jersey Police and States Members outside the States Building and Royal Court in the Royal Square Tuesday 15 January 2019
 
 

Thursday, January 17, 2019

Nick Le Cornu Interview Part two - Jersey Election scandal

Many people in Jersey don't give a damn because they take no part in the democratic election processes of the Island but those who are concerned in the conduct of the political and civil administration should watch this latest video interview with Nick Le Cornu.
It raises many very important questions and these need to be answered by our elected States Members, the Crown Officers and the so called "accredited media."


So far, very little investigation has been undertaken and made public but Nick will continue with his research and further details will be posted here in due course.

For starters it seems that the CPA Election team might usefully be invited back to Jersey to consider what further reforms are now needed in the light of the latest information since they may not have been aware of this during their visit in 2018.

Below - Nick le Cornu Interview - Part two



Tuesday, January 15, 2019

The Other Demo in the Royal Square, Jersey - 15 January 2019



Nick Le Cornu confronted States Members in the Royal Square today as they emerged from the States Chamber.

Had they completed their Election Expenses returns by 7 June 2018? he asked - otherwise - if not - they are liable to be prosecuted and fined if found guilty...
furthermore they must vacate their seats and face bye elections....

This was the "other demo" in the Royal Square - where hundreds of striking civil servants were also protesting about their pay  and working conditions. Inevitably the "accredited press" were present in large numbers as they should be.

But, Nick Le Cornu's solo demo is unlikely to be reported in the JEP or featured on BBC Jersey.....although a substantial number of those elected may not have completed their returns as required under the law....



As can be seen in this video Nick spoke with HM Attorney General and States Police officers were present too but no States Members seemed very concerned and none actually offered to pursue the matter or ask questions....



Saturday, January 12, 2019

Nick Le Cornu on electoral reform in Jersey 2011 to 2019

Here are 4 video interviews with Nick Le Cornu discussing electoral reform in Jersey and related matters from 2011 to 2019.
You might like to view these over a period of time and consider how many others have consistently campaigned on these matters  over so many years?
 
The first video below deals with Nick's most recent research on election procedures in the 2018 General Election which reveal that many of our elected representatives may not have followed  the law so far as making election expenses returns are concerned and are liable to lose their seats and be fined  for this failure according to the law.
 
2019
 

The second video below features Nick in discussion with Sam Mezec on the day that Deputies Shona and Trevor Pitman were declared bankrupt and so were disqualified from being States members - it was also the day that former Senator Stuart Syvret was released from prison.
Nick and Sam Mezec successfully stood for election in the seats vacated by the Deputies Pitman.
                                                                 2014   


The third video below shows Nick explaining about the attempts to reform the electoral process and the composition of the States including the hi-jacking of the Electoral Commission so that it ceased to be an independent body.
                                                                 
                                                                  2012



The fourth video below shows Nick explaining about the election re-count that was instigated by Paul Le Claire - to which Nick became a supporting party - and deals with various aspects of election procedures which have largely not been addressed yet.
                     
                                                                   2011



Serious debate and discussion in Jersey about the issues that really matter is very difficult to organise or stimulate.
There are far too many in Jersey who express instant opinions on any subject without doing the necessary research or considering what others have to say.
Very few will watch these videos but they are offered here for the benefit of those who might be interested.
If anybody would like to record a response to the views expressed or to record a video on other matters - please make contact.