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.
The following interview in two parts with Alan Collins the UK based solicitor-advocate is the latest in a series.
We think it important to be updated on his progress since he represents at least 59 victims of abuse in Jersey. He has been engaged over six years with these particular cases and so has a very useful knowledge to draw upon. Besides which he represents many other victims in other locations so has a most valuable insight into processes and proceedings in other jurisdictions.
Previous interviews were posted on this blog on 6 April 2014, 23 August 2013, 15 December 2012 and 16 August 2012.
The Independent Jersey Care Inquiry is now underway but as Alan Collins reveals it is faltering due to lack of witnesses coming forward. This may be the result of poor advertising by the Inquiry or due to other reasons.
Significantly the Chair of the Inquiry has declared that no submissions will be treated as "private". All written submissions will be posted on the Inquiry web-site. There will be no secrecy. It was also significant to hear her ruling that the States of Jersey Police and the Health Department must produce the documents requested.
CHOW - Church House on a Wednesday - is a regular forum for discussion on issues with a Christian basis.
This discussion is the latest part in a series considering the "future of the Church in Jersey" - assuming that it has a future. The four main speakers are non-Christians.
Last week the Dean of Jersey addressed the CHOW meeting and his talk is posted on Tom Gruchy YouTube in four parts on 4 June.
The dissenters this week were Deputy Sam Mezec, Ramsay Cudlipp (JEP), Juliet and Deputy Monty Tadier:
Part One above and most of Parts two and three below feature mostly Deputy Mezec
Part two
Part three
Part four above is mostly Ramsay Cudlipp
Part five above features Juliet
Part six is Deputy Tadier.
Some questions from the audience have not been included due to poor sound quality and lack of space here. The meeting was chaired by Paul Millbank.
We recently recorded this interview with James - a Jersey man - shortly after Liberation Day on 9 May.
It is posted below in 2 parts or chapters with 2 parts in each.
Each video chapter is about 10 minutes.
We are following Evelyn's progress in and out of hospital. Or last video posting was in January 2014 and appears on this blog added to the previous one dated 17 November 2013...
If you suffer from constant gut's ache and several severe illnesses you might just understand some of Evelyn's problems and complaints - and why she resorts to cannabis for physical and mental relief...
The video that follows is in five parts and commences with her return through Jersey Airport.
We have not yet managed to speak with Helen O'Shea the CEO of the Jersey General Hospital referred to nor to "Blue Islands" for their version of what happened on their early morning Jersey to Southampton flight on Tuesday 29 April.
We had always found this airline most helpful and their City Airport flight a joy so are surprised that Evelyn's flight was allowed without a toilet etc...
If the helpful passenger who assisted her to gain access to the toilet or any other witnesses would come forward or leave a comment it would be helpful...Evelyn will return to Oxford for more treatment in about one month....
There is a public meeting to discuss cannabis use at the Town Hall, St Helier this Thursday from 7pm and Evelyn hopes to be well enough to attend.
Part One above
Part two above
Part three above
Part four above
Part five above
Our thanks to Evelyn for participating in this - we hope that it proves helpful.
States Members and medical professionals are especially invited to comment...
The Jersey part of the AGM for the CIs Cooperative Society Ltd was held at Hautlieu School 13 May 2014.
Unusually shareholders of this "society incorporated under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1765-1978" were met with a "political protest" at the entrance regarding the restoration of the old properties in Pitt Street and Dumaresq Street, St Helier.
We took the opportunity to video record a brief report and interview with Ms Foot - whose family used to own the properties behind the HMV advert many years ago.
Following that report we have posted interviews with Ben Shenton - formerly a Senator in the Jersey States - now Vice President of the CIs Coop and with Peter Roffey - formerly a "radical" Deputy in the States of Guernsey - and now President of the CIs Coop.
All is not well in the Cooperative "movement" in the UK and that choice of description is - or was - particularly relevant years ago when the COOP was a "way of life" for shareholders with overtly political agenda.
The CIs Coop was never so blatantly political but the fact is that local politicians have always played a prominent part in its management.
Deputy Norman Le Brocq being a particular example who served for many years but it was noticeable that shareholders in Jersey voted against Deputy Kevin Lewis being appointed as a Director at this meeting....
There are many issues arising in this "business" which has 77,000 Jersey and 41,000 Guernsey shareholders (or "members") who all have the right to attend the AGMs, to have their say and to use their vote. A strange mix of business and democratic principles and a packed house of interested participants at this Hautlieu meeting...
Ben Shenton above - Vice President
Peter Roffey above - President
"Footnote" below shows the regeneration of the Southampton Hotel site at the "Weighbridge" aka "Liberation Square" and wonders what "history" actually means....
Are the Pitt Street/ Dumaresq Street circumstances any different...?
For many years the Jersey MG Owners' club organised a spring rally which was very popular but the same few people became tired of organising it and sponsorship had become ever more difficult to achieve.
For this year, the UK owners of some MGs decided that rather than let the popular rally just fade away they would organise it themselves through the Boston club.
These video recordings show some of the 100 or so people who participated with their fifty cars travelling from the UK - plus one from Guernsey - to make this a most successful event.
Notably, another MG group from the UK had organised a separate rally in Guernsey for the same weekend - showing just how popular the Channel Islands are for such events.
Notable Sponsors for the Jersey Weekender Rally were Condor Ferries, CI Travel Group, Waitrose, Lancaster Insurance and the MG Owners Club. Constable Crowcroft of St Helier gave his usual support....
Videos feature Roche Bentley's rhyme, Roger Pratten's MG3 and transplants, Peter Martel's views on CIs tourism and odd bits of recordings of the Weekender activities....
Sandra and her daughter have featured in several previous blog postings and even the JEP and other "accredited media" have reported on her housing and related problems.
The "black mould" of condensation was the most recent focus of attention but her difficulties are even more profound because Sandra has disabilities which require her to have specially adapted accommodation.
It's quite simple really. For example, if you cannot open windows because they cannot be reached or are too stiff to operate - then good ventilation cannot be achieved and condensation results....
There is no point in blaming the tenant - the simple fact is that the flat is poorly designed for her specific needs - and after all, we all need to have windows that can be opened whether we are classed as "disabled" or otherwise....
Yet there are more specific design needs that follow from disability - such as grab handles in appropriate places - especially around toilets and baths - and there is a need for extra space to accommodate wheelchairs or other disability aids...and to use the toilet or bath or even to move around other rooms.
As we say now, its not rocket science - but you would think that the Jersey Housing Department has never had to consider such matters before because they have offered Sandra the key to the door of the flat as shown on the videos that follow...
The departmental staff seem to think that it's an improvement but in fact it offers worse accommodation than Sandra's current flat in Liberation Court (which is less than 20 years old).
As can be seen the latest flat is just simply not suitable for a person with her severe disabilities and as we have already told Minister Deputy Green many times before ( and he has personal knowledge of disability in his own family) - standard issue flats are just simply not suitable for this tenant or others with similar needs.
What is Sandra supposed to do with her (two) disability scooters - where can they be parked and charged from the electricity supply?
They are her legs after all so cannot be dispensed with at a whim....and they are very heavy and her daughter has already injured her back by trying to move them about ....and we have already complained to the Fire Department about the danger of parking these to block escape routes because there is nowhere else...
So please look at these fours parts of our video and try to put yourself in Sandra's seat....
...and bear in mind that "Social Housing" is soon to be handed over to the private company called Andium from July and that Deputy Green the Housing Minister has already announced his intention to quit this office with his eyes on the Health Department - where the declared new policy is that people should care for themselves "in their own homes"...!
With Andium under the Chair of a UK resident receiving £40,000 for his 30 hours annual attention to the problems of Sandra and thousands of others with real housing needs and the Health service already reeling from shortages and inadequacies and a similar planned "user pays" policy - the future looks ever more grim for those with specific needs and limited resources of their own....
And whilst we have your attention - why is Sandra's 18 years old daughter not treated as her carer and rewarded financially and given the appropriate support too...?
