Media management best explains the current silence about operation Blast, the surveillance of States Members and others by the Jersey Police. The States meeting on Tuesday had a number of oral questions to the Minister for Home Affairs, the Chief Minister and the Solicitor General, the replies to which added nothing to our knowledge. It was evident that the Party of Government had no intention to make available further information pending current enquiries. Additionally, this information starvation has all the hallmarks of political management. So far all Ministers and senior officials have denied any involvement or knowledge of Operation Blast, seemingly the most secret of all secret operations, for which no one is responsible.

It has to be noted that revelations about intelligence service activities rarely happens without a purpose. Release of information about Operation Blast will have been vetted and continue to be handled in a manner designed to limit damaging revelations or to promote a purpose. Why reveal Blast at all when it could easily have been closed down and covered up by the Police without involving government officials?

From Blue eyed boy to Pariah

The revelation of Blast could point to an attempt to further discredit Harper and suspended Chief of Police, Graham Power. Blast must be seen in the context of the Jersey Establishment’s schemes to close down the Haut de la Garenne child abuse enquiry and its embarrassing revelations about the competence of Jersey’s government. Ousting the senior Police management and discrediting every aspect of the abuse enquiry has been central to the counter attack and effective coup d’etat. The JEP has suggested the authority for the initiation of Blast rests with former Chief Minister, Frank Walker, whilst St Syvret’s blog accuses the Chief Executive Officer of complicity. Even if they did, it could not have happened without the involvement of the Chief of Police. The time period for operation Blast, from 2006 to 2008, is very short and falls conveniently within the period of authority for Harper and Power.

Where are the real intelligence files?

It should come as no surprise that the state in Jersey seeks to monitor political activity. It happens elsewhere and there is no function for a secret police force other than to spy on its own people. What at first sight appears to be Police misconduct is in fact the way in which all intelligence gathering occurs. Certain States Members have expressed amasement, mainly because they naively believe that they are the state and run the island, when in fact it is run by the Banks and in the interests of international finance. Some Members have been to see their Blast files and assume, because they contain anodyne information about Police checks for convictions and a publicly available photograph, they are somehow benign. This may be in part because the intelligence material has been weeded. The Home Affairs Minister said in the States that he was not prepared to open up the files because they contained material from the Uk and other security services.

Historical surveillance

Intelligence gathering on political activity has been continuing for some time and to assume otherwise is naivety itself. The obvious States Members for surveillance in the past will have been Deputy Norman Le Brocq, Maurice Buesnel, a Deputy in the 1980’s, the intake of 1993 and subsequently the JDA. The Blast files do not represent the full extent of historical or current surveillance. Any formal Enquiry into Blast should seek to confirm the degree of historical monitoring.

The fact that the Blast files cover a limited period of three years might suggest they are a special one off exercise in addition to ongoing surveillance or are a hoax.

Further, current surveillance will cover not simply States Members, but the whole range of non electoral politics, including NGO activity. It has been eluded to that the Blast files cover non States Members, without as yet any names having been revealed.

There are more questions that answers about operation Blast and masses of speculation and rumour. This is not satisfactory and the Council of Ministers has a responsibility to explain in advance of a public enquiry.

Keeping things in perspective is essential in a paranoid and claustrophobic island. Whilst the Police may well be watching us, it is the Banks and financial institutions that hold the most information about our lives.

[Submitted by zek]

In the UK today the 650 or so MPs will elect one of their number to be the new Speaker in the House of Commons having fallen out of love with Michael Martin MP the working class Scot with an abrasive tongue.

In Jersey the new Speaker of the States is already determined. The fact that Michael Birt becomes Bailiff next week rather than Deputy Bailiff changes nothing because he already serves as Speaker in the States except that current Attorney General William Bailhache will also become a Speaker by virtue of his promotion to Deputy Bailiff.

And in Jersey nothing else changes either because the Greffier and his Deputy are perfectly capable of serving as Speaker in the absence of the Bailiff and his Deputy and in recent times elected members apparently have been reluctant to slide into the Speaker’s chair. Since Stuart Syvret as “Father of the House” would presumably in theory be most qualified to serve as Speaker in the current States if the other officers were absent, it would not be at all surprising if the Bailiff had declined to invite him to preside.

Whosoever serves as Speaker – whether in Jersey or the UK – will not always please everybody. Without doubt the task of keeping “order” among 53 rather than 650 voices must be a much easier one but the need to make instant rulings about procedures and the interpretation of the parliamentary regulations requires somebody with a quick mind and substantial experience, a reservoir of knowledge on precedents and a copy of Erskine May.

Of course, In Jersey the potential conflicts that might arise by having the Bailiff as chief judge in the Courts and as an unelected President and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly must surely mean that the arrangement will end soon. If Jersey is to have a President than it must be better that he is the elected Chief Minister who can be held accountable in the States or before the electorate and there is more than enough judicial work to keep the Bailiff and Deputy Bailiff busy without the added burden of States legislating duties. The role and duties of the somewhat similar office of Lord Chancellor in the UK was reformed in order to better comply with democratic and Human Rights standards.

But why do some want to elect Jersey’s Speaker? What is the benefit of creating an extra specific officer or choosing one of the 53 to serve as Speaker? Bearing in mind too that one in fact means two because provision will need to be made for a Deputy Speaker and it is not realistic or fair to have some section of the electorate denied their proper chosen representative. The question of competence must also be faced because it cannot be certain that a suitably experienced or impartial Speaker would be chosen by any obvious means. The current system does mean that only persons with considerable experience actually serve as Jersey Speakers and the question of their impartiality or otherwise would hardly be better tested through a selective system.

So if the Bailiff and Deputy Bailiff did cease to serve in the Jersey States – and we might as well remove the meaningless Lt Governor whilst we are at it – who should be Speaker? The obvious solution is that the Greffier and his Deputy ( or deputies) should carry on to provide full-time the service that they already provide occasionally and on very rare occasions one of the elected senior Members could temporarily slide into the Speaker’s chair, just as they can do at present, if needs must.

What is the problem?
Of course Deputy Trevor Pitman has already had a recent spat with Greffier Michael De La Haye serving as Speaker but it seemed to be a somewhat trivial matter and there would no doubt be even more and substantial battles if Senator Ozouf or an elected member with similar declared political views became the regular Speaker.

It is noticeable that in the House of Lords there is no current dispute with their Lord Speaker elected from within the House (formerly the Lord Chancellor served as Speaker) and Deputy Speakers appointed by virtue of their office and in fairness it must be stated that the House of Commons has only rejected the Speaker recently for the first time in 300 years. But it is difficult to see what benefits will arise for Jersey democracy if the Speaker is to be chosen from among the 53 elected States members.

In the absence of the discipline of a Party system and without the structure of government with an official opposition, Jersey’s system seems unsuitable to follow the UK example. Would a JDA member give up Party allegiance in order to serve as Jersey’s speaker?

So what is wrong precisely with the Greffier and his team serving as Speaker or Presiding Officer in a reformed States of Jersey? Perhaps Deputy Bob Hill’s proposition and inquiry into the role of the unelected officers of the States will be allowed to answer such questions.

[Submitted by Tom Gruchy]

So that wonderful potential tourist attraction aka the States of Jersey has agreed to let the UK government ratify the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child for Jersey at some point in the distant future. There is no urgency of course and we must make sure that the island has removed all the necessary impediments beforehand……….

But we have even refused to agree to Deputy Le Claire’s proposal to appoint a Children’s Commissioner in the meantime!

What a sad joke. Yet again children are to be denied the one really effective measure that just might make islanders face up to their responsibilities towards the welfare of all children.

Make no mistake; without an independent Commissioner with the powers to initiate enquiries and cause reforms to be made or to have abusive carers or educationalists (for example) removed and disciplined – then there is no hope that Jersey will offer anything better than very inadequate standards of CHILDREN’S RIGHTS.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child depends upon participation by NGOs (Non Governmental Organizations) to make it effective. There are virtually no such groups in Jersey.

2 years after ratification of the Convention (whenever that happens! Or rather, IF it ever happens!) Jersey must submit a full and comprehensive Report to the UN showing how the island complies. Then every 5 years further Reports must be submitted to continue this process but part of the process is the reliance upon NGOs submitting critical observations on these official Reports. Some NGOs are invited to participate in discussions with the UN.

In the absence of effective Jersey NGOs it is absolutely essential that there is an independent Children’s Commissioner in Jersey to offer informed criticisms of Jersey Reports when necessary. Without constant monitoring by such a Commissioner in a small place like Jersey, the bullying and ill-treatment of some children will continue and some will continue to suffer inadequate housing, education and discrimination etc etc.

Take special note too that Deputy JUDY MARTIN, the newly appointed Assistant Health Minister charged with implementing reforms in the children’s service actually voted AGAINST the appointment of a Children’s Commissioner!

She seems to think that implementation of the half baked Williamson Report will suffice to protect the rights of children in Jersey. The Deputy could not be more wrong.

Outside independent supervision from the UN and Inside independent supervision from a Commissioner are the only likely means of dealing with Jersey’s most pressing shortcomings. The Deputy’s attitude promises a dim future for Jersey’s most neglected children.

[Submitted by EMILY DU CHEMIN]

Some harbour watchers might remember the “Shemara”, the excessive and ugly 212 feet long motor yacht with a crew of 35 that was propped up against the Albert Quay for some years back in the 1960’s when Lord and Lady Docker held ostentatious court in Jersey.

His ‘ex- banker, owner of Daimler UK and industrialist’ Lordship with far too much money and an ex - dancing girl ladyship who seemed to have an amazingly ingenious repertoire of ways to spend it, eventually off-loaded the vessel to Harry Hyams the Property Developer for £290,000. And Harry is still so wealthy apparently that he was robbed of £80 millions worth of “art objects” from his home in 2006 and must have hardly noticed the loss because he didn’t want to make a fuss.

So, the latest manifestation in Jersey of the wot a wopper private navy is the 37 metre (121 feet) long Sunseeker plastic hulled twin screw “Tickled Pink” and she is the biggest in the marina – albeit much much more modest than the “Shemara”. But times have visibly changed because the owner of this £11.5 millions 3 decked creation is supposedly reluctant to be identified by the local media. Is he really Jersey’s first resident Russian Oligarch? Eddie “The Ego” Jordan bought a sister vessel last year to park outside his Monaco pad so that he might cheer at the GP that he never won.

This might be just a sign of the times where “discretion” and “confidentiality” are the names of the modern Tax Haven business and where such excessive consumption might be viewed as unseemly in a world suffering from economic meltdown. This Jersey flagged monster is in fact coyly company owned.
But after the Poole built craft with her crew of 6 and a £300,000 sound system (for making music not blowing the fog horn) appeared at the London and Southampton Boat Shows in 2008 she was touted around the Med and then stripped entirely to be re-fitted and made suitable for her buyer - who was reported to be Matthew Lawrence “Property Developer, pilot and Captain of Industry” from Spain, Guernsey, Gibraltar, Hong Kong and (originally) a Warwickshire base. Although he is reportedly only now allowed to stay for 90 days per annum in the UK to attend to his various property development activities around fashionable ( PR speak for expensive) Sandbanks at Poole harbour and Bournemouth (Hurn) Airport where he operates Senate Aviation and Amiri Developments or to visit 2 of his daughters at English boarding schools……

His wealth, if it is indeed he and if he is the current owner behind the company, derives from involvement in electronic equipment sales and more latterly, expensive property developments in Spain where his apartments are priced in 2 ranges from 1.5 – 2 million euros or 5 – 7 million euros and he has plans to “expand to South America, the Caribbean and Morocco”. Unfortunately, his plans to build a super complex in Qatar seem to have stalled which is a pity because the Jersey government has a special relationship with that country’s gas rich ethically poor ruling dynasty which kindly donated £6 millions to us in 2002 for useful and discreet services rendered.So, he would seem to be a very likely sort of chap to need such a vessel – but with a top speed of only 27 knots and range of just 1,700 miles from a tank of 28,000 litres of fuel (£15,000 on the Gold Card including GST) – he will probably prefer to fly out to weekly site meetings.

Of course, so we are topically told, he is just the sort of valuable asset that Jersey’s economy needs at this time where “diversity” is at such a premium and he could bring all sorts of new ventures and skills into the local market place besides his up-market house building talents – and, who knows he might even take over from Harcourt if needs be, on the Waterfront?

However, there is a traditional need for caution because there was yet another large yacht moored in Jersey around 1985 or so when the not so fondly remembered Asil Nadir welcomed the good and the great aboard for drinkies and canapés and he was then embarked upon a career of embezzlement and fraud which destroyed his Polly Peck stockings, Del Monte canned foods and Sansui electronics empire by 1992. He turned profits of £100 millions p.a. to a debt of £300 millions with much of the money siphoned off into a labyrinth of “offshore trusts” and he fled to Northern Cyprus and fought extradition for years.

Of course, no such allegations could be made about the owners of the “Tickled Pink”, whosoever they might be, but history does seem to be unkind in Jersey to large, luxury yachts and those who sail on them. Even the magnificent “Westward” finished up at the bottom of the Hurd Deep.
So, if invited aboard, do make sure to follow the safety instructions and watch out for any slippery motions.

Tom Gruchy

[Submitted by Tom Gruchy ]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/jersey/8073359.stm

Jersey's former deputy chief police officer, Lenny Harper cleared of misconduct


Lenny Harper retired from Jersey police force in August 2008
Jersey's former deputy chief police officer, Lenny Harper, has been cleared of allegations of professional misconduct and bullying.

He was investigated by the Devon and Cornwall force after some officers claimed he treated them unfairly.

Mr Harper was in charge of the historic child abuse investigation at the former Haut de la Garenne care home and retired last August.

He said he felt "vindicated" by the result of the inquiry.

Some of the five separate complaints against Mr Harper, and some of his colleagues, related to officers who said they were unfairly treated when disciplinary action was taken against them.

There are no criminal or misconduct matters arising

Jersey police statement


Jersey police said in a statement: "An independent inquiry regarding allegations made by complainants in Jersey has now been completed.

"There are no criminal or misconduct matters arising."

Mr Harper hit the headlines around the Channel Islands and in the UK when his investigation team claimed they had found evidence of murders at Haut de la Garenne.

But following his retirement a new police inquiry team said there was no such evidence.

It led to the island police force's chief officer, Graham Power, being suspended from his job in November while his handling of the historic abuse inquiry was investigated.

He "strenuously denies" any wrongdoing and has won leave to challenge his continuing suspension through a judicial review at the Royal Court. This is due to take place in June.

The historic abuse investigation is still ongoing.


Jersey video archives at
http://internationalmensorganisation.info/

[Submitted by intmensorg]

The exemplary fines of £10,000 and £2,000 imposed respectively on Deputies Southern and Pitman, has reinforced the message very clearly that the Establishment are in control and anyone that messes with them will be crushed. These were political prosecuions and seen in the context of the arrest of Senator Syvret, are intended to be demoralising for progressive forces in Jersey.

Could an alternative strategy have been followed?

The legislation, introduced only weeks before the elections, making it an offence for candidates to assist in making an application for a postal vote, was a vindictive act by the most conservative elements of the Establishment to disrupt the election of JDA candidates. Jersey is the only place in the world with such legislation. The Establishment prefers the existing electoral system whereby very few actually vote and that minority can be relied upon to support the status quo. Keeping other potential voters in a state of ignorance, cynicism and disengagement suits their political ends. The Establishment does not believe that progressives have or can achieve a popular mandate unless they cheat. Using postal votes has been an effective method of mobilizing support among poor and oppressed groups in the USA. Effectively criminalising postal voting was designed to prevent additional votes being cast in seats with exceptionally low turn outs where every vote counts and outcomes sometimes turn on a few votes.

Pleading not guilty to the offences would have forced the Establishment to bring frail and elderly would be postal voters to Court and no doubt resulted in pitiful scenes of witnesses expressing gratitude for the assistance.

What started out as principled rhetoric at the time of the States debate on the law, crumbled with time and the pressure of state prosecutions. The isolation of progressives in the absence of an organised popular movement, that might have rallied support, leaves them extremely vulnerable.

Real principle would have involved claiming the law was unjust, pleading not guilty, of not paying fines and probably facing imprisonment. The prospect of gaoled politicians in one of Jersey's splendid "custodial institutions" would have raised interest amongst the national and international media that have not forgotten about the existence of Haut de la Garenne.

Certainly they (Southern and Pitman) do not think the States are going to change the law now that the elite have managed to thrash Geoff Southern so effectively. Oh what a lovely Law...

[Submitted by Zek]

The whole of Jersey is officially a radon gas affected area.

The gas occurs in the ground from decomposing uranium and includes such deadly components as Polonium 214 and 218 and is found especially in granite. When the gas collects within enclosed spaces it is very dangerous and can kill. It is estimated that 9% of all lung cancers in the UK are caused by the gas which only occurs in a few places like Cornwall. About 2,500 deaths are reckoned to be the result of Radon gas inhalation per annum.

Guernsey has not been declared a Radon gas affected area and in Jersey it will be worse in some areas than others. Where do you live and work in the Jersey Radon lottery?

In the UK it is necessary to declare when selling a house in a Radon Zone whether it has a known problem or has been treated. Under the HIPs reporting scheme Radon is flagged up and lawyers are obliged to ask the relevant questions. If necessary, tests must be carried out and in some cases financial bonds are written into the contract of sale so that a potential buyer is protected against future remedial works (usually about £3000 on a small house).

Of course, none of this takes place in Jersey where fear of losing money exceeds the fear of death. Here very little information is available about Radon and nobody is very keen to discuss it. Raw sewage floating out to sea or the dioxins emitting from the incinerator chimney are much more readily discussed because they are usually somebody else’s problem and are soon out of sight.
And it is more fun to annoy the government about these issues than fears about Radon gas which might directly affect our own pockets.

Newly built houses in Jersey must have Radon barriers and sumps installed but they are only a small part of the housing stock – most of which is built from natural granite or blocks of granite chippings. Other buildings like schools, offices, hospitals or workplaces don’t need to have Radon barriers although they are just as likely to be places where Radon collects. In the UK it is reckoned that about half of Radon barriers fail.

Radon gas “bubbles” up from the ground into buildings and into water courses. Thus people who use well or bore hole water are also at risk when the water is vapourised in showers or laundering processes and is thus absorbed through the lungs.

Does anybody monitor Radon gas in Jersey? Does anybody know if Jersey schools are safe? One newly built school in Cornwall was threatened with demolition a few years ago when its Radon gas levels were found to exceed safe levels by many, many times.

So, suppose somebody gets sued in Jersey for failing to disclose that Radon is a problem in a property they have sold and the new owner or his employee or guest develops lung cancer? Might such a case wake up the population to the Radon problem?

And, how about the States Chamber, that ill ventilated and ancient structure that our leaders are so fond of. Is it killing them with accumulated Radon gas seeping up through its leaky floor? Should we care if they don’t?

Those with a memory of the Senatorial hustings last year may recall that I raised (on this blog site) these same Radon fears - but my efforts stimulated no interest.
If those candidates had thought that they were competing for a place in Jersey’s very own Radon gas chamber perhaps they might not have been so keen to be elected?

Perhaps too, when the Deputies, Senators and Constables ask if it is in order to remove their jackets in the over heated and stuffy Chamber they might consider the greater potential hazard lurking beneath their feet and they just might like to ask if anybody is monitoring Jersey’s Radon problem…..

[Submitted by Tom Gruchy]

Jersey Deputy Monfort Tadier to resign over eating scandal.

[Submitted by an Establishment Lacky]