Screw Scrutiny.

We at the Voice received our usual Friday afternoon e-mail from Scrutiny on 20th November. It gave the schedule of Scrutiny hearings open to the public for the coming week.
On Monday 23rd at 9.30am Dept Mike Higgins was due to chair his Economic Affairs Scrutiny Hearing and Team Voice’s ace reporter was duly sitting outside Le Capelain Room at 9.20 am waiting to be admitted.
He was still waiting there at 11.15am and was only then admitted to the “public hearing.”

Such is the degree of contempt that our so called elected representatives have for the Jersey public.

Of course our man protested and several pathetic apologies were offered but it was just the arrogance of these people who consider themselves so superior once elected to government. Not only was the delay of nearly 2 hours totally unacceptable but permission to video record the proceedings was also refused by Deputy Higgins who invented an instant policy decision that this was “not really a public discussion” at all whilst in the same breath he protested how he was a defender of Team Voice’s battle for the right to report such meetings!

This Scrutiny Panel was composed of Deputies Higgins, Southern, Wimberley, Macon, Labey and Shona Pitman. Tim the Scrutiny Clerk took notes and advised.
Southern left at 10.40. Pitman left at 11.15 and returned at 12.20pm. Higgins left at 12.30pm for a funeral. The meeting terminated at 12.45pm.

Our man then asked if any of the Deputies would give an interview to Team Voice about the proceedings and was refused. Deputy Pitman became very angry and invented another instant policy that if we wanted an interview then we should have applied formally at the outset so that the Panel could authorise it.

Unfortunately this is not a unique example. A previous Scrutiny panel was cancelled altogether with no prior public advice but our complaints were never answered. At another hearing 3 of us sat outside for 40 minutes waiting to be recalled into the public part of the meeting and then were told it was our own fault!

The irony is that Scrutiny Panels claim that they want to engage with the public. They seek public participation yet they would rather pay to print their own “Scrutiny News” or advertise in Mike Vibert and Deputy Le Claire’s “Isle” freebie rag than allow bloggers like us to write honest and critical comments on their activities.

Make no mistake, these Scrutiny people are dangerous because they officially occupy a political void.

Yet, at this meeting there were revelations that the Airport is likely to go bust next year and that air traffic controllers are being phased out, that airport employment practices probably do not follow agreed procedures and that an absurd security fence was not required around Guernsey or Gibraltar airports.

It was also suggested that the Economic Stimulus package was often farcically inept and that many young Highlands Students were merely a parking exercise to disguise unemployment figures, that there was no definition of “small company” and that Enterprise Board staff were often incompetent to advise applicants and that the whole Jersey Enterprise project enjoyed a huge budget and needed a thorough and critical examination etc etc. There were also allegations that the States Assembly had been told “lies” in response to Scrutiny’s Depositors Protection Scheme Report.
There is much that needs to be reported on at such meetings, but the public and the “accredited press” are seldom present.

These assembled Deputies had rambled on for 3 hours without achieving much except munching through the chocolate biscuits and deciding that there were so many matters that needed to be scrutinized that they did not know where to start – and that the Intellectual Property Rights proposals were just too complicated for them!!! And they would need to employ outside consultants to make sense of the 200 pages proposition that lay before them and that a whole new Department of Intellectual Property might be needed just like JFSC in the near future………….If The Voice had been granted an interview or been allowed to video record the proceedings we could have added to general public knowledge and awareness. But this is the crazy world of scrutiny and it’s more about building up political careers than educating the plebs.

One refreshing incident did occur though. Whilst our man was sitting and waiting for entry into this Papal enclave a charming lady of a certain age appeared and asked “Can I get you anything?” Our man replied “A Colt 45 with 6 rounds would be useful” but the lady replied “I can only get you a glass of cold water”.
Our man thanked her for her kindness but explained that this would not achieve the desired result…..

Submitted by Thomas Wellard.

DAVOS or be damned!

The Master Plan for Jersey includes the aim of “developing the Island’s international personality” – or as a 1950’s B movie pimp might have said to his whore “get out on those streets and sell yourself.”

Of course, many of our leaders were weaned on 1950’s B movies so the aspiration to prostitute the island’s charms around the world’s money spots is as natural as breast-feeding.

Davos, the largest ski resort in Switzerland is just such a place for those willing to sell their souls and bodies. The world’s jet setters and camp followers arrive here every year by the hundreds of thousands for the Alpine delights and off piste pleasures and the Royal sightings at nearby and super expensive Klosters have been an annual treat for the brainless.

It would be difficult to imagine a more suitably decadent location for the Annual Conference of the World Economic Forum and so it is that every year the world’s most affected and delusionary “leaders” gather here to “improve the state of the world.”

But you may well ask – why has Jersey never had an official presence here? What a wasted opportunity to trawl the hotel corridors with our goodies on display and why don’t we address the conference itself and reveal to the entire world what we have hidden under our rather dull exterior!

Now that we are selling ourselves in Paris, Hong Kong and Mumbai we should be foolish not to consider an official presence at Davos where we might bump into the really big boys of the international scene.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) organises such gatherings on a regular basis all round the world. It is of course big business but all done “on a non-profit making basis” and it claims to be an independent organisation “committed to improving the state of the world by engaging leaders in partnership to shape global, regional and industry agendas – and “is tied to no political, partisan or national interests.”

This year they are currently now in India and there is a Summit in Dubai next week.
The next Davos Conference is January 2010 and then its, Tanzania, Colombia, Vietnam and Morocco. We wonder how the world could have managed without Jersey’s previous participation?

For those countries and businesses that take part – it can be a whole way of life for regular participants and now that so much of the world-wide finance and banking business has been exposed as wholly undesirable – our “international personality” must be looking a bit jaded.

But who could we send out as our official “international” person with a suitable personality to promote our seductive charms? Could Chief Minister Terry Le Sueur really be the man for such a job?


On the other hand, it is noted that Jersey’s 4 man Bobsleigh team is seeking a brakeman and the versatile CM, not to say dead weight, would be ideal for this task too – especially since he is rumoured to be available from January 2010.

But of course, Jersey people are spoilt for choice. We have the man in the funny hat, who must be bored out of his brains for most of his time. And now we have the recently retired Bailiff too and he is fully committed to Jersey’s international role and the ability to “punch above our weight”.

We are blessed too with such a wealth of resident talent from arms salesmen, ex mercenaries, property speculators and bankers that we really are confused - although it is a great shame that Max Wall has left us.

The man who couldn’t retire – Colin “Kissinger” Powell – would no doubt be a popular choice as Jersey’s official Foreign Secretary and International Fixer but we have decided to throw it open to a competition.

Who do you think that we should send to Davos in January 2010?

Don’t forget, that we have 53 wonderfully qualified elected States Members to choose from too.

Competition Rules

Please Note ; Only 1 vote per participant is permitted.
and no entries can be accepted from relatives of Team Voice or from Senator Philip Ozouf or members of his fan club.

Submitted by Thomas Wellard.

Government Information and Public Inflammation.

Ignorance of the law is no defence in court yet we are all expected to understand, and abide by, the ever changing laws of Jersey. But how are the general public supposed to keep up to date with the enormous amount of legislation that is enacted or proposed?

We at Team Voice have been battling with the Scrutiny System for proper access to hearings and to be able to video report the proceedings but this is just the tip of the information iceberg.

Our government is obsessed with putting information online and not printing paper copies of reports etc. (supposedly to save costs) but many people do not have access to computers for one reason or another and the official gov.je website is a confusing mess.

The whole question of access to information in Jersey needs looking at afresh and the long awaited Freedom of Information Law should help to promote change if it is enacted.

But even the most basic provision of signs outside of official and government buildings is deplorably inadequate and physical access for many is often discriminatory because of steps or lack of other facilities such as hearing loops (for the deaf).

This video introduces the problem so far as government information is concerned.

In part 2 we will look at the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) to see how information can be properly delivered (with a smile). We shall also be looking at Parish Halls and other places where information should be available to the general public.

Both the States Greffier and the head of the Information Service at Cyril Le Marquand House declined to give us an interview.



Submitted by Thomas Wellard.

0/10 and the cheapest feed in Town

We at The Voice thought that the free sandwiches had ceased, but today the Chairman’s Chairmens Committee members were still devouring them like Royal Square pigeons presented with a fist of corn.

Fortunately, we all know that there is no such thing as a free lunch and our boys over there in London – Chief Minister Le Sueur and his pal Senator Pip Ozouf of the Treasury – must have had indigestion following the annual Dinner for Crown Dependencies on the ominous 13th October. What did granny Ozouf used to say, don’t eat oysters unless somebody else is paying but don’t eat anything free on the 13th! Or was that ole granny Walker?

Well, it must have come as a shock to learn that the whole 0/10 economic policy was off – like some corked claret – and after all that expensive nurturing too – just because some countries in the EU have objected on the ground of unfairness!!! Who ever believed that life in a tax haven was about fairness?

Of course, this economic bombshell wasn’t on the agenda for the Scrutiny Chairmen because even after they had determined who should have the much prized prawn with mayo ( always high on the agenda at these meetings) they seemed very concerned that some Members of the States were not even serving on Scrutiny Panels. So they have decided to contact Bob Hill – who must be the hardest working and busiest Deputy in the building – to try to persuade him to join a Scrutiny Panel!! Perhaps they feel that he doesn’t waste his quota of time or is looking underfed? Anyhow, for some reason – perhaps he likes the prawn option – they couldn’t agree whether to invite Senator Syvret to join in with their fun and games too. We wondered why not?

Our particular favourite “Chairman” (that’s what she prefers to be called) Senator Sarah Ferguson suggested that her Panel might take a future look at States Employment policies and HR matters. She means Human Resources of course - not Human Rights because Deputy Bob Hill seems to be left with a total responsibility for those - and we have often lamented that the electorate had not shown closer attention where the Senator’s employment was concerned. However, we were surprised that she didn’t want to raise 0/10 through her Corporate Services Panel because just one week earlier she had had both Ozouf and Le Sueur in the hot seat under the white light of her inquisitorial gaze.

In fact, neither of our 2 most senior Ministers had even mentioned then that the Europeans had committed the gravest attack upon Jersey’s economic well-being since Adolf’s Heinkels landed at St Peter. Perhaps it had slipped their minds?
But they had outlined a whole new economic austerity package that required successive States expenditure cuts of 2% per annum within a strictly controlled 3 years Strategic Plan, which was to address the existing anticipated £60 millions “black hole” in Jersey’s economy, an immediate 6 months review of ALL of Jersey’s taxation policies, including GST and 0/10 and aligning with any GLOBAL TAXATION REVIEW STANDARDS etc. They stressed that all spending and all means of raising income were to be strictly reviewed. They were talking tough – or as tough as a couple of jelly babies can – and the steely Senator and her dynamic team (Deputy Vallois and Constable Murphy) occasionally stirred to comment. But since this was an “after lunch” meeting there was nothing to really excite the political taste-buds.

Of course, we had applied to video record the proceedings (and had complied with the absurd 3 day rule) but our favourite Chairman has her very own policy of a total ban on anybody except the “accredited media” making recordings and so we cannot bring you an instant video blog of the hearing and you must apply for the official transcript for the full text.
But, undaunted we asked her today for an interview about 0/10 and the dramatic announcement that it was as dead as an Esplanade Quarter Plan but of course, she refused, no doubt awaiting further instructions. We reminded her that the 2 most senior Ministers had not mentioned it just 1 week previously and although she agreed that they almost certainly knew about it then, she had no plans to recall them for a further grilling under the white light of transparency. Also she thought it very unlikely that she would want to invite Accountant Richard Murphy either in spite of the fact that he had been retained by the Jersey States and was sacked for advising against the adoption of the 0/10 taxation farce, many years ago.

What we say is, carry on buying your own sandwiches Bob and stay away from these time-wasters!

Submitted by Thomas Wellard.

Skippy the Justice Kangaroo.

Well another day in the totally predictable Jersey Kangaroo Court re Attorney General v Stuart Syvret.

This is another one of these surreal episodes that you really must be there to appreciate and are extremely difficult to convey in words…….but we shall try our best.

Team Voice have been to a number of the Magistrates Hearings involving this case and this is why I say these are predictable and today was no exception. The first part was taken up by Advocate Baker submitting that there should be a media embargo on naming “Nurse X” that is to say (as far as I understand it) that “Nurse X” and his/her family deserve protection from the media.

This embargo or injunction or whatever it’s called was not contested by ANY of our “accredited” media, although the JEP wrote a letter to the Court which I found quite confusing but as far as I am aware the bottom line was they are not contesting it but might in the future

So it was left to Team Voice to do what any self respecting “Journalist” should do and argue against reporting restrictions being imposed on the basis of Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights (and also the Jersey Human Rights Act) and in accordance with Article 19 of the UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Senator Syvret made similar arguments but predictably the Magistrate found in favour of Advocate Baker acting for the AG. So for the moment reporting restrictions have been imposed.

The fact that Team Voice was able to make a submission was in itself a small miracle since there appeared to be no notice anywhere in the media that there was to be this hearing on reporting restrictions! It was only by chance we were told of it by Senator Syvret during an e-mail exchange that morning.

Team Voice rapidly set about drafting a submission. We phoned the Magistrate’s Greffier so that we could e-mail the submission directly. After a succession of people refusing to give us their names and refusing to give us an e-mail address for the Greffe and hanging up the phone on us we had to turn up in court with our arguments. Although the Magistrate (predictably) found against us we felt compelled to make this stance to protect free expression.

So far as Senator Syvret’s case was concerned this is where the surrealist dimensions, déjà vu and perverse predictability comes in.

Yet again Senator Syvret was asking the prosecution to disclose evidence that would assist the court in the proper consideration of the abuse of process trial initiated by the Senator (or was it the Data Protection case?) But the prosecution argued that the evidence sought was not relevant to the case. Inevitably the Magistrate decided to have ANOTHER directions hearing at a future date to determine whether the evidence is relevant or not.

Senator Syvret has been here before. This is not the first time he has been refused evidence and the last time, if I recall correctly, the prosecution stated that the evidence sought was not relevant and the Magistrate agreed without even viewing the evidence!

To date the Magistrate has not found in favour of Senator Syvret on one single legal argument that we are aware of. Today appeared to be the last straw for the Senator, he could not see the point in having yet another argument where the outcome is already determined (to use his words).

We must encourage any readers to turn up to one of these court cases as they really have to be seen to be believed. If this is what passes for “Justice” in Jersey then we are all in the sh1t!

The Senator did walk out of the court today and claimed he would not return and will face arrest if necessary. We can not blame him for feeling such frustration but must also hope he is not playing directly into the hands of “The powers that be”.

Senator Syvret will be publishing a post on these proceedings in the next couple of days on his Blog and we are sure he’ll be able to shed more light on this debacle than we could.

Submitted by Team Voice.

The birdman of crass

He’s a cuddly and chirpy little chap and doesn’t mean any harm to anybody but we should not be fooled that Mike Stentiford MBE does not have political agenda.

As President of the “National Trust for Jersey”(NTfJ) he heads a very powerful political lobbying group which by its very name lays down a biased belief in Jersey as a Nation and under cover of some very laudable purposes, promotes a very narrow view of Island affairs and priorities.

Of course the preservation of countryside is traditionally linked to conservative land owning or farming interests and the likes of Mike Stentiford, with a life long concern for wildlife, are obvious – but not always compatible – allies in battles against development or other perceived threats to their privileged lifestyles.

Thus, in Jersey where the government is so embedded into the finance business and a belief in ever more commercial and population growth - the need for the NTfJ and others under an environmentalist banner to resist building encroachments into the countryside is thoroughly predictable - just as it is hypocritical.

Be in no doubts however, but Mike Stentiford has a political record because he is a poll topper when it comes to signing nomination papers for election candidates. During the most recent Senatorial elections last autumn he signed for 4 candidates including (Senator) Mike Vibert – and they were all unsuccessful. Yet, whilst it is evident that he would have shared some environmental concerns with some of the candidates his signature alongside that of Freddie Cohen – the Minister of Planning – on Mike Vibert’s nomination was puzzling at least, in view of the recent “Line in the Sand” manifestation.
Presumably, even in Jersey there is some expectation of political consistency and shared beliefs when it comes to nominating electoral candidates?

It would no doubt prove very interesting to undertake a fuller analysis of election nominations to reveal the sub-power groups from among the NTfJ, or farmers or lawyers etc who support the men and women who eventually form our government and to compare their political policies.

We all know that landowners and farmers are never shy of building in the countryside for their own purposes or that there is virtually no end to the hideous green sheds, glasshouses or other developments that are permitted in the name of “farming”. And we also know that the countryside is littered with massive ex agricultural buildings that are now storing finance business archives or have been changed to many other uses. And, we are the usually silent witnesses to the glasshouses that have been re-zoned for housing development - making instant multi-millionaires of their blessed owners.

Shall the “birdman” and his allies be demonstrating against the latest farmland rezoning plans in the current Draft Island Plan produced under Freddie Cohen’s careful eye? Shall the faming lobby be demanding that the glasshouse sites be returned to grazing for Jersey cows or even that Freddie’s own fields be returned to a proper agricultural use in leafy St John? Shall any of these groups be proposing a plan to house everybody in Jersey?

Of course, the hidden agenda is that the homes that are desperately needed to properly house the entire population of Jersey will never be built. The 15,000 people who live in lodgings and farmyard portakabins are just simply not on the radar of the NTfJ and its membership and unless they grow feathers and learn to whistle a pretty tune – Mike Stentiford will not focus on them through his binoculars. At best, some of these thousands will be stuffed into shoeboxes within the town limits and if houses are built in the countryside the Constables will hoist the “parishioners first” signs.

The elimination of discrimination in Jersey is not a priority because it simply does not affect adversely those who govern or make the critical policy decisions. Birds and squirrels must have their nest boxes and those so pretty cows must have their 4 acres, milking parlours and sheds but the second class thousands of workers who do the work and pay the taxes that keep the whole show on the road – are forever to be ignored. They are not included in the Plan.

It is undoubtedly a perverse society that allows such policies to be promoted year after year. Even Norman Le Brocq’s Island Plan of 1983 (when he was President of Planning) perpetuated the same prejudiced aims in the name of protecting the countryside and he offered no solutions to the housing dilemma. It is just the same with Freddie Cohen, 25 years later.

Mike “Birdman” Stentiford might look superficially like one of our “Team Voice” on this cartoon image but we shall be pleased to receive his contrary reply and to post his side of the conservation, environmentalist argument.

Submitted by Thomas Wellard.

Jersey line in the sand - an impossible dream?

Our government is obsessed with development and growth and proposes to increase the population by yet another 8,000 to reach 100,00 residents.

There are already 15,000 people in Jersey living in lodgings of one sort or another. Yet the very latest Draft Island Plan proposes to build only 4,000 more dwellings (but only for those with housing qualifications) and most of these are to be crammed into the St Helier Ghetto.

Consultation papers seen by “The Voice” estimate that Jersey already needs another 10,000 units but when will anybody produce a plan that honestly attempts to solve Jersey’s horrendous housing problems?

(We apologise for the poor sound quality on some of this video)

Submitted by Thomas Wellard.