voiceforprotest

JEP-LUCY MASON-A BLOODY GOOD LAUGH

2011-12-17T13:10:00.003Z

LUCY MASON

Whilst conducting my research I came across this latest article by Lucy (meddling) Mason. Now, I don't know if this is written as some tongue 'n' cheek piece, or meant to be serious, but I haven't laughed as much since her last article.

There are some cracking lines in this piece and i'm not talking about the 100% columbian type either. I just had to share it with readers.

Team Voice

LAST week, in the final official piece of business for the States Assembly in 2011, Members exchanged Christmas messages. In a long-standing tradition, one Senator, one Constable and one Deputy each gave a speech on behalf of their colleagues reminiscing about the past year, looking to the future and sending their best wishes to, well, pretty much everyone, including the ever-important tea ladies and even us, the media.

It was an inspiring moment, a happy occasion that gave you a warm, fuzzy feeling inside – and not just because it meant no more States sittings until 17 January.

So I thought it was only fair that I return the favour and come up with my own Christmas message for States Members and you, their voting public – even if it is only to show that I can be optimistic at times. So here goes …

Christmas is traditionally a time when we look back on the year that has passed, take stock of everything that has come and gone, and are thankful.

It has been a difficult year in many ways as Jersey, like the rest of the world, has struggled to weather the economic storms that have been thrust upon us. We have faced cutbacks, rising taxes, job losses and the highest unemployment figures ever recorded for this Island.

But these are all challenges that we have begun to tackle, in the most part, head-on, and this can only be a good thing.

And I have no doubt that with ever more challenges lurking on the horizon – the most timely being the threat to our fulfilment industry – we will continue in this manner. The new multi-million-pound drive to get people back to work is just one example of this.

I know we may not always believe it when our politicians tell us, but we are in many ways extremely lucky and in a very good position to ride out the many problems facing us. We also live in a beautiful, vibrant and interesting Island of which we should all be very proud.

As Senator Philip Ozouf keeps telling us, we have no debt, we have strong public finances and, as much as people (myself included) may complain about them, we have a group of pretty OK politicians to lead us.

Yes, they, like us all, make mistakes, but perhaps just this once we should put ourselves in their position. They work damn hard on our behalf and I doubt that many of us who openly criticise them the first chance we get could do their job.
OK, so maybe I’m being a bit harsh on myself and my colleagues there – we don’t set out to criticise.

And this is something that I don’t think many States Members get. We are taught as journalists that we are the eyes and ears of the public to whom we report, and it is a duty that I certainly take very seriously.
We want the public to know what is going on at the meetings which they can’t always attend, in the States Chamber when they are at work, and in countless other forums where decisions are taken, explained and reported.

But we also only have limited space in which to present this information.
So forgive us occasionally when, for example, we don’t report every speech that is given by every candidate for every position, or we don’t report a proposition word for word, for we also have a duty to keep our readers interested enough to keep themselves informed.

AND please do remember the good bits we write about as well as the bad. There is no malice in what we report, and no pre-planned agenda. And there is certainly no higher force controlling what I write within these pages.

Which brings me very nicely to the hope I have that next year, in keeping with the sentiment to have a reformed, more collaborative States Assembly, that the media and politicians can be a bit more understanding of one another.

Let’s work together; let’s keep people informed; and let’s all concentrate on doing our jobs to the best of our abilities like the professionals that we are.
Because, looking to the future as we also do at this time of year, there are exciting times ahead. We have a new Chief Minister, many new Members and ministers, and new and changing challenges to face.

We all should be optimistic, because with optimism comes a renewed sense of striving for the best, to be the best, to make the best decisions, and do the best for the wonderful place that we are lucky enough to call home. We are all in it together – let’s remember that.

All there is left to say are the thank-yous that traditionally accompany messages of this kind. In keeping with that tradition, I would like to thank the politicians who keep me in a job. Sure, you don’t get it right all the time and you may infuriate the hell out of a lot of people a lot of the time, but where would we be without you?

If we didn’t have you lot to complain about, be outraged about or, very occasionally, be quite impressed with, life would be so much more boring. We’d have nothing to tweet about, nothing to gossip about and the world would be a far poorer place.

So thank you, dear States Members, for keeping life interesting. Oh, and keeping our lovely little Island ticking because yes, sometimes you are rather good at it.
Thank you to the families of our esteemed politicians – how do you cope?
Thank you to the hundreds (and hundreds and hundreds and hundreds) of civil servants who do all the work behind the scenes, often without much public recognition.

Thank you to the States ushers, staff at the States Greffe, the Bailiff and Deputy Bailiff, the Attorney General and the Dean, all of whom keep us informed with what is going on and advise us and our politicians) for it isn’t just us who have to sit through hours of debate that sometimes goes on much longer than anyone would like).

Thank you to our readers for taking an interest, for commenting, emailing, calling and tweeting – everything we do, we do it for you.

And, finally, thank you to Manny, who makes me my tea. I couldn’t do it without you.

Happy Christmas to you all and my best wishes for the new and exciting year ahead.

Paul Le Claire Responds to the Census Findings

2011-12-10T16:07:00.003Z

Former Deputy Paul Le Claire responds to the Census Findings. During his time in the States he has challenged the findings of the States Statistic Unit in many a debate.

Has Paul le Claire got his figures right?

Is the real figure at 100,000 plus?

This is a very serious situation for the Island.

Team Voice

Dear States Member ,

The total resident population of Jersey revealed in our latest Census, shows that on the 27 March 2011, Jersey had a resident

population of 97,857.

The previous estimate produced and published in June of 2010, by the States Statistics Unit for the end of 2009, was 92,500.

The new figures demonstrate that in just 15 short months we have seen an increase of 5357 more people in Jersey.

The average number of births over deaths for the 5 year period 2005 to 2009 was +250. The figure for 2010 was + 270.

If births have continued at this higher number of 270 per year, we can say that the numbers of locally originating people

increase the estimated total resident population up from 92500 from Dec 2009 by a figure of 337 to a total of 92837

The number of new migrants in Jersey in those 15 months therefore is 5020.

The annual average over the 5 year period 2005-2009 was 640 people into the island per year.

These much higher numbers have occurred in a period when the global recession was well underway.

The alarming rate of increase in this short period of 15 months of 5020 new migrants is a cause for serious concern and action.

If we have continued to increase our population at the same pace in these last 8 months, as we have since 2010, then we now

have another 2677 more people living in Jersey today, that have migrated here.

With a further 8 months of births over deaths at that higher average, this adds a further 180.

This makes our current population at or around 100714.

My Information is derived from the States Statistics Department, who in the words of our last Chief MInister are

"independent, impartial and professional."

It is my estimate therefore using their Statistics, that our current resident population is 100714.

If we add a further 2052 people, which were the numbers of short term visitors here in the end of March

in this latest Census, then that gives us a total human being count, in Jersey today of, 102766.

Paul Le Claire

An Open Invitation to Frank Walker.

2011-10-16T17:27:00.000+01:00

Just when you thought that BBC Jersey couldn't be more obvious a "spin machine" for our ruling elite, they shock even the most un-shockable of us.

This morning they aired an hour long programme with former Chief Minister Frank Walker, first question is "why?" Why not wait until after the election when he couldn't, and BBC Jersey (State Media) couldn't be accused of trying to influence the outcome of the election?

Mr. Walker was able to trot out the old Party Line, as in, any States Member who asks questions in the States is a trouble maker. The States is falling into disrepute because of personality politics etc.

Rather than list everything that we believe was nothing more than a PR, or propaganda exercise, by Mr. Walker and the ever accommodating BBC, we would like to openly invite Mr. Walker to an interview with an "independent" media.

We, at Team Voice, believe we have demonstrated that (at best) the BBC, and all Jersey's State Media, are lazy, shoddy, inept and not fit for purpose.

Jersey's State Media is losing credibility by the day, and this morning's fiasco with the BBC and Mr. Walker only further accelerated the loss of this fast dwindling credibility.

What a SHOCK COINCIDENCE, for those who listened to the programme, that of the very few rumours that were put to Mr. Walker, involving his personal and professional life that none of them were true! Does this mean ALL of the rumours about him are untrue, or just the carefully selected one's put to him by the BBC?

Regular readers/viewers will be aware that we (Team Voice) don't trade in rumour, gossip, innuendo or such like but pride ourselves in dealing with "facts and evidence."

So if Mr. Walker would like to gain some credibility and have some real questions put to him, rather than the fluffy, PR managed gumph from Jersey's discredited State Media, then what are you waiting for Frank? Have you got the courage to answer some uncomfortable, unscripted questions from an independent media?

Until you do your credibility will remain as low as that of the State Media's.

Senator Le Main - your retirement needs you.

2011-10-06T19:25:00.003+01:00

Terry doing what he does best

The Great Senator Le Main

AKA - Captain Jersey

Below is the video of Senator Le Main's speech at the St Helier No 2 husting.

This good old boy is trying to backdoor it back into the states as a deputy after realising he didn't have a chance in hell of getting re-elected as a Senator. He must also be hoping that there is a miracle out there with his name on it he really must. Lets be honest here, he is a laughing stock, a man who has had his time. He should just now bow out and enjoy his retirement.

Terry along with one of his (or so he thinks) running partners have, in their election literature, tried to make big play of fellow candidates "illegally" assisting voters fill out a form to enable frail pensioners/disabled to request a postal vote....although that's not quite how they've put it in their literature.

One can see the thinking behind this as far as the Establishment are concerned. Terry has had his brushes with the law, he's been publicly accused of planning corruption and as far as we can make out is still under investigation for this. He was also asked to stand down as Housing Minister for possibly abusing his position by allegedly attempting to influence the outcome of a court case involving an "acquaintance" of his. There was something about signature fraud and Data Protection that he has been linked with in the past also. So if Terry has all this hanging over him, who told him it was a good idea to start bringing up "criminality" etc? Whether he is guilty, or not, of all this the Establishment know that sh-t sticks. If he was being well advised, he would have been told to keep away from the personality politics and certainly keep away from the criminality stuff.

It might be argued that's what he was advised but chose not to listen. That being the case then the Establishment would see him as a liability. The Establishment are nothing if not obedient and loyal

Enjoy his speech - we all did

http://ricosorda.blogspot.com/2010/08/anonymous-senator-le-main.html

Rico Sorda

JERSEY MSM - IN THE GUTTER -1

2011-10-02T18:21:00.003+01:00

Sir Philip

This is the email I received from Editor Chris Bright and my reply. I think it speaks for itself. The total lack of any respect shown to the Abuse Survivors is beyond belief.

From: Chris Bright Sent: 23 September 2011 14:41 To: Corinne Wiseman Subject: Message for Rico Sorda

Dear Mr Sorda,

It has been brought to my attention that you have come into possession of, and circulated, a private email sent by me to Miss **** ****.

I have no idea, and no wish to spend time ascertaining, why you should have felt entitled to publish my private correspondence, but kindly refrain from such discourteous behaviour in the future.

Chris Bright,

Editor.

Dear Mr Bright

Thank you for your email.

I had best start at the beginning. I was contacted by an abuse survivor who was disgusted by your crass reply to an email they had sent you. Some very serious concerns were raised by this person regarding the biased reporting in respect of such issues as the historic child abuse enquiry (the "HCAE"), continued vilification of former Senator Stuart Syvret and the non-reporting of the serious issues surrounding the former investigating officer of the HCAE, Mick Gradwell, leaking information during a live investigation.

Having read your reply I was left in shock. You could not have shown more disdain for this person if you had tried. Your reply lacked compassion and understanding of what the victims of abuse have been through. Could it be that the tone of your reply can be interpreted in itself as an explanation of the JEPs apparent stance on these issues being as you are its chief editor? In an island which has only one newspaper, is it not right for the local populus to expect some fair and balanced reporting? Considering the level of accountability that Rupert Murdoch, heading up a newspaper with a readership of only 40%, has had to face in respect of certain ethical matters, surely an individual heading up a newspaper with 100% market readsership should be prepared to be called to account for statements made in written correspondence to a member of the public.

With the forthcoming committee of enquiry into the HCAE, it is imperative that the role of the local mainstream media is considered. They have done nothing but trash the HCAE and so with it the credibility of the abuse survivors themselves. I find it hard to understand why the JEP, CTV and BBC Jersey have acted in this way rather than investigating the allegations made and reporting their findings in an impartial fashion. Who now, other than certain politicians, will feel that they can turn to the media for help and support? I feel that the JEP is fully aligned with the old feudal power of Jersey. It does not surprise me that it has thrown its weight behind Sir Philip Bailhache in the forthcoming senatorial elections, but who could forget the Roger Holland affair, the Liberation Day 2008 speech and the Jarvis Dykes fiasco?

The JEP can no longer get away with its non-credible reporting as time and technology has caught up with it.

Please show the abuse survivors the common respect they deserve.

Kind regards

Rico Sorda

JERSEY MSM - IN THE GUTTER

2011-09-22T18:33:00.004+01:00

Senator Perchard & Mick Gradwell big buddy

David Rose

Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse concerning the coverage of our MSM, I received an email from an Abuse Survivor that made me mad and even more determined to expose the people who should be leading the charge in reporting the facts and bringing closure to so many.

You can read it here and make yore own minds up

It what Chris Bright doesn't say that is staggering.

This is my reply;

From:

"rico sorda"

View contact details

To:

news@channeltv.co.uk

Cc:

i.lemarquand@gov.je, A.Breckon@gov.je, a.dupre@gov.je, a.green@gov.je, a.jeune@gov.je, j.hilton@gov.je, j.lef@gov.je, j.lesueurgallichan@gov.je, j.macon@gov.je, j.reed@gov.je, "jep" , "Jim Perchard" , "ben queree" , "Ben Shenton" , "Bob Hill" , c.egre@gov.je, "Jersey Care Leavers Association" , k.lewis@gov.je, k.vibert@gov.je, "Terry Le Sueur" , m.tadier@gov.je, mr.higgins@gov.je, p.leclaire@gov.je, p.ozouf@gov.je, "Paul Routier" , "Sean Power" , "roy herissier" , r.duhamel@gov.je, s.yates@gov.je, s.pitman@gov.je, s.ferguson@gov.je, s.crowcroft@gov.je, t.vallois@gov.je, t.pitman@gov.je, "Daniel Wimberley" , p.rondel@gov.je, jon.gripton@bbc.co.uk

Dear CTV, Members of the Press/States Members

As you have been aware, I have been trying to get answers from the Jersey MSM about their very biased and shameful reporting of the Jersey Historic Abuse Investigation. You can see from the response to my email below that they are finding this quite difficult to do.

Let's not forget, we are on about decades long child abuse in the care of the States of Jersey.

This week an abuse survivor got in touch with me about an email exchange with the JEP. They had contacted the JEP with some concerns. Let me remind you again that this is an abuse survivor. The JEP's response is staggering.

The reply from the editor Chris Bright is simply shocking (or lack of it)

Before we even try and get our heads around his offensive reply I find his attitude endemic of how child abuse survivors are treated, an attitude that is not far off some of the letters his paper has been publishing from certain individuals. What is it in our culture that we cannot seem to face up to and deal with what went on in the past? Is it that the feelings of abuse survivors and getting to the truth come second to the manufactured image of Jersey?

I will let you read the email exchange and come to your own conclusions, but someone should tell Chris Bright to start reading some submissions and transcripts of the heinous crimes that his paper is covering up.

Since my last email I have again received threats but this is the price I am willing to pay to ensure that the truth is exposed and that every person who has suffered at the hands of perpetrators in the care of the States of Jersey can find some form of closure in the not too distant future.

None of the addressees have replied to the question I raised in my previous email. That speaks volumes.

Kind regards

Rico Sorda

Team Voice

----- Forwarded Message -----

From: ***** ****

To: "news@jerseyeveningpost.com" <news@jerseyeveningpost.com>

Sent: Tuesday, 13 September 2011, 19:19

Subject: Disgusted Jersey Lady

Good Evening,

As I sat & read the jep (which was given to me as I don't waste my money buying it) I was totally aghast & astonished, but then I sat back & thought NO I am not after all it is the jep & they only print what they want to or what the States tell them too (which they totally deny)

As a victim of abuse when I was a child at H.D.L.G & my abusers locked away in Prison, That to you lot is not important, you treat us victims like the States do and that is the Great Unwashed (A person of a lower order who is looked down upon by most of society)

But to you what is important is to yet again persecute Mr Syvret, you pounced on that didn't you instead of reporting on what needs to be reported on, But sadly our Media just want to ruin peoples life & make there lives a misery.

Should you not be reporting on the really important issues like the Lying, Conniving Mick Gradwell who it is known leaked very sensitive information to David Rose, No of course you won't will you, all you are interested in is Trashing the Child Abuse Investigation, no thought at all for us victims.

But should we expect any different from our Media. NO!!!!!

As long as you are making people lives even more of a MISERY then you are happy, between you & the States you should both be totally ashamed of yourselves.

I have kept quite for a long time but I have finally got to point where I am sick to the back teeth of our Media & it is about time you were told how utterly slimy you really are.

I will show just how low you will go :- we were sat in the cafe opposite the Court Building awaiting having to go and relive all the horrendous, vile, disgusting abuse we suffered as children, you have no idea how we felt & you could not have cared less, and the minute you knew it was victims you were shoving the cameras in our faces, no thought for how we were feeling or anything. So if that is not the lowest of the low then I don't know what is.

I look forward to hearing you lame excuses & how you can justify why you are not doing your job & reporting what you should be.

**** ****

From: **** ****

Sent: 19 September 2011 16:56

To: Corinne Wiseman

Cc: Tina Jewison

Subject: Fw: Disgusted Jersey Lady

Dear Mrs Jewison,

Here is the email I origanally sent on Tuesday 13th September. As you can see below & nobody has even had the decency to reply to me in anyway.

----- Forwarded Message -----

From: Corinne Wiseman

To:**** ****

Sent: Tuesday, 20 September 2011, 15:06

Subject: RE: Disgusted Jersey Lady

Dear **** ****

As requested, I acknowledge receipt of your email of 19 September and confirm that I will not be responding to your vague, offensive and unsubstantiated allegations.

Chris Bright,

Editor.

CTV - YOU ARE IN THE DARK AGES

2011-09-16T23:13:00.003+01:00

This is my exchanges with CTV

From: rico sorda

Subject: Very Important

To: news@channeltv.co.uk

Cc: i.lemarquand@gov.je, A.Breckon@gov.je, a.dupre@gov.je, a.green@gov.je, a.jeune@gov.je, j.hilton@gov.je, j.lef@gov.je, j.lesueurgallichan@gov.je, j.macon@gov.je, j.reed@gov.je, "jep" , "Jim Perchard" , "ben queree" , "Ben Shenton" , "Bob Hill" , c.egre@gov.je, "Jersey Care Leavers Association" , k.lewis@gov.je, k.vibert@gov.je, "Terry Le Sueur" , m.tadier@gov.je, mr.higgins@gov.je, p.leclaire@gov.je, p.ozouf@gov.je, "Paul Routier" , "Sean Power" , "roy herissier" , r.duhamel@gov.je, s.yates@gov.je, s.pitman@gov.je, s.ferguson@gov.je, s.crowcroft@gov.je, t.vallois@gov.je, t.pitman@gov.je, "Daniel Wimberley" , p.rondel@gov.je

Date: Monday, 12 September, 2011, 20:22

Dear CTV

The reporting of the Jersey Main Stream Media

Could you please explain to me why the 'News' of the costs of Stuart Syvret's court cases made instant news today. You have flashed up £400,000 pounds with zero back-up information, could this be because its election time. This came up in the States of Jersey today. It came from an oral question from the disgraced Senator T. Le Main and you have jumped on it and reported it straight away.

Could you please explain to me why you have failed to report the news that a former Senior Investigating Officer of the Historic Child Abuse Investigation Mick Gradwell has been caught leaking information to Daily Mail Journalist David Rose who is a known historic child abuse denier. Thats right, you have reported nothing. Think about how serious that is. The leaking was done whilst the 'HCAE' was still live.

This was first mentioned when Deputy T Pitman asked an oral question to the Home Affairs Minister Senator Le Marquand. You can listen to the question with the link provided

THE JERSEY WAY MICK GRADWELL

Now, if it had been Lenny Harper im sure you would have splashed it everywhere. No one mentioned it, not CTV - BBC or the JEP why is that?

Lets look at what a police consultant said about the actions of D/S Mick Gradwell. This is taken from the transcripts of the Scrutiny Sub Panels Review into the BDO Report.

CTV why haven't you reported any of this? Is it because it goes against your opinion management?

You should have a duty to report an un-biased News but you fail, why is that?

What about the Abuse Survivors don't you think you have a duty of care towards them in reporting something as serious as a former SIO leaking material to a child abuse denier journalist - but you want to know about the exact price of a curry - Please Explain

You report Nothing

You have done Nothing but trash the Child Abuse Investigation

You splash the Syvret question all over your news within minutes of it being mentioned

Disgraceful

Rico Sorda

As you know there is so much more information coming out the excellent BDO Review

Managing Director, BDO Alto Limited:

Yes, just to clarify, and it is in our written submission, the material that was leaked to the newspaper was not a BDO work product. I cannot comment on what was leaked to the media. As again we say in our written submission, we provide you with copies of the correspondence with Home Affairs on 5th October 2009. This matter was clearly brought to our attention. We were concerned that anything that was related to our review was finding its way into the national media. As I say, it was not a BDO report. There was not an interim report at that point in time. What appears to have been leaked were, again, some of the early drafts of some of [Police Consultant]’s work. He might want to say something about that.

Deputy R.G Le Hérrisier:

As a result of your subsequent inquiries and your contact with Home Affairs, did you come to a considered judgment as to how it had occurred and who had done it?

Managing Director, BDO Alto Limited:

I think, when we had an opportunity to have a look at the article that had been published on the Mail on Sunday, it became clear to us what material was being quoted from. Therefore, from our perspective, we were able to narrow down where that material had gone, but as I say it was not a BDO interim report. It was not an interim report at all, in fact.

Police Consultant:

The circumstances of the source are as set down in my written submission. The source was [retired D/Superintendent]. He has admitted that to me in telephone conversations. He first telephoned me about a week or so after the article appeared. I had already worked out that it was probably him.

Police Consultant:

I deplore what he did. I have told him I deplore what he did. In terms of why he did it, you would have to ask him. He says - so what he told me - and he has repeated that in recent telephone conversations that he has made to me arising out of the establishment of this Panel that he did not give copies of my written work, but he disclosed the contents of some of them to a reporter. It was not BDO at all. It is not me. It was not Wiltshire or [then Acting Police Chief]. It was [retired D/Superintendent].

From: rico sorda

Subject: Re: Very Important

To: news@channeltv.co.uk

Date: Wednesday, 14 September, 2011, 16:24

Dear CTV/ News Editor

Could you please let me know why you have failed to report the leaking of confidential police information from former senior investigating officer of the historic child abuse investigation Mick Gradwell. This dates back to November 2008 when David Rose continued his articles on trashing the Child Abuse Investigation.

This is the same Journalist that was leaked information in early 2008 from a sitting Senator and confirmed in two Sworn Affidavits and Scrutiny Transcripts.

Do you not understand how serious this is? Yet you report nothing

Why would a Senator and D/Sup Mick Gradwell be leaking information to a Journalist that is trashing the Jersey Historic Child Abuse Investigation?

Why aren't you or your Journalists asking these questions?

Why is it left to a member of the public like me to ask these questions?

I have faced death threats, racist abuse, threats to my job etc etc because im prepared to ask the questions that any Journalist or News Outlet should be bending over backwards to ask.

The people who run our Media Outlets are far to close to the real power in Jersey. This is why our News is so controled.

Look forward to your reply

Rico Sorda

REPLY FROM CTV

Dear Mr Sorda,

Flag this message

Re: Fwd: Very Important

Friday, 16 September, 2011 16:03

From:

"Karen Rankine"

Add sender to Contacts

To:

ricosorda@yahoo.co.uk

Thankyou for your email.

Channel Television reports on all sittings of Jersey's States, and our news team chooses the most newsworthy stories for our programme and website.

From Monday's meeting our news team covered the questions asked to the Treasury Minister on the failed purchase of Lime Grove House for a new police HQ, the damage to the Duke of Normandy tug, and the cost of prosecuting Stuart Syvret.

Our reporting on all of those stories was unbiased and based on the facts as discussed in the States.

If you follow our coverage, you are probably aware we have already covered a number of stories on the Scrutiny panel review into the financial management of Operation Rectangle. Indeed we had Deputy Trevor Pitman on the programme for a live interview on the subject.

Yours Sincerely,

Karen Rankine

MY REPLY TO CTV/ STATES MEMBERS

Dear States Members/ CTV

You will be aware that I have been asking some very serious questions of the 'NONE' coverage of CTV concerning the leaking of information my former D/Supt Mick Gradwell to known historic child abuse denier journalist David Rose who worked for the Daily Mail and who's articles appeared in the Mail on Sunday.

Why do you think I cant get a straight answer from CTV?

Is it because CTV did an exclusive interview with Mick Gradwell? Remember the interviews on CTV when Mick Gradwell spent all his time trashing the child abuse investigation instead of telling us how he had brought it forward.

Do any of you States Members smell a rat yet?

Im asking the questions based on facts and research

Look at the reply sent by Karin Rankine below - she could give Senator Ozouf a run for his money in not answering questions. Does this not worry any of you?

Look at what I asked - look at the reply

Dear Mr Sorda,

Thankyou for your email.

Channel Television reports on all sittings of Jersey's States, and our news team chooses the most newsworthy stories for our programme and website.

Our reporting on all of those stories was unbiased and based on the facts as discussed in the States.

Yours Sincerely,

Karen Rankine

"Channel Television reports on all sittings of Jersey's States, and our news team chooses the most newsworthy stories for our programme and website."

lol, a price of a curry is more important than a Senior Investigating Officer of an Historic Child Abuse Investigation leaking information to David Rose - the same person who was involved in the now infamous press conference of November 12th 2008 that had the former Chief of Police suspended - which also involved the former Home Affairs Minister Andrew Lewis who now thinks the coast is clear in continuing his political ambitions - Mr Lewis what about that phone call on the early evening of November 11th 2008? Yes, I await his possible re-election.

Research and Facts - Something Lacking with the Jersey Main Stream Media

I will leave you with this

Could everyone copied into this please answer this simple question

How many Exclusive News Stories have the Jersey 'MSM' Investigated and broken that has gone against the ruling Government, held them to account, and has been a benefit to the people of Jersey?

Think about it

Look forward to your replies

Kind Regards

Rico Sorda

Senator Ozouf - yes or no

2011-09-13T20:48:00.003+01:00

Dear Rico,

You, amongst a number of people, have asked of my intentions as to Chief Minister.

You may be interested to see my latest post on www.ozouf.je

I distributed this to media, spoke about in the States and have tweeted the link.

Hope this answers your question.

Best regards,

Philip Ozouf

Today I made this statement to the States Assembly.

“The next States Assembly is beginning to take shape. 6 serving Senators will continue in office, 8 Constables and 3 Deputies have now been elected unopposed. 4 Senators, 26 Deputies and 4 Constables will be elected on 19th October from 82 candidates in Jersey’s largest single election.

This year, none of the candidates is representing a political party; each is seeking election as an independent with individual policies. It is vitally important that the electorate understands the individual policies of each candidate and elects or rejects on the basis of these policies, as well the skills and experience they can offer.

There has been speculation about whether or not I will declare my intention to allow my name to be proposed for Chief Minister at this time.

The process laid down for electing the Chief Minister is set out in Standing Orders. In summary: following an election, any candidate should:

i) Be nominated by at least 6 elected members;
ii) Set-out the candidate’s vision for a Strategic Policy;
iii) Set-out the manner in which he or she would propose to discharge the responsibilities as Chief Minister; then later,
Iv) Address the Assembly for 10 minutes;
V) Be questioned by elected members for 40 minutes

At that stage a ballot or ballots of members will be taken.

The appropriate time to discuss the Chief Minister role is after the elections.

This will allow the electorate to assess candidates in the forthcoming General Election fairly on their own intrinsic merits and policies rather than on the basis of an alignment behind a particular Chief Ministerial candidate.

One thing that I believe all Members will wish to see in a new Assembly is less division, with Members collectively making decisions on the basis of what is in the best interests of this Island to draw lines of division before the new Assembly has even sat.

There are a number of weeks between the Single Election Day and the Election for Chief Minister. Once the outcome of the election is known, candidates for Chief Minister should declare their interest quickly, publish their manifesto and intensive debate should follow as to their respective policies. This should include public hustings, TV and radio debates.

Whilst I have received support from a number of members, for which I am grateful. I, like other candidates, will reserve my position on whether or not to permit my name to be proposed as a candidate for Chief Minister until after the elections.

Any candidate will need to lead the Council of Ministers and ensure they get a sufficient number of members supporting to be in a position to govern Jersey in the best interests of the Island. Such a determination is not possible until after the public have elected the Assembly.

I am mindful that I am not up for election, but over the next few weeks, I will be publishing my views on a range of issues which need to be focused on over the next three years.

In the meantime I wish all candidates the very best with their elections.”

Philip Ozouf

From:

"rico sorda"

View contact details

To:

p.ozouf@gov.je

Cc:

i.lemarquand@gov.je, A.Breckon@gov.je, a.dupre@gov.je, a.green@gov.je, a.jeune@gov.je, "ben queree" , "Ben Shenton" , "Bob Hill" , c.egre@gov.je, dsimon@jerseyeveningpost.com... mo

Dear Senator Ozouf

Thanks for your reply

Havind read your press release it is just more of the same old waffle. It was like yesterdays questions without answers in the States. You cant give a straight forward yes or no.

You should declare now if you intend to be the next Chief Minister

You should be able to take the states assembly and the people of JERSEY Forward - no matter who is elected or what their political views are.

I will be honest Senator and say the reason you have not declared is because you lack the courage to do so. You show fear, you show fear as to how the assembly might look after the election, this should have no bearing on you declaring seeing as we don't have political parties.

Courage is what is required Senator

Do you have that courage?

Are you standing for Chief Minister

Kind Regards

Rico Sorda

Channel Television & Mick Gradwell

2011-09-12T20:30:00.000+01:00

r.leherissier@gov.je>, r.duhamel@gov.je, s.yates@gov.je, s.pitman@gov.je, s.ferguson@gov.je, s.crowcroft@gov.je, t.vallois@gov.je, t.pitman@gov.je, "Daniel Wimberley" , p.rondel@gov.je

Dear CTV

The reporting of the Jersey Main Stream Media

This was first mentioned when Deputy T Pitman asked an oral question to the Home Affairs Minister Senator Le Marquand. You can listen to the question with the link provided

THE JERSEY WAY MICK GRADWELL

Now, if it had been Lenny Harper im sure you would have splashed it everywhere. No one mentioned it, not CTV - BBC or the JEP why is that?

Lets look at what a police consultant said about the actions of D/S Mick Gradwell. This is taken from the transcripts of the Scrutiny Sub Panels Review into the BDO Report.

CTV why haven't you reported any of this? Is it because it goes against your opinion management?

You should have a duty to report an un-biased News but you fail, why is that?

You report Nothing

You have done Nothing but trash the Child Abuse Investigation

You splash the Syvret question all over your news within minutes of it being mentioned

Disgraceful

Rico Sorda

As you know there is so much more information coming out the excellent BDO Review

Managing Director, BDO Alto Limited:

Deputy R.G Le Hérrisier:

As a result of your subsequent inquiries and your contact with Home Affairs, did you come to a considered judgment as to how it had occurred and who had done it?

Managing Director, BDO Alto Limited:

Police Consultant:

Running for Chief Minister Mr Ozouf?-1

2011-09-11T10:28:00.003+01:00

From:

"rico sorda"

View contact details

To:

p.ozouf@gov.je

Cc:

i.lemarquand@gov.je, A.Breckon@gov.je, a.dupre@gov.je, a.green@gov.je, a.jeune@gov.je, "ben queree" , "Ben Shenton" , "Bob Hill" , c.egre@gov.je, dsimon@jerseyeveningpost.com... m

Dear Senator

Im still awaiting your reply to my email dated the 7th September 2011

You have found the time to tweet these past couple of days so one would be hoping that you would find the time to reply to a member of the public concerning your intentions of running for Chief Minister

Senator Le Marquand has shown the way in this respect

I have no doubt that the Lime Grove fiasco has been a huge blow. The blame game is in full swing, no point in 'HEDGING' any bets down at the Treasury as to who will be the fall guy on this one. Im sure Ian Black will be following it closely

So, Senator Ozouf - Do you intend running for the position of Chief Minister Yes or No?

Lets, just for once, have a straight honest answer devoid of any waffle or Rankine Spin

Kind Regards

Rico Sorda

Running for Chief Minister Mr Ozouf?

2011-09-07T19:00:00.002+01:00

Running For Chief Minister

From:	rico sorda View Contact
To:	p.ozouf@gov.je
Cc:	i.lemarquand@gov.je; A.Breckon@gov.je; a.dupre@gov.je; a.green@gov.je; a.jeune@gov.je; ben queree ; Ben Shenton; Bob Hill ; c.egre@gov.je; dsimon@jerseyeveningpost.com; Daniel Wimberley ; Deirdry; jep ; f.cohen@gov.je; Francis ; g.southern@gov.je; roy herissier ; i.gorst@gov.je; j.hilton@gov.je; j.lef@gov.je; j.lesueurgallichan@gov.je; j.macon@gov.je; j.reed@gov.je; jep ; Jim Perchard; k.lewis@gov.je; k.vibert@gov.je; l.norman@gov.je; Terry Le Sueur ; m.tadier@gov.je; mr.higgins@gov.je; news@channeltv.co.uk; p.leclaire@gov.je; Sean Power ; Paul Routier ; s.crowcroft@gov.je; s.ferguson@gov.je; s.pitman@gov.je; s.yates@gov.je; t.vallois@gov.je; t.pitman@gov.je

Dear Senator Ozouf

Will you please let the Voting public of Jersey know if you will be standing for Chief Minister.

My gutt feeling is that you are awaiting the result of the election before declaring your intention to run. This has more to do with head counting and face saving than any concerns the public might have.

So Senator, can you please tell us right now, do you intend standing for Chief Minister?

Show some bottle like Senator Le Marquand

And treat the electorate with some respect

Kind Regards

Rico Sorda

THE NEWS OF THE WORLD

2011-07-19T19:31:00.000+01:00

In the coming days VFC will be taking a look at this. Nothing like a good diversion story from the Establishment propaganda machine to take people attention away from the BDO.

Has any of the content of the report below been disproved?

What did Lenny Harper leak?

Rico Sorda

HELLFIRE
Jersey home dossier to reveal children were murdered...then burnt

Exclusive by Lucy Panton

A SHOCK secret police report into the Jersey House of Hell children's home reveals youngsters there WERE murdered then BURNED in a furnace to COVER UP the atrocities.

captured from the web July 14, 2008

It's feared island authorities may try to hush up the dossier on Haut de la Garenne orphanage but a source told us: "Officers on this case are in NO DOUBT what went on."
Innocent children WERE raped, murdered and their bodies then BURNT in a FURNACE at the Jersey House of Horrors, says a top-secret police report into the scandal.

TOUGH GUY: Lenny Harper - Jersey's Deputy Chief of Police - is the 'old school copper' heading the probe

A News of the World investigation reveals cops have shocking new evidence of how the killings were COVERED UP at the Haut de la Garenne care home.
Our chilling revelations come as officers prepare to hand over their damning dossier from Britain's biggest ever child abuse probe to the island's States of Jersey authorities.
A total of 65 teeth and around 100 charred fragments of bones are all that remain of victims detectives believe were abused and killed before their tortured corpses were thrown into a fiery grave inside the house of hell.
But records of children who stayed at the home over past decades have been destroyed so police have an impossible task of putting names to their grim finds.
A source close to the four-month investigation told us: "There's NO doubt in the minds of the detectives on this case that children WERE murdered in the home.
"Officers believe they have compelling evidence that youngsters' bodies were burnt in the home's furnace then the remains swept into the soil floor in the cellars—the area that became dubbed ‘the torture rooms'.

Ripped

"The problem has been identifying the children that went missing over the years. No records were kept of who came and left that place.
"Kids were shipped to the home from all over the UK and were never heard of again.
"All the inquiry team have to go on is this grim collection of teeth and bone fragments and no names to match up to the remains.
"Because this investigation has seen so many twists and turns people seem to find it hard to accept that children WERE slaughtered and their deaths WERE covered up."

Most of the dental remains discovered have been identified as children's milk teeth. And we can reveal that among more than 100 bone fragments is a TIBIA from a child's leg and what police believe is an "intact" ADENOID bone from the ear of an infant.
These were all retrieved from a fingertip search of the four cellars in the Home's EAST WING.
Forensic teams also found STRANDS OF NYLON which they have concluded came from the head of a broom.And, because those type of nylon brooms were only used in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the discovery helped officers to put a date on when the bones were swept into the soil floor.Cops are now convinced that those charred bones and teeth were emptied from the bottom of the home's industrial furnace—located away in the West Wing—when it was ripped out around that time to insall oil-fired central heating.Officers have spoken to builders who worked on renovations at the home but have been unable to discover what happened to the furnace after that. But they have taken samples from the chimney breast which was left behind.Around that same time wooden floorboards were laid OVER the old soil floor in the east wing.And it is there, within the hidden torture chambers just inches below, that the bones, a pair of shackles and children's clothing were found.

Also in the underground rooms police discovered a large concrete bath with traces of blood. A builder has also given evidence that he was asked to dig two lime pits in the ground nearby around that period. Lime pits have often been used to destroy corpses.

So far 97 people have come forward to complain they were abused as children at Haut de la Garenne. Many have described being drugged, shackled, raped, flogged and held in a dark cellar for long periods.Much of the clothing found at the scene is thought to date back to the 1960s and 1970s when youngsters had to make their own clothes and shoes in the care home work shop.Cops now believe that whoever was responsible for removing the furnace KNEW that there were children's remains inside. And they think it was moved while disgraced headmaster Colin Tilbrook was in charge of the place.Tilbrook, now dead, has been described by former charges as being behind "some of the most horrific abuse" at the home.
We can reveal that cops now plan to quiz one of his closest aides who is still alive and living in the UK.Tilbrook, who ran the home in the 1960s, died aged 62 in 1988 after suffering a heart attack in a public swimming pool. His foster daughter Tina Blee, 38, recently made an emotional visit to Haut de la Garenne to meet abuse victims and bravely told how SHE was raped by the monster every week as a child, after he took her in following his departure from Jersey.She said: "I needed to come here to say sorry for what he's done. If children were killed here I'm convinced he played a big part in it.
"He was more than capable of murder."This week police began a forensic examination inside a nearby World War II German bunker which victims say was used as a base for abusing children.

Six witnesses say they were sexually assaulted by staff at the squat brick building which houses a network of underground rooms and passages.As that work starts, police have closed the doors on their detailed forensic hunt inside the hell home.
Lack of records still hampers police. But we can reveal that one mainland authority, Birmingham City Council, has presented the Jersey force with a list of children who were sent to the home but went missing.Although four have now been tracked down, after a mammoth search one still remains unaccounted for.Earlier this year we also uncovered allegations that pictures of BABIES being raped were taken in the care home and circulated by an international child porn ring.

Stash

LENGTHY: Cops finger tip search

Experts suspect the home was responsible for many of the seedy network's 9,000 sick pictures, discovered in an infamous haul in Holland in the Nineties.
It was dubbed the Zandvoort stash, after the town where it was found—but the source studio was never uncovered.
Police said their latest intensive probe at Haut de la Garenne has produced more than 40 suspects.
Three men have already been charged with sex abuse offences as part of the inquiry. But now, despite the wealth of shocking detail uncovered by officers, there are fears the full truth about the House of Hell could be covered up yet again after the investigation boss, Jersey's tough No2 top cop Lenny Harper, retires next month.Haut de la Garenne's abused former residents have repeatedly claimed that what happened was deliberately hushed up to avoid tarnishing Jersey's reputation as a family-friendly tourist haven and to give politicians in London no excuse to try to exercise more control over the island.

Although Jersey is part of the British Isles and under the Queen's rule, it has a separate government system and makes its own laws.
Jersey's 53-member parliament has no political parties and its politicians, judges, policemen and business leaders come from a small elite—often linked by friendship or family.
In a separate case recently investigators were frustrated by the island's legal authorities who refused to charge a couple accused of beating their foster children with cricket bats. Despite being told by lawyers and an honorary police officer who reviewed the case that there was sufficient evidence to go ahead, the charges were blocked at the 11th hour.
A police source said: "The argument for not charging this couple was that their natural children have said they're of good character.
"The detailed statements of all the people who claim they were physically assaulted seem to count for nothing."
The Haut de la Garenne file, along with several others, is now complete but is "being held up" by lawyers.
Our inside source added: "There's a strong suspicion that the files are being held on to until Lenny Harper goes and a new team is in place.
"No one will be surprised if the truth about what happened in the care home never surfaces and once more the evidence gets swept under the carpet."

Jersey’s International Image and the IWC.

2011-07-12T19:05:00.000+01:00

Jersey is hosting the International Whaling Commission (IWC) sixty third annual meeting. Delegates and NGO’s from over eighty countries are attending, sounds pretty prestigious doesn’t it? It would be if any other country had offered to host it!

There have been persistent rumors of corruption surrounding the IWC. Specifically some small nations are believed to have their fees paid “in cash” by other members, particularly Japan. Unsurprisingly these small nations frequently vote with Japan and the whalers. This year the UK have proposed measures to, shall we say, clean or tidy things up. This could stop the practice of paying the fees in cash at the conference(s). The UK, and others, clearly believes there is a problem surrounding the IWC, money, ethics and votes………Jersey welcomes the IWC. Incidentally Jersey is not a member of the IWC and has no vote.

So whom did Jersey’s government send to this environmentally sensitive meeting to give the welcoming address? The environment Minister? The newly appointed International Relations representative? The Chief Minister perhaps? No they sent Senator Alan Maclean the Economic Development Minister! Good old Jersey seizing any old opportunity to make a couple of quid, no matter where it comes from. Although there is merit in Jersey promoting itself as a conference centre, was it wise to link up with a body surrounded by allegations of corruption and vote rigging?

Why did Jersey not invite the “Sea Shepherds” as Monaco did in 1997? Did Jersey have any idea what it was getting into inviting the IWC? Were they simply blinded by the opportunity to promote our conference industry?

Sea Shepherd Captain Paul Watson thinks Jersey could have got it wrong. Hosting this conference could further damage Jersey’s already battered reputation, that the recently departed Lieutenant Governor told us could take decades to restore.

Team Voice has no knowledge of the workings of the IWC. The opinions of Captain Paul Watson are his own.

A Speech for Censure

2011-07-05T06:58:00.008+01:00

Chief Minister

From:

"rico sorda"

View contact details

To:

i.lemarquand@gov.je, A.Breckon@gov.je, a.dupre@gov.je, a.green@gov.je, a.jeune@gov.je, "ben queree" , "Ben Shenton" , "Bob Hill" , c.egre@gov.je, dsimon@jerseyeveningpost.com, "Deirdry" , "Daniel Wimberley" , "jep" , f.cohen@gov.je, "Francis" , g.southern@gov.je, "roy herissier" , i.gorst@gov.je, j.hilton@gov.je, j.lef@gov.je, j.lesueurgallichan@gov.je, j.macon@gov.je, j.reed@gov.je, "Jim Perchard" , k.lewis@gov.je, k.vibert@gov.je, "Terry Le Sueur" , l.norman@gov.je, m.tadier@gov.je, mr.higgins@gov.je, news@channeltv.co.uk, p.leclaire@gov.je, p.ozouf@gov.je, "Paul Routier" , "Sean Power" , r.duhamel@gov.je

Cc:

"roy herissier" , t.vallois@gov.je, t.pitman@gov.je

Dear All

On this rather hot night I was trawling through the order paper for tomorrows States Sitting what grabbed my attention was the comments on the vote of censure against the Chief Minister.

Now, do you laugh or cry at the comment I reproduce below?

COMMENTS

The Council of Ministers express its unqualified support for the Chief Minister and his leadership over the last 3 years. Ministers believe that a Vote of Censure is an important matter that should only be brought forward for matters of conduct and not differences in political opinions.

The Council of Ministers urges States Members to reject this Vote of Censure.

Just what Planet are you guys living on? Haven't you any idea of the anger that is being directed towards this Council of Ministers and it's weak leadership? Just staggering it really is. The way the Chief Minister has misled the house over the Graham Power Napier Debacle is bad enough - and that is evidenced fact.

Now I could be up all night listing a whole load of evidenced failures of this shambolic ministerial reign but lets leave it with the 13 very serious points raised in the Deputy's motion.

So, the challenge for all you States Members who want to defend the Chief Minister is to do so without copying or even coming close to the speech I have just written. Here is my Speech. Anyone who Copies it, like I said, should pay a donation towards Holiday for Heroes because you have not addressed any of the issues raised in the motion and therefore not defended the Chief Minister.

"Sir, it is with great regret that I am having stand in front of this assembly and defend the reputation of the Chief Minister. Sir, the Chief Minister has acted with the utmost integrity in these difficult times. The Chief Minister has shown all the characteristics of strong leadership and courage in making the tough decisions that sees Jersey well placed on the International Stage.

Sir, whilst I have the utmost respect for the good deputy, surely this censure motion is nothing more than political point scoring. In a time when we seem to be spending more and more hours in the States Chamber surely the good deputy would be better placed in concentrating his efforts in bringing more urgent and pressing issues before the house.

I do not wish to take up much more of States members' time on this. Sir and fellow States members, you will have noticed how I have managed to make a very short speech in defending the Chief Minister without referring to any of the very serious issues raised in Deputy Pitman's censure motion. In doing this I would urge all members to reject the censure motion and make a similar speech to mine where it is short, unsubstantiated, does not cover any of the issues raised and gives £10 to Holidays for Heroes".

Good Luck

Don't nick my speech

Rico Sorda

Team Voice

Dear All

On this rather hot night I was trawling through the order paper for tomorrows States Sitting what grabbed my attention was the comments on the vote of censure against the Chief Minister.

Now, do you laugh or cry at the comment I reproduce below?

COMMENTS

The Council of Ministers express its unqualified support for the Chief Minister and his leadership over the last 3 years. Ministers believe that a Vote of Censure is an

important matter that should only be brought forward for matters of conduct and not differences in political opinions.

The Council of Ministers urges States Members to reject this Vote of Censure.

Now I could be up all night listing a whole load of evidenced failures of this shambolic ministerial reign but lets leave it with the 13 very serious points raised in the Deputy motion.

Sir, it is with great regret that I am having stand in front of this assembly and defend the reputation of the Chief Minister. Sir, the Chief Minister has acted with the utmost integrity in these difficult times. The Chief Minister has shown all the characteristics of strong leadership and courage in making the tough decisions that sees Jersey well placed on the International Stage.

Good Luck

Don't nick my speech

THE LEGAL GRAVY TRAIN -ALL ABOARD

2011-06-24T20:38:00.004+01:00

Bailiff M.Birt

Here is a break down on costs paid to legal firms in Jersey including the Historic Child Abuse Investigation. I have put it up so greater minds than mine can look at it and comment

Team Voice

WRITTEN QUESTION TO H.M. ATTORNEY GENERAL

BY THE DEPUTY OF ST. MARTIN

ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 20th JUNE 2011

Question

Will H.M. Attorney General inform Members of the fees paid to all external legal firms

undertaking work on behalf of the Law Officers’ Department for the years 2008, 2009 and 2010

with a breakdown of the fees paid to individual firms in each of those years?

Answer

We have taken the expression “all external legal firms” to relate to both Jersey legal practices and

any firms of lawyers practicing outside of Jersey.

Although not strictly within the terms of the question (not being firms), information is also given

as to payments made to the chambers of English barristers who may have either given advice to

the Attorney General or assisted in the investigation of and prosecution of serious crimes sometimes on an extended basis. Accordingly we have included such chambers of English

Barristers in the term “all external legal firms”.

Such external legal firms provide a variety of services to the Law Officers amongst which are:

1. The prosecution through appointed Crown Advocates of criminal cases on behalf of the Attorney General;

2. The representation through Advocates of Ministers in civil or family cases;

3. The provision of advice to the Law Officers’ Department;

4. Acting as agents for the Law Officers’ Department;

5. Providing investigatory services in connection with Criminal investigations; and

6. Providing prosecution support services.

No distinction is made in the information below between those activities.

We have given information relating to the Historic Child Abuse Inquiry and the costs of representing the Minster for Health and Social Services in public law childrens’ matters separately. In the latter case a sum is paid by Health and Social Services to offset a proportion of that cost.

No distinction is made in the information below between those activities.

2008

Jersey Firms Barristers’ Chambers and UK Firms

Walkers £377,846 - 7 Bedford Row (Eight matters) £683,610*

Ogier £162,372 - Three New Square £10,968

Bakerplatt £160,302 - 18 Red Lion Court £7,569

Appleby £83,041 - 3 Verulam Buildings £3,400

Carey Olsen £72,313 - QEB Hollis Whiteman £2,668

Mourant Du Feu & Jeune £64,998 - David Price Solicitors & Advocates £1,868

Bedell Cristin £60,184 - Crown Office Chambers £1,400

Crill Canavan £25,766

Unless otherwise stated, barristers’ chambers were working on one matter only during the year.

*In January 2010, in response to a question oric Child Abuse Jersey Firms Barristers’ Chambers and UK Firms

Bakerplatt £845,354 - 4-5 Gray's Inn Square £16,500

Carey Olsen £19,308 - QEB Hollis Whiteman £3,292

Blackstone Chambers £1,750

2009

Jersey Firms Barristers’ Chambers and UK Firms

Walkers £478,819 - 7 Bedford Row (Eight matters) £671,790

Ozannes £313,666 - 18 Red Lion Court £69,972

Bakerplatt £283,350 - Baker & McKenzie £28,263

Appleby £88,580 - 23 Essex Street £14,438

Bedell Cristin £68,968 - Matrix Chambers £14,678

Mourant Du Feu & Jeune £59,186 - Blackstone Chambers £6,000

Carey Olsen £32,494 - 1 Kings Bench Walk £750

Ogier £30,219

Crill Canavan £825

Unless otherwise stated, barristers’ chambers were working on one matter only during the year.

Historic Child Abuse Jersey Firms Barristers’ Chambers and UK Firms

Bakerplatt £1,001,525 - Herbert Smith LLP £20,494

Olswang £9,686

Colleton Chambers £5,750

7 Bedford Row £875

2010

Deputy Le Herissier, the Attorney General reported the amount paid to 7 Bedford Row in 2008 was £656,182. Due to an administrative oversight, one barrister’s fees were omitted from that total, resulting in the higher figure now being reported.

2010

Jersey Firms Barristers’ Chambers and UK Firms

Baker and Partners £617,557 - 7 Bedford Row (Six matters) £642,105

Walkers £283,764 - 18 Red Lion Court £80,935

Ozannes £182,072 - Fulcrum Chambers LLP £41,200

Mourant Ozannes £177,284 - David Price Solicitors & Advocates £14,383

Carey Olsen £131,716 - Matrix Chambers (Two matters) £14,220

Appleby £93,982 - 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square £13,225

Bedell Cristin £91,246 - 3-2 Bedford Row £9,900

Mourant Du Feu & Jeune £32,183 - 2 Hare Court £5,750

Crill Canavan £20,629 - Blackstone Chambers £5,750

Backhurst Dorey & Crane £6,079 - 6 King’s Bench Walk £3,701

Jowitt Legal Services £5,980 - 1 Garden Court £2,500

Ogier £4,245 - Baker & McKenzie (Two matters) £1,709

15 Old Square £750

Unless otherwise stated, barristers’ chambers were working on one matter only during the year.

Historic Child Abuse

Jersey Firms Barristers’ Chambers and UK Firms

Baker and Partners £348,348 7 Bedford Row £11,753

Children’s Matters

Jersey Firms Barristers’ Chambers and UK Firms

Appleby £360,919 - Harcourt Chambers £8,000

Backhurst Dorey & Crane £116,016

Bakerplatt £12,235

The Department receives £103,829 of ‘Williamson’ funding from the Health and Social Services Department to offset some of these expenses.

Looks like some have better seats that others. 7 Bedfor Row and Bakerplatt are doing ok

Team Voice

lyndon Farnham and his Chamber of Seats

2011-06-18T17:07:00.005+01:00

Just what is the crack with this Guy? Does anybody know? I know his attendance record when he was a states member was horrific but why the big cob -on about the Senatorial Seats. So good is his decision making that he cant make up his mind if he is standing or not. But what of Deputy Labey? Back she comes again and again with this proposition when really at the end of the day there is nothing wrong with fighting a contested election. It's a numbers game, boss Ozouf has got his lackey to do the running around as per usual and will try and sweet talk a few members before the vote. No matter what the ship is in serious waters.

UK fails to approve cutting Senators

Lyndon Farnham with the petition outside the Privy Council Office

THE UK has stalled plans to cut two Senatorial seats in October, leaving the way open for a last-minute push to reverse the move.

Campaigner Lyndon Farnham has received confirmation from the Privy Council that they did not sign off the cut at their June meeting and instead accepted his petition to delay it.

That means that Deputy Carolyn Labey’s proposal to keep the Senatorial seats for now can be debated by the States. It is scheduled for debate on 5 July.

• Full report in Saturday’s Jersey Evening Post

Article posted on 18th June, 2011 - 2.59

Submitted by Rico Sorda.

GOLDEN HANDSHAKES

2011-06-05T20:23:00.003+01:00

Flag this message

Very Serious Allegation

Sunday, 5 June, 2011 20:21

From:

"rico sorda"

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To:

t.lesueur1@gov.je

Cc:

"Jim Perchard" , p.leclaire@gov.je, p.ozouf@gov.je, "Paul Routier" , "Sean Power" , mr.higgins@gov.je, m.tadier@gov.je, "ben queree" ... more

Dear States Memebers

Tomorrow the States of Jersey sit at 2.30. The Chief Minister should in any proper democracy be making a statement on how TWO Senior Civil Servants waltzed off with £800,000 pounds. So serious is this allegation it should be first on the order paper and not waiting for a question during questions without answers.

Who Sanctioned this?

Where is the audit trail and contractual evidence that they were entitled to these payouts?

Where did the money for these payouts come from?

These two top Civil Servants were both discredited by the Napier Report (Ogley) & Verita (Pollard)

The allegation that these two Civil Servants obtained such obscene payouts must be explained fully and not with the usual vagueness we have come to expect from our ruling elite

Their positions became untenable and they get Alleged Golden Handshakes

First up, an alleged £500,000?

Golden pay-offs

Bill Ogley, who is leaving at the end of May

STATES chief executive Bill Ogley is to receive a six-figure pay-off when he leaves his job at the end of the month, a States Senator said yesterday.

Speaking at a Scrutiny Panel hearing yesterday Senator Jim Perchard said that both a States chief executive and a former chief officer of Health and Social Services had left their posts with ‘golden handshakes’ worth hundreds of thousands of pounds each.

He referred to one leaving with £500,000 and another with £300,000, but did not specify who had received what. It is understood, however, that the higher figures relates to Mr Ogley’s departure.

The Senator did not give names but was understood to be referring to Mr Ogley and the former chief officer of Health and Social Services Mike Pollard, who resigned in 2009.

Article posted on 26th May, 2011 - 3.00pm

Next up an alleged £300,000.? Wasn't waiting around for the conclusion of the Verita Report

‘No comment’ on resignation of Health chief

By Dolores Cowburn

Mike Pollard

Health chief Mike Pollard has resigned for personal reasons.

A statement released by the Chief Minister’s department said that Mr Pollard had resigned from his post for personal reasons and would leave with effect from tomorrow.

Chief Minister Terry Le Sueur has declined to make any further comment about the resignation.

Senator Le Sueur said that the background to Mr Pollard’s departure was ‘private and confidential’ and that any speculation would be unfair.

Article posted on 29th September, 2009 - 2.59pm

Verita inquiry into nurse’s death has cost £560,000

the Verita team of Julian Woolfson, Lucy Scott-Moncrieff, Ed Marsden, and Derek Mechen

AN independent investigation into the death of a staff nurse following a routine operation has cost the Health department over half a million pounds.

That cash paid for UK consultancy Verita to undertake the inquiry last year into Elizabeth Rourke’s death.

Other costs incurred by the department in relation to Mrs Rourke’s death in October 2006 take the total to £700,000 – excluding the estimated £800,000 cost of suspending consultant gynaecologist John Day.

The £700,000 includes legal fees for advice regarding the death of Mrs Rourke. Some of the money was also spent on legal advice regarding the exclusion of Mr Day.

Health Minister Anne Pryke revealed the total Verita inquiry cost of £558,000 in the States on Tuesday.

Article posted on 4th February, 2010 - 2.57pm

Now I have my own opinions on the above matters but await with 'baited' breath the conclusions reached by our Chief Minister and the States of Jersey Employment Board.

We must have proper & concise answers given regarding the alleged pay- offs.

If more States Members had spent less time stamping their feet and instead listened to what decent States Members were asking we might not have found ourselves in this awful mess

Truth, Honesty & Integrity

Kind Regards

Rico Sorda

Dear States Memebers

First up, an alleged £500,000?

Golden pay-offs

Bill Ogley, who is leaving at the end of May

STATES chief executive Bill Ogley is to receive a six-figure pay-off when he leaves his job at the end of the month, a States Senator said yesterday.

He referred to one leaving with £500,000 and another with £300,000, but did not specify who had received what. It is understood, however, that the higher figures relates to Mr Ogley’s departure.

The Senator did not give names but was understood to be referring to Mr Ogley and the former chief officer of Health and Social Services Mike Pollard, who resigned in 2009.

Article posted on 26th May, 2011 - 3.00pm

Next up an alleged £300,000.? Wasn't waiting around for the conclusion of the Verita Report

‘No comment’ on resignation of Health chief

By Dolores Cowburn

Mike Pollard

Health chief Mike Pollard has resigned for personal reasons.

A statement released by the Chief Minister’s department said that Mr Pollard had resigned from his post for personal reasons and would leave with effect from tomorrow.

Chief Minister Terry Le Sueur has declined to make any further comment about the resignation.

Senator Le Sueur said that the background to Mr Pollard’s departure was ‘private and confidential’ and that any speculation would be unfair.

Article posted on 29th September, 2009 - 2.59pm

Verita inquiry into nurse’s death has cost £560,000

the Verita team of Julian Woolfson, Lucy Scott-Moncrieff, Ed Marsden, and Derek Mechen

AN independent investigation into the death of a staff nurse following a routine operation has cost the Health department over half a million pounds.

That cash paid for UK consultancy Verita to undertake the inquiry last year into Elizabeth Rourke’s death.

The £700,000 includes legal fees for advice regarding the death of Mrs Rourke. Some of the money was also spent on legal advice regarding the exclusion of Mr Day.

Health Minister Anne Pryke revealed the total Verita inquiry cost of £558,000 in the States on Tuesday.

Article posted on 4th February, 2010 - 2.57pm

Now I have my own opinions on the above matters but await with 'baited' breath the conclusions reached by our Chief Minister and the States of Jersey Employment Board.

We must have proper & concise answers given regarding the alleged pay- offs.

If more States Members had spent less time stamping their feet and instead listened to what decent States Members were asking we might not have found ourselves in this awful mess

Truth, Honesty & Integrity

Kind Regards

Rico Sorda

Emille Collins n’est plus.

2011-02-10T13:48:00.000Z

A few weeks ago Emille asked if we could find him a copy of the Old Testament in reasonable size print. It was not so much that he had any particular faith that we were aware of - but he just wanted to refresh his memory of the biblical history and texts.

To the very end he kept asking questions and challenging the system.

We had organised a computer so that he might surf the net when BBC Radio Jersey made it more difficult for him to participate on phone-ins.

Alas, his general health was not quite up to the speed of his mind so he was never able to experience that latest technological wizardry for himself.

We hope that somebody else will carry on where Emille left off with the computer but we doubt if anybody will take up his political, campaigning reins.

Emille Collins was born into a particular climate for change where socialist ideas of fairness were respectable aspirations. Although he experienced all the hardships of two world wars and much much more during his long life, he never gave up on his basic, simple beliefs and his modest, personal and political ambitions.

We have previously posted blogs on Emille here on VFP 25 June 2010 and here on HERE 18 September 2010 and we have an archive of recorded interviews which we will try to publish in due course.

Also, we are very pleased to have commissioned Emille’s bronze portrait which is currently on display in the St. Helier Town Hall. We know that this image is no substitute for the man himself but hope that it might continue to influence the decision-makers in Jersey for many years to come.

Emille Collins passed away last night aged 98.

Submitted by Thomas Wellard.

FAITH & FINANCE - Richard Murphy’s view…

2011-01-26T12:32:00.001Z

We return to this series by interviewing Richard Murphy.

He is a Chartered Accountant who has worked in the Finance world and as an auditor, besides other business activities. He is a married with children, lives in Norfolk and has a wide-ranging interest in socio-political matters, speaking regularly at meetings with diverse organisations in the UK and overseas.

He is well known at Westminster, the EU and in other important forums and is a frequent contributor to leading newspapers, journals, and commentator on radio and television.

He has (so far) resisted invitations to stand for election as an M.P. to Parliament.

Norway currently funds his campaigning activities because the government of that country is so opposed to the avoidance of taxes through tax havens.

So far as Jersey is concerned, he is mostly known as the man who advised against adopting the failed Zero-Ten policy and as a campaigner against the abusive, roles of tax havens world-wide.

As a financial dissenter and because our government does not like to be exposed as wrong, Richard Murphy is not at all popular with our senior Ministers or within the Finance Sector.

His contributions to the TAX RESEARCH here and TAX JUSTICE NETWORK here blog-sites are very well respected sources of data, information and comment on international finance and the dubious dealings of super-rich individuals, corporations and governments.

Not so well known is that Richard Murphy is a church going Anglican Christian with a Quaker background. He takes his faith seriously and explains here how this is central to his campaigning activities.

We caught up with Richard Murphy in Jersey during his January visit when he spoke in public and met with States Members.

We thank ATTAC Jersey, Ted Vibert of the JDA and Time4Change for their assistance in bringing Richard Murphy to Jersey and facilitating the interview.

Submitted by Thomas Wellard.

Jersey Homebuyers scheme – another cock-up?

2011-01-11T19:44:00.000Z

We take a break from our Faith & Finance series to return to Jersey’s never ending housing problems.

After attending the first two days of the Public Accounts Committee scrutiny hearings looking at the Homebuyer scheme at La Providence, Goose Green – we have taken the opportunity to speak with Deputy Sean Power, the Housing Minister.

He was sitting among the public today so did not participate in the discussions with Senator Shenton and his team, but feel sure that this scrutiny will grind-on for some time – with nobody taking any blame eventually – but we shall have to wait and see.

Future meetings of the Committee are likely to engage with the Crown Officers and the advice they gave, so it is likely that the plebs like us will be excluded from those sessions.

When Senator Shenton led the scrutiny into the euro/sterling arrangements for the Incinerator nobody was ever held liable in public. A behind the scenes censure was discreetly arrived at and the justification of a swanking new and necessary public facility is the official line.

We suspect that much the same will come from this – 46 families happily housed, so what’s the problem? – the usual PR approach of turning a disaster into a celebration.

We shall see – if not hear – what happens in due course.

In the meantime – somebody has to fund 4,000 new homes under the next 10 years Island Plan so the Homebuyer scheme will need to be sorted out soon….

And as for the 10,000 working adult residents who still do not even have housing quals…well hear what Deputy Power says here.

Your comments on these housing related issues are welcome.

Submitted by Thomas Wellard.