Out with the Old, in with the New

It's January 1st. Again. So let me start by wishing you all Health and Happiness for 2015! 
2014 was an interesting year and busy year and it was a campaign year. Not only were there general elections in Jersey, but also two by-elections early in the year, which saw two progressive candidates elected, and one hold onto his seat in the Autumn.

For me, the 15th October 2014 marked the beginning of my third consecutive term as a States Member. However, it was the first time I had stood and been elected as a member of an official political party, namely Reform Jersey. I was particularly pleased to have had an excellent running mate in Beatriz Porée. Although she did not get elected this time around, it was the first time that electors of St Brelade no. 2 district were able to vote for two Party candidates of the left. 391 voters chose to vote for Beatriz, in a very tough field of runners and a total of 1281 were cast for Reform Jersey in our district.

Reform Jersey Candidate, Beatriz Porée

The results overall were modest. Whilst the party did not managed any gains in terms of seats, it did manage to hold on to its three existing members and their seats. At the same time, thousands of votes were cast throughout the island, for the first time, for the five female candidates: Anne Southern, Laura Millen, Shannen Kerrigan, Debbie Hardisty and Beatriz (above). But one is reminded, that it is not unusual for parliamentarians not to get in at their first attempts. 

So the challenge for us at Reform Jersey in 2015 and beyond is to keep up the hard work and build on current successes. This is a challenge which we three States Members - (Deputy Mézec, Deputy Southern and myself) relish - and in which the wider membership will also be involved.

I would like to thank all of those who have provided personal and political support throughout 2014 - you know who you are. I and we could not have done it without you.

If you would like to join us in 2015 in our efforts to bring greater accountability, transparency and fairness to Jersey and its government, then please do get in touch.

Dates for your diaries:

We will be having a social and fundraising evening at the Town Hall on Saturday 24th January, including a Pub Quiz. More info to follow.

Surgeries:

Drop-in clinics for St Brelade no.2 constituents will be held every Monday from 12-1pm at Communicare, starting on 19th January. 

Blog TV - A First for Jersey

Date:    Thursday 26th April 2012.

Time:   7pm.

Place:  http://www.blogtv.com/People/voiceforchildren

Tonight will see a premier for Jersey, as Team Voice broadcasts their first live and interactive interview with Jersey Politician, Montfort Tadier.

Citizen's Journalist, Rico Sorda

Speaking about the new channel, Rico Sorda, co-administrator of the site said:

“The channel has been well received by those who frequent local blog sites and everyone involved is optimistic about the way we can encourage an increased political engagement in the Island,” said Rico Sorda, co-administrator of the channel.

“The live video stream is complimented with a chat forum which allows the public to engage in discussion, providing an opportunity for real-time meaningful debate – a means of interaction not currently offered by local media outfits.” Added Mr Sorda.

"Moreover, we are not a commercial outfit and so we don't have any corporate interference about what we can report on. Nor do we have to answer to an editor.This is important in a place like Jersey, where many people feel they are not given the full facts by conventional media outlets."


‘Team Voice’, also run a conventional blogsite – Voiceforchildren – which has set itself up as an ‘investigative blogsite’ to look into issues of child protection following the Historic Child Abuse investigation.

“We approached Deputy Tadier because he is a proactive user of new media, and also because he is one of the States Members who has consistently fought for a comprehensive Committee of Inquiry into Historic Child Abuse.”

“We will be interviewing him about his amendment which was adopted by the States Assembly last year which added to the terms of reference to investigate whether ‘a consistent and impartial approach was taken when deciding on which cases to prosecute; and whether the process was free from political influence or interference at any level.’


“We are supportive of the need for this particular term of reference, but we are concerned that the Chief Minister may have come under pressure to drop this part, ostensibly on cost grounds.

“We will be asking Deputy Tadier questions about this however there will also be an opportunity for members of the public to ask him questions and to comment online.”

The broadcast takes place tonight at 7pm.

Where are the 'accredited media'?

Home Affairs Minister, Senator Ian Le Marquand

On Monday, during question time, the Home Affairs Minister made a remarkable, and certainly newsworthy announcement in response to a question by Deputy Trevor Pitman. The deputy asked:

St Helier deputy, Trevor Pitman

Deputy Pitman: 'Will the Minister clarify what was the conclusion into the brief investigation into who within the Police Force leaked the interim BDO Alto report to a UK child abuse denier journalist and has anyone been suspended over the action?'

Senator Le Marquand: 'The person most likely was the former SIO (Senior Investigating Officer) who took on the Historic Abuse Inquiry and who left in August 2009 with very noisy publicity for his predecessors.'

The SIO at the time that Senator Le Marquand was talking about at that time was Mick Gradwell. Now, I don't know the rights and wrongs of the handling of the whole Jersey Child Abuse Inquiry (operation rectangle) and the ensuing 'fall out' and various inquiries. But it seems clear to me, that the leaking of a confidential report, before it had been published, is a serious offence for any States Employee. The fact that it attracted so little interest from States Members and in particularly the 'accredited' media, is quite astonishing. 

A fellow blogger asked representatives from Channel TV why they had not reported the story. They told him they did not know about it. Channel do have a political correspondent and although one of their reporters was in the gallery for question time, the reporter had left by the time questions without notice had come about. To be fair, question time was moved to the afternoon and the staff would have had to be back for editing the evening programme, but one does question why they do not have a reporter 'permanently' in the States to cover all business, as the JEP and BBC do. It might help if they had their own box, of course. It will be interesting to see what coverage comes out from the latter two.

At least now they know about the story, by way of a blogger and a States-member-cum-blogger. 

In a previous blog, I commented on how the mainstream media were unable to be present for the public meeting at Communicare a couple of weeks ago, for the concluding part of Mr Michel's black headstone campaign (more to follow on next blog) because they were drinking champagne with the Lt. Govenor. Thankfully, the faithful citizen's media was there to provide footage, so that the meeting could be broadcast to those who could not attend. It is unfortunate that we have to do the work of the media, however we can be grateful for presence of bloggers who come to the rescue, in matters of public interest which would otherwise not be reported.