THREE States ministers, including Chief Minister Frank Walker, were e-mailed information about the Las Vegas lawsuit against developers Harcourt almost three weeks before last week’s big Waterfront debate.
But Senator Walker did not act on the information because, he says, ministers were assured by Harcourt director Patrick Power on the eve of last week’s debate that no such lawsuit existed.
The Chief Minister has now insisted that the development will not go ahead until a new investigation into Harcourt has been carried out.
After receiving Harcourt’s assurance, Senator Walker in turn assured States Members last week that Harcourt were not involved in any civil actions in the US and recommended that the States should approve the deal with Harcourt to create the proposed new £330 multi-million pound Esplanade Square financial district.
But the JEP has obtained court papers from the Clark County District Court in Nevada which show that the case was formally filed on 30 April — more than a month before the States debate.
Article posted on 10th June, 2008 - 3.00pm
17 Article Comments
Absolutely disgusting. There is no excuse for this.
Walker gave his “categorical assurance” to the States (and therefore the General Public) that no such lawsuit existed when he knew full well it did.
At last he has been categorically caught out, and it is time for him and his cronies to resign immediately en-masse.
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Sorry Frank how naive can you be, if I was looking at a £350 mill. development, would I tell you that I was looking at a lawsuit, NO.
Do us all a favour and resign before you and yours are thrown out in the elections, your arrogance is surpassed only by your lack of business acumen.
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It’s time for Frank Walker and the other two Ministers mentioned in this story to learn the meaning of the phrase “taking responsibilty”.
Resignations please. Apologies or denials will not cut the mustard this time.
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Do the States not carry any form of Due Diligence on potential partners ?
A simple Google search would have thrown up that court case.
I certainly wouldn’t do business with someone who was being sued, not once, not twice but three times – it isn’t exactly a glowing reference !
It’s time these so-called politicians stopped thinking about themselves and listen to the people who put them where they are now – this isn’t the type of development we want on the Waterfront.
No more office or apartment blocks !
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The chief minister accepts the word of a director of harcourt on probebly the biggest devolopment the island has ever undertaken that they have not a lawsuit hanging over there heads.He would say that wouldnt he .You do have cival servents and lawyers to check the facts please use them. Prehaps the time has come for you to fall on your sword THE PEOPLE OF JERSEY HAVE HAD ENOUGH
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if i ask a cleaner to clean my house whilst i am away i wouldnt rely on them to tell me whether they had any convictions for theft!
this is incompetence at best. do States members not understand what public duty is all about? given the size of this deal for Jersey i am utterly amazed sufficient checks were not done. really, why were they not done?
i dont suppose they understand public accountability either which means Frank Walker will not have the decency to resign. how did this man ever get elected?
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There is no excuse for this malpractice, do the decent thing and RESIGN! We want you out!
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How laughable and totally justifying. The truth will prevail and these DICTATORS who are only interested in the own wealth and well being must not represent any human being EVER. The true colours are shining in our sky today. The cowards won’t resign they will just make our ordinary lives even more difficult, until the elections when the people of JERSEY may have taken a little bit of notice on what these madman are doing!
The emperor’s table will be empty tonight
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Regarding the Harcourt’s law suit, Senator Perchard stated on record last Wednesday (June 4) to the states assembly … “the claims are completely false. They are a reputable company and I urge the states to ignore the slight placed on them by Deputy Baudains. We have at WEB taken these rumours seriously and we have doubled-checked and got PwC to do checks”
Given that it takes very little effort to googol ‘Harcout law suit’ and thus to establish that Deputy Baudain’s claim is indeed correct, how is it possible that the double checks made by WEB, of which Senator Perchard is a director and the checks, carried out by PwC failed to find out what a schoolchild could effortlessly have established in just a few minutes.?
Regarding the child abuse enquiry, Senator Perchard in an e-mail to Frank Walker {which he himself put into the public domain} writes ….”I consider it unacceptable that the Police should make wild unsubstantiated claims and peddle untruths in an effort to deceive the people of Jersey and their elected representatives”….. ”I trust that you will be arranging that an investigation be held immediately” …. ”and I request that appropriate action be taken thereafter.”
Given Senator Perchard’s obvious concern regarding incorrect information being given to the States assembly, would it not be wise to institute an immediate independent enquiry into those politicians who did misinform the states and also into the competence of those responsible for the failure of WEB and PwC to establish the facts relating to the Harcourt law suit.
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With all the development companies in the world why pick Harcourt anyway?
Come on Frank, enough is enough. With the Haut de la Garenne farce, and the very telling BBC interview which showed just how inept and naieve you really are the time to go has come – and not a moment too soon.
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Just when I think that the likes of Walker, Le Sueur etc couldn’t be any more stupid, ignorant, arrogant and disgraceful, they go and prove me wrong. Again. The people of this island will not tolerate you any longer. Go now, while you still have some shred of dignity left. You have repeatedly shown that the only thing you care about is yourself, and not Jersey or it’s people. You’re an idiot. Do us all a favour and disappear.
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Another case of Walker incompetance, why are there no calls for dismissal as he seems to like these tactics so much.
As a manager of business surely he has heard of due diligence?
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THE PEOPLE OF JERSEY DO NOT WANT THIS ON THE WATERFRONT – you are destroying our beautiful Island – St. Helier has become an eyesore – hello – wakey wakey!!! do we all go to work with our eyes shut – no! we cannot see the seafront anymore with all the grotesque rotten buildings being thrown up in all shapes sizes and colours – leave it alone. It is a concrete jungle now – who is benefiting from this? Stop spending the ordinary person’s hard earned money on ridiculous ventures!
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Time for a rant! Why oh why would we want to employ a company with blatently serious financial issues in aother country. I want to know why the deal with Harcourt is so great anyway. Let’s see, we lease out a large chunk of St. Helier for £95 million (£120m if they are late finishing and including a new free underpass….whoppee) and we lose ownership of this highly important patch for at least 150 years! In 50 years, £95 million will be like a drop in the ocean, let alone 150. Will our Great Great Great Grandchildren be pleased!
Our chief minister is obviously keeping a low profile right now, sunning himself on a beach presumably, and avoiding the flak being quite rightly directed right at him. I hope that this is the straw that breaks the camel’s back and he resigns as soon as he returns. Deputy Power has confirmed that Mr Walker and others knew of the law-suit prior to the States debate. What more needs to be said. We need answers!! In the immortal words of Sir Alan, “Frank, Your Fired!”.
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I’d just like to use this opportunity to express my gratitude to all states members for their selfless devotion to the working classes of jersey.
You are true martyrs; implementing a regressive taxation system to support investment in areas which only benefit yourselves. To do that, and stand up to the peasants who only want what’s best for them, is a remarkable achievement. Hats off to you lads
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Walker lied to the States and therefore to the island as a whole. He should resign or be dismissed.
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We have Senator Ozouf telling the JEP that he had not read his email as it was on his Blackberry and he is unable to open attachments. Did he not consider accessing his Desktop / Laptop to read the details that he was provided with? What a pathetic and feeble excuse. He has proved that he is as incompetentand arrogant as the rest of them and should resign – now.
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