Comments on: Now they can lock you up indefinitely

By: Pól Ó Duibhir

Pól Ó Duibhir — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 10:05:03 +0000

If it is not permitted by the parent legislation it is ultra vires and ineffective.

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By: paul

paul — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 13:09:48 +0000

She’s having a laugh

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By: Amazed of St Helier

Amazed of St Helier — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 22:16:56 +0000

I have just read this latest fiasco whilst on holiday. Errors of such magnitude would, in most jurisdictions, require the relevant Minister and Officer to resign forthwith. I shall not be holding my breath, of course – Senator Kinnard and several other colleagues have been equally culpably inept in recent times without meaningful censure.

Perhaps a Committee system of Government would prevent solo journeys into public ridicule … ?

Roll on Election time, and Senator Kinnard’s withdrawal from Public life.

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By: john

john — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 15:19:24 +0000

Surely if she has broken the law herself by failing to publish a draft or consult interested parties, either the change cannot stand or, as a lawbreaker herself, she can now be detained indefinitely so we need never hear from her again !

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By: Graeme Tully

Graeme Tully — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 14:15:59 +0000

It’s understandable that everyone is condemning Wendy Kinnard’s reprehensible behaviour, but what I want to know is who, and how soon,someone in the States is going to reverse this decision.And what is going to be done to avoid this totalitarian conduct happening again.

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By: roger rogers

roger rogers — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 13:10:02 +0000

This is just one more example of the jokers we’ve got for a government.

None of them would stand a chance in any political position in the UK, not one. They are clueless.

We need to slim our government down ASAP. This would solve the black hole straight away (no legions of minions to investigate stuff for them, but more importantly fewer “ideas” will be getting executed, therefore reduced cap ex!)

I have just read that the Wendy Kinnard’s order has been reversed. It just shows how much of a joke they all are – they’re making it up as they go along, and it is embarrassing, and harmful to Jersey’s reputation (making it look more like a sanitorium than it really is)!

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By: Ross McCall

Ross McCall — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 12:54:38 +0000

There is not one democracy in the world that allows indefinite detention without charge. Canada 1 day, US 2 and even Zimbabwe a supposed democracy still has laws that do not allow detention without charge. Maybe the ministers in the States have decided the only way to keep the criticism away is to lock up all their opponents.

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By: Andrew Bennett

Andrew Bennett — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 10:38:21 +0000

Fortunately or unfortunately depending on your point of view this is probably more cock-up than conspiracy. The legislation (that WK used) will enact certain things as law that can’t be changed, then allow for codes of practice which can be changed for administrative purposes. It was probably merely intended to change what rank in the police could authorise detention up to the maximum of 36 hours when the authority of a magistrate is required; not to allow for indefinite detention which appears to be against the Act (which specifies this maximum 36 hour period) and is certainly contrary to the European Convention on Human Rights which is now part of Jersey Law. This still begs the question of whether we trust or want a government that accidentally suspends Habeas Corpus.

What is frightening, very frightening, so be very afraid is that the Police according to the JEP merely accepted the change and got on with it. If the JEP is right, do we have a police force which will enforce and take advantage of any piece of legislation enacted? Regardless of how cruel, inhumane or Fascist it happens to be? Judging by the fact that not so much as a whimper came out of Rouge Bouillon it appears we have a police force which is prepared to support any government which takes control of Jersey. The States of Jersey Police (or its senior officers) needs to tell us where they would draw the line and refuse to enforce the law. If the suspension of habeas corpus is not a step too far, what about the legal persecution of an ethnic minority, confiscation of property, deportation, the enforced wearing of identification markings on the clothes, where would they draw the line?

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By: Aggrieved of St Ouen

Aggrieved of St Ouen — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 10:31:40 +0000

I have just read that our Wendy is a member of the human rights organisation Liberty “Promoting Civil Liberties, Protecting Human Rights” currently “battling against pre-charge detention” – the mind boggles. I can’t help but wonder why we need detention without charge – perhaps the complex terrorist plots in Jersey require extended investigation? Perhaps the public or experts in the fields of criminology, human rights or policing should be consulted before a code is amended that breaches both civil liberties and the ECHR? Maybe a peruse of the Human Rights (Jersey) Law, 2000 Wendy?

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By: needa new gov.je

needa new gov.je — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 10:21:43 +0000

Ditch the ministers and give the running power back to the conatable of each parish, They are all up for election soon so we can weed out the week ones.

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By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 09:35:29 +0000

We have sunken to new depths that were inconceivable only a few days days amist the Harcourt debacle. Our government is rudderless, inept and astonishingly arrogant. We deserve better.

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By: Mark

Mark — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 08:13:01 +0000

One of the readers above mentioned Robert Mugabe.

This action of Wendy Kinnard goes to show that our ancestors fought for freedom for no avail.

We have won the right to be free and have a democracy, but she has now turned Jersey into another Zimbabwe.

Its not just about the fact she did not have a debate or public consultation etc, but the fact she changed the law to how she see’s fit. What next, detention to anyone who speaks out against the States? Arrested and detained for protesting?

Like Robert Mugabe she changes the rules to suit her and her colleagues in power.

How is it she has more power than the UK Prime Minister?

Jersey is proud of its history and always remembers the war heroes, but Wendy has turned her back on this and democracy.

Time for change. Time for an Early Election

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By: Phil

Phil — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 07:58:46 +0000

Wendy what have you done?
This has to be a mistake…please say it is a mistake.

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By: Rob Kent

Rob Kent — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 06:40:17 +0000

This report must be a mistake mustn’t it? How could it possibly be true, and why would any politician outside of a dictatorship remove the ancient right of habeus corpus without so much as a debate?

How weak must a political system be to give an individual minister the power to do that?

Has every politician in Jersey gone completely insane? It seems so from the outside, and probably more so from the inside, judging from the blogs of the poor people who have to live under this random and pernicious regime.

If true, I doubt that this will be allowed to stand by the UK Home Office or the Privy Council.

Coming in the same week as the hugely contentious and divisive UK decision to extend detention without trial to 42 days, this dictat seems consciously designed to attract criticism and opprobrium from around the world.

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By: Darren Le Geyt

Darren Le Geyt — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 05:13:55 +0000

Nonsense, she is doing the Island a huge favour, now we can get the States ministers under lock and key where they belong. We could let them out, once a year, for Public Ridicule Day which should be held on the annual re-opening of the States.

Frank if you are reading, I would suggest that you extend your holiday…

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