THE 21 Senatorial candidates began their campaigning in earnest at St Clement’s Parish Hall last night.
Just over 150 people crowded into the building for the first of the parish hustings meetings.
St Clement Constable Derek Gray squeezed in six questions into the two-hour meeting by asking candidates to answer three questions at a time in two 90-second sessions.
Neil McMurray asked what the sitting candidates had done, and what the new ones would do, to support victims of the historical child abuse inquiry.
Mr Le Clercq said that as a therapist, he felt that independent counsellors had to be used because the victims did not in any case trust the States.
Mr Walsh said that the States ought to be apologising to the victims, and then sorting out what had gone wrong.
Deputy Breckon said that he had spoken to some victims but would not play politics with them.
Mr Pashley said that he did not know enough about the issues to make a comment.
Mr Le Marquand said that he would ensure that the investigation was fully resourced, make specialist counselling available, correct any mistakes and look at a compensation scheme.
Mr Wimberley said that the perpetrators should be brought to justice, and then that the Irish Reparations Board model should be considered in Jersey.
Deputy Ferguson said that all States Members had sympathy for the victims, but that the case should not be conducted in public.
Deputy Southern said that he had supported a proposal to remove the Bailiff, Sir Philip Bailhache, over his comment that the press coverage had been worse than the abuse itself.
Mr Tadier praised the work of the Jersey Care Leavers Association, saying that people should get behind the victims and not take cheap shots at people like Esther Rantzen who were trying to help.
Mr Forskitt said that he had been in care in a foster home, and felt that an independent and well-funded counselling and therapy service was vital.
Mr Le Cornu said that the victims needed justice but that the Island did not need a witch-hunt, adding that there had clearly been cover-ups over the years.
Senator Ozouf said that he had been deeply saddened by the revelations of child abuse, and fully supported the police investigation and a public inquiry.
Senator Routier said that he had spoken to some victims who were trying to get on with their lives before the issue went public this time last year, adding that he backed the ‘blank cheque’ for the police.
Mr Pitman said that the Bailiff should apologise for his Liberation Day speech, and that a full independent public inquiry should be held.
Mr Perkins said that the States should say sorry, and should reject any legal advice to the contrary.
Police checks
Mr Maçon said that the Island needed to be as honest as it could and show support for the victims.
Mr Higgins said that the Bailiff should ask for United Kingdom judges to hear any prosecutions arising from the investigation because there was a perception that this was the only way a fair trial could be reached.
Senator Vibert said that the police should be allowed to get on with their job and that no one should be trying to make political capital out of the abuse.
Deputy Troy said that he was appalled by the abuse, but that current police checks were robust.
Deputy Maclean said that he had no problem at all with an apology to the victims of child abuse.
Mr Palmer said that people from outside the Island should handle the criminal cases because the abuse victims had no reason to have any faith in the States.
• Picture: Haut de la Garenne: The main focus of the historical child abuse investigation
Article posted on 24th September, 2008 - 2.52pm
