Don’t blame me!
Thursday 12th June 2008, 3:00PM BST.
CHIEF Minister Frank Walker, who is now fighting for political survival against a barrage of criticism following the Waterfront debate fiasco, has defended his actions in the events leading up to it.
Senator Walker has learnt today that he is facing a personal vote of censure and a vote of no confidence in him and his Council of Ministers.
Other developments include a move to bring down the political side of the WEB board and for all of the financial interests of anyone involved in the Waterfront or the £330 million Esplanade development deal to be made public.
Speaking from Bermuda, where he is on holiday, Senator Walker defended his actions in the saga, in particular his decision to rely on the word of developers Harcourt when inquiring about the Las Vegas lawsuit.
He said that he believed everything was done to investigate Harcourt developments before the States debated the biggest financial venture the Island has ever seen.
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Nice one Frank! why Bermuda? why now?
I am/was one of the vast majority wanting you to resign, have signed huge amounts of polls and petitions on blogsites and internet forums that have been started in order to get your resignation.
I have had a change of mind. Please don’t resign, please face the vote of censure (whatever that is) and the vote of no confidence against you and the council of ministers.
What you and that bunch have done to the average Jersey family is unforgivable if not criminal. What you have done to our island and want to do to our island is in the same catagory.
Time to go FranK.
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Well, well, of course let’s not blame Frank; he is of course only our leader. Let’s blame someone else then, hummm, who? Perhaps Sir Alan Sugar fancies a break over here? Probably unlikely to happen, so, unless Frank starts firing a few people himself, and has a meaningful plan that really cuts States expenditure he might as well go. Shall we get Sir Alan to fire him or will he fall on the sword, one action takes courage, the other takes a pack, but unfortunately we apparently only have a flock available.
Perhaps Paddy Power in Dublin will take bets on the outcome?
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What we need to do is forget the vote of no confidence, forget the vote of censure and set up a web site listing Every states member that voted for GST, Every states member that voted to phase out our tax allowances, Every states member that has been involved in the WEB Debacle and Every states member that has not fulfilled his promise to reduce states spending. Then vote them all out when the opportunity arises. It’s in our hands.
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If, as our dear leader says, Harcourt had been thoroughly investigated, obviously those investigating need to review how they carry out their Due diligence. The Screening process of staff at administrator level in the local finance sector would have picked this up, as would have due diligence checks carried out by the same level of staff on potential international clients. How can the states insist we have a finance sector that has to be sqeeky clean in its processes, when it is incapable of carrying out the same itself. As regards our chief ministers the holiday in Bermuda, (another Offshore centre), should this not wait until the summer recess?
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Frank – who once again exposed his own fallibility and weaknesses in the Haut de la Garenne debacle – thinks he is a spin doctor and can squirm out of it.
I only hope the public don’t believe his excuses – it seems very clear to me that there are some very fishy dealings going on here. (And to heck with Jersey’s reputation as a finance centre – getting shot of these deadbeats should be our first priority – what about what they’re doing to our reputation!)
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One of the central ideas of the Council Of Ministers, apart from the grand titles and Blackberrys etc, was that Ministers would be held accountable.
Frank Walker appointed Phillip Ozouf and Terry le Sueur and they have shown themselves terrifyingly incompetent over this issue.
He should do what a British Prime Minister would do and fire both of them immediately.
But under the Jersey system, the title of Chief Minister is just that, a title and it means little or nothing.
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“the financial interests of anyone involved in the Waterfront or the £330 million Esplanade development deal to be made public”
i cant believe this. you mean to say that as it currently stands people can have a financial interest in a public project and that is private information??? if there is one thing this whole mess could do with its public scrutiny.
if no-one bothered to do simply checks on Harcourt who the hell do you even know they are financially sound? with property going the way it is they could lack the finance to run this project. what are the details of the financial guarantee? who’s looked at that? has anyone done any work on this £300 million project?
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Don’t blame you? You ARE supposed to be the (no doubt highly paid) Chief Minister aren’t you?
So your defence is that you were given 100% assurance by the man from Harcourt that no lawsuit existed against his company? Is that the same man & company that desperately wants this contract?
You and the rest of your dozy, lemming-like bunch happily accepted his word and savagely denigrated those who urged you to check more carefully.
Only a complete fool would believe that Harcourt were not aware of litigation in the region of 800million having being filed against them in America over a month ago.
You ask (in today’s JEP)if it is being suggested that every time you get an assurance by a third party you should double & triple check it and the answer is YES! Particularly when it involves a development costing 330 million of public money.
I don’t want you to return from your holiday and have some more secret conversations with this company then declare “All is well, it was a misunderstanding and Harcourt are whiter than white and will never let us down.” Enough already – just go.
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The Oxford dictionary defines the word honour as “high respect” and “a clear sense of what is morally right”.
The disgraceful behaviour of our chief minister, our most senior politicians, and their grovelling parasitic side-kicks has reached an all time low.
To claim “its not my fault” only strengthens the publics certainty that these are men who have nothing other than their own interests at heart, and have no loyalty or real commitment to the Island so many of us love.
One thing is however certain, none of them, not Walker, Ozouf, Le Sueur or Voisin, will have the courage to apologise to the people of Jersey, or the conviction to do the honourable thing.
Shame on you!
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abismal mismanagement and ineptitude … welcome to your political legacy frankie … enjoy your retirement, we all will.
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Harry Truman had a sign on his desk that read, “The Buck Stops Here”. Whilst one would never place the Chief Minister in remotely the same league of leadership, as the most senior politician we have the sentiment surely still applies. If it’s not Mr Walker’s fault, to whom is the he going to the pass the buck?
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As a Chief Minister the first thing you should do is absorb responsibility for anything that goes wrong (or right). That is why the Chief Minister heads up the Ministerial Cabinet. What kind of message is OUR Chief Minister giving to the younger generation?
Also, a few suggestions for you Mr Walker. You ask exactly what you should have done? Well here are a few answers (bearing in mind you are spending £330 million of tax payers hard earned money)!
Firstly, never take someones word for granted especially when it involves something so important and expensive.
Secondly, references and research is always a good start.
Thirdly, those advisors that we pay for you to use – start using them!
On a final note I suggest maybe looking at how the financial market has tightened up on customer due diligence and KYC (Know Your Customer) before even considering proposing another development.
P.S. To all those that read this please remember the senatorial elections are on 15th October and the Deputy elections are on 26th November please please please make your voice heard and go out and vote its the only way to make a difference!
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Oh lay off Frank will you. Hes had a hard time of late. Blow me to Bermuda …
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Both Senator Frank Walker and WEB director Senator Jim Perchard gave categorical assurances on record to the states assembly that the allegations against Harcout had been thoroughly checked and double checked and that PwC had also done checks.
Had the States assembly not been misled by Walker and Perchard this whole fiasco would have been avoided.
Senator Walker’s denials and Senator Perchard’s resignation do not make the slightest difference. The blame lies squarely on their shoulders.
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While you are in Bermuda why dont you apply for a job over there cause your not welcome back over here.
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“Don’t blame me!” Isn’t that the Frank Walker way – deny everything even if there has been a voice recording of what was said??
Atrocious behaviour for an elected official, but unfortunately not unexpected.
Perfect time for a holiday Frank!
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Incompetent Fool..
This whole idiotic idea about having a chief minister was flawed from the start. Made even worse by who got appointed.
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Well what a shambles, having said that it was the worst day in his political career when he found out about the Harcourt saga, well i would like to point out a few more worst days :1. coming bottom in the last elections ,2. being made to look like a clown by Jeremy Paxman,3. being ripped to pieces by Stuart Syvret at the so called press conference
4. appointing so called politicians like Mr Le Sueur, Mr Ozouf, Mr De faye to his council of ministers none whom seem to be in touch with normal life the latter member who seems to live in cloud cuckoo land. Its time to go Frank and take the Mr Overpaid Ogley and the rest of your spin doctors with you
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This time, Senator Walker should not be allowed to wriggle off the hook. He has been caught with his ‘trousers down’, but is so arrogant that he is adamant that he did not make a mistake! The facts are quite clear. He received an email containing critical information about Harcourt and a Las Vegas Lawsuit and chose to ignore it. Two weeks later and the actual night before the debate, he then chooses to believe the developer that he is proposing to hand over the £350M contract to rather than carrying out an independent check. This is the final straw; this man must go immediately. We, the electorate, will all be watching the States when this is discussed / debated and any members who have the gall to oppose the vote of ‘No Confidence’ in our Chief Minister will find out that they too will not be in power for much longer.
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Oh how quick everyone is to cast blame. Lets learn the facts first rather than rely on media sensationalism which may prove to be far from the truth.
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Dear Frank,
I realise that the post of Chief Minister is a bit notional and you are not really in charge of anything but it is getting a bit silly so time to sort things out.
Since your non elected accesion to office just under three years ago the only real issue in the Council Of Ministers has been who gets the non job after you.
I think you should resign and nominate Pip Ozouf as your successor.
He is stupid, useless and incompetent beyond belief so he will be better than you.
Regards,
John
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astounding comment from big frank………dont blame me….well,to that somes it all up really…..go now you clown and take the rest with you….
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PRINTED IN IRISH TIMES ON 2ND MAY 2008
NOT 22ND BUT 2ND!!
“Las Vegas developer sues Irish company over project
A COMPANY backed by businessman Pat Doherty and former broadcaster Mike Murphy is facing a legal battle in the US over a €500 million Las Vegas property development.”
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Unbelievable! “Don’t blame me” indeed! With a project of this size, yes it would have been appropriate to do some checks rather than take Harcourt’s word at face value, and if this wasn’t done it shows complete ignorance. It is however, hard to believe that these facts were not known by those in control before the debate.
I want to know who exactly in Jersey has ANY financial interests in this project.
The whole thing stinks!
Funny how they’re all covering their backs and blaming each other. Mind, I don’t suppose the old system of government was any better in reality. Quite sad really.
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An absolute farce.. returned to Jersey in 1999 after being Jersey born, went to school with a certain Mr Ozouf.. its and absolute disgrace who is making the decisions and what decisions are being made.
Time to take family to Guernsey i think.
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Time to go Frank!! HDG, WEB blunders – what next? Jersey’s image is taking a battering internationally, and quite rightly so.
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This is fast turning into “Walkergate”, but in the 21st century the evidence is digital.
The man should go now.
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WE DID NOT ELECT THE CHIEF MINISTER TO BE OUR LEADER! If the people of Jersey had voted the outcome would have been different and we would not be in the mess we are in now.
So all those politicians that did are were either sold a dime or are sitting at the same table as him!
The lesson to learn is VOTE at this years elections and get yourself a list of those politicians who voted for GST, reducing our allowances, allowing yet another development, ruining our landscape, wasting money at Jersey Airport, Waterfront Hotel, in fact general wasting of our hard earned cash.
REMEMBER the elections are on 15th October and 26th November please please PLEASE VOTE to make a real difference.
The States are not going to cut their spending as it stands.
One figure to take away with you. The 460 civil servants earned much more than £32,000,000 between them last year!!
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same old story no one is to blame who is then ?
its about time these states members stood up
and admit i or we got it wrong we elect these people to serve the island for the better
not to waste taxpayers money and see how much
money they can save by gst income support and
so on what would happen 5 years in to this plan if
the company did fold who would pick up the bill
let me think
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Comment from Guernsey;
The only way you can save face is to throw carrots at him when he gets off the plane from his holiday.
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Stop bulling poor little Frank it was a bigger boy done it and he as run away
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