Health Minister resigns
Wednesday 15th April 2009, 3:00PM BST.
HEALTH Minister Jim Perchard has resigned.
The under-fire minister, who was facing a vote of no confidence, has written to the Bailiff to tender his resignation.
In a brief letter, copied to the media this morning, Senator Perchard said he was stepping down ‘with great sadness’ and apologised to the staff at the Health and Social Services Department.
Senator Perchard (pictured) has been in office since December, but has been under increasing pressure since a row with Senator Stuart Syvret in the States Chamber in which he apparently told him to ‘go and top himself’.
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About time!!!!!
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Good riddance to bad rubbish
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I am saddened to see a man of ability forced into resignation due to an unfortunate comment caused I feel sure by the continued sniping of a useless Senator who should if he has any honour whatsover also tender his resignation.
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Even though I’m not surprised, I’m still shocked at the ridiculous ‘on-goings’ in the States. Jersey politics is a real mess at present
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All states members learn from this debacle.
Assume Stuart syvret will stab you in the back.
disregard this advice at your peril.
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Anyone who behaves like that in such a responsible role has to resign, or face the sack. Simple as that. Doesn’t matter if he was doing a good job… though thats at best, debatable. At least he didn’t drag it out too long. Wonder who’s next…
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I think that this is a loss to the people of Jersey. It was just a silly comment that got taken way out of context. Oh well, you got what you wanted.
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kate a silly comment about topping yourself is bad enough, to further compound this by denying it just shows what type of person he is.
He still hasn’t even had the decency to apologise properly. He basically jumped before he was kicked out by a vote in the house by the looks of things.
In my opinion he should have gone weeks ago but he tried hanging on till the bitter end before reality set in and he walked of his own belated accord, or was he pushed by others?
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good what took you so long to go ?
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So its fine that he told someone else to top himself. just because it was syvret.
I see the anti-syvret brigade is out in force! He made the comment he can face the consequences!
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A comment such as this, made by someone in his position, what does he expect??
He was head of Social Services…what kind of an example has he set!
Do these people not think before they comment, especially against such ‘public craving attention seekers’ as Syvret.
Again, i find the whole situation embarassing for Jersey.
How many times have we said this over the last year?
Time for a clear out…Again!
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The comments that he made in the States don’t bother me that much, I’m sure that a lot worse has been said between gritted teeth. I’m not convinced that the “victim” is completley blamless in this matter either. But for me the biggest issue was the failure to re-negoiate the reciplical health care agreement with the UK. For that reason alone he should go.
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The people of jersey must not allow the ‘Old Guard’ to hound Stuart Syvret out of the States. Without Senator Syvret and his supporters the opinions of the tax paying public will never receive any consideration.
D.C.
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Alan:
Ok we no where your simpathy lies as to teh reason for it I’m lost.
Senator Stuart syvret is one of the only ministers who has honor and actually believes in bringing true democracy to Jersey.
Breaking away from the Demonocracy we have had for centurries…
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Anyone who saw his cynical and grovelling performance on CTV saw the real thing,this calibre of person is a blight on good governance and should quit and admit his unsuitability for office,not just from the Health job,but altogether,as someone wholly unsuitable for politics,his transparent and pitiful attempts at blaming someone else in his letter of resignation from the health position,were really beneath what we expect from our representatives,however annoying SS is to some,the idea that he can be blamed for everything is ridiculous.if he could not handle SS up close it’s a good job he wasn’t interviewed on T.V. for surely our politicians ought to have and demonstrate “Diplomacy” it’s a prerequisite in grown ups…..
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Yup, took him long enough – and I note he still cannot bring himself to admit culpability for his actions, blaming Syvret for this by saying he leaves because he can’t protect his employees from Syvret. Pathetic, quite frankly, the island is better off without him in office.
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How about an apology to the people who voted for him. I did not so he has no worry there.
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Pity they didnt “all” do the decent thing and follow in his footsteps.If you add up the pros and cons theres very little worth holding on to that resides in the states.Money frittered away on stupid things and a back stabing mentality about who said what to who & so on.
Whats it all about? It dosent hold well as a representation of Jersey in the big wide world.
Time for something completely different before this cabaret of a government wrecks the island beyond repair.
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At last, but what a farewell speech!
He would like to apologise to the 22 Senior Managers of Health for letting them down!
Well Senator Perchard, you really showed where your true allegiance lay, perhaps you would have had more credibility if you had apologised to the many many people you upset with your ill judged remarks.
You see that was your problem too much effort spent supporting the management of a poorly performing States department and not enough attention to patients and the people who really matter – the public.
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I was listening to the debate on the radio and don’t understand what goading by Senator Syvret took place – a question was asked of the Minister of Health and Social Services- he replied – sat down and made those ill chosen suggestions in Senator Syvrets ear.
Senator Syvret immediately raised a complaint because he could not hear what the next speaker on the floor was saying.
Senator Syvret asked the Bailiff to ask Senator Perchard to refrain from talking over a fellow politician, which was indeed bad mannerered!
I don’t consider that Senator Syvret acted in a premediated way likewise Senator Perchards outburst was not premeditated.
I do not consider Senator Perchards apologies to have been sincere, even his letter of resignation was a side swipe at Senator Syvret.
The accusations to which he refers against staff within his department have not been made by Senator Syvret they have been made by those who allege abuse at the hands of those paid to care for them,and repeated by Senator Syvret, furthermore Senator Syvret has not accused staff of murder but corporate manslaughter.
Whilst investigations into investigations are under way, the government divided, the chief of police suspended,Senator Syvret awaiting possible charges , and twelve million pounds of tax payers money spent, only two people are facing justice.
The people of this island should be asking themselves can this be right eigtheen months down the line and could this be the reason that Senator Syvret continues to appear to be a lone voice in our government asking for justice.
A political career is not for the faint hearted, we only have to look to the UK to understand that.
It is time for the HDLG and associated investigations to be concluded and for Jersey to acknowledge what went wrong, bring the perpetrators of abuse to justice and let the healing process begin.
Until a conclusion is reached I do not consider that Senator Syvret should give up his tenacious fight for justice.
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Alan, PJG,
I do not usually resort to simplistic name calling , but you are idiots for not seeing the real problems here. The man had to go, it does not matter one bit what Syvret said or not previously.
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JT, have you been asleep for the past few months. Syvret’s behaviour, not just towards Perchard but to many others has been disgusting.
I do believe that Perchard actions were wrong, and this matter should have been dealt with quickly and appropriately by the Chief Minister, however I can understand that a man can only take so much. I am sure that at some point in all of our lives we have behaved in a way that we regretted afterwards.
Whether Perchard’s resignation was the right thing to do or not, it is irrelevant now. But one thing is for certain. Whilst Syvret is still a nenber of the States of Jersey, this island will continue to go downhill.
He is a man who has done so much damage to the island and he will continue to do so. Almost every episode of incompetence, scandal and embarrassment over the past year has had his name linked to it. I once beleieved that his intentions were good and that he was going about things the wrong way. I am not so sure now. I think he is only interested in creating a name for himself whilst dividing the island. He seems to be thriving on his small army of supporters, and these people from their comments on his blog appear to be desperate people clinging onto the false hope that he has provided them with. Thank God they are in the minority!
His blog is totally unproffessional and if he really wants to make a difference then he needs to work with the people that can instil the changes this island needs not against them.
Time for him to go for the good of Jersey!
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To D Le Geyt
I agree with your sentiments but please don’t assume that because we blog on this site that we are all idiots!
JT
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What a fantastic opportunity this is for SS
He can now stand for Health Minister, it would be interesting to see how many support him !
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It all depends whether you believe and trust the establishment, or not. If you do then you don’t believe Senator Syvret.
If you believe Senator Syvret is telling the truth on his blog then you have a completely different view of things over here.
It is obvious that both cannot be right. Who ever is telling the truth should be exonerated, the other should be have all available sanctions thrown at them.
I myself want to see truth win and whoever is in the wrong taken to task. This must be the only concern now, personalities should have no impact on the end result.
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Another own goal for Jersey. More time wasted in trying to select a new minister instead of getting on with running Jersey. I think most of the above need their heads examined if they think that they can constantly attack everything the government does and things will all work out right on the night – no it will not. Jersey is set to loose out big time and then people will understand what it is really like to have something to complain about.
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the Labour blogger is being sued in the UK by the woman MP over false accusations.
Why then do these local people on SS blog that say his accusations are not true do the same as it leads to the thought that maybe what he is alleging is true!!
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Adrian. I do not have much confidence in the establishment. However I have far less in Syvret.
The island is made up of all types of people from all walks of life. Some struggle to make ends meet, some have worked hard and have comfortable lifes. The majority I would imagine fall somewhere in the middle.
I believe this island is in need of honest politicians who want to work hard on behalf of ALL Jersey people without resorting to dirty tactics and fantasies.
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“…unfortunate comment…” – Alan, post3
“…It was just a silly comment that got taken way out of context…” – Kate, post7
I think the comment was stupid and offensive, but if politicians can’t handle their fellows being stupid and offensive at times they’re in the wrong job; likewise I wouldn’t call for a Minister to necessarily step down over such a comment… BUT: then he lied about it, and what’s more he pointed the finger at another member and accused him of lying when he knew the other member had not.
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The sooner Stuart Syvret follows Jim Perchard the better. He delights in disrespecting his fellow states members on his blog. He has no respect for any form of authority. I would have 10 Jim Perchards to one Syvret.
Your day will come Mr Syvret and the sooner the better!
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Plop do you mean 10 more who can’t remember what they really said until given evidence on a tape or witnesses telling them? You must be joking!
Big Bean ask yourself, what if Senator Syvret is right, what then?
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Adrian. I am sure he is right about many things, it’s the way he goes about it that is wrong.
Le me explain. I am in business and I have plans that my business partner does not agree with. I can either:
a) Tell him he’s wrong, insult him, bully him, spread malicious rumours about him and totally alienate myself from him thus ensuring that our working relationship from now on will be virtually impossible making it difficult for our business to expand and rendering any potential success and productivity unachievable
or
b) We can sit down together, explore the options and work out a plan that will suit both he and I but more importantly improve our business for maximum gain and ultimately satisfiyng the customer. Everyone is happy.
Unfortunately Syvret has chosen the first option, has got carried away with himself, can no longer back down. All the time being egged on by his disciples. Anthing he does or says now no longer has any credibility and it is only a matter of time before he realizes that his political career is over. It is a shame. He was once a very good politician. I even voted for him in the last election but I, like many, many others would not give him the time of day now.
Like some one commented on another forum on this site. I just hope he is a good carpenter.
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On SS. The other day I saw a young man approach SS in the street, at first I thought he was going to attack SS he looked the sort. I was surprised to hear the young man thank SS for what he had done for the children of Haut de la Garenne. he said that his sister had been abused and never really got over it, she was a herione addict now, her life wasted by acts committed agaisnt her in her childhood at the home.
Whilst I remain on the fence, i think that SS is doing something good, extending the hand of establishment to help the needy. People may hate him for exposing the truth, he does have support and people do feel he is helping them. I applaud him for this.
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Big Bean – your theory is correct and reasonable compromise is generally the best solution.
However, what happens when your partner refuses to discuss the issues with you, not even letting you know what is really going on in the business? How can you make a profit when your partner won’t let you modernise or change the way the company is run although it’s clearly inefficient? What do you do when he spends more money than the company can afford but he has signing rights on the bank accounts? What happens if you’re concerned with looking after your staff and he couldn’t care less about them? At this point you become really frustrated – you can’t buy him out and he can’t buy you out – stalemate.
We do have some good, hardworking, conscientious states members but the present system prevents them from making the necessary changes the Island needs – or preventing the changes we don’t need and so they’re branded as ineffectual – grossly unfair.
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Big Bean,
All very hypothetical, and of course nothing like the senario between Stuart Syvret and the rest of them. Hardly a one to one.
Stuart is fighting the ancient systems which do not allow for democracy in its true form, or transparency in its true form, or justice, true , unpredudiced justice, and luckily free speech is his most popular forum.
When you are already outvoted by pure numbers of people who don’t want their cosy boat rocked in the system that suits them, obviously because they can and have benefitted from keeping it that way all this time, anyone contradicting those views will have to go out on a limb in order to be heard.
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Big bean What happens if a person has gone to everyone and no one will listen what happens then? What would you do?
I myself like many others want to know the truth about all this. At the moment there is only one person giving out the information, not even the media appears to want to cover these issues, I have to wonder why?
I also find it odd that you trust the authorities more than the Senator but you think he could well be right about many things? If he is right what does this say about the rest?
I have never known Senator Syvret to lie, have you? If this is the case then why don’t you trust him?
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Big Bean I am sorry but I have to have trust in the people I deal with and if they tell me incorrect information then I won’t deal with them anymore. Maybe this isn’t such an issue with you?
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Sometimes you have no choice. For example, when I lived and worked in Zimbabwe there were very few I trusted. But I still had to deal with them.
There is a saying, keep your friends close, your enemies closer. I may not have trusted these people, but it was wise to always know what was happening. It paid to be one step ahead. That may have just kept me alive.
Hardly a comparison to life here I know, though some of the conspiracy theorists may argue that it is not so different, but then I would question their motives also.
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For goodness sake! The man has resigned. What more would the baying crowd want? The Senator fell into error and has acted. The matter should now end there.
Perhaps it is fortunate that the incident did occur because it brings into focus the somewhat agressive stance which Jersey politics now takes. It also showed Terry “the matter has closed” Le Sueur to be a less than convincing parliamentarian!
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Adrian 36
I don’t know about Big Bean, but if that happened to me I would look inward, maybe it was me that was mistaken.
But then that me, not pseudo god SS
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Waste of a good minister
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good at what exactly shaun…what is I have now because of him………..Na ..well rid
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