JDA start fund to pay fines
Saturday 13th June 2009, 2:58PM BST.
Will you help Deputy Geoff Southern pay his fine?
THE Jersey Democratic Alliance is inviting members of the public to help Deputies Geoff Southern and Shona Pitman pay their £22,000 fines and court costs.
The pair were fined £12,000 in the Royal Court after they admitted helping voters fill in application forms for postal votes last year.
Yesterday, the JDA launched a Fund for Justice for people to make contributions towards the costs.
• Full story and interview with Deputy Southern in Saturday’s Jersey Evening Post.
Read the full story in the Jersey Evening Post. Click here for subscription details. Individual editions are also available online.
The Queen's Diamond Jubilee
JEP Jubilee Editions
Saturday 2 June: Guide to Celebrations
Wednesday 6 June: Souvenir of Events
View The Queen in Jersey supplement
Travel
To, from and around the Island
Airport Arrivals/Departures
Harbours Arrivals/Departures
Bus Information/Timetables
This is Jersey
Jersey Evening Post
Useful links
..and i would like to announce the launch of my own ‘fund for justice’ to cover the costs of a recent parking ticket that i disagree with..
/sarcasm..
regadless of pitman and southern disagreeing the law in question, they still broke the law and should accept their punishment.. taxing voters to cover these costs is offensive (especially in the current economic climate) and is akin to the current turmoil over expenses in the uk parliament.. why should anyone but themselves pay for their mistakes?
Report abuse
Well, I cetainly won’t be contributing. If I ever break a law, that I may not necessarily agree with (which is irrelevant), I bet they won’t be contributing to my fines.
These lot have to stop thinkign they are better than everyone else, stop moaning because they are not regarded high enough to be a Minister.
They are the worst of the Trotskysists about, and they probably take that as a compliment!!!
John Davis
St Ouen
Report abuse
FUND FOR JUSTICE???? rather give money to Worthy charity than that pair of clowns .They should have been made to resign .
Report abuse
I’m looking to start a fund to help me pay my fines, any offers?
Report abuse
Maybe they could put their fines on expenses!!
Report abuse
I Don’t think so – thy broke the law and they should pay – end of story. Tax payers will already pay once as we pay their wages – why should any sane person pay twice in the curent economic climate. They should both do the honourable thing and resign on monday
Report abuse
sack them both, they earn £40.000+ a year they can pay their own fines.
Report abuse
Fully agree with Katie (3) Wouldn’t contribute a penny to these two.
Report abuse
By asking members of the public to cough up for their illegal activities Deputies Southern & Pitman (and the JDA) are therefore seeking public backing for these actions. What kind of message does this send out? Any member of the public willing to assist financially is simply condoning breaking the law!
Shame on you Deputies – do the decent thing and resign now!
Report abuse
I am going to send them a tenner,for whilst they misjudged the level of fine they had anticipated, 10k is way over the top and doled out by someone who openly dislikes Southern, who said in the J.E.P that he had been told off like a schoolboy for having his hands in his pockets,and had learnt not to argue,are we to have a FEAR based set up in our own government…?this establishment megalomania,needs to be abolished as not only is is politicised,personalised it belongs in the dark ages,the rest of the world must be guffawing at this nonsense,the island really needs to grow up if it is going to be allowed to play with the bigger boys,the seperation,of powers here is an old chestnut that needs sorting just like the constables who hamstring any form of sensible changes just to hang on to jerseys drug of choice..POWER.the bailiff should be ashamed of himself behaving in such a high handed manner in this day and age.
come on electoral reform ,,our only chance for change ,barring a revolution.
Report abuse
They say they only started the fund because so many people had already offered to pay something – so they thought they’d better do it properly.
Sheds a different light on it, doesn’t it? Funny how important points like that get missed!
Report abuse
helping pensioners to apply for election form is no big deal,compared to serious offences,i think the law really is an ass.
how can any-one agree with this?
JUst part of the bigger picture i think to get rid of any other party that they don,t want in their little niche. agree (10)
Report abuse
Truthseeker, you must be kidding!
Sam hits the nail on the head, but whereas he calls for them to resign, clearly have broken a law, they should loose their jobs.
Is Southern and his partner, that short of a quid they have to have others pay for their fine, or is it because it would mean they miss out on a new plasma screen or swimming pool? Perhaps they should look at taking out a loan, or asking their husbands/wives who have a fair few spare quid (I bet), before asking others, financially struggling in this climate, to contribute. What makes them so special?
As far as I am concerned, Ozouf was at the top of my list of those who should loose there job for promotion beyond level of ability and competence, now ironically has just been pipped by these two clowns.
Don’t they realise they are doing themselves an injustice – cop it on the chin, and move on.
Congratulations though, they have achieved something many thought they couldn’t – make themselves look even more ridiculous!
John Davis
Balmain
Report abuse
This is ridiculous. These are two elected states members who are apparently make the laws of the island, yet when it suits them they flout them and expect us to fork out when they get caught. I am disgusted with their attitude towards this. There are laws that many islanders could do without but we abide by them.
Report abuse
Make them pay. They broke the law and yet continually state that they are above it.
Report abuse
I cant believe the nerve of these two clowns. The sooner they resign the better
Report abuse
wasn’t the punishment, pay the fine or take a stint behind bars.
by opting for the fine, the avoided custodial sentancing. by not paying the fine themselves, have they not avoided punishment altogether?
Report abuse
truthseeker 10
What a good idea,
If you and all those that support gratuitios lawbreaking send them a tenner every time they get a fine, It will be a green light to them to cock a snoot at our legal system whenever they so please. Your contributions to the states greff may even enable the reduction of GST for those of us that believe bad laws should be changed democratically, but I doubt their following will be big enough to affect it much.
Report abuse
We are a Jersey family, without banking & finance jobs and we were have both been made redundant recently. Thankfully, we are getting some money through income support but then we’ve paid into the system for years and its only right that it exists to help people when things are difficult.
And that’s how it is with the JDA. For Jersey families, the JDA represents a group that have the interests of ordinary people at heart. Naturally, you see the middle classes being represented but who speaks for the marginalised and disenfranchised lower income families? To keep them makes sense from a humanitarian point of view and to get rid of them would mean a significant voice for fairness is silenced by the greed centric establishment that believes taxing food for the poor is right and increasing the derisory tax levels for 1.1k’s is immoral.
We will be giving something to the fund out of thanks for what they’ve done for us so far and to help with the future.
Report abuse
If I was kidding I would have said,just kidding,an open question to all posters…Is it right or even desirable to abide by or support a Law when it may be just outdated or wrong..?..blind faith is just that …Blind. a short time ago in Montgomery Alabama, It was against the law for Blacks to sit on the same bus as whites ie: illegal..a black lady called Rosa Parkes was tired after a long day of work and unable to face the walk, flopped into a seat on the bus, she was challenged by the driver but Refused to budge,remember she was breaking the law,as a result of that action the law got changed ,blacks now ride the bus there,and she was honored by the President of the United States of America for her courage and citizenship, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther king,Henry David Thoreau, Mahatma Gandhi…Lawbreakers all…the world would be a saddder and more dangerous place without Free thinkers, what used to be law is in many cases no longer,you used to be required, by law,remember,in the early days of motoring to have a man walk in front of your vehicle waving a flag to warn the public,the poor old public in whose name some of the worst atrocities known to man have been committed, so the law must evolve and change or become obsolete, if you really are that afraid of nothing less than blind faith and obedience you will become enslaved yourself, just a mindless puppet of the establishment,lobotomised by the brain police and taught what to think and do,only to be betrayed by them when you are no longer needed, unquestioning loyalty to any secret organisation, is a bad bet at best..civil disobedience has been effectively used by the sane to protect themselves from the insane and power drunk …it will continue to do so.
Report abuse
Sorry but they both dealt with the enactment of the law that they broke and then tried to say that they didn’t know anything about it.
Yes they get some of the public on board by saying that they want to get rid of GST but the fact is, we need GST to carry on paying their wages as well as everything else like income support.
I think that it is despicable that they ask people to pay for their fines, it is their punishment for breaking the law and they should not be allowed to do this. I cannot believe that you are comparing them to such people as Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King. These clowns are our politicians who are suppose to be representing us and frankly, they are doing an awful job of it.
Report abuse
Truthseeker, I am not a fan of the ‘establishment’, if it really exists, though according to some it does – but it is irrelevant.
This particular law has nothing to do with segregation policies, or discrimination, it has to do with a person putting themselves forward for election, putting themselves into a position which may influence a vote directly.
This law exists in all western countries for a reason, and just because it doesn’t suit these two, is not a reason for it to be ignored.
Drawing parallels between Rosa Parkes and Geoff Southern is ridiculous, pathetic, and an absolute and complete insult to Ms Parkes!
John Davis
Report abuse
Jersey family – don’t be so daft!!!! Keep yoru money, these guiys have enough of their own. They represent the ‘ordinary’ people like us in Jersey, like Gordon Brown represents the working class.
Nto one iota. Don’t trust them, they are walves in sheep clothing. Not to say the others are any better, but at least what you see is what you get.
The Backpacker
Report abuse
Shona Pitman has an income of £40k, and a household income of £80k, and yet she wants private donations to foot the bill for her £2k fine!
Maybe if the JDA wanted to challenge this law in this way they should’ve sought this funding to build a warchest before embarking on their illegal campaign.
Report abuse
Truthseeker – do you really believe that rubbish. Civil disobedience?!?! Geoff Southern being included in the same sentence as those brilliant others. The fought against laws which were oppresive, not against valid laws.
The law is there to ensure democracy. The same law that Mandela implemented in South Africa to ensure freedom of voting, without political interference.
Get your facts right – I bet you are Geoff Southern in disguise.
There is no truth to seek, just a crime that must be punished. They are lucky they were not put in prison.
Bean Man
Report abuse
Truthseaker
I absolutely agree with your post 20
Good laws can become bad, bad law can become worse. There comes a time when good men must make themselves heard.
But surely you must be kidding when you compare these two with the likes of Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther king,Henry David Thoreau, Mahatma Gandhi.
The fact remains that unlike the others these two had the means to change the law, they were even part of forming it, they decided to break it for (I can only assume) their own gains, not the good of the majority. They knew they had only to give the people concerned a telephone number at the parish hall and an unbiased parish officer, sworn to secrecy would have been dispatched to legaly assist them. Surely this unilateral transgression must be on the graver end of the law breaking scale. GS could have been fined £2,000 for each offence plus imprisonment. their sentence “was” lenient.
Would you be happy with anyone breaking any law and it be a defence to say I do not agree with it. After all this law waiting a few months to be debated in the States would not have ended with any loss of liberty or life.
Report abuse
So now you are comparing Geoff Southern to Rosa Parkes?
Oh how I wished I lived in your world….,.
Report abuse
It was reported that members of the JDA would be in King Street on Saturday and people wishing to contribute to the fund could do so. However, this would be contrary to the law unless the Bailiff had given permission. Was permission of the Bailiff sought to collect in public or is this another law the JDA do not agree with and can therefore ignore. I think we need to be told.
Report abuse
You have to be joking!!!!
If the Courts say they are guilty, who are we to pay for their crime? I cannot beleive that they have the courage and the face to accept even £1 from the public. Please have some guts and face the punishment…. if not I am sure there will be many people that have been told they are guilty by the courts who will be knocking on your doors to pay for their crimes.
Report abuse
The Royal Court has found them guilty of a crime, has fined them.
If people are offering to pay money, or set up a collection fund, this means they have not paid the fine yet.
If Joe Public took time or didn’t pay a Royal Court fine, for whatever reason; how long would it take before the Viscounts dept would be knocking on your door to take possessions?
Report abuse
What a nerve. Just shows how arrogant these people are. Not only do they think they are above the law, but they think the hard working tax payer should fund their crimes.
Report abuse
Both should do the honourable thing.
They have been caught out.
They have received a fair trial and been found guilty.
Now they are begging
Resign now.
Report abuse
I think they should just pay up. They broke the law and should deal with it.
However, I do agree that the States should do more to help those less mobile (the elderly or infirm) to be able to vote.
Pitman and Southern should have brought this up and used the proper channels to either get a bus or independent volunteers to help those less able to vote.
In true style, they took the situation into their own hands, with a very obvious conflict of interest, and they should be held responsible for this lack of foresight.
This should be used as an example for all the politicians in Jersey who think themselves above the law and proper channels.
Report abuse
As they have be found guilty of breaking the law why are they still in the positions of being States members. Maybe they should be taking one holiday less this year to pay for the fines.
Report abuse
Stuart Syvret has the Jersy Stazi jump on him as if he were a terrorist and the JDA get a fine out of all proportion to the crime…even the crime is born out of oppression. Then our Attorney General (soon to be Deputy Baliff!) rips apart aspects of the historic abuse fiasco and says there is insufficient evidence to prosecute. Be honest, is justice the art & science that other nations enjoy or an extension of the old boys network that makes aq misery out of life here?!
Report abuse
I would ask Mr Davis post number 22 to name the other Western countries he is referring to when he says the same law is applicable including the act and section. Bet I don’t get an answer.
Report abuse
Do the “JDA Two” have the opportunity to appeal their sentence and fines to a higher court?
Oh I’m sorry. This is Jersey and hearing an appeal would “not be the Jersey Way”.
Report abuse
It is the JDA and their cronies who keep insisting that the Jersey elections law is transparent and that elections are whiter than white. It is the JDA who insist that they don’t get elected because the “establishment” bend the vote. As postal voting fraud is by far the weakest link in any election [look it up on the internet] I am very surprised that it was the JDA who deliberately broke the law that they and their cronies seemed so eager be enforced. Completion of the application is probably the easiest part of electoral fraud process to detect so one must also ask the question what else remains undetected?
I am sure that if it were an “establishment” candidate who broke the law the JDA would be the first to demand the maximum penalty and point to this as being evidence of corruption on a grander scale. These guys were let off lightly and they should be grateful that contrary to what they would have us believe, justice does seem to function without fear or favour in the Island.
I think it is also important to put things in perspective. The Pitman’s take almost £90k, some of this tax free, from the very people they claim to represent. This is by any standard big money so the financial stakes over just a few votes are very high. Their salaries are very comparable to many top finance jobs to which they would have to be highly qualified and have to work very long hours. If a finance worker were to be convicted of such a crime the Financial Services Commission would insist that they be sacked on the spot. So evidence that there is one law for us and very little accountability for them. And I won’t be giving any monies to their self charity.
Report abuse
Someone from the mainland was recently asking for an definition of the phrase “The Jersey Way”.
Reading most of the above posts should more or less explain it.
Report abuse
Some always falls on the stony ground and there are none so Blind as those who do not wish to see, in getting revved up about this you are missing the bigger picture, what makes it o.k. for the hierarchy to dish out what was clearly an over the top sanction, because the face does not fit, I am not Geoff Southern or even a fan,which I hope makes you think for a mo,for if it were you I would hold the same view,as a lopsided and overbearing judiciary is the enemy of all..yes that includes you..
Report abuse
It’s simple really, if you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime… The irony of all this is that if the JDA members in the States started to behave in a way fitting to their office, showed some respect for (a) themselves and (b) everybody else .. engage in sensible non volatile debate and rise above the paranoia – they might actually achieve something!
Report abuse
Both these politicians need to acquaint themselves with early UK Parliamentary history where it was common for the local MP, normally backed by other vested interests, to resort to bribery, patronage,and all manner of devious ploys to get themselves elected. One well used method was to get the elderly and infirm and those suffering from dementia or mental incapacity and complete their voting slip for them.People were even taken from asylums to vote.
I am not suggesting that either of these two resorted to these underhand tactics to get themselves elected but it is because historically this happened that laws against such practices were brought in.I believe that the motivation here was to be helpful, but unfortunately such help can be misconstrued and therefore the law draws a very firm line in the sand and forbids any candidate from such activity altogether.
I suspect that there is a means of paying these fines by installments geared to ability to pay.I am afraid if you are going to stand for public office you need to acquaint yourself with the basic rules which are not there just for amusement. They have a very real purpose, in this case to protect the democratic process and the electorate from bullies and thugs.Of necesity the punishment for flouting the law in this case needs to be punative.
Report abuse
Boris,
Happy to. The law about people running for a political position at an election, are unable to provide DIRECT assistance to a voter. That is what electoral workers are meant to do. But candidates themselves are NOT.
I can tell you this from first hand experience in Australia. I am also aware of this in South Africa, United Kingdom. I am not certain abotu the USA, but I would reserve that one until I can confirm. The other are.
So Boris – You did get an answer.
Now Boris – Are you a member of the JDA, or like most here, hide behind some made up name? I bet I don’t get an answer.
John Davis
Report abuse
Truthseeker – you need to get out more.
Report abuse
These two people should take responsibility for their own actions and not expect others to pay their fines. Not only was their act illegal, but it was pretty poor judgement (=stupid) putting themselves in a position where they could have been accused of interfering with the ballot process. They are lucky to escape with their jobs, given the circumstances.
Report abuse
Boris (aka JDS member),
Before you continue your rant about not getting the section/article for you, electoral interference in each of the countries I named specifies candidates being involved in the actual electoral process. In Australia specifically, no one, other than an ‘approved, non-partisan’ person, without affiliation is able to assist people who are inform, blind.
These two clowns broke the law, pure and simple. They were lucky the Royal Court was favourable to them, and gave them the maximum amoutn of time to pay. They moan they are treated unfairly, but in fact, the Royal Court were exceedingly helpful to them, but of course they won’t admit that. Doesn’t serve their purpose.
John Davis
Report abuse
My apologies, I mean’t to type JDA Member.
Report abuse
33 – Anna G.
I agree with you. [my 2p !]
Report abuse
Ok, let’s put this to bed. The JEP have conveniently forgotten to mention that it wasn’t just the Attorney-General’s decision to drop the abuse case due to insufficient evidence, they actually called in an indepent committee from the UK. Enough said about that.
Regarding the JDA paying the fines, there aren’t enough four letter expletives to describe how furious this makes me. They refuse to resign, and now they’re asking for funds to pay a fine they bought upon themselves? As a general rule I like to be neutral on most issues. Certainly if they do something as blatant as carrying a bucket around town, i’ll be quite happy to contribute my saliva.
Report abuse
They did not expect others to pay their fines, and took responsibility for making their own style of protest against an unreasonable law. However, it would be both ungrateful and stupid to refuse freely offered help.
The idea of a fighting fund was put forward by a supporter on the evening of the day that sentences were passed, and not before. Which is why the fund was launched some weeks later, rather than being ready to roll on the day.
Report abuse
I still fail to understand how anybody who truly believes in free and fair elections can in any way justify that a candidate in such an election can have the right to “assist” a person to obtain a postal vote. This to me has more in common with some single party state who has to insert the word Democratic before its name, as if in doing so this adds some credibility to its totalitarian rule. Whilst therefore I can follow red Geoff to a point when he states that these potential Jersey Democratic supporters were unable to complete their application forms unassisted, he continues to refuse to answer the question as to how these same incapacitated persons managed to complete the far more complex voting forms.
There is a small army of people available to assist in helping a person to vote as well as the ability to request a sick vote on the day of the election. There is no justifiable reason for breaking the law and the only human rights issue that has been infringed is our right to a free and fair vote.
Report abuse
So David, you’d allow someone who (with her husband) earns 80,000 pounds a year to accept donations for a fine that was entirely bought on by themselves?
Report abuse
Surely the point of the fine is to punish the criminal; if it’s ‘okay’ to get somebody else to pay your fine then there is no punishment, it’s just a cost exercise.
Does the JDA support this view, would the JDA membership be okay with a person speeding constantly, parking wherever they choose, be it disabled space or pavement, non-payment of taxes and rates etc. etc. just so long as that person was rich enough to pay the fines?
Seems a strange and dangerous attitude.
Report abuse
Think your own thoughts…if you dare….second thoughts…perhaps better to follow what the nanny state says…after all someone might not like it…Ahh Bless…that would be awful………
Report abuse
I take it that David Rotherham (comment 50) is the Treasurer & Membership Secretary for the JDA. I am waiting to read his reply to comment 52!
Report abuse
strange how no one has mentioned the fact that the establishment candidates used to (maybe they do still)provide fleets of cars to take voters to the polls, i reckon thats far more illegal than the so called crime of the J.D.A. two.
Report abuse
Both should quit. They are both a total disgrace to the island. They are hardly acting in a democratic way.
Report abuse
Loads of excuses but still no explanation as to how these incapacitated persons were able to complete their postal voting papers, or did they all suddenly get better!
Report abuse
SYD,How elegantly put,of course they would not have been allowed to talk to those passengers being ferried to the polls,nor would they on their honour try to sway them to vote for their candidate, No No No that would be corrupt and illegal as well….you know something…? it went on like that for decades…and you know what….yes you’re ahead of me already….!
Report abuse
With regard to the legal or moral side of what Deputies Southern and Pitman did. There are sound moral reasons that they gave for doing it, but it doesn’t change the fact that they were specifically told not to do it and then went ahead did it anyway. They have admitted their guilt and been fined accordingly. The problem I have is that they then choose not to pay the fine themselves. I would admit guilt to anything that was going to get me fined if I knew I wouldn’t have to pay it myself!
One qustion I do have which doesn’t seem to be being asked… would the “JDA 2″, having openly aided in filling these postal vote application forms, have had any influence in voting to the point that their colleague Debbie de Sousa may not have been voted in without this influence?
I’m sure people will jump down my throat for this comment but I promise, it is a genuine question that if someone can clarify for me I would be grateful.
Report abuse
Truthseaker 59
After being ferried to the polls the passengers then pass into the secure ballot area where they can vote secretly, where nobody (not even the person who has driven them there) can look over their shoulder, with no pressure being bought to bear on who to vote for. If they do not vote for the person giving them a lift, no one is any the wiser.
Whereas by the very action of assisting someone to apply for a postal vote that candidate has the information of who will be voting without this ensured secrecy, thereby leaving this person vulnerable to pressurisation. They could end up with whole JDA looking over their shoulder when filling in a postal vote.
To protect people from this there are ways and means for someone who needs to vote to get assistance. All they have to do is call the parish hall and an officer who is sworn to secrecy on pain of legal action, will call to give the assistance the red 2 gave illegally.
I hope this enables you to realise what an affront this was to people who want a fair, secret vote .
Report abuse
Truthseeker and Syd: You two are on some other planet. The ‘establishment’, which doesn’t really exist, except in the minds of those suffering from conspiracy theory hypotheses, did not ferry people to the polls. What electoral office arranged transport, but did not a: allow candidates to speak to those, nor did a candidate assist in filling out the individuals vote.
I wouldn’t expect Truthseeker (who hides behind anonymity… or should I call you Geoff Southern), to realise the differnece, he still compared himself (sorry, I mean Geoff Southern) to Rosa Parkes… I am still rolling abotu on the floor….
Truthseeker, I do hope you are Geoff Southern ,because if you are not, I am then convinced democracy doesn’t work – giving you the right to vote is scary!
John Davis
Report abuse
John Davis, I would prefer not to respond to your rude assumptions,but for the reason of your factually incorrect statements, for many years candidates actually advertised rides to the polls,employed the then Bel Royal radio company to go aroind the island with loud haler vans asking folks to vote for whoever had hired them and Free rides to the polls,remember cars were not as widely in ownership as they are now,bad weather would put walkers to the polls off,so this became common practice, now you can check with the J.E.P archives if you still insist we are wrong, I repeat, I am not Geoff Southern and if you keep on people will assume you are suffering from your own conspiracy theory now won’t they,also this blog is a useful forum for peoples views on current affairs,if posters can only comment on other posters,then it gets silly,stale and people are put off and it becomes taken less seriously. Daniel Wimberly has posted here recently, and it is to be hoped that other politicians will read and post here as well, which is hardly likely to develop if all we get is one noo noo insulting another
Report abuse
Maybe they could help a few pensioners fill in some cheques to top up their fine fund.
Report abuse
Thats a good idea. They could also drive the elderly to cash machines.
Report abuse
Accepting a lift to the polls is a tradition and having taken part would confirm that most of those who accept lifts will tell the driver they are voting for “the other one”. It is part of the fun of polling day.
The actual completion of the voting paper is done in private, without fear or influence and that is how it must stay.
Again if you can’t complete the simple application then how do you complete the far more complex postal ballot paper?
Report abuse
There’re just not trustworthy after this drama and it’s a shame because anyone who is linked to them will lose any credibility as States Members as far as I am concerned. Too much News has wasted on Pitman, Southern and their rhetoric
Do they right and resign.
Report abuse
Truthseeker, I am not hiding behind any nom de plume. Let’s get to the facts, it has nothign to do with the pre-this law, there have been no inaccurate statements made, and Southern and Pitman broke a law which is there for a reason, and re-iterate, democratic nations such as South Africa, United Kingdom, Australia all have the same law.
It remains a simple matter of fact, the JDA did not get the elected positions in a Ministry, Southern and Pitman broke the law.
Only a fool would would contribute. The old addage, a fool and his money are easily parted.
Since you have not proved otherwise, I still believe you are either one of the JDA two – or VERY clsoe to one of them.
But hey – I will publish my details, as am completely independent.
John Davis
Report abuse
Hahhaha. Superb post Colin
Report abuse
Although I agree with many of the policies from the JDA, and hope that their presence in the states will result in some of the much needed reforms in the island, I cannot bring myself to support them on this matter. Wrong in any country. I also find the fund very inappropriate and an abuse of the position that they hold.
In saying this I’m 100% sure they are not the only politicians who ‘helped’ elderly people to obtain postal vote application forms. I also ask myself what the difference is (or what is worse) between helping somebody fill in the form, or sitting with them and using rhetoric to convince them that they should vote for you, something all candidates will inevitably do.
Report abuse
Anyone who deliberately breaks our laws while holding political office is not fit to sit in government and should be thrown out immediately!
Especially when that politician has never had the capacity or ability to create and run a successful private sector business, create jobs for others in the private sector or ever done anything to help create commerce or bring real wealth into the Island, yet hasIa passion to spend taxpayer’s money as though he alone had created it from out of heaven.
This is one politician without a clue on how to conduct responsible government or an ounce of respect for Jersey’s heritage or traditional moral values.
Obviously, he appeals to some like minded spectators, who have come to expect a free lunch where ever they go in life, but who balk when asked to help set the table or wash the dishes.
Nevertheless, socialist ignorance does play an important part in supporting the Common Purpose collectivist agenda of the Great Snake hiding within the ‘Cybil Serpent” woodpile behind ‘Crapaud Hall’, which is probably why he has not yet been told to get on his bike – after all a not so bright politician can be a very useful tool for change under the eye of a well placed serpent…
As for ganging up on ‘Truthseeker’ – though one may not agree with all that he says; he does mean well. Especially so, when he brings attention to the problem of ‘Separation of Powers”, because this is an issue that is begging for remedy and has to be publicly addressed sooner rather than later.
For today, though some may not agree, our inalienable rights and freedoms are being systematically undermined and eroded – the list is quite long and allowing this vile situation to continue is to Commit Treason, not only against one’s own people, but against the entire world.
Not surprisingly, we are now seeing the ugly shoots of an unaccountable Police State looming before us – both European and local. A Police State that is being run by an irresponsibly empowered army of over paid, unaccountable, unelected civil servants, who can run circles around most of our sleepy States Members. Anyone who would foolishly believe that the raid on Senator Syvret and his subsequent arrest was not politically motivated can only be classed as, well you name it…
The free right to the unbounded exercise of reason, freedom of expression and speech, which, if I may be permitted to recall, exists for the purpose of protecting offensive speech (including Syvret’s), not just the nice touchy-feely words that local special interests and the status quo may want everyone to hear… must be preserved with undiminished devotion.
We all have a duty to forever refresh our inalienable rights in the minds of each new rising generation – for it is either that or resign to the idea of living under a Collective Dictatorship.
Report abuse
I hope that they have registered this as a charity. It would be too predictable if they were now charged with failing to properly register a charity and carry out full anti-money laundering verification on the donors.
Report abuse