Two men of integrity

Friday 22nd July 2011, 10:00AM BST.

From Douglas and Rosemary Legg.
WHAT an excellent letter from Deputy Le Hérissier (JEP, 16 July). Everything he states is absolutely right and known only too well by ‘the man in the street’ – but ‘the man in the street’ has no power and those in power have been proven to have different agendas.

We have always had great respect for Deputy Le Hérissier for his constant good sense and caring attitude, as well as his undoubted ability. We have heard a number of comments about how good it would be to have him for our Chief Minister. It is so sad that he has been subjected to serious personal insult from Senator Ozouf – this tells us a lot about Senator Ozouf.

The people who voted for Senator Le Gresley and Deputy Le Hérissier did so because they knew that these were two men of integrity whose agenda would be solely the good of the Island and its people; men who not only had ability but genuine concern for those they served.

These qualities are sadly lacking in the States. It is still hard to believe that the member who said the elderly who could not afford to keep warm should take in lodgers and share beds etc. was not just making a very silly joke.

This is just one of many comments and decisions that have sickened us as we watch the crazy squandering of our money on huge salaries and projects that have little bearing on the welfare of Islanders or the Island – though they may make profit and kudos for those who implement them.

To quote Deputy Le Hérissier again, ‘One of the real tragedies of Jersey’s government at present is the marginalisation of good people, based on the spurious belief that if you are not with us you are against us.’ How true and how sad.

We can only hope that Senator Le Gresley and Deputy Le Hérissier and the other ‘good people’ in the States will not be ousted by those with a different agenda.
Sadly, this is only a hope. Time will show.

1
joker

July 22, 2011 at 1:02 pm

“‘the man in the street’ has no power and those in power have been proven to have different agendas.”

Have you forgotten that it is your votes that give you the power, well a little less now thanks to the reduction of the senators. The population have the power and the members in the States are only their because you allow them to be. Therefore any faults in the way this Island is run or with the direction it is heading, is the fault of the electorate.

Herissier’s letter is hypocritical. He talks about a lost minister yet it was his ilk who voted for the loss of 2 Senatorial posts with Island wide mandate strengthening the partisan. The power you do have is being eroded by the people you think have integrity.

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2
Mona Lot

July 22, 2011 at 3:45 pm

Also a good letter, unfortunately, it is almost a forgone conclusion that Senator Ozouf will be the next Cheif Minister.
It really is a sad state of affairs when a person can be voted into that position with only a few cronies and “yes men” thinking of their own futures and nothing else.
Anywhere in the Western civilised World, a Prime or Cheif Minister is automatic as the leader of the successful party in a democratic election or alternatively in a referendum.
The method of election IMHO in Jersey is an utter disgrace, it will never happen, but I would like to hear the opinion of Brussels of the legality of it all.
It could only happen here in Jersey, and may God help us when Senator Ozouf is in charge, he cares only for the wealthy.

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3
Geeky Blogger

July 22, 2011 at 5:47 pm

I totally agree. But what we also need is Geoff Southern and Nick Le Cornu as our Chief Minister and Deputy. Both men have a clear vision of where to takes us, where to follow the leads of others and where we are going with the finance industry.

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4
Hedinda Sands

July 23, 2011 at 4:51 pm

good letter !

Yes – good people, I think.

I recall Syvret was marginalided (to say the least)
Not so polite but a scary knack of being right.
Made a lot of enamies while working for real Jersey and real people
I want him back and Ozouf out.

Syvret came 2nd to Senator Le Gresley last time.
Top 4 should be easily do-able (if he wants)

There are others resisting the dark side but Syvret was a one man checks and balances wrapped up in a (not so?) neat package.

Resistance is useless (or vogon equivalent), unless you stick together.

Deputies voting to endanger senatorial representation:
errr…. thats not quite what I ment by “sticking together”.
It is Deputies that should be reduced.

& btw, COM finks on here -it is the electorate who should get to decide which ones,
but do tell us as some readers on here cannot fink for themselves.

HIDS x.

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5
Darren

July 24, 2011 at 3:04 am

Yes, lets all vote for people who throw toys before running to London in order to claim silly legal asylum bids for 6 months on the tax payers pay roll and then see where this Island goes….

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6
Dragnet Massacre?

July 24, 2011 at 2:15 pm

Hi Darren @5,
It may be that I inadvertently (& possibly even unfairly) “netted” you an another thread ?
Could be ’56′ made it look like you were on the ‘menu’ – benefit of the doubt would make it my mistake -if so, please accept my apologies.
(yup you heard right! -quality comments prior to 56 -in my opinion)

Needless to say @5 you touch on a big and complex subject, on which we have apparently come to different conclusions.

Patience is a virtue [sometimes] and I have work to catch up on and your post @5 is for the moment filed under ‘fair retort’ so I won’t nitpick.

Thanks anyway as there is still plenty in your post..

Good people should not be marginalised and a small island should make appropriate use of ALL it’s resources.

Hedinda x.

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7
Adam

July 24, 2011 at 11:31 pm

Deputies are elected on a parish level,a few hundred votes or sometimes none at all,if unapposed.Yet they now hold the balance of power, voting against those Senators that do, on the basis of a few parish votes against several thousand on an island wide mandate.If Deputy Le Hérissier has an ounce of social justice, he should re examine the reasons why Deputy Labey, herself a proponent of a fair and just society, bravely raised that question and whether a one vote majority by those local councillors against her motion is fair and democratic?

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8
Harry Stopfford-Hall

July 28, 2011 at 6:08 pm

Roy Le Herissier is a good politician.
I don’t agree with everything he says but he is far more intelligent than most in the Chamber.

Those that unfairly criticise him, well they are not very bright either.

We need people like him and Syvret.

If Syvret stands in October he would be sure to get in.

But the Law will make sue he cannot stand.

He is an honest guy.

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9
Euan Mee

July 29, 2011 at 12:49 pm

Geeky Blogger@3!! Did I read your entry right??!! Geoff Southern has a clear vision of where the finance industry is going? You are kidding, right? Southern has as much insight into finance as Stuart Syvret does about diplomacy…

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10
bella

July 29, 2011 at 3:55 pm

8 agree.
But they only like yes men.
So what chance have we got?
Honesty doesn’t get you anywhere these days.

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11
Pip Clement

July 29, 2011 at 4:43 pm

“Southern has as much insight into finance as Stuart Syvret does about diplomacy”

The degree of insight that many States’ members have in to many of the issues that they legislate on could be criticised as could the seeming lack of communication between the members of the CoM.
Jersey government worked when it had more money than it could spend and not a lot to do.
Very few members seem prepared for the new world of budget deficits and the need to face up to the beginning of the slow decline of the finance industry.

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