Jersey: The Big Society in action
Saturday 20th August 2011, 9:38AM BST.
Conservative MP Daniel Kawczynski at Mont Orgueil. He says that Jersey has all the attributes of the sort of community everyone wants to live in
PRIME Minister David Cameron should come to Jersey to see his vision of the ‘Big Society’ in action, according to one of his MPs who has been in the Island this week.
Conservative MP Daniel Kawczynski has been in the Island for an official visit, and he has echoed the comments about Jersey’s community spirit that departing Lieutenant-Governor Andrew Ridgway made two months ago.
Mr Kawczynski – a junior agriculture minister who chairs two committees on relationships with the Arab world – said that Jersey’s system of voluntary and honorary service was the model of the more caring society that Mr Cameron spoke about.
‘Jersey is the Big Society in action,’ said Mr Kawczynski. ‘I have just come from England, where we have had one of the biggest social problems that we have experienced, certainly within my lifetime, and I will be writing to Mr Cameron to say: “Come to Jersey and see the Big Society in action.”
‘The way that this community functions is extremely impressive.’
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Yes and when Lenny Harper came over all he could do was attack the Honoury system.
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What a surprise, Jersey people inviting a Tory over…
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I doubt Jersey’s untermensche in bedsit hell would agree with him as they get fleeced by the local landlords.
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Indeed, rich immigrants being taxed less than successful locals, a two tier housing system offering no protection to tenants, record unemployment, a disenfranchised generation of young adults who are faced with never owning a home of their own and the burden of an aging society to support (that’s if they can find a job). All governed by a group of people most believe are incompetent and many feel to be corrupt. Welcome to the Big Society.
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Big Society
More like Sick Society.
Where multi millionaires pay one twentieth of the tax of everyone else.
Where high earners don’t contribute to pensioners or the ill once their earnings hit a ceiling of £44,000.
I’d like to see Cameron try and introduce those policies in the UK.
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if this guy sticks around long enough, he may get to see the big society stamping all over the smaller members of society.
said it before , just because people are not looting or committing arson, does not mean that people are happy with their lot. wonder if he enjoyed the rose tinted glass veiw he had of the island?
depends if you want to paddle on the shore or dive right in and look at it warts and all ,no?
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They only invite people here who they know will make comments agreeable to the image they wish to project.
Phoney, plastic,and predictable.
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What can you but Testicles!
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A consummate politician but as blinkered as his party.
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! ??
Jersey suicide rate 3 times the UK ?
2 schools with results allegedly in the worst 10 of UK ?
Cringe-worthy conflict, corruption and nepotism issues ?
Mental health and child protection that is hardly the envy of the civilised world
-this demonstrated historically and by recent tragic events
Share and learn where it is beneficial but if flattery is empty, it will get us nowhere.
We have problems here and many of them have their roots in smug complacency.
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The honorary system could work quite well in the UK.
One can compare the role of centenier to that of sheriff in the USA – the concept of electing police chiefs works well here and in the US so why not in britain?
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JERSEY: THE BIG SOCIETY IN ACTION………this would be a perfect headline for April fool’s day!
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The hounary system is hardly a model for the rest of the world to adapt. A bunch of jumped up nobodies who everyone hates because they are power drunk morons who have nothing better to do with their lives. The paid police go through rigorous training and selection whilst mr le brocg just has to say a few words at the parish hall and his mates now a copper! No wonder the child molesters and perverts are able to gain position in power St Helier has a perfect example of this.
Who in this life does something for nothing?
Jersey hospice is another joke… if all the money that was given went to look after the terminally ill then it would be doing a great job but because of the delicate subject nobody wants to question the fact that the directors are on huge salaries whilst the good hearted people are giving their time free to raise cash for the terminally ill.
Jersey has a big society…… and its full of people filling their pockets with other peoples money.
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To be wined and dined to Jerseys standards can assure our Visitor will think a lot of Jersey. But have to agree with above that he should visit some bed sits and locals and see how the rich rule and ruin this island.
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No wonder the UK is such a mess run be fools like that none so blind as those that can see.
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Eric Pickles @ 3,
Very easy to tar all landlords with the same brush – there again you could always move or leave!
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Nathan (11) One can compare the role of centenier to that of sheriff in the USA
Sorry Nathan, I think you are wide of the mark. In the USA the average sheriff administers a population of 100,000. Hence, if we were to follow your hypothesis in Jersey, it would be the Chief Constable appointment would become the elected Sheriff. A centenier, at best, would be a Deputy-Sheriff.
Your hypothesis, would also see the Attorney General (District Attorney) become an elected official. Not sure what the Jersey Law Society would make of that, but an interesting idea nonetheless.
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Mona Lot (7) Phoney, plastic,and predictable.
Mona, I suspect the JEP article is a lift from the Chief Ministers press officers press release.
Spin, spin and more spin?
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“Mr Kawczynski – a junior agriculture minister who chairs two committees on relationships with the Arab world – said that Jersey’s system of voluntary and honorary service was the model of the more caring society that Mr Cameron spoke about.”
For a number of years now the Honorary Police in St. Helier have struggled to find recruits. I believe at present they are approximately 25 members under strength?
Last month St. Helier was almost fined by the States because the parish couldn’t two people to take the place of retiring Cententiers. At the last minute a single candidate stood unopposed and the penalty was averted.
Yet in the UK the nearest equivalent to our Honorary Police force, the Special Constabulary and PCSOs, have no similar problem filling their ranks.
So how can our failing Honoray system be any proof of Jersey being a more caring society?
Indeed, If we are to use voluntary Police services as any measure of a caring society, Jersey is embarrassingly revealed to be rather uncaring as a society.
I notice in the full report in the JEP it says that Mr. Kawczynski spent some time with Freddie Cohen and Phillip Ozouf during his visit.
If you’re reading this Mr.Kawczynski I would suggest you browse a few more articles about that pair on this website and take note of the accompanying public comments. There is a common perception of them placing big business and the promotion of Jersey’s image before any notion of a “big society”.
With that in mind, Mr Kawczynski, some might say you’ve been played.
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The shock displayed throughout the island to the six stabbings, has shown Jersey to have a larger community spirit than I previously imagined.
The negativity on here is mainly addressing other issues, predominately being our economy and our class system. Considering the levels of unemployment and poverty in Jersey, we don’t see violence or criminality on the streets that you would in other areas of Western Europe, so by and large, I think we are a good example of a strong community
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The usual whingers with the usual gripes. As for ‘Der untermensch’ they always have the opportunity of leaving if they don’t like their living conditions – most of them will remain on the island as it is a much better place to live than many folk on this discussion board will admit to. I was brought up in Jersey and only left in the last 10 years due to family circumstances – if I’d come home tomorrow. There are pros and cons in living anywhere in the world, but people just don’t appreciate how nice Jersey is. There is a simple answer – if think you can find Utopia, go elsewhere
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Good God
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# 11
‘The honorary system could work quite well in the UK’
‘Hundreders’ just doesn’t have the right ring to it, Nathan.
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Oh dear, all you whingers and moaners accusing people of ripping others off, like the criticism of Jersey Hospice, a wonderful organisation.
To all you, I am so glad I don’t suffer from the schadenfreude that you do, it must truly be a terrible existence.
To the Big Society, Jersey is lucky, and the majority realise how wonderful a place we live, and those who don’t, catch the next boat to the UK, they are more like you.
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He obviously wasnt here for very long.
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He forgot to see the homeless, greed, racism, drug issues, non exsistance of child care, power struggles, cover ups and the list goes on.
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Bravo Real Truthseeker – well said.
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20 and 21 sensible comments compared to the jokers. Look at skeptical Charlie he clearly is not aware of how good child care is, taxes and homelessness to name a few. We are indeed very lucky.
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“To the Big Society, Jersey is lucky, and the majority realise how wonderful a place we live, and those who don’t, catch the next boat to the UK, they are more like you.”
THEY?! Are you doing that silly bean thing of lumping the whole UK together as if its one homegenous place where everyone lives in council estates?!
You need to get out more luv. Jersey is not much different to many middle class parts of the UK. Its not really that special.
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Skeptical Charlie ~ 26.Homelessness, greed, racism, drug issues, power struggles, cover ups et al, occurs elsewhere too. I agree Jersey is not perfect, but then where is? You have the opportunity to move to any location in the world, where you think life is better than it is on the rock. I wish people would stop whinging – if you don’t like things the way they are get out, campaign for changes, or keep quiet.
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How dare he come over and say complimentary things about us! Was he not briefed that we are an island of whining, negative whinge-bags, as evidenced by the posts above? Pathetic individuals, particularly the cheap shot at the Hospice…
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#29 Greg
‘Jersey is not much different to many middle class parts of the UK.’
Well done for reminding the small-minded, ill-travelled and gullible YET AGAIN that the UK is not all hoodies, run-down estates and crime as portrayed by media headlines.
I would go one step further and say that many middle class parts of the UK are far nicer than Jersey. Space (big gardens that are nor fenced off by paranoid owners), easy travel with a public transport system that works, choice of good food (including much locally sourced and grown meat and veg.), state schools that are successful (ours is OFSTED rated as excellent), work (incomes may be lower than Jersey, but so are living costs) and low crime (both by population count and per km square FAR lower than Jersey).
Moaners (and gloaters!) in Jersey are like very ill patients. They are waiting for that tipping point when the doctor says that if they don’t do something then that’ll be it.
Why wait? Do your research, be brave and make the change before you and the island gets to the point where you feel you are FORCED to do something about it! Having to move under those circumstances won’t feel nearly as good.
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A Sole
‘I wish people would stop whinging – if you don’t like things the way they are get out, campaign for changes, or keep quiet’
Perhaps what you see as ‘whinging’is media empowered citizens campaigning for change?
Complaining doesn’t necessarily render a point of view invalid.
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Well Said J Cat (4). Summed it up perfectly. Who would want to replicate a corrupt two tiered system, where true democracy is eschewed in favour of corruption and nepotism (allegedly)???!
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Shhhhhhhhhhhh! Place a gagging order on that man! Otherwise more will come and live here!
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C Le Verdic # 33. I agree – however what other evidence is there that the politicians actually read the stuff on this site. How about e-petitions to the States or canvassing Deputies and Senators?
To reiterate, homelessness, greed, racism, drug issues, power struggles, cover ups et al, occur not only in Jersey, but in many places throughout the world.
I am a pensioner and in my view the Channel Islands and Jersey in particular, is a wonderful place to live. Too many people come on this site and do nothing but whinge and complain – all this negativity will just damage the morale of the island’s residents and I wish it would cease.
Instead of always highlighting problems, why aren’t people coming up with solutions?
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I. Votefortheboat # 32. I hope you get your wish. The grass is always greener elsewhere.
I have lived in many countries, including England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Oman and Germany (I am ex-Armed Forces)- you won’t find too many places that are better than Jersey. If you think you can, then good luck to you – go there and find out for yourself.
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C Le Verdic, where is the campaign for change? It is about whinging and moaning. Where is the campaign? All I see is people getting personal, playing the man rather than the issue. The fact is if any of the whingers and moaners actually were successful in a campaign (which is impossible, because by definition they couldn’t organise such a thing), they would turn Jersey into the UK, a bunch of hoodie wearing loosers.
To Mr I Votefor the boat – go catch a boat, having migrated from New Zealand, living in Hong Kong, Singapore and now here, I am well travelled compared to yourself.
I re-iterate my point, if you don’t like Jersey, go join the whinging Poms in the UK.
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31 Farmer geddon…your comments are a beautiful example of a knee jerk response to what is not being properly thought through…the Hospice was not being knocked,the poster pointed out clearly and succinctly that due to the sensitive nature of the subject ie everyones fear of having the big C,that large directors fees were being paid out of charitable donations and that it seems disproportionate and was galling when you think of all the free labour donated as it is a cause we all support and fear we may one day need…please open your mind and let in some light…it’s frequently the same when a govt malfeasance occurs…..and someone has the temerity to question it….suddenly they are labeled anti Jersey by fools….let’s have a bit of grown up thinking please.
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“Where high earners don’t contribute to pensioners or the ill once their earnings hit a ceiling of £44,000.”
I know this forum is moderated as some of my posts have been previously. But somebody should stop people posting things that are simply factually inaccurate.
The above is a lie: high earners pay more to the social security fund than lower earners. To imply that once you earn £44k you are exempt from contributing to social security is simply wrong. You contribute up to £44k.
Fortuntely, capitalism is an efficient system which by and large seperates those who understand how things work from those who don’t. Thus the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, because they revel in their ignorance rather than try to understand reality.
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“To Mr I Votefor the boat – go catch a boat, having migrated from New Zealand, living in Hong Kong, Singapore and now here, I am well travelled compared to yourself.”
You forgot about the five years in California where you did not learn that it is a legal requirement to display the price outside fuel stations
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“I was brought up in Jersey and only left in the last 10 years due to family circumstances – if I’d come home tomorrow.
There are pros and cons in living anywhere in the world, but people just don’t appreciate how nice Jersey is. There is a simple answer – if think you can find Utopia, go elsewhere”
Someone who left Jersey 10 years ago, fortunate enough to have avoided the unprecedented and rapid decline in quality of life that has occurred for the average islander during that same period, telling those who would complain about life in Jersey that there is a boat in the morning?
Some of us can no longer afford that boat because of the changes that have happened since your absence.
I believe if you did come back tomorrow you’d be shocked at your own ignorance of how the island has changed.
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I remember what the term Big Society means to me , Roald Dahl summed it up nicely:-
Matilda (1996) – Memorable quotes
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117008/quotes – Harry Wormwood: Listen, you little wiseacre: I’m smart, you’re dumb; I’m big, you’re little; I’m right, you’re wrong, and there’s nothing you can do about …
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#37 A Sole
‘I hope you get your wish.’
Thanks; I did. I took an early boat. Nice crossing when there are no stampedes!
Reason?
I wanted to do what I believe in (see my advice in my #32 post) and not wait until things had deteriorated so much that I would move under the (mistaken) idea that, to paraphrase your words, ‘surely the grass has to be greener on the other side’.
In my experience, making decisions when you are backed into a corner (e.g. things have gone mammary-up in your home island and reality does not match up to the memories you have of it) is not the right time to jump ship. People should move because they want to, not because they have become so unhappy with the likes of Jersey politicians selling out to Dandara that they feel you can’t take any more.
There is lots of ‘green grass’ in all the areas you mention you have lived in. Perhaps your rose-tinted (or should that be khaki-green tinted?) glasses were interfering with your ability to discern colours adequately in the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum when you were living there…
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Real Truthseeker (38) living in Hong Kong, Singapore and now here, I am well travelled …. go join the whinging Poms in the UK.
Good point RT. You still have more travelling to do, before you are as well travelled as some of those you criticise. If you cannot engage in civil debate, please take your own advice and ” go join the whinging Poms in the UK.” You may be shocked and find then to be a rather civil bunch on the whole, you may even grow to like it there!
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Truthseeker, again you are doing anything but seeking the truth. It was not Farmer Geddon making the criticism against Blade who ridiculed the Jersey Hospice, but it was I. It is extremely important to Jersey and does wonderful work. It is typical that people like yourself would criticise Jersey Hospice, it says more about you than anything else you say. Directors of Jersey Hospice are not paid HUGE amounts, they are paid fairly for the outstanding work they do.
Further, the only light we need to see is that who you REALLY are… You need to grow up and understand how lucky you are to live in an economy which has done so well amidst the chaos. Perhaps you might learn something if you opened your eyes and looked at how well Jersey is doing and then you might realise someone has been leading you astray.
Jersey is indeed the lucky country, is indeed the Big Society, and if you are not happy, then go to the UK where like minded whinging, moaning Poms will keep you company.
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Well said truthseeker.
I only point out the fact that everyone donates for the terminally ill. Not to line the pockets of overpaid directors. Its supposed to be a charity and most people think that everyone donates thier time for free.
When this is not the case. How much have the people who run it been paid from public donations in the last year?
Anything but the big society just a big fat wage check.
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#29 “To the Big Society, Jersey is lucky, and the majority realise how wonderful a place we live, and those who don’t, catch the next boat to the UK, they are more like you.”
Who are ‘they’? And what do they have in common with Jersey people?
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To the editor: get your idle so-say journalists to check their facts properly. Mr Kawczynski is not now – and never has been – a junior agriculture minister. He is a parliamentary private secretary to two junior ministers.
If you can’t be bothered to get stuff right that is on the public record, what else are you feeding us that’s rubbish?
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@ 37 A Sole – i totally agree that it would be hard to find a better place to live than Jersey.
However, this is now in the balance, as life in Jersey is deteriorating rapidly in terms of the Island being overpopulated, uncontrolled immigration, the cost of living and the overall quality of life is not what it was. And for these reasons I feel other destinations may become more appealing for some Islanders to relocate to in the future.
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Qwerty # 49. If you want to leave Jersey, I’d urge you not to look at the U.K. I was in a local market town today and most of the folk I saw looked totally cheesed off and overweight. I was in Jersey recently and the many people looked happy and healthy. (No I don’t wear rose tinted glasses – I am known to give a critical analysis on many subjects). I’ll wager that if you leave the island, you’ll miss the place a lot – I hope you find what you are looking for.
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Blade, my contributions to that is we must be prepared for our contributions to go towards salaries as an organisation that relies solely on volunteers won’t last.
Leah I believe they are people like myself, family and friends. The only people I see whinging are people on here and the unemployed who can’t be bothered to get a job. Probably one in the same.
Pip, and Nuovo I didn’t think it was necessary to outline everywhere, and besides was only referring to those places I have lived which indeed includes USA, Australia and Thailand. Then considerable travel, including the Antartic and all through south east Asia due to a prior life working as an accountant in the oil industry. Not to mention on a motorbike over two years around Europe as far east as Hungary and Mexico, Argentina. When I think f the others I will let you know… Fiji of course goes without saying. Nuovo, , have you ever had a passport.
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(49) qwerty. the fun is over, but i will not be driven from my island .
the quality of life for myself i do find to be less these days.
i take home the same as i did 20 years ago, so i have very little fun time money.
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To those of you who instantaneously respond to people complaining about the state of the non-qual accomadation, actually ever lived in non-qual accomadation?
If you had you would know and agree that it’s often not a nice or safe experience.
This typical and nasty knee-jerk reaction makes me question your intellect.
I really wish you people would think before you express an opinion. How can you opine on something you clearly don’t understand?
Im not a Jerseyman (whatever that is) but given your tasteless and illogical comments I wouldn’t want to be one.
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I Votefortheboat # 44. I don’t know where you have moved to, but the part of the U.K. where I live, has also deteriorated as a result of inept and corrupt local and central government. It’s not just Jersey that is suffering from these problems, as I am sure you will soon discover.
I still have friends and elderly parents that live on the island and they are still satisfied with life on the rock. Maybe your distatisfaction is more to do with you, than the percieved difficulties you claim exist in Jersey.
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#53 Will
A very good friend of mine lives in a non quals apartment, and the standard of the living conditions are not what you would expect of an island which is considered to be a wonderful place to live. In fact, it’s a dump, a dump that costs him £900 per month.
There’s many aspects of Jersey life that needs attention, and I agree, the possible removal of quallies status on rentals is one of them.
However, despite these dreadful living conditions, people still live in them. This shows that Jersey’s a much nicer place to live than most areas, otherwise nobody would stay in these flats for 11 years
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MP Daniel Kawczynski needs to come and live here and not holiday.
Jersey is a nice place to live but it is not by far the best place to live. Year on year the quality of its working residents lives falls.
Holiday makers come and see the best of Jersey, but like all other places Jersey has its problems…..caused by short sighted States Members.
Big Society? sorry, but its a rock with over 100,000 drunks clinging to a rock that is sinking.
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In the capacity of my job I had a call from a Uk resident who spends a lot of his time in Lanzarote. He told me, if he could, he would re locate to Jersey in an instant. Having just spent a nice holiday here, he is overwhelmed with the way people look so happy, motorists are so polite and how the Island looks so beautiful (even the public toilets were pristine, he added).
Yes, Jersey has its faults, but look elsewhere and you’ll see how privileged this place.
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S2 exactly, it is a very good place to live, those who moan are either A. typical whinging poms, or B. spoilt brats.
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Will Strockert # 53 and Beaumont # 55 You criticise the accommodation in Jersey, yet you are still there. Surely if things were that bad you’d be booking a place on Condor Ferries to the U.K. If you haven’t left the island, something must be keeping you there.
Nothing could be worse than some of the accommodation I have endured in various parts of the world, whilst serving with H.M. Forces. The lodging houses in Jersey are pure luxury compared to some of the places I stayed in Northern Ireland and Oman.
“I really wish you people would think before you express an opinion. How can you opine on something you clearly don’t understand.” I more than understand mate.
To reiterate, living standards may have gone down in Jersey, but this has also occurred elsewhere. If you think you can find Utopia, try moving there instead of repeatedly winging. I was brought up on the island and have lived there for much of my life and hate to see so much criticism of Jersey and Jersey people – if you don’t like it, there is a boat out in the morning.
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Mark G # 56. Said, “Big Society? Sorry, but it’s a rock with over 100,000 drunks clinging to a rock that is sinking.”
What utter nonsense. During a recent stay on the island, I saw very little drunkenness. What I did see were numerous German, French and Dutch holidaymakers. They are pretty discerning about quality and all those I spoke to enjoyed being on the island. I also spoke to one German lady at Greve De L’ecq, who told me over 800 Germans now lived on Jersey (no daft quips please about the occupation). They are people who really understand quality and surely wouldn’t move there without good reason.
I repeat, if you don’t like the island, move away to resolve the so called immigration problem.
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A.Sole, I have my quallies thanks, I was born here.
Over the years, I’ve just come to the conclusion that the best way to control the numbers of non quals immigrants, is to have a proper immigration policy, or work permits. Making them live in appalling conditions for 11 years isn’t right, and isn’t working.
You obviously disagree with that, perhaps you’re a landlord. Your post towards myself was quite confrontational considering you were unaware of my circumstances, but I’m not alone, I know a number of Jersey born & bred residents, who believe the current system of using quallies to determine rental accomodation needs an overhaul.
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@ A Sole No 50 – I have no doubt that if I left I would miss Jersey, I would never deny what a wonderful place that it is – but it is the Island’s rapid decline that worries me.
If i decided to relocate I wouldnt even consider the UK or anywhere in the EU for that matter!
@ Small Money No 52 – fair play to you!
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Truthseeker, interesting that you say people who disagree with you are “fools” who need to “grow up”. Your usual arrogance…
I simply said the remarks about the Hospice by Blade were “a cheap shot”.
They were.
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Well said A. Sole, and that applies to everyone who complains about living here, Jersey-born and immigrants the same. Regardless, if you are not happy living here, LEAVE!
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Perspective please…!! the U.K is a very broken society,Toffs have pillaged and plundered,played the banking system for all it’s worth,the same devils will have bought shares in the very banks they helped bankrupt when the price was on the floor then public money was used to bolster them so that as prices picked up they win again…!!in the meantime they have turned their backs on the ordinary folk of England and let in social problems of unfixable magnitude and the immigrants have taken over the streets,the hookers,the trafficking of human beings and drug trade.the poor are getting poorer,the economy is going underground rapidly as it is here ,tradesmen saying which price do you want…so much for cash…more if it’s on the books…the media and music biz have fostered the like of gangster rap,,,p.diddy.snoopy dog who doubles as a porn star with teenage girls .all drugged to the eyeballs….so yes it creeps over ..if Jersey is to hald on to it’s quality of life we must control immigration strictly,teach diction and elocution in schools once more so we don’t turn out morons who want to speak like a black rapper “Innit” and have a return to standards and respect…now here comes the rub…it has to start from the top.Politicians who blatantly lie and evade ,set the standard for the scumbags…..let us vote in some principled people who can stand up ,be real men and call a spade a spade..
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Qwerty, where do you find it declining? After an earlier trip to New Zealand and Australia, returning with three weeks in the UK, I found the first two places considerably more expensive for fresh food, vegetables, and if you lived there, the cost of servicing a mortgage is about 700% times higher! In the UK I foudn fuel and food prices considerably more expensive.
Prices will always go up, we can’t think that this is a JErsey issue. Either way, it is a relatively cheap place to live given our average earnings levels, relative to the average earnings levels in Australia, NZ and UK.
Before the crock of rubbish about “I don’t earn that”, which is usually a load of b***ks anyhow to get pity, the fact is I am comparing to average earnings in all places. If you want to earn more than the average, go to University I say!
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Beaumont # 61. I had no intention of being confrontational, I just had to disagree with your views on living conditions in Jersey.
I am not a land lord I can assure you of that; though I do own a large detached four beroom house, set in 30 acres of land. Also I have paid off my mortgage. Problem is it’s not in Jersey and where I live it is several degrees colder than in the Channel Islands – if I could I’d move home tomorrow – Jersey looks very good from where I am sitting.
To repeat the social problems experienced in Jersey are just the same elsewhere, it’s just that you have a nicer envionment.
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’6 murdered in stabbing frenzy’, ‘Bar attack with Basball bat’, ‘Man in custody to protect public’, ’6 youths in town brawl’(and there’s more)….all within a fortnight.
Don’t forget folks, Jersey is one of the safest places in the western world. LOL
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Shards #68 In the past week three women were shot in the hairdressers in Newport, Gwent. Then in the same week a 60 year old male is beaten to death. In the past three weeks people killed in Brimingham and London during the rioting.
What occurred in Jersey, though very tragic, was also very rare. I think you’ll find the island is a lot safer than you think. Be honest with yourself – when were you the victim of a crime in Jersey?
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Qwerty
You should take Real truthseeker’s advice and go to the UBS (University of Bad Spellers), that’s where Real truthseeker got his Mickey Mouse degree in Trolling.
Obviously, you don’t need phenomenal brain power to go there, but you have to work hard at telling Whoppers!
I’m sure Real Truthseeker will lend you his DumbDictionary and help you with your studies. Lucky you, he has such great Troll expertise…not surprising really, seeing as he has no life outside this forum and has to pass his time trolling for attention.
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40.Trinity Hero
As an employee earning less than £44,000 i pay 6% of my salary to social security.If you earn £100,000 you pay 6% on £44,000 after that you pay nothing which means as a percentage i pay more than you.Why?Especially as the retirement age has just been raised and GST.to cover the shortfall in pensions
Those who can most afford it should at the least pay the equivalent.
Even the legendary investor Warren Buffet has said in a recent interview that wealthy people have a far to cosy arrangement with government and should contribute more to society and pay more tax.
I guess wealthy people with his way of thinking don’t bolt off to tax havens.
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Shards must be local, try going elsewhere if you want to see what the real world is like.
As a well travelled bean, Jersey is very very safe. I wouldn’t live anywhere else, tried it and didn’t like it. Machine gun fire in the evenings etc.
Get out of your bubble mate, there is a whole world out there, go see and compare.
Jersey is safe, try the Uk for a few weeks and see how you get on.
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#72 ‘Jersey is safe, try the Uk for a few weeks and see how you get on’
Yet another ridiculous generalisation about the UK.
There are many parts of the UK to rival the best in Jersey. There are also parts of Jersey I wouldn’t live in if someone paid me.
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#A.Sole
Why is it that as soon someone has a negative comment about Jersey all they get back is “There is always a boat in the morning”?
Read my comment you will see i said “Jersey is a nice place to live but it is not by far the best place to live.”
Have you no other comment? Oh i get it… stick your head in the sand and ignore everything that’s bad and hopefully it will go away? sounds like the States members.
This is a debate where people express their opinion.
Regarding my comment About the drunks, it sounds you do not have a sense of humor either.
Why speak to holiday makers, why not speak to the people who actually live in Jersey. I love Blackpool for a weekend but i would not live there as i know it has its problems, worse than Jersey.
Jersey has its problems and i not perfect but to stick your head in the sand and say get off my island does not solve anything.
To add. if Jersey were perfect it would be democratic and allow the public to choose its own Chief Minister who has the power and influence to do something about the way Jersey is heading and not let a secret ballot of States Members choose one of the lads.
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Sorry to add. #McTravel
It does not matter where you live in the world its not safe. Jersey, where a 5 year old boy was attacked in town! I see no one is speaking of that crime on this post!!!!
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oh my god A.sole!!!
You don’t even live in Jersey….engough said.
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Real Trollseeker@70 – You might not agree with RT’s evidence-based opinions, but at least he offers them. Just because you don’t agree with them, doesn’t make them “trolling”. He has the right to express his opinions in the same way you are perfectly entitled to write such puerile drivel.
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Real Trollseeker # 70. If you want to find Trolls, look in the mirror mate. Many folk on this site make spelling errors either because the’ve got it wrong or because of typographical errors – there’s is no need to take the wee wee.
I am a pensioner who lives in a remote location and can’t get about as much as I used to, hence the frequent use of my lap top. I imagine many others who comment on the JEP website have other interests besides computing. You have no need to criticise folk who merely want to express a point of view, just because you don’t agree.
Okay – rant over. Have a nice day.
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Mark G. # 76. I’d have thought an independent view from outsider would have more value than some of the insular ideas from residents. I was brought up in Jersey then left to join the Armed Forces. I frequently return to the rock and have many friends and relatives there – none whinge like some commentators on this site.
I don’t believe I stick my head in the sand as I am aware that things aren’t as good in Jersey as they once were. The thing is the same applies to other parts of the globe. If you want to see problems with inept local politics, poor policing etc., you should come and see what I have to contend with in my corner of the U.K.
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@ Mark G
My comment was a comparison.
Generally Jersey is far safer than anywhere else in the world I have been.
Not going to list them as it would be too long on here.
Trust me, Jersey is very safe in comparison. Just because there have been more incidents in the last few months doesn’t necessarily mean anarchy.
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Farmer Geddon 77 & A Sole 78
You may disagree with my discourteously blunt manner, but let me tell you I’m no TROLL; nor do I believe that anyone with an opinion different to mine automatically belongs to the Troll category.
Moreover, I assure you that I am indeed a regular reader and poster on here. However, I will continue to consider Real Truthseeker a ‘Troll’ until he has compeletely abandoned his savage tradition of being offensive.
I find his silly attitude toward some of the serious posters absolutely repugnant so, I’m simply ‘fighting fire with fire’ as it were…and applying the rudenesss and disrepectful tactics used by RT.
P.S. I’m sorry if your PC stomachs can’t take it, but respect is a two-way street.
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john (71)
if you had expressed yourself accurately the first time I wouldn’t have had the need to correct you.
social security isn’t general taxation is the answer to your question. you will pay (as a percentage) less income tax than someone earning 100k.
But let’s be clear – anyone on less than 50k in Jersey is earning that amount out of choice. If you can’t blag a finance job paying above that level it’s because you either don’t want it or are truly dim.
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ladies, i have to say that i think it very unfair to us men that you insist on implying that you are male by the names you post here – please refrain from doing so in future – last time i noticed so much b*tching was when i was waiting for the mrs in the hairdresser -
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Hey Bloke, it is just Real Trollseeker causing problems… typical of the sheila. But hey, makes me look good when all it can harass me over is my name, as unabel to argue my realised valid points.
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Real Trollseeker # 81. You have made a judgement about another commentator, so surely it’s only fair that others can comment on your demeanor. Just because someone makes a faux pax in spelling or grammar, doesn’t mean you can call them a Troll. Everyone has a right to make their views known – whether or not their ideas are accurate or not, is another matter.
I don’t like being referred to as being politically correct – I usually call a spade a bloody shovel.
Anyhow – Jersey is a wonderful place and I refuse to accept alternative views
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Real Trollseeker – hmm, you criticise RT’s posts as offensive, and then make offensive comments yourself. Do you know what hypocrisy is? My view is that everyone is entitled to their opinions, including those diametrically opposite to mine.Yours is that people are not entitled to disagree with you. You’re right, respect is a two way street and no-one respects the playground bully. Chill.
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From a jersey person living in a UK council block and working two minimum wage jobs. We really are so lucky on our little island. Two stabbings in the block this week. Massive vandalism problem. Our neighbours never speak to each other. There are severe drug issues. Jersey might have these issues, but believe me our island deals with them a whole lot more successfully than the UK mainland. In Jersey you feel more or less safe to walk anywhere, there is always an old face from school. We do indeed have a big society, it is mainly because as an island we have defined boarders and an identity.
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82 trinity hero
Oh dear,
For a minute there i thought you were someone who could have a sensible debate,turns out you’re just another Real Truthseeker with a sad inclination to insulting people on the internet.
For your information,someone who earns £100,000 pays the same income tax as someone earning £30,000 as a percentage.(its 20%)
And you work in finance,says a lot doesn’t it!
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Farmer Geddon # 86. Well said that man; the Real Trollseeker is just so churlish
(**) (>>>) Jersey is wonderful.
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No John, someone who earns 30k will pay less than a person on a 100k. 20 means 20 only applies tot he standard rate of tax, anyone on 30k is calculated under the marginal rate of tax, and this is less than 20%.
Says more about you, going to the effort of posting on here without actually knowing what you are saying.
This isn’t being nasty, it is just a fact, like Pip Clement, you should get facts before posting.
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sorry john, you have proven why you are on a poor salary.
The whole point of 20 means 20 was to withdraw allowances from higher earners. So if you earn 100k, you pay pretty close to 20k in income tax.
If you earn 30k, then after allowances (personal, mortgage etc) you pay much less than 6k.
And I don’t work in finance any more. I just make the point that if money is your motivation then its not hard to earn 50k in the finance industry. If you are not motivated by money then stop complaining about money.
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Farmer Geddon 86.
Hypocrite?
Do you want me to provide proof that I’m not a hypocrite; or did you simply pull out an erroneous definition from RT’s DumbDictionary?
If it’s the former, please show me where my words belie my principles and beliefs?
Please note:
- my principle is to fight ugly grandeur and disrepectful tactics;
- my belief is that one should always fight fire with fire (as stated in my post).
So where am I being untrue to myself?
As you say, we all have the right to an opinion and, hopefully, we are also free to decide what is right and what is wrong.
You believe it is right to venerate obnoxious behaviour…I find it deserving of some criticism.
Therefore, seeing as sensible arguments go over RT’s head, churlishness is the key to getting the message home and, furthermore, is in the natural order of things when one is dealing with flamers and trolls!
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Stop moaning! Jersey is one of the best places in the world to live.
Of course Guernsey is better though!
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Well said Trinity Hero – pity we have to put up with fools like john. Unfortunatley those in most need of being educated are so blind they will never listen
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Trollseeker, they don’t go over me head, your comments just are not sensible. All you do is criticise the person making a comment that you don’t like, which is typical of those unable to put a coherent argument against a proposition together. This isn’t about me, it is abotu you.
Your childishness is typical of the left-wing ratbags who whinge and moan – this isn’t nastiness, it is just the truth, but if you read my posts, I am making sensible comments about THE ISSUE, yours are just havign a go at people…
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!!?
To put Real Truthseeker’s comments in perspective it is worth revisiting:
http://www.thisisjersey.com/2011/02/08/stress-levels-hit-a-new-high/
RT’s comment @2 was:
“And people wonder why they get the boot from their job. Days off for ‘stress””… oh pppeerrlease!
What a joke!
Get a life, knuckle down and do your job simple, then there is nothing to be stressed about.”
WELCOME TO THE BIG SOCIETY !!!!!!
-RT style OMG
Later he assures us that:
“[stress] is a lifestyle choice”
- But “RT”, it is a lifestyle choice of employees and employers (particularly small ones)
Live in a corporate bubble do you RT ?
I also have suspected for a while that you have issues with empathy…..Hmmm.
Nobody likes a sponger – but empathy in one of the things that makes us human.
My other comments and links are stuck in the aether – but did you know that Jersey is in danger of becoming the suicide capital of the world ?
-what a model to follow !
HIDS x.
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Donkey, if you had better surf I would agree! But you don’t… so there :p
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You’re all missing the point. The fact that this man came to Jersey and held up our honorary system as an example of a great caring community is so far from the truth that its laughable.
What he forgets to say is that this so called big society is robbing the workers blind and that includes the finance industry workers. Ozouf is spending more money now than ever before and his civil service mafia that he has now created is earning as much as someone in the finance industry who actually makes a profit for the company they work for.
Senior civil servants are costing us millions every year in wages and make us no money. DAH! The assumption that the UK should follow Jersey as a shining example of how to get people to work for free is totally flawed. As we have been followinf the UK blindly for years! Ozouf is bleeding us dry and using our money for his mate’s jollies to the Far East and beyond.
As I have said before it’s a big society for making money… and the fact that it was a Tory toff saying how great Jersey was is no surprise to me!
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Both Jersey and Britain have their bad parts, drunken people can be seen fighting on Saturday nights in both Bournemouth & St Helier for example.
Also Jersey would have its share of boy racers racing down the empty Victoria Ave in the early hours in their chavved up cars just like Bournemouth having experienced yobs speeding up and down streets on the seafront.
The other day, I saw a group of seemingly underage teenage boys, bored out of their brains, drinking alcohol on St Brelades beach – the same would be seen on Bournemouth’s beaches too…
To be fair, parts of Britain can be wonderful like Jersey – just take Dorset, the Isle of Wight, Somerset, Cornwall, the Cotswolds, Suffolk and many more…
It’s not all deprived council estates in the UK, you know. I’m sure I have seen a run down housing estate somewhere in Jersey where the windows were seen boarded up – so the grass would not be greener in Jersey when compared with similar parts of Britain such as Dorset or Isle of Wight!
Yes, Jersey would come across a lot better off than the poorer parts of Britain such as Liverpool or Newcastle.
It makes me smile every time some Islanders always maintain their identity to be different to Britain also quick to point out the fact Jersey is separate from the rest of the UK then go on to always talk about whatever is happening in the mainland and comparing Jersey with it a lot more than the nearest neighbour, France!
I’m sorry to those of you, I’m referring to, you are British as those living on the mainland, Isle of Man & NI whether you like it or not! You are more likely to shop in British shops, reading British papers, driving on the left going at speed in mph, eating pub food in beer gardens on warm summer evenings, watching British TV – X Factor anyone?!
I remember seeing a very small selection of French products hidden away in a corner inside the old Checkers supermarket here in Red Houses, the shelves were full, not exactly empty. I have not seen any French shops in St Helier so anything French wasn’t exactly in high demand despite Jersey’s French heritage and history.
Also you are more likely to go on the ferry to Poole for a big shop at Tescos than over to Carrefour in St Malo…
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Jersey is big government in action and clearly not what the Conservative party are seeking in the UK at all.
Who makes these stories up?
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As a member of the Conservative party I have asked Daniel to think before making such ill considered and inaccurate statements for the sake of all local members of the Conservative party.
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“To Mr I Votefor the boat – go catch a boat, having migrated from New Zealand, living in Hong Kong, Singapore and now here, I am well travelled compared to yourself.”
Real T – mate, you are known in many circles as a tax dodging sod.
You are hilarious because in previous topics you have roundly criticised Jersey and banged on about New Zealand being great. Maybe you need to get the next plane home?!
As for Hong Kong, having grown up there I am horrified that that mighty city had the misfortune to experience you. In fact, with the way all you scummy tax dodgers seem to be moving back to Asia at pace, I really hope you don’t go back there.
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Greg: I have not criticised Jersey, in fact I always praise the government of Jersey as it has done a great piece of work to ensure the financial predicamnet was not raging through here.
I love NZ and other places I have lived. I don’t understand yoru comments as all my comments are in high praise of this place, and my only criticism is not of Jersey but the anti-Jersey left-wing ratbags who inhabit this forum and want to ruin this place.
Like Pip, you need to get facts straight before you ramble on about stuff you have no idea on.
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Put Up or Shut Up # 102 Please look at: –
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_suicide_rate
Yes the suicide rate in Jersey doesn’t paint a good picture, but it’s by no means the worst, when you compare it with the statistics in the attached list.
Don’t forget there are lies, damned lies and statistics. The figues in Jersey are probably so high because the authorities actually make the effort to collate them.
The island is by no means perfect, but it is not as bad as many folk on this site make out. I am sure there are many people around the globe who’d swap their surroundings and conditions, for that experienced by people residing in Jersey.
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The mental health services are so fantastic that the suicide rate in Jersey is three times higher than in the UK. No wonder why this sad and inhuman situation is now being covered up by spin, spin and spin.
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Real Truthseeker 96
Oooohh…listen to yoooou!
You don’t like it when someone flips the script, do you?
That said, let’s get back to your comments.
Re: “All you do is criticise the person making a comment that you don’t like…”
Where have I citicized a comment?
I have simply used your tactics against you in order to show my dislike for your rudeness.
Re: “this isn’t nastiness…”
Of course it isn’t…er, let’s take a look:
- left-wing ratbags who whinge and moan;
- I am so glad I don’t suffer from the schadenfreude that you do, it must truly be a terrible existence;
- whinging poms, or B. spoilt brats.
All very polite, ‘SENSIBLE’ comments!
Re: “but if you read my posts, I am making sensible comments about THE ISSUE, yours are just having a go at people…”
No, I’m not having a go at people, I’m having a go at a TROLL!
Now, feeding time is over, so go away and get yourself a girlfriend or a hobby or something…you’re on every thread at all hours!
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107.Real Trollseeker
I agree with your comments about Real Truthseeker.
When someone tries to have a debate about any of the problems facing Jersey he turns it into a personal attack.I presume he is an adult but his postings are more like that of a schoolyard bully.I doubt very much he uses the same derogatory,racist and condescending language in public,instead hiding behind the anomity of the internet.I am sure a physcologist would make something of his postings.
Maybe he is just using a diversionary tactic to take people off the subject at hand.
I would much rather see this forum used for proper debate for people to make arguments from both sides of the fence without descending into what has become little more than hate mail.
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Michel 106 you got it in a nutshell, well said and that just one of the cover ups.
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