2

Luke

Lets not talk about the candidates and what they promise in return for there election but the actual problems in the Island and how they can be sorted. Any candidate would have to be down to earth and definitively not come from a money driven back ground (reasons obvious).
I could sit here and go through all the problems and how to sort them but we can only learn from our mistakes and when it all goes wrong then maybe someone might want to listen but maybe it will be to late.

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4

George

A question that must be asked is whether they think the public should elect the Chief Minister, and therefore political leader. In the UK, USA, France etc, you know who you are voting for to be the figurehead of your country. Not here, we have a system where strategic butt sniffing prevails over who the public want as our international representative, the face of our Island. If the public had been given a chance to vote, then neither Walker or Le Sueur would have had a chance. Can anyone imagine what political leaders from around the world think of our current Chief Minister!?

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6

henry 5

Isnt there football on that night

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8

Rockbound

The five most important issues, in order:
1.Reducing immigration
2. Protecting jobs for locals
3.Cutting the wasteful and unaccountable civil service
4 Stopping over-development
5 Reducing the number or (and cost of) elected politicians

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10

Pip Ozouf

There is no solution the government can offer, the government is the problem.

We the people must reclaim our government and our island…

No to existing politicians, no to advocates… yes to letting the people decide how we move forward.

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12

Qwerty

Adequately addressing immigration has to be the priority of the New Government – as this crisis is rapidly spiraling out of control!

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14

Annie Du Feu

We need population reduction to a sensible figure perhaps 90000 to start. It has to stop at some point and no time better than the present.

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16

Nigel Pearce

No4 George
My letter to the JEP January this year about electoral reform suggested a 3 part election, 1 part of which is the election of Chief Minister.

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18

jerseygirlcapetown

#4 #5 #8 You have my VOTE!

Sorry Nigel#16 didn’t see your letter.

What will it take for them to take notice of what the People of Jersey, want and need for the best.

Shall we refuse to pay our taxes/Island strike until something is done!

Why can’t they see what is happening to Jersey?
Why can’t they hear us?

Shall we as Islanders take our case to Human Rights, saying our Minsters are not listening to us! they are not acting in our best interests! Can someone take up our cause and start working on this ? Please

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20

Sanity

Jerseygirlcapetown – the simple answer is that it is up to you to stand for election, or if you are not up to the job, convince somebody else to stand for election to represent your views.
Like so many on this blog you are too caught up in the nanny state and expect somebody else to do everything for you. If you want change then it is up to you to make the effort. Just whining in the hope that somebody else will get up and make the effort does not count.
As a point of interest what exactly do you think the court of human rights court will do? Regime change? Force democratic elections?

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22

Jerry Gosselin

The most urgent requirement is to conduct a survey of rental accommodation in the qualified private sector to identify current and future demand and supply. The next step after that is to act immediately on the results.

Anecdotally, hundreds of affordable rental properties have been converted to owner-occupier status in the last few years, leaving an increasing number of tenants fighting for a decreasing number of apartments with ever-higher rents. We need to know the exact scale of the problem.

It is very hard to believe, but I even know of one couple (the man is qualified, the woman isn’t) who can’t afford to rent a qualified apartment because of the initial deposit and first month’s rent, so they keep moving from one grotty unqualified lodging to another. A bad landlord threw them out last winter and they ended up sleeping on the beach in February until they could secure new lodgings.

Situations like this are totally alien to ALL the candidates standing for election. Name me either a sitting States Member or any other candidate who is a bona fide tenant on a below-average income? Name me one who has experienced living in a shelter or hostel because they had nowhere else to go? How many of these candidates are actually EMPLOYEES like the majority of us, rather than owning their own businesses?

Let us face it- the people who we are being asked to vote for are totally unrepresentative of the general population and therefore the new Assembly will also be just as unrepresentative. These arguments about reducing the number of politicians and being able to vote for the Chief Minister are utterly sterile because they will not result in a more representative Assembly. Until such time as it is just as acceptable for a person working casual hours in a fast food joint to stand for office as it is for a company director, we will never even start to tackle this lack of representation and credibility in our government.

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24

JimBob

Was just wondering what happens if none of the existing members get re-elected. Wouldn’t that mean that we end up with a totally new government made up of people who have never done it before?
That should be fun!

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26

Loco

#21 Mike: Ghandi had a criminal record, as did Mandella.

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28

Simon_Lee

Just because you don’t have a criminal record does not mean your a good person, at best it means either you have not been caught or you have been lucky to be born in the right circumstaces or advantaged in other ways, We must face it where there is poverty there is crime, not all people are poor, some as Ken clarck says there is a new underclass who are on the edge of society with less then nothing to live for and the great and good think they are good people, A good person does not like or revell in the pain of others.

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30

Adrian

So no Mike wouldn’t have voted for Ghandi or Mandella then. Maybe Ozouf in 3 years time then?

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32

James Wiley

Mike, the purpose of a civil disobedience campaign is to inflict costs upon the government that is pursuing an agenda that you do not agree with…

The manner in which the costs are inflicted is irrelevant.

What is important is that the actions of the person do not constitute immoral acts.

Understanding that there is a difference between what is moral and what is legal is the key.

Many immoral acts are legal – how else do you explain ‘family’ lawyers? They make a living extracting money from emotionally vulnerable people.

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34

Perspiuous

Ministerial government or committee system? Is it time we accepted the former is an experiment gone badly wrong?

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36

Christian

One day a florist went to a barber for a haircut. After the cut, he asked about his bill, and the barber replied, ‘I cannot accept money from you, I’m doing community service this week.’ The florist was pleased and left the shop. When the barber went to open his shop the next morning, there was a ‘thank you’ card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.

Later, a baker came in for a haircut, and when he tried to pay his bill, the barber again replied, ‘I cannot accept money from you , I’m doing community service this week.’ The baker was happy and left the shop. The next morning when the barber went to open up, there was a ‘thank you’ card and a dozen cakes waiting for him at his door.

Then a States Of Jersey politician came in for a haircut, and when he went to pay his bill, the barber again replied, ‘I can not accept money from you.. I’m doing community service this week.’ The politician was very happy and left the shop.

The next morning, when the barber went to open up, there were a dozen politicians lined up waiting for a free haircut.

And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between the citizens of our Island and the politicians who run it.

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38

Pip Ozouf

Mathew,

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

Who guards the guardians?

If the people who determine who can stand for election by bringing minor criminal charges against any tangible opposition – are the very people desperately clinging to unjust power, power without the consent of the governed. Then we as a society are doomed.

Actus non facit reum sit mens non rea

The act is not guilty unless the mind is guilty also. That is the law – you have to look to intent.

YOU have to consider for yourself who will best represent you, making one sweeping ill-considered judgement does not absolve you of responsibility for what will happen if the same government are returned to power.

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40

donald pond

There are 2 issues I’d like to see discussed.

1) Violent crime: do candidates agree with the sentencing policies of the courts in respect of violent street crime committed in Jersey and if not, what wll they do about it.

2) Drugs. Increasing numbers of experts believe the illegality of drugs iscounter-productive. Jersey has for several decades been tough on drug crime and the result has not been a reduction in drug use, but an increase in the population of career criminals from the UK mainland in St Helier and bewildered mules at La Moye. Would any candidate support a different approach such as taxation and legalisation of cannabis as a starting point?

Would any candidate also hazard a guess at the cost of the current policy in terms of prison costs, lost tax revenue and increased police and customs costs (I think it is around £75m a year btw).

But no. Too tricky for the dullards.

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42

Annie du Feu

Allowing people to work beyond retirement age to help with ageing population?

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44

Overpopulated

If the ‘aging population’ is such a problem how come there are 600 people unemployed who are 16-24, how come there are 1500/2000 people currently unemployed?

Mass immigration just makes more profits for the big companies – and they pay little tax.

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46

ade

George #4 et al obviously you do not understand a parliamentary democracy. One never elects persons to be our glorious leader in places likes the UK Canada et al. Rather we elect representatives who then elect your leader. The beauty of this is that if they get above their station the members can then vote out of office.

A presidential democracy which you expose is different – You all need to get a lesson in politics including former senators.

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48

Islander

There are a couple of problems that should be easy to solve but might need minor legislation. I would vote for anyone who promises to do something about them and does not regard them as being too trivial.

I am concerned about the increasing number of unwanted intrusions into our lives that we are getting. Those are the people who call at our doors at inconvenient times and those who phone us with offers that appear to be scams.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses used to call here twice a year. I would tell them that they were not going to convert me and I was not going to try to convert them to my outlook. I would also ask them to put me on their list of houses not to be visited again and they promised to do that. The result is that they now call on me three times a year!

I am reminded of the definition that was attributed to Albert Einstein “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

The Mormons tend to call only once a year but that is also once too many.

My suggestion is to set up a register so that we could opt out of such visits. I am sure it would not cost much to administer and save wasting our time and theirs.

I have had quite a lot of phone calls recently that are unwanted. One type is to tell me that I have virus on my computer. If I followed their advice I assume they would get me to download a virus and then charge me money to remove it. I do not fall for that but I do not want the interruptions caused by those calls.

In the past I would dial 1471 afterwards and be told that the number has been withheld. Those numbers can be blocked but the latest version is that I find the number is one like 01007 or 01023. Those do not seem to be complete numbers and are presumably to defeat the blocking system.

The other calls have been to ask me if I have any unsecured loans. They then ask me for personal details which I never give. When I check their numbers I get 0000 0000 which again seems to be a method to avoid the normal blocking.

I am sure that Jersey Telecom could block those calls for the whole population of Jersey. If there are any legal problems then it requires passing a law to make such blocking legal. If those calls continue then they just annoy most of us but some will fall for it and we do hear of people who have paid money to them.

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50

East

I think we need 51 new states members from normal everyday backgrounds who understand the needs of the Jersey people. Many of the states members are from money backgrounds and really don’t care about the Jersey people or Jersey for that matter.

Lets get some real people in the states and get Jersey on the road to recovery.

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52

Toastedteacakes

I will not be casting a vote this year. None of the candidates are worth the casting of my vote.

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54

tony

jehovas & mormans,find out where they live & go knocking on their doors!!

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56

Matt

I am bored of reading the Syvret rubbish on here obviously posted by the same person. Why on earth this man is standing after all the attacks he has made on others over the years only shows he’s a clown. Add the criminal record and everything else he has said would happened that hasn’t, he has only made the election into a pantomime.

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58

Marc Jones

There are a great deal of people in Jersey who are VERY happy indeed with the situaiton, and have the intelligence to appreciate that whilst there is slight pain it is nothing compared to what the rest of the world is going through thanks to the decisions of our COM and namely Ozouf.

I like how some moaners don’t want existing politicians? Why they are OF THE PEOPLE already. I live near two of them, and they seem to be JErsey people to me.

Get the facts straight, if you are unhappy with your lot, perhaps you shoudl do something about it rather than expect the government to give handouts after handouts.

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60

Me

the list would be endless with the bunch of idiots that run this island to go over but i think the biggest one of all they should deal with is imigration – we have to put a stop to all these people coming here and taking what jobs are left – i have to think of my childrens future, also most of them have houses already in poland,portugal etc and i think thats very unfair, wish i had two properties!! where i live at the moment the estate is being refurbished and there isnt one jersey person doing this, they are all polish, where are the local tradesmen, theyve been pushed out, so if i was to vote, who would deal with this situation and actually promise to live up to what they say they are going to do.

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62

Catherine

I agree with “me” that we need to protect local jobs. Local ID cards are a MUST for all islanders local or otherwise and then the states should create a process to monitor people against benifits claimed and review any odd jobs done. I had a non local person coming to offer to clean my windows for £5 a month, yes £5 – I said no as want to protect local jobs and my local window cleaner. Competition is one thing, but not protecting local jobs is something the states MUST address, and this starts with a good immgration policy.

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64

martin

ADE @ 47……There are plenty of islanders more up-to-date with the facts about this case than yourself, obviously. Read the expert witness statement supplied by the Syvret camp and see what he/she has to say about the experts used by the state at the time of the inquiry. There are a lot of unanswered questions and most definately a public interest disclosure defence.
Taxi for Syvret and Loco??? in that case I feel a bonanza coming on for the taxi trade.

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66

ade

Martin @67

Unfortunately you like poor Stu always see a conspiracy. The matter was fully investigated and case closed.

Read about the saline drip nurse and other cases involving clusters then move on.

Just becuase Stu uses far too many words does not mean he is right.

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68

myview

Raise the minimum voting age to 21years or higher.
Very few 17/18 year olds really understand the implications of voting for who they do. Too many candidates are successfully voted into The States due to their populist pledges.
Voters should vote for the good of The Island rather than that which might appear to make their own life easier.

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70

trinity hero

myview (67)
the proven best way of running a society, as outline by the great Michel Houillebecq, is to only allow those of above average intelligence to vote. unfortunately, in Jersey we have misunderstood this and adopted the less successful approach of only allowing those of below average intelligence to stand.

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72

George

#46 Ade

Are your comments always so condescending? Aside from that, it was I’ll thought out, as you entirely missed the point.

In the UK, Canada “et al”, political parties put forward by way of a leadership ballot within their party, a representative to win over the public. The public is then selecting an individual above anything else, who they trust to take their country forward. In the US, if Obama hadn’t been the Democrats candidate, perhaps they wouldn’t have won. The American public had a person to vote for, not having to rely on the old boys network to keep the establishment in power which is what happens here. Walker and Le Sueur are despised by the vast majority of the non finance workers in this Island, and what they are afraid of is the public actually choosing someone who they feel maybe more in tune with public opinion.

Walker is gone, but his spirit lives on, through Le Sueur and soon to be Ozouf. I wouldn’t vote for anyone who openly admitted he would be their choice for CM. We now have the right to know who they support, but ultimately, we should choose the head of the Islands Government.

Perhaps you don’t understand the concept of public opinion.

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74

Bean About A Bit

Oh, and the accountability bit I mentioned. If someone did make a cock up. Sack them!

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76

Loco

65 Ade: you’ve missed the point completely. Yes, the saline drip nurse was found to be innocent but that’s because an investigation was actually held!

None of the nurse’s colleagues were ever interviewed. No doctors, nurses or patients. If you spent 20 minutes reading Syvret’s evidence, instead of bleating out the same rubbish peddled to you by the States, you would know this too.

By all means, the Jersey nurse could be innocent. It’s irrelevant. What is important is that there was potential for this to be a huge ‘Harold Shipman’ style story all over the national papers, so the kibosh was put on the police investigation prematurely before any incovenient evidence had the chance to come to light.

The fact that further to Syvret bringing this to the public domain more potentential witnesses have emerged and in only recent weeks spoken to the police about it kind of blows out the water the mere suggestion that a thorough investigation had been held.

It’s clear to me from the police report that SS published and his expert witness’ report that the investigation was an utter farce. Could you provide a link to some other evidence that there was a thorough investigation where potential witnesses were actually interviewed? Reading this mountain of solid evidence from which you make your claims will surely put this matter to bed.

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78

Mark

Sanity (62) The role of Senator is supposedly that of a senior States member able to provide leadership to the house.

Your wish may be perfectly reasonable but unachievable. In a democracy the ‘sane’ and ‘bonkers’ all have a right to stand. It is up to the electorate to decide who they judge the most ‘sane’ are.

Remember: ‘Common sense is not that common’.

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80

donald pond

“Could you provide a link to some other evidence that there was a thorough investigation where potential witnesses were actually interviewed?”

Loco,
To my knowledge no police force in the world publishes evidence that would illustrate why it decided not to prosecute someone.

What the police and prosecutors do is look at evidence and decide whether there is a reasonable prospect of getting a conviction in a court of law. The test is not whether you or SS think someone did it.

“By all means, the Jersey nurse could be innocent. It’s irrelevant. What is important is that there was potential for this to be a huge ‘Harold Shipman’ style story all over the national papers,”

It depends upon whether in your view the goal should be to discover the truth or to cause as much damage to Jersey in public as possible. After all, no doubt you think SS was right to go on Newsnight to say that he “feared” many had died at HDLG because that could be a big story over the national papers.

Well, getting negative press coverage for no purpose seems to me an odd goal in life.

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82

Jerry Gosselin

No Voter (54) – By mentioning jury selection you have re-opened a nasty can of worms here. About a decade ago, I began researching the subject with the intention of writing a major article about it on my former website. However, I never got to complete the project before I closed my website but I DID write to HM Attorney General (William Bailhache) in June 2004 and got a confidential reply.

From my own extensive research, I discovered that from the time the 1864 law came into force, up to about 1986, the lists of potential jurors submitted by the 12 constables only contained the names of a very small, select group of parishioners. In other words, the lists were blatantly rigged and, in addition, by doing this, the Constables appeared to be acting outside the terms of the laws of 1864 and 1912. In an article dated 8th February 1979, the Jersey Evening Post revealed that “the island’s jury list contains fewer than 4,000 names out of a population of over 75,000.” Two years before this article, Jimmy Johns of the JDM had been doing his own research and had personally enquired at his parish hall about the apparent inequity in the names being submitted. Within two months of his enquiry, he was called for jury service himself! [if only we had a young Jimmy Johns in the States now!]

In the 5 or so years after 1986, there was a concerted attempt (probably as a result of prompting by the Judicial Greffe) to reduce the gross disparity in the number of names submitted by individual parishes and this led to big increases in the number of names submitted by SOME parishes. However, even as late as 1992, St Helier still only forwarded 19% of its electorate for inclusion on the jury list.

By about 2005, I had concluded that this problem was mainly historic and therefore I put the matter on the back-burner. However, within the last year, I am beginning to hear once again of people who are complaining about being called multiple times for jury service, which indicates that the system may still be open to abuse. One thing I know for sure is that our current crop of States Members have no interest in asking any embarrassing questions about jury selection.

Has anyone else been called multiple times for jury service in the past few years? We should not be hearing of such cases any more.

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84

Pip Clement

“Senators in: (hopefully)
Bailhache
Gorst
Farnham
Colley
Cohen (just missing out)

Deputies out: (hopefully)
Southern
Pitman x 2
Macon
Tadier
Le Claire
De Sousa”

A Christmas list for right wing Santa complete with a consolation prize for Freddie!

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86

bonkers

AMC ~79

You cant be serious. It’s the right wingers that have led us down the path to the state that where in now and you want to vote for more of these self serving clowns.

Not on your Nellie . We want change not more of the same which is what your selections are proposing

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88

ade

Loco #72

I will be totally condescending here it is obvious you do not understand either the parliamentary model of democracy or the presidential one.

In the UK MPs are elected at a local level and need not be a member of a party therefore an independent can be elected if the people decide irrespective of party allegiance.

In other words no-one votes for a party leader in the UK to be the Prime Minister instead they vote for candidates who happen to members of a particular party

MPs of a ruling party can vote their leader out of power and someone else can replace them e.g. Thatcher to Major or Blair to Brown. This means that a leader can be disposed before the Queen asks the leader of a party to form a government.

The leader then rules with the agreement of the majority of the other members of Parliament as Prime Minister.

In the US the President is the Chief Executive and the Head of State as well as Head of the Armed Forces.

He or the Congress can promulgate laws but the President can be defeated and if so he can use Presidential Executive authority to defeat or force laws through unless there is a 2/3 majority in both houses against.

This does not happen in Jersey as we have adopted a system akin to the UK i.e. The Chief Minister rules with the support of the majority of the States and cannot veto legislation raised by a majority of members. That power is vested in the Crown albeit that it would rarely use it.

The direct election of a Chief Minister is therefore anathema to our political and constitutional make up.

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90

steve

I don’t care if they are left, right, up or down as long as they tackle the issues. I am therefore voting for professional people with some policies and a bit of initiative and drive to get things done and would probably work in a consensual way. My picks Bailhache, Le Gresley, Forskitt, Colley.

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92

Pip Clement

Really Marc I am not sure thay are anything much politically.
I would describe them as the usual liquorice allsorts of Jersey politics.
They will support Project Ozouf most of the time but they will vote against it if it suits their agendas.
Voters will play mix and match anyway, look at Steve’s picks; Bailhache, Le Gresley, Forskitt, Colley, and I know people who are going to vote Stuart and Sir Phillip as their ticket!

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94

Sanity

Serious questions:
Given that most of the Candidates have completely failed to make anything of their own lives what makes them, and indeed many of the commenter’s, think that given control of the Islands billion pound budget they will do any better?
Given that Jersey still has the lowest tax, lowest GST/VAT even allowing for food (almost every other jurisdiction has VAT with only the UK as the main exemption although this is under review), high standard of living (check out was austerity means) and high employment why do many of the candidates want to change this?

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96

Sam

AMC – 79

You clearly don’t understand Jersey politics.

Those Deputies you hope lose their seats are not members of the government, they are back benchers.

If the government is incompetent than it is their own fault, not the fault of members who are not in the government. In which case you should amend your list to exclude Deputy Gorst and Senator Cohen.

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98

Ready to roll?

75. I don’t think Gorst or Cohen are a “shoe in” although I agree Bailhache and Le Gresley are more certain than others. I think Lyndon Farnham will do well, not close enough to the current bunch to cause a problem but enough savvy to understand the issues. I think Rose Colley also stands a chance if she can make her voice heard. A family lawyer has more perspective of the island.

so 79. I would replace Gorst for Le Gresley and my top four are:

Bailhache
Le Gresley
Farnham
Colley

Totally agree regarding the Deputies list in its entirety but unfortunately I don’t get to vote (off) any of them!

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100

donald pond

Huw (97)
The legalisation of drugs should be a major issue for Jersey for a number of reasons. The main one is that because Jersey is a wealthy Island, illegal drugs sell here at a significant premium to the mainland. No amount of enforcement can stop this – indeed, the better the enforcement, the higher the premium at which drugs can sell and so the more attractive the prospect of importing drugs.

So Jersey becomes a magnet for organised criminals seeking to sell drugs. They use mules to ferry the drugs and 80% of La Moye is filled by mules. Drugs are then freely available and widely used by youngsters, many of whom end up either dead, addicted or imprisoned.

From my school year (about 80 people), at least 3 have died as a result of illegal drugs and at least another 3 have had their lives ruined by imprisonment. So we are talking about an issue that has life changing effects on around 5-10% of the population and their families.

And it goes on: the criminal underclass attracted to Jersey to sell drugs do not work or pay taxes. They are the source of a disproportionate amount of the criminal activity (including violence) in the Island.

And it costs the Island something like £75m in terms of prison, court, customs and lost tax revenue, to support this state of affairs.

And yet you think it is not an important issue.

Legalise cannabis as a start, tax it properly and see what happens when the criminal class lose 80% of their income overnight. And guess what – with the money we saved we could more or less fill the black hole at no cost to the ordinary, law abiding memberof society.

Why is this not worthy of some consideration?

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102

Sanity

Chris #99 – Easier said than done – I was looking at Le Gresley but to be honest he has proved to be completely wet in both policies and performance. Last straw was after listening to him on the radio hero worshiping Syvret.
Most of the platform is made up of career failures who think they could do better in the States. Whilst they claim to better understand our problems more importantly they have proved from their own lives they are incapable of doing anything about it. As a business is only as successful as its board of Directors so our society can only be as economically successful as our politicians.

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104

Wiley or wily?

101. got it – you are a firm supporter of DP

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106

Pip Clement

“As a business is only as successful as its board of Directors so our society can only be as economically successful as our politicians.”

Good grief, if that is true we really are doomed.
Looking at the rich kids and never wozzers of the business world that make up the CoM we have been lucky to escape the flush pan of history for so long

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108

Jay

I’ve read through Darius Pearce’s key policies and I really had to laugh.

Yes, of course, the only way to heave ourselves out of this financial mess is mass-deregulation. It’s not as if the deregulation during the Greenspan era in America lead to this situation in the first place. Also, going to the gold standard? Really?

The fella must be a bit simple.

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110

James Wiley

@104

I am a firm supporter of change.

My ticket is Le Gresley, Syvret, Forskitt and Pearce. Use all four of your votes, keep the establishment out.

Balance of political opinion and none of them are tainted with the existing government.

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112

Tony

Totally agree with you there Mr Villiers, Sir Philip has unrivalled experience of the States of Jersey, his knowledge and intellect will be a great benefit to the Chamber and to the People of Jersey.
We are so lacking politicians of his calibre. There are some good ones in the States, but we need more vision and understanding of the issues , instead of of all this infighting and disrespect .

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114

Sanity

Pip – Agreed we have been lucky. Just got to make the best from those prepared to put their names forward. It is frightening just how many of the current hopefuls are actually proud they have failed and see this as a strength as is makes them more in turn with the rest of us.

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116

donald pond

“clutching a half pint of beer that he did not seem to know what to do with”

I have previously commented that there is yet to be a chief minister election that has two candidates capable of drinking a glass of wine while managing a bit of small talk. It looks like this year there may be no candidates capable of such a complex feat.

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118

Pip Ozouf

OMG Marc Jones…

We have the pound as our currency… the pound is going down.

You think Portgual, Greece, Italy, Spain, Ireland are in a bad way – well the UK has more debt as a % of GDP and a bigger annual deficit than any of them.

The only country worse off than the UK is the US – they have decided to print $2.1 Trillion to pay their debts this year alone.

$2.1 Trillion extra dollars and no extra commodity production = inflation. Inflation is going to impoverish all but the top 1% of wealthy in the world (and those that have moved their money into gold of course)

There is absolutely nothing anyone can do to stop it, and certainly not any Jersey politician (councillor).

Bailhache, Ozouf, Gorst – the ones who want government spending to keep growing, who keep raising tax (or social security if you prefer). Someone has to pay Bailhache’s massive pension after all!

The only answer is to roll back the frontiers of the States (with apologies to Mrs Thatcher).

If you don’t understand global economics don’t talk about it and pretend you do!

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120

Ready to roll?

It’s a pity Bailhache doesn’t have a lot about his thoughts on Tourism or Farming on his manifesto or website.

Love or hate these industries they support the Finance industry – we would really struggle if we lost any more major links to uk airports.

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122

Tax Payer

No way I am voting for Gorst, he is the mastermind of the ever increasing benefit payments system. Which is modelled on the disasterous UK equivalent.

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124

martin

Illegal elections @ 123…..Yes, absolutely right. I have pointed this out to many friends to check for themselves. Your electoral roll number is tied to the stub left when you are issued with your vote slip. Check for yourselves, your vote slip should contain nothing other than the candidates names and the boxes to fill. But there is a unique number which corresponds with the stub left in the vote books and that stub contains your electoral roll number. Easy to check back and identify the voter.
I do not believe that the majority of officials are corrupt but the fact that the system is set up to allow this is an absolute disgrace.

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126

Bo

Give us your election Views…………………………….the majority of candidates lie as has been the case with sitting COM and waiting to brain wash the new school!

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128

Overpopulated

I love the urban myths about voters being identified by the voting slips.

Just who is going to bothered to sit down and look at them?

Who actually cares who voted for who – it doesn’t matter.

In any voting system there have to be checks in place to make sure people only vote once and only those eligible to vote are able to do so.

There are only three issues for Jersey in Sept 11
1- immigration
2 -unemployment (see 1)
3 – the world banking crisis (but nothing Jersey can do about that)

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130

vote rigging?

The ballot papers are counted then sealed and only opened if an iquiry is necessary. If the ballot papers were not numbered how do you think Shona Pitman and Southern could have been prosecuted and convicted for assisting individuals in filling out their forms. It’s as simple as that. Most people probably have too much work on their plates to actually give a stuff anyway, except bloggers who need to keep interest in their twaddle.

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132

Vote Quint!

Jersey would make a fortune from legalised Euthanasia clinics.

Any of the candidates speeches and much of the literature could be used as a soporific. Plus free fuel for our power from fuel incinerator.

Joking aside like the legalisation of Cannabis etc the island needs to look at alternative niches to survive in the long term.

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134

Pip Clement

The real elephant in the room is the world banking crisis.
There is little that the island can do about it and if it turns in to a double dip the island will not walk away from it easily.

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136

Illegal Elections

I am just pointing out a fact, not any conspiracy theory or vote rigging.

It is the law and it is being broken, simple. The ballot is not secret.

So the States can choose to flout the law if they feel like it? Laws are there for a reason and if they are being broken then there are consequences.

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138

donald pond

Thanks Bob.
Really, it is simple question. I remember Geoff Boycott always used to say about cricket that the job of a captain was to make life difficult for the opposition.
The current policies make life easy for criminals and difficult for young locals in particular, the majority of whom go through a short phase of taking drugs. The question is whether we want to force our youngsters into contact with often ruthless UK career criminals or whether we want to legalise cannabis and spend part of the considerable tax revenues on a proper programme to get kids off drugs.

The winners from this would be local families, local drug addicts and tax payers (the scheme would generate more savings than GST).

The losers – career criminals and drug pushers who currently make tens of millions a year, tax free, every year, at no risk. Because risk is for mules.

After 40 years of the same policies failing you would think someone would consider a plan B. When even the likes of Vote Quint (who is normally sensible) cannot engage with this you really wonder whether people have lost the power of critical thought.

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140

Dope

I would not advocate cannabis being made legal. Many people charged with violent assaults locally have positive readings of cannabis in their blood stream, but as they are not in possession it is not part of the charge and so not part of the media release. Two of my friends (from separate social groups) tried to stop smoking dope (both being regular/daily smokers) and both violently attacked people within about 48 hours of stopping. Neither of them could understand why they had behaved this way as “normally” they are easy going, but in reality they’re just stoned. Unfortunately, for some (not all) it can be a major cause of psychotic illnesses if they are genetically vulnerable. Also, why would users want to encourage yet another tax?

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142

donald pond

“why would users want to encourage yet another tax?”

and £160 an ounce for something that can be produced at marginal costs is somehow not a tax? It is a tax, just one paid to drug gangs rather than the state.

I agree that cannabis is harmful and I don’t want my kids to use it. But realistically, most kids do, so shouldn’t we try to make sure the stuff they use is pure, of an agreed strength, and the proceeds used to fund rehab rather than criminal lifestyles?

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144

Hilary

To Sanity, postings 93 and 102 (probably among others).

I suggest that you change your name.

Concerning your first comment about tax on food, most European countries apply a tax, at a reduced rate but in most cases still more than our 5%.

Concerning your comment about Francis Le Gresley brown-nosing Start Syvret on a Radio Jersey interview – sorry, I’ve listened to the interview and you are lying, simple as that.

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146

moo

@142 I can see where you are coming from with the cannabis argument, but I don’t trust the stuff. I worked with some youngsters who used it in the UK and they quite often became paranoid and even delusional, often got kicked out of school because they could neither be taught nor reasoned with.

We already have alcohol and tobacco, do we need another legal drug?

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148

Immy Grant

141 Justin –
To be elected to any public office, candidates should be able to show a pedigree of at least 4 generations of Jersey family direct parentage.
Ditto all those with a vote.
Perhaps this will start returning Jersey to it’s rightful owners who survived an occupation and managed a successful reconstruction after the war without the need of money grabbing foreigners becoming involved in every aspect of true Jersey life.

Makes a change from Vicki spouting this tripe, why stop at 4 generations of Jersey Lineage, why not 400, your lineage is about as unpure as it could be. France has invaded more times than anyone can remember, so much so that you ( alleged ) language is French in all but name, and don’t get me started on the large number of babies born shortly after the occupation.

Lets all catch that boat and deny you the prosperity you’ve become accustomed to since finance arrived, you can have agriculture and tourism and mass unemployment, still you can always play with your sister to keep you entertained ( if your dad has finished )

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150

donald pond

Moo
It is the whole mindset I am challenging. You effectively say cannabis should be illegal because you have seen the damage it causes. Well yes, but that damage was caued while it was illegal.

Just because something is legalised doesn’t mean use will increase. In fact, without the “cool” criminal association, without the hugely efficient criminal cross- marketing (“no hash this week but we’ve got some speed”) and with increased education, drug use may decrease.

This is what drives me mad about our current politicians. Politics shouldn’t be about deciding what is good and bad and then banning what you think is bad. It should be about achieving results. And if existing policies don’t work, we should change them.

And that doesn’t apply just to drugs, it applies all over the place. Like why don’t we just merge ITIS and Soc Sec payments? A single return to a single body. Why don’t we require healthy unemployed locals to work in the fields and coffee shops instead of subsidising farmers who import labour while paying our home-grown layabouts to do nothing? Well no, we can’t, because we don’t do it that way. Honestly – we are a small Island – we don’t need to simply copy everything the UK does.

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152

Sanity

Many of the dangers caused through drugs are there BECAUSE they are illegal. The obvious examples are where drugs are mixed with various chemicals, even poisons and varying strengths as there is no quality control resulting is accidental overdoses which would not be the case if their distribution were properly controlled and regulated. That “modern” cannabis is so dangerous is because suppliers have cultivated new and more powerful varieties that are easier to grow – again because it is illegal.
A person charged with even a minor drugs offence is immediately debarred from working in the financial services sector – you take away their jobs, destroy their families and deny them any future and the do-gooders can’t understand why they reoffend – other than proof that drugs destroy lives.
That almost all terrorism and crime relies on the illegality of drugs for its funding is also lost on most people.

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154

Ebenezer Rodney

Don Pond # 150 in response to Moo you said,”..You effectively say cannabis should be illegal because you have seen the damage it causes. Well yes, but that damage was caused while it was illegal.”

No, cannabis causes damage because it is a mind altering drug and it’s long term use has the potential to cause mental health problems.

I think our politicians have more important things to do than pursue your pipe dreams; It’s the economy stupid.

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156

Sergeant Rock

Dope 140 – “Many people charged with violent assaults locally have positive readings of cannabis in their blood stream”

What utter c**p. There are very few offences that the police have a power to demand a blood sample from a subject. Assault suspects (if that is all they are suspected of) are NOT required by law to supply a blood sample.

While I am happy to hear both sides of any argument, pure bull like this is put out for no other reason but for mischief. Please stop it.

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158

Pip Clement

I know a few long term light users of cannabis and they seem OK.
The quantity consumed is important but that goes for any drug. A gin and tonic in the evening is a long way from downing half a bottle before bedtime.
A lot of people are long term light to moderate drinkers, very few become alcoholics and it seems to require relationship breakdown, etc to tip most people over the edge.
I suspect that alcohol is far more likely to result in fighting and disorder than cannabis.
I suspect that if cannabis was legalised the present consumers would continue as before. It would attract very few new adherents.

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160

donald pond

Pip you are spot on. Why don’t we criminalise alcohol then? The answer – because it produces good tax revenue and we don’t want people drinking moonshine. Exactly the same arguments apply to dope. You can legalise something without approving of it or encouraging it.

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162

reform idea?

If I was reforming the States and agreed a cull was in order, there is no question in my mind that the Constables should go and the 2 ousted Senator seat re-instated.

Constables occupy the least democratic seats, (on a popuation basis as well as the tradition factors that result in them frequently being unopposed).
If you axe the Constables, you improove Jersey’s democracy and representation, the highest aim in political reform. However, to keep the traditionalists happy, grant the Constables the right to occupy their seats and speak in debates, should they wish, but not to vote.
To me that seems more middle road, fairer and should be acceptable to all sides.

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164

Ebenezer Rodney

Realist # 161/. I thought Les Quennevais referred to hemp used for making rope. Surely the idea that those invovled in the manufacture of rope smoked a spliff is purely anecdotal.

We have enough of a problem with drunken driving without adding to the problem with increasing the potential for driving under the influence of drugs.

Nobody denies that smoking an alcohol abuse causes major problems with health etc., but why add to the problem by legalising drugs?

There is also enough of a problem with dozy politicians, without giving them an excuse.

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166

Nigel Pearce

162. Reform idea.
In January, I wrote that the connetables should be paid by their parish and attend the States only as advisors to their deputies, without having the right to speak or vote.

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168

donald pond

egalitarian (165)
Darius Pearce’s stated policy is to close down the JFSC and JFL. I am critical of some of the JFSC’s actions, but without Proper (though not excessive) regulation the finance industry would quickly be sanctioned out of existence. The fact that he can even think of such a policy shows he is out of his depth.

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170

C Le Verdic

Realist, # 161. Much the same thing hapenned in Hemel Hempstead.

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172

Mike

Dick rather misses the point. No-one doubts Syvret’s oratory – he comes across very well. He hasn’t topped previous polls for nothing.

So that’s OK then, is it? Happy with his behaviour? Happy that this criminal used every trick in the book at a huge cost to the taxpayer to evade relatively minor charges? What if everyone used tax-funded legal aid in that manner, that would be OK would it? Happy with his illness record? Confident that he hasn’t been extremely selective in when he is ill – he does seem Ok now doesn’t he, how miraculous. Happy with him taking flight to the UK, continuing to draw his States salary whilst in hiding?

No-one questions his strengths Dick, but his weaknesses and costly egotistical behaviour surely, surely outweigh them?

Forget the perceived spin, look at the facts.

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174

Sam

135. Perspicuous

No, I’m afraid you are completely wrong. The States Assembly is our legislature, not government. The Council of Ministers is our government (executive is another word for government).

2 minutes on Google will confirm this.

For example, Labour MPs in the UK are not members of the government. They are members of the legislature. Only the Tories and Lib Dems are the government. Do you follow?

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176

Give it up

169. Credit for posting under the same name…but as you were at St Martin hustings and St Ouen (not exactly close) and a previous poster has already given us an alternative view on Syvret at the St Ouen hustings then it appears to me that you are the one appearing a little desperate, a hustings groupie??

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178

Huw Janus

169 – Maybe the reason so many people criticse Mr. Syvret is because of his history. He is surely King Midas in reverse as everything he touches turns to poo. What positive achievements can he claim from his previous tenure in the States?

All this man seems to do is wreck the reputation of the island of his birth. He has the potential to further damage Jersey’s standing, which may impact on the island’s future finacial stability, which is already suffering under a global crisis. There are enough troubles without him adding to the island’s woes.

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180

Sanity

Jerseygirlcapetown – You probably hit the point as there are already too many in the States without the required skills – business acumen, management experience, people skills, understanding of economics and the other skills necessary to steer our Island politically, socially and economically.
We do have a lot of “normal” and well meaning people in the States who have tried to make a difference and do listen to the like of you and me. Apart from blogging when I get time I do lobby various States members across the entire spectrum of the States. Some are a lot easier to speak to than others and only one has been unhelpful and rude.
The universal feedback I get [sometimes reading between the lines] is they have struggled once elected, finding themselves completely out of their depth. Simple issues such as GST that appear black and white become minefields once you have all the “facts” and have to deal in consequences.
Those who portray themselves as “peoples heroes”, whose faces appear constantly on the front page for asking awkward questions and always voting for the “popular” option are the ones you need to be wary – they have no answers, no alternatives, leave policy to others and will sell their souls for enough votes for another 3 years at £45k – well aware that any employer will recognise that they are not worth half that amount in a real job.

Also best wishes and hope your recovery is going well.

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182

Darren

There may be thirteen candidates, but the 2011 Senatorial Elections are actually about who will fill the remaining three places after Sir Philip Bailhache tops the poll.

At parish hustings, his quietly spoken, considered and measured delivery distinguishes him from all rival candidates. Sir Philip’s track record alone gives him the assured authority that contrasts sharply with the entreaties of other Senatorial hopefuls, who strive to list various meagre levels of achievement.

Given some of the well rehearsed Jersey voting techniques, Sir Philip will not even have to rely on his policies carrying the day. Significant numbers of local voters will use their multiple Senatorial votes to place a cross against any Jersey name on the ballot paper and no others, which bodes well for Bailhache, le Gresley and even the wayward Stuart Syvret. Alternatively, voters simply expend their voting crosses in alphabetical order, which is again good news for top of the list Bailhache, as well as Freddie Cohen and two of the three lady candidates, Colley and Corby.

As a former holder of the Poison Chalice of Planning, Senator Freddie Cohen has resorted to waving planning applications at assembled voters to prove that he was not the States member who signed off some of the more recent controversial developments.

His hustings performance carries the expected ministerial presence and he rightly promotes his successes in respect of the environment and his latest role promoting Jersey globally at government level. It remains to see how heavily the Planning albatross hanging from his neck will weigh him down, particularly unfair when the blame for many poorly or over-designed structures clearly lies elsewhere.

English Rose Advocate Colley is a wonderful exponent of her profession. Adept at highlighting problems and debating the issues, she remains light on finding the solutions, primarily – of course – because that’s what judges do, not advocates. Rosie is pretty vague on key subjects. For example, she wants “educational equality for all our children and young people”, but what does that actually mean? Equality of “educational opportunity” or the scrapping of private schools in favour of comprehensive style States schools for all?
Jumping on the constitutional reform bandwagon she wants a full debate on the subject – as if we hadn’t had enough already, public consultation – despite the extensive history of opinion polling – and a referendum, but she fails to offer any suggestions of her own on possible reforms.

One assumes she favours the Island wide franchise as she is taking part in it, but what about retaining the Constables or abolishing Deputies? To be fair, Rosie has only been in Jersey since 1997, so she’s probably still struggling a bit with local culture.

Linda Corby is the internet blogger behind the jerseyrights.com website. She has got things cracked and wants to reduce taxes, whilst spending much more money on affordable housing, free school milk, with financial subsidy injections into Agriculture, Leisure, Sports and Tourism. So, no problem there then.

At the Senatorial nomination meeting, Linda was proposed by Deputy Shona Pitman and Deputy Montford Tadier was one of the other nominees. That’s probably enough said.

Lyndon Farnham is as slick as his marketing campaign, but like so many heavily marketed products, this is merely a triumph of style over substances. He has been at pains to advise voters of his regular attendance at States sittings, notching up well over 200 during his time in office. This deftly avoids two interesting facts.
Firstly, once a States member responds to the morning roll call, no further check is made on attendance for the remainder of the day, other than via the voting record. In respect of the vote record, members marked down as “Not Present” may be on a “comfort break”, in the coffee or computer rooms or off the premises.

Secondly, when Lyndon was previously in the States he was known as “Lyndon Phantom” by a number of fellow members. On States sitting days he was apparently there, but never seen. Very spooky.

Mark Forskitt is the sandal wearing, eco-friendly, peak oil, climate Armageddon long haired Earth brother of the line up, except that he has taken the precaution of getting suited and booted for his public appearances, with his grey/ white locks restrained by a pony tail. If you wish to return to a regular diet of bean crock, tilling the fields and waiting for the tide to come in before the electricity comes on in your below ground Hobbit hole, then this is the man for you.

It is difficult to place Deputy Ian Gorst’s intriguing accent, which may come from St Clement, St Ouen or a TV comedy show. However, he is an accountant by training, so he will be able to tell us precisely how much money the States is wasting following any particular audit of finances. An evangelical proponent of the Protestant work ethic, Deputy Gorst is a “Right to Work” campaigner, in the sense that it is right that you should work and wrong if you don’t, especially if you are claiming benefits, which plays well with tax payers.
However, after making savings locally, Ian likes to spend lots of money on Overseas Aid, which is not so popular. He has also intimated that he fancies the role of Chief Minister. Steady on Ian, we haven’t even put a Jersey girl into that role yet, let alone a “come over”.

Senator Francis le Gresley is the “Stealth Candidate”. Having batted a steady wicket after winning the by-election prompted by absentee Senator, Stuart Syvret, it would seem likely that the voters will give him a full term this time. He has successfully brought private propositions to secure worthy outcomes such as extending the Cold Weather Payment’s Scheme for pensioners, but seasoned observers note that most of his proposals have the common requirement of even more expenditure.

This points towards the Senator being a little more “Broad Left” than he has led people to believe to date. Is he going to acquire Geoff Southern’s mantle as the new “Leader of the Opposition Progressives” or remain the true Independent that he claims to be?

Mrs Sylvia Lagadu has previously dabbled in local politics, putting her signature alongside that of Trade Union poodle, Geoff Southern, on the 2002 Senatorial nomination form for her current rival candidate, Chris Whitworth. This poses the question as to whether La Lagadu-du-du is quietly linked to the JDA-da-da.

The political party that meets in a telephone box mysteriously disappears at election time, when its erstwhile candidates opt to run as “Independents”. However, when successfully elected, the independent, former JDA members, appear to undergo a spectacular political conversion and promptly revert to their previous party allegiance.

So is La Lagadu-du-du a siren voice in a covert plot for JDA meetings to be upgraded from a telephone box to a bus shelter?

Darius Pearce is real, although you could be forgiven for thinking that he may be a virtual reality computer generated programme. Darius is the future of politics, because he has no policies of his own. Darius will represent everyone in the Island by listening to what you want and taking your policies to the States.

So email Darius with your policies and watch him sort them out. You can also, apparently, tell him how to vote on propositions brought by other States members as well, presumably via your mobile phone.

One has to ask “why bother with Darius?” Wouldn’t it be easier just to put propositions on line, so we can vote direct and cut out the politicians altogether?

If you fall for this lazy claptrap, you may be one of the people who put the twit into Twitter and you should consider whether you are actually competent to go out and vote at all.

David Richardson is a marvellous, deep throated, public platform performer, who wants to put discipline back into education. Stiff upper lip, shoulders straight, no talking at the back, no ruddy nonsense etc. has been missing in local schools and David is keen to re-install the culture, although he has been careful to avoid the C-word (that’s cane, for the very imaginative).

David’s election leaflet is a riveting read.
Politics – Something is wrong – notes Dave, swiftly followed by – Too many Senatorial Candidates? Yes Dave and, regrettably, you may be one of them.
Dave has a degree in Marine Biology and worked as a Fisheries Scientist in Africa. Sadly, he may be a “fish out of water” on the Senatorial trail, but at least represents top hustings entertainment value.

Following his “Wilderness Years”, Jersey’s icon of depression, Saint Stuart of Syvretia has returned to the political fray bearing the “Stigmata of Oppression and Rejection”.

Previously resurrected as a campaigning journalist for children’s rights, St. Stuart has now been reincarnated as an “anti-corruption campaigner”.

Humble and saintly Stu describes himself as – The only person who has shown the courage and integrity needed to really challenge the powerful in Jersey.

This courage required the one true Stu to seek “political asylum” in a flat in London belonging to a British Member of Parliament for over six months, followed by the local attempt to restore Stu’s messianic integrity, which cost the tax payer around £500,000 in Jersey’s law courts.

Incredibly, significant numbers of voters still appear to share Saint Stuart’s vision and faith, so stand by for a Triumphal Return following the Election Day of Judgement, grim rounds of atonement in the States Chamber, possibly leading to a Crusade to the International Court of Human Rights and a pilgrimage through the uncharted waters of the international media, as Jersey’s reputation gets a further trashing on a global scale.

Alternatively, you may wish to use your cross to ensure that Saint Stuart is nailed this October.

Last, but not least, (although that awaits confirmation when results are declared) is Chris Whitworth, who appears to be linked to the Whitworths dried fruit company, given that he has the ability to attend hustings in entirely dessicated form. St Clement voters were astounded to find Chris attending as a life size card board cut out which powerfully conveyed his presence, without words.

Subsequently, Chris has, presumably, added water to himself and can now speak at hustings meetings, having clearly reviewed his opinion that hustings were “a waste of time”.
Describing himself as Chris “Bean” Whitworth, this Senatorial hopeful is a maintenance engineer who wants change. Therefore he is not “appealing to the ten thousand voters who regularly vote for the Establishment…” but is instead appealing for votes from the “other fifty thousand who are continually disregarded and yet asked to pay for everything…”

Chris may end up not appealing to many voters at all. Whitworths make home baking products including dried fruit. Dried fruit is an important constituent of fruit cake. See if you can make the links.

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184

Huw Janus

Or even Sanity 180.

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186

scrutineer

Don’t vote for any deputy who voted to reduce the number of senators, since that is the greatest democratic travesty that has happened here for a long time, and is the one thing that should have been the subject of a referendum recently.

Only vote for deputies who live in their district, since with only a local manadate that is all they ought to be represting, given that the senators exist.

Don’t vote for any existing states member who voted for a pay rise since it set a very bad example in current times, and also makes it more difficult to keep down states officer pay, which is unreasonably high in many cases in relation to their responsibilities(compare against UK civil servants – easy on internet).

that leaves …. and Syvret, oh dear.

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188

roger phlegm

Darren (182)
Terrific and beyond the call of duty. Bailhache, Gorst and Le Gresley look certainties to me. Cohen, Farnham and Syvret very hard to predict. I attended several meetings with the Phantom when he was a Depty and he spent all his time on the Blackberry instead of listening to civil servants. Still, a lot can be forgiven for a nice poster with a “I’m not a very political politician” slogan.

But there are at least 6 or 7 no hopers standing and it is a shame they are ruining the hustings by preventing proper scrutiny of those who stand a chance.

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190

Pip Ozouf

Interest rates are not going to rise for at least two years Ben Bernanke (US Fed chair) has told us… there is a currency war going on and the UK is not going to kill growth by allowing the pound to strengthen against the dollar.

Look at Japan and you will see that you never get out of the 0% interest rate corner with a fiat (unbacked) paper currency.

There are $9 trillion in the world which funnily enough is the value of all the gold in the world, coincidence? I do not think so.

The US printed $1 trillion in the last year and has just agreed to print at least another $2 trillion in the next twelve months which means all commodities will rise by double what they did this year.

So with food up 25% in the last year, energy up 35% how much more is it going to go up next year?

Do you not understand this is the end of the global financial system as we know it! The American empire is over.

Every bank and every Western country is bankrupt – Jersey uses the pound and that is going to be devalued right along with the dollar.

Eventually normal people who do not understand global economics, such as yourself, will lose all faith in paper money and we will go back to using copper, silver and gold as currency.

In the mean time I have made a fortune by selling my property in 2008 and buying gold and silver.

It has always happened whenever governments interfere with the market and replace gold with a mere promise – Rome, Weimar Germany, Zimbabwe, Belarus – what makes you think it will be any different now?

So everything you own which is denominated in pounds – your house, your pension, your stocks and shares will similarly be significantly devalued.

The only, and I mean the only chance Jersey has is to significantly reduce the size, scope and cost of government radically.

Jersey is not a country, Jersey does not have its own currency, you cannot compare Jersey to countries – we do not have the option of hyperinflation to reduce the value of our debts, but we will suffer when the US and the UK do exactly that.

Do not vote for ANYONE who even thinks of doing anything but cutting government down to size.

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192

Mike

People would have to be really stupid to vote for Stuart Syvret after everything he has said and done and Darren is right. When it got hot he ran away for 6 Monthsand thats not courage, it’s coward. The record is there already.

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194

Screaming Lord Sutch

Darren 182 – congratulations on the longest piece of drivel ever published on this forum.

They are by virtue of wanting to be elected entirely unelectable, why do they crave power so much, a covetous deceitful bunch of charlatans. I can’t wait for this election to be over – I’m tired of telling them to f*** off when they knock on my door.

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196

Mort Tishan

One man’s “no hoper” is another man’s answer to his prayers. Let the voters decide!

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198

roger phlegm

James (191)
I didn’t say I will vote for Gorst. I probably won’t vote at all as they are an uninspiring bunch. But I think he will get in because he is relatively young, polite and has at least started to tackle issues like the ageing population.

I am uncomfortable about Gorst and Le Marquand being happy clappy political allies. I also get the feeling that the reality is dawning that Ozouf is unlikely to become chief minister (personally I’m not sure he will get re-elected in 2014 and I doubt he would go through the humiliation of standing unless he felt certain to get back in).

Rose Colley – yes, just what we need, a bleeding heart liberal with London values. If she gets in it will be by virtue of being a woman.

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200

Zoro

I have to say that the maliciously barbed rumour that Stuart Syvret has lost the plot is not only spurious but makes me wonder just how scared those with dodgy motives really are of him..I listened intently to him at 3 hustings….and spoke to him personally…and can report that he was articulate,funnyreceived great applause,and accurate in his thinking and speaking….speak as you find and beware gossip.the marbles were most definitely in his possession

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202

Matt

Darren #182

Your comment is pure gold

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204

Give it up!

195. Tricky Dicky
”
I do apologise ‘give it up’ I was unaware that it was regarded as somewhat strange to attend more than one hustings. Some of us actually have a reason to attend most, if not all, of them. If you knew who I was you would understand that.”

Ok – process of elimination – you are:

a. a candidate
b. a reporter
c. one of the supporters that boo and hiss according to the candidate they are following (to every hustings)

I have voted for Syvret in the past and I still think he is an incredibly intelligent individual but can you honestly say he is a reputable candidate when (as a previous poster commented) he disappeared to the UK on full pay for six months tp avoid minor charges, ran up a huge bill in the aftermath which as a taxpayer I have to contribute to, claimed he was too ill to attend court and yet thinks I can trust him to work on island wide issues over the next few years? You obviously have your opinion – I know mine.

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206

Sanity

Zoro – If you need any evidence that he has lost the plot you have to look no further than his own blog. In his own words he states that threatened the police that they would “not take him alive” he was “surprised” that 8 or 10 turned up at his address. He then claimed that he had fled to London to seek political asylum in fear of his life from the evil Jersey oligarch and from his own posts was expecting some type of SAS raid to get him back. He fails to mention that this evil oligarchy continued to pay his £45k salary for the full six months he was there. Then having got the message that nobody wanted him back – or was it greed for the money – he forgot about all his former fears and returned to Jersey having gone to the UK to study investigative journalism. Even the other day he accused the BBC – on BBC radio that they refused to let him speak! Please just read his blog as there are hundreds of examples of his complete disregard for anybody but himself. If he had any honor he would be working out his community service instead of claiming to be sick whilst also campaigning and attending the hustings each night – you could not make it up.

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208

Its a yarn

I just read the latest on the Syvret Blog and he is attacking 3 progressives and one of which is one of the best Senators we have. What will people get from voting for Syvret who oblivously cannot get along with anybody in the States whether they are left right or down the centre?

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210

Polly Tician

207 – I just read the latest on the Syvret Blog and he is attacking 3 progressives and one of which is one of the best Senators we have. What will people get from voting for Syvret who oblivously cannot get along with anybody in the States whether they are left right or down the centre?

What a politician is in opposition to his competitors? unbelievable this doesn’t happen anywhere else. Hang on yes it does, it’s the cornerstone of politkics the world over.

Syvret’s only crime is telling the truth and trying to expose the current corrupt political system. I hope he gets in, there’ll be a fewe worried politicians if he does.

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212

Matt

Ha ha ha! Tells the truth! You obviously haven’t been following the court proceedings and the summings up then!

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214

Mona Lot

210,Polly Tician

I also hope he gets in!

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216

I Spy

Darren 182,

Shame you had to copy and paste practically every word from the abuse denying farce blog, not surprised the JEP published it.

The more Stuart is put down the more people want to vote him in, you must all be scared stiff.
Don’t blame you though, you have every reason to be, he speaks the truth as can be heard from him at the hustings. When you speak the truth and from the heart, you don’t need notes, it just flows out. That’s how you know it’s REAL.

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218

Scrutineer

The comments on S Syvret are very interesting and divided. He can be highly articulate and clearly devotes a lot of time to research. Whether this research is balanced or not is open to debate. However, he has announced in public that he suffers from a depressive illness. This is a chronic tendency which will recur when things are not going well again. His blogs show signs of obsessive behaviour. Some people in Health state that when he was in Health he was prone to bullying behaviour. I am sure that some did not, though. Many of these issues do not make for stable behaviour which is important in positions of responsibility and leadership. I am not sure that he does always speak the truth (I Spy #216) in the objective sense, but of course there is a biblical saying ‘what is truth?’. What flows out is his version of the truth, and I am sure he believes it. So, while on some levels, I have some sympathy for him, and for one of his causes in particular, I will not be voting for him.

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220

Mr. Puffimeister

A number of people have noticed , including Dr.Forskitt in his blog , that a well known PR consultant allied to ‘establishment’ politicians not currently seeking election, has been present at most of the hustings. Perhaps he has nothing better to do or else he is working. If he is working then for whom? If it is someone (or more) on the rostrum then surely this should be declared as an expense,and if it is being paid for by other politicians and given ‘free’ ,then what is the real price ? The voting public should have transparency not deceit.

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222

Vote Quint!

S Syvret was accused of Bullying when at Health.

Sorry but Frank Walker, TLS and PO and James Reed have all used tantrums, toy throwing and basically bullying to their own ends.

Southern is using the unions as the biggest bullying pawn in the whole States.

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224

truthseeker

218 scrutineer ther is no such thing a ‘a depressive illness’ he admitted being depressed at the time,he had lost his home,partner,and been raided pushed around,and vilified by the establishment party a pretty depressing time wouldn’t you say or are you so bitter you just want it to be as you write..bit transparent,inacurate and deeply offensive for those who suffer any short or long term depression…or perhaps you are so up there you have transcended being a human…

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226

Hilary

#182 Darren

I not only agree with most of what you said but enjoyed the wit with which you said it.

My wife said that nobody called Darren could be that clever which I took as being rather Darrenist. For the record, is that your real name?

P.S. My only regret is that you are not standing.

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228

Helen Highwater

BAILHACHE
COLLEY
GORST
LE GRESLEY

You know it makes sense.

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230

Phil

This historic abuse story should never be used as a politic stick to beat others with, and I wish candidates who are stanidng would concentrate on issues affecting everybody and not just a few who really should be seeking help from professionally qualified experienced people and not unqualified politically motivated bloggers.

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232

ade

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-15127072

Just a little case about a nurse whose convivtion for puportedly murdering patients may be unsafe.

Bet this doesn’t make it onto Stuart’s blog

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234

GE Norris

Helen Highwater ha ha so funny.

BAILHACHE COLLEY sounds like a legal firm or is that the NEW firm?

Of the people you mention I am of the opinion Le Gresley is the only one worth a punt.

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236

Loco

#231 ade – as has been said over and again, whether the individual in question is innocent or not is irrelevant. What *IS* important is that there has actually been an investigation held to establish this, instead of potentially damaging news just being brushed under the carpet as it was here.

Fair comment otherwise – though I don’t think any [potential] politician would willfully publish material that could weaken their standpoint in the public eye!

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238

truthseeker

230 Scrutineer ..if you are going to come on here and use ‘comparisons’ please compare like for like…Cohen lives in a large ‘security’ protected house and suffered the slings and arrows for a very short time….whereas S.S. has battled with the establishment party for years and years…he is not perfect…show me one who is ..but has in my view displayed a tenacity and sticking to it that is awsome…to go on Paxman as the perceived bad guy,then whip the chief ministers a** on National T.V. no mean feat.

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240

Joe Blunt

Driving around the countryside today, I notice that Freddie Cohen’s posters are virtually twice the size of those of the other candidates.

If I was his “shrink”, I’d say this is due to his insecurity and fear that he may not be re-elected.

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242

Hilary

Truthseeker – 235

For “tenacity” many people would substitute “obsessive behaviour”.

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244

Jersey Pedant

Funny that Joe Blunt should comment about the size of Freddie Cohen’s posters.

I thought that it was rather inappropriate for a recently resigned Planning and Environment Minister to place such blots on the landscape.

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246

Jimmy

I tend to agree with many comments on Syvret and I do not understand why he is standing after everything he has done and said especially after losing his by-election seat against Francis Le Gresley last year. Who can he work with and who does he want to work with even if he does scrape in? Complete independants in the States who have broken ties with others never get anything achieved.

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248

Sam

Some of the criticisms of Stuart Syvret on here are just pathetic.

If you have political differences with him and don’t find yourself on the same part of the political spectrum as him, then that is fine and a sensible debate can proceed from there. But some of the ignorant slander is just pathetic and not healthy for democracy.

Stuart Syvret was arrested (unlawfully) by 10 police officers who then proceeded to search his house and documents (unlawfully). So to carry on his constituent work and research he left to go to a jurisdiction where he could not be unlawfully harassed by the authorities. He did not just abandon the island and people who relied on him so he could make off with the money. I don’t know about you, but the idea the police can abuse their police can abuse their powers in such a flagrant way as they did and not be subject to severe chastisement by the government is a terrifying concept to me. This is the sort of thing that happens in fascist dictatorships, not a supposed democracy.

Syvret had a defense to the charges against him, which when submitted to the court was all deemed to be inadmissible. The reason it was rejected (and thus not debated in the court) was because his case was built upon facts that would have got certain members of the Judiciary and Civil Service into heaps of trouble. And who made the decision to reject his case? The Judiciary! A turkey wouldn’t vote for Christmas would they?

Syvret has to appeal his conviction as many times as he can because for the case to be heard in the European Court of Human Rights he must exhaust all appeal processes in this jurisdiction. Frankly, I’m relaxed about this because it is important for Jersey to take part in things like the European Court of Human Rights. If we are ignored by the ECHR then all sorts of abuses could happen in Jersey and go unchecked.

Stuart Syvret has topped the poll several times and holds the record for the most votes a politician in Jersey has ever received. He is an entirely credible candidate and anyone who crosses him off the list does so at their own peril.

Facts are important!

I have seen Syvret argue in court too many times to believe the nonsense many of you post. He is definitely mentally stable, he is incredibly intelligent and he is politically capable of far more than most of his opponents are.

He’ll certainly have my vote on October 19th.

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250

Warren J

I did not attaned the local hustings at First Tower though reading the JEP report, the ususal questions arose such as Should GST be removed from food ? (Remind me, how many time has this already been debated !) Imigration ! (Simply scrap the benefit system and get the lazy locals off their back sides, which would reduce employment opportunities for immigrants ) One of the candidates even said that she would like to see higher taxes on luxury items ! How would this work ? And what, in this day and age is a luxury item ?

I have decided not to vote in the Deputy election.

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252

truthseeker

242 scrutineer,if you do not accept that a multiple car, 10 cop dawn raid on a persons home where children and granny were as adversity when a simple request to attend the police station was all that was required..I doubt we will achieve any common ground….perhaps I could direct you to Deputy Paul Le Claire’s statement about the govt within govt in J.E.P. Opposition to manipulative democratic undermining coteries is not going to be welcomed,I fear you may have placed your trust in the untrustworthy…ALL societies need a devil’s advocate just to keep the rampant desires of such cliques in check…so would he have a value in Govt…YES I would say he would be good value in that task alone.

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254

Marc Jones

Darren, just got aroudn to read it – best ever! Love It!

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256

Jersey Pedant

Having read that the T&TS minister is thinking of handing over the handling of our scrap metal to an outside firm instead of a locally based one which has been doing the job well for ages fills me with anger for our government and in particular for the minister in question, Constable Mike Jackson.

This clown had presided over a number of disasters – here’s another. With the highest number of unemployed since records began what does he do, plan to add to them.

I can only hope that on election day the electors of St. Brelade choose the right candidate.

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258

donald pond

OK, for those of you thinking of voting for Syvret, just ask yourself one question.

Why, in 2007, just 2 years into his 6 years of office, did he apply for a job at the Tax Justice Network?

If you think he is devoted to Jersey, you are being wilfully blind to facts.

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260

Far Corfe

Donald, maybe he’s devoted to a different part of Jersey than the part you think is important?

Jersey isn’t just Finance, even if it does currently pay most of the bills (indirectly, by taxing the workforce).

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262

Un Happy

Based on a recent experience, I don’t feel happy giving the JEP my election views anymore. This is because when I posted my comment on an important political issue (which wasn’t rude), it wasn’t posted.
If the JEP wish to restore my faith in their news paper then please;
1-Post my comment dated Saturday 1st Oct which spoke about the wrong manifesto being printed under Roy Le Herrisier (St Sav No 3) in the latest Parish magazine entitled, ‘La Cloche’.

2- Print the ‘missing’ question and answers from the St Helier No 3 / 4 Hustings at Rouge Bouillon Sch.

Thank you.

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264

Paolo

Can people talk about other candidats instead of Syvret? If people want to vote for him after all his documented behaviour traits and the utter nonsence he writes then fine, they get the Government they deserve, but please lets talk about the other people standing as it’s so important.

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266

COM-mentator

@229 Qwerty

Re english not being the primary language at schools is a bit far fetched.

However certain schools are providing extra curricular language lessons for those of Portuguese, Thai and Polish descent so that they can learn their ‘mother’ tongue.

The disruption and lack of decent grades in the states schools is primarily down to the bad standard of english spoken by some of the attendees. It is not uncommon for children to speak solely in their native language so as to exclude and not be understood by other pupils or teachers.

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268

flowergarden

I have attended several hustings during the past weeks and it has become clear that there are cheats in our midst. Candidates with planted questions from their own supporters should not get your vote. You can spot them by the response – it appears rehearsed, too many facts and prepared reports at fingertips for a spontaneous and honest reply. They churn out statistics to conceal the lack of heart behind the knowledge. Our island needs sharp minds, not practised spin doctors and PR experts. Any supporter who has been party to this kind of behaviour should feel ashamed. Do any means justify? No they do not. Interestingly, these candidates are the first to spout ‘honesty and integrity’ as qualifying criteria.

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270

Paul Bennett

Unsolicited E Mail from Bruce Willing

As you know the Senatorial election is tomorrow and I am supporting Freddie Cohen.
In the current global economic climate, Jersey faces significant challenges both within the Island and from outside. If we are to maintain our standard of living, we need strong proven politicians who are capable of leading the Island.
In the last year Freddie has delivered significant results for the Island. His external work has resolved the threat to our tax regime and has contributed to the creation of new job opportunities. He has built new relationships with politicians at Westminster and elsewhere. It is my view that there is nobody better to represent the Island.
Freddie’s manifesto sets out many new policies including:
Free non means-tested university fees
New superfast internet infrastructure and an enterprise park
Delivering more low-cost housing
Cutting red-tape
I have no doubt that he will deliver on these initiatives.
The print media has unfairly chosen to focus on the single issue of Portelet. The redevelopment at Portelet was approved before he was elected, Freddie simply endeavoured to improve the scheme. In contrast, he has steadfastly refused the development of Plemont which he believes should be returned to nature.
It is likely to be a close election and every single vote will count. I hope you will consider giving Freddie one of your votes on Wednesday so that he can continue his vital work of protecting and developing Jersey’s interests at Westminster and beyond. To the extent that you feel able, please also recommend Freddie to friends, family and colleagues as someone to support and vote for.

My Reply

On Senator Cohens’ stepping down from planning

Well thank you Senator Cohen, what did you think when you took on the role in external affairs? Didn’t you think you had already created a full time job for yourself in becoming inextricably linked with the minutiae of the politics and specifics of planning, having ridden rough shod over the decisions of the professionals that worked for you. Planning had become a one man band, the joke on the street was, thank goodness you weren’t in charge of Health, you’d have been popping into the hospital and doing the odd op if you didn’t agree with the surgeon’s diagnosis.

Your timing was impeccable, although the whole profession was anticipating your resignation for some months, four months of term to run surely means planning is going to be effectively rudderless for this period? This will undoubtedly be a further kick in the teeth for the economy, specifically the ailing building trades. This, now poisoned, chalice is now an almost impossible task, extricating the specifics from the policy, once specifically the roles of the employed and the elected.

Please excuse me for not sympathising with your heavy heart, and please, please do not play the anti-Semitic card. Anti-Semitism is loathsome and surely illegal, if people have made anti-Semitic remarks to or about you, they should be named and punished, if they have made these remarks anonymously then they are cowards and you should ‘butch up’ Freddie.

Everyone I know who knows Mr Cohen says he is a good and intelligent man, people whose judgement I trust and believe, so why did you Mr Cohen take another role when your workload was already high enough. No Mr Cohen, I don’t think you can have my vote you were playing the electorate. I wish I had time to get my thoughts into tonights JEP, I shall try and get them on line.

Paul Bennett

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