‘Stop damaging our reputation abroad!’
Friday 19th October 2012, 2:30PM BST.
Senator Sir Philip Bailhache
STATES Deputies who suggest that Island institutions are corrupt or grossly incompetent risk damaging Jersey’s reputation way beyond our shores, Senator Sir Philip Bailhache has warned.
In a speech to business leaders, the Assistant Chief Minister with responsibility for foreign affairs rounded on detractors – both in and outside of Jersey – as part of a drive to combat what he called the destructive ignorance fuelling negative views of the Island.
He said that much of the criticism directed at Jersey and its label as a tax haven which was harmful to UK, EU and third world countries were the result of ‘the green-eyed monster of envy and ignorance’.
Senator Bailhache told members of the Jersey Association of Trust Companies that a huge amount of work was being done both very publicly and behind the scenes to promote the Island as a well regulated finance centre around the world.
Read the full story in the Jersey Evening Post. Click here for subscription details. Individual editions are also available online.
Wednesday 22 May
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In any other civilised society this would be seen as an attempt to stifle dissent, by branding internal criticism as disloyal or ‘insane’.
Thankfully that couldn’t be the case in ‘Perfect but misunderstood Jersey’.
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isn’t that the same attitude that the BBC took over jimmy saville allegations 20 years ago??
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No, it’s not the same thing.
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Operation DISTANCE-JERSEY-FROM-JIMMY-SAVILE
One of the few things in Jersey that is ‘transparent’.
Smell the coffee.
Bailache’s Liberation Day speech was an unexploded bomb.
Why don’t you defuse it ?
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Rightly so, as they are mere allegations and posthumous ones at that.
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Senator Bailhache is absolutely right. This enemy within problem, the constant criticisms, accusations and denigrating of Jersey and its people and institutions started with Syvret. Now Deputy Southern, Higgins, Tadier and the Pitmans have continued putting Jersey down. Frankly their behavior is a disgrace. Do they have any idea how much damage they are doing to the Island? I wish they would get behind Jersey or resign.
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Absolutely! We must maintain a good image of the island, no matter what. If that involves covering up child abuse, corruption, abuse of power, gross negligence etc. then so be it!
So long as we still have our good image and reputation, then that’s what counts.
Keep smiling, citizens – everything is A-Ok here!
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quite right loco. “now then , now then”
hows a bout that then ?
lets have a trip up to haute de la garrenne .
the most damamging episode in jersey,s history to date , imho.
i know i wont be seeing our backbenchers , whilst sitting on the other side of the world , via sky tv.
but i think i may see the saville case.
coconut anyone?
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Brilliant reply Loco. I am still laughing. Your right though, and the damage was done long ago. Jersey’s States caused it themselves by covering up what others have now exposed. The States do not like being exposed for their wrongdoings. That is why the whistle blowers are all ousted out. Jersey is one of the richest places in the British Isles and whether it has a damaged reputation or not, investors or the even more wealthy will still put.. sorry hide… their money in our banks due to our easy and relaxed laws.
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Everything is not OK,to have a good image you must be good, Jersey is not, witness child abuse scandal, Jimmy Saville et al. Clean your mess up, own up to it and then maybe you’ll have a good image
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Oh how very dare they challenge their peers and publicly note fault with the states! Joel, what Island so you live on exactly?!
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I suppose your right it is the Jersey way to hide everything! Why change.
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the damage was done years ago by Oz when he introduced, in my view an illegal 0/10 taxation, the decline after that is there for the world to see. Not to mention his lies over GST, mishandling on lime st , the list is end less. this has not been caused by left wing loonies but by shear incompetence of one man. oz.
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How about the members of the Jersey Association of Trust Companies who are happy to facilitate egregious tax avoidance schemes that get us on the front page of The Times. Did Sir Philip mention to them in his speech that they were badly damaging Jersey’s reputation all for relatively small fees compared to the size of the industry they tarnish?
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Totally agree. Baillache as usual pointing the finger anywhere but where the blame really lies.
People within Finance carrying out these tax avoidance schemes, knowing full well how dubious they are do far more damage to their reputation than any of the people mentioned in joels rant.
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Here here Sir Philip. Many of the industry “knockers” appear to forget that the finance industry has provided more than 70% of the islands GDP for a generation, when the farmers were getting subsidies. In addition howmany jobs has the industry created over the last 50 years.Very many!
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The backbench left have been attacking the finance industry for years and some are even members of ATTAC. Its down to voters, if they want to vote in anti-finance people from the left then they get the Government they deserve.
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Well regulated finance centre?
Oh please Sir Philip, who exactly are you trying to kid, I find it quite amusing that the accepted definition of a tax haven was actually formulated by a former economic adviser to Jersey which is:-
“What identifies an area as a tax haven is the existence of a composite tax structure established deliberately to take advantage of, and exploit, a worldwide demand for opportunities to engage in tax avoidance”
I think there has been enough recent media coverage that I don’t need to give examples!
This description seems to fit the Channel Islands perfectly.
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Indeed. Jersey’s reputation as a world-leading tax haven has been hard fought for and is richly deserved.
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The IMF and World Bank both seem to disagree with you in their most recent reports Nick. But I guess to you and the other experts here who know so much about the industry, despite displaying their ignorance of it in most of their posts, they are part of the great conspiracy ?
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Yes, Sir Philip. Nobody must stand in your way and everyone must think the same thoughts as you. Only then can Jersey prosper!
Seriously, though, the Deupties in question may not the brightest or most eloquent but opposition must never, ever be stifled no matt how irritating. Bailhache is acting like a polite tyrant.
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Claire – It is not the Assoc of Jersey Trust Companies responsible for these schemes. For 99% of our industry this business is neither wanted or needed and the few recent examples have all been UK based schemes, setup, regulated and promoted in the UK – not Jersey. Unfortunately there are still a few local rogue Trust Companies run by lawyers or advocates who have got involved in what is termed “aggressive tax avoidance” schemes which if these came to light in the UK would close us down. These schemes are technically legal but blatantly immoral. What is very sad is that these are known to and indeed regulated by the Financial Services Commission yet they seem unable to comprehend the risk or do anything about them.
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Dear Sanity
I did not say that the Association of Jersey Trust Companies was responsible for the work of these rogue firms. I merely stated that it would actually have been far better for Sir Philip to launch his broadside towards said trust companies at this meeting rather than the politicians. What would be great is if this Association could “cold-shoulder” and ban said trust companies from their organisation and something that the JFSC would have to take account of in a way that the “cold shoulder” provisions by the PTM in the UK is enforced by the FSA on its regulated members.
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So why is aggressive tax avoidance immoral but tax avoidance isn’t?
I view both as wrong.
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Since when has morality had anything to do with taxation? Is it moral to increase tax on fuel and alcohol every year? Is import duty moral? Why would you feel morally obliged to give money to the state every time you transact in land?
With regards to tax avoidance, do you feel morally obliged to give money to the government that you are not legally require to do? Why would anyone give more money than they are legally obliged to give? If they do, this is a gift.
Tax avoidance is simply making sure that you don’t pay more tax than you are legally required to do. ‘Aggresive’ tax avoidance is media spin.
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More interested in the reputation of the finance industry than democracy. What a surprise.
The fact is, some people don’t like how Jersey is run, and they are perfectly entitled to hold that opinion and to express it.
If you don’t like it Bailhache, you could always try North Korea or Zimbabwe where government ministers adopt the same attitude as you.
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Completely agree with Joel ! It is nice to read a comment from someone not criticising the Island. Those Deputies mentioned, think by representing the less well off, it is an easy route into the States and a very good income. I wonder what would happen, if one of them had to represent the Island, at an International Conference.
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1 and 3 both correct, 2 and 4 way off the mark!
2. Why do you blame Syvret? Walker and Ogley tried their hardest to shut him up, so we the public would never know the truth.
However, with the Sir Jimmy Savill investigation being widened, Scotland Yard may be in Jersey soon because of what he is alledged to have done at H.de La G.and it will be very difficult to ‘shut them up’.
4. So Finance created many, many, many jobs over the last 50 years!! How many were for locals? (born here).
Have you not seen the state of the Island because of all the jobs created by Finance? and the need to spend BILLIONS because the Island has too many people and infrastucture collapsing.
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In my experience, most of the people I have heard criticize the island about tax avoidance and how we are a tax free haven usually don’t have a clue what they are talking about and have based their opinions on factually incorrect newspaper headings.
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You cannot have your cake and eat it. Tax havens are legal but the are designed by the rich for the rich. So Sir, Sir Philip if we squeeze the poor they are likely to complain. Please please don’t cry.
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They are also used by pension and insurance funds. You got a pension Gino? Then you’re using ‘tax havens’. You tax dodger!
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The truth always outs in the end and if people had been executing themselves correctly and professionally they shouldn’t have anything to worry about should they?
Was it taken into account the amount of foreign professionals past and present may be talking about their experiences in Jersey also?!
The shocking thing about all of this is, as usual,too quick to defend money (And not always clean) as opposed to its people. But never mind about the little people hey? The long term effect of greed doesn’t matter does it , only when the cracks appear, consultants, media agents and reports won’t paper over it either.
Either Phillip Ozouf is lying when he said there will be a crackdown on avoidance schemes or this is a media disaster, either way one aspect contradicts the other. For once try and be honest?!!!
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It is sheer lunacy for Jersey politicians to attack the mainstay of our economy. Jersey is well regulated and has a Court system recognised to be world class. By virtue of their office, these Deputies comments are taken seriously. Hopefully voters will remember those who play with our future prosperity for a cheap soundbite and to keep their £40K jobs.
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Jersey is well regulated and has a Court system recognised to be world class
You forgot to mention separation of powers, checks and balances and a police force (& courts) independent of political interference.
Oh, and an unblemished track record of all these things
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…. And the fact all our laws have to be ratified by the UK. Who do you think sanctioned the growth of the finance industry huh?
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Thanks Joker,
We can always rely on you to try to deliver the ‘punch line’.
SO…………..
All of our “self governing” and Law Offices failures are the fault of the UK !
Reminds me of the Bailhache Manifesto which maintained that the Jersey Government’s failings were the fault of the opposition !!!
Shame 17,000 odd islanders didn’t realise it was a joke and they voted for this buffoon.
9:37am and 9:43am below – yes, you need to keep working on your material.
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….All ratified by the UK. The UK are complicit. Who do you think sanctioned the growth of the finance industry huh?
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court system world class,
a magistrate sitting in la moye for defrauding pensioners!!!
speaks for itself
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Mark R
” has a Court system recognised to be world class”
What an utterly bizarre comment. We have a court system run by unelected people nominated by the likes of Bailaiche on retirement to keep the club members in power.
No one could describe our court system as world class
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“He said that much of the criticism directed at Jersey and its label as a tax haven which was harmful to UK, EU and third world countries were the result of ‘the green-eyed monster of envy and ignorance’.”
No Mr Bailiache it’s the result of people with morals coming together to damn the likes of you for helping immoral individuals and companies to avoid paying there contribution to society.
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Well done Sir Philip Bailhache.
We need to keep hold of our Island and lot let idiot lefties have any control.
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James.
A few more lefties as you call them and we might end up with a more equal society instead of this rich mans club we currently have.
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What an inspired choice of pseudonym.
If only you and those others on this board who see nothing good about the island you have chosen to live in would just stop for one minute and see the reality of Jersey rather than the place from hell you imagine it to be.
Facts:We do have a world class court system, acknowledged as such by top lawyers from all over the world; we do have a well regulated finance industry as confirmed by the IMF, the OECD and others;the island would be an impoverished community without the finance industry and the thousands of local jobs it supports; uninformed, unthinking, blinkered critics who choose to believe every word spouted by those conspiracy theorists who seriously want to bring Jersey down, rather than look at the facts of life, do damage Jersey’s reputation, and risk their own livelihood in the process. Idiot lefties is a great description.
Wake up to reality before your vitriol bites you where it hurts!!…or dare I say it, try somewhere else, (anywhere else??) where you would clearly be happier.
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Indeed. Vee must not allow zees leftist commies to make us look bad dear leader.
Give me a break, its the likes of Balaiche, Walker and co attempting to stifle any kind of opposition and keep the plebs in their cosy status quo that is wrong with the island. Id rather we waste £80k a year on a couple of less than useful politicians who do however question and query the status quo than live in some Orwellian nightmare where any attempt to question the old boys brigade results in being told to shut up and accept it.
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What a towering intellect! Pulling out the “politics of envy” card.
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I would love to tell the world that the Bailiff’s Chambers have managed the conviction of a Magistrate competently. Had he been sacked within 24 hours because they were ready for it I would have shouted it from the roof tops. Had they sacked him within a week because they did what had to be done I would have led a gentle round of applause.
But he’s still being paid so I can’t. And I am usually pro-Establishment. Incompetence is too small a word sometimes.
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Ban all deputies from displaying any anti capitalist tendencies, all anti capitalist behaviour is against the Jersey way.
Withholding support from the capitalist system is the same as supporting communism and criticising capitalism in any way should be considered an attack on our very way of life.
Our country is built upon capitalist values and we will fight to preserve these values and this way of life from the leftist infiltrators amongst us who would bring down this blessed capitalist state and destroy our futures.
All literature crticising Jersey will be banned and possessing anti Jersey literature will become an offence.
I see an embryonic Stalin in the picture above.
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Maybe just maybe these so called lefties are trying to explain but they do not do it very well in that Jersey has thrown all its eggs in one basket. It got rid of farming (only 81 farmers left) it has all but killed tourism (very few hotels / no shows / London restaurant and bar prices / cheaper to get to the Med than there.
They put everything into finance thinking the bubble would never burst and it has.
The UK and Europe who took no interest in the offshore tax aviodance schemes (legal) in the good times but are now as their tax yield reduces they sure are now.
I can see no way out of this for Jersey it saddens me to say it. All your young have left, you make nothing contructive and your only industry left is being picked on and will die, you are to small to get any support from the UK. Even the Tories your fair weather friends brief against offshore finance now.
That is the truth and you continue to tax the poor with regressive taxes but not the rich. But when you have to tax the rich they will leave and you will have nothing in reserve.
Greed did it and greed will end it.
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Hear hear Senator Bailhache!
Indeed, one wonders if our current economic problems are not a direct consequence of the treacherous and utterly reprehensible antics of those attention seeking States members and bloggers who seemingly revel in every opportunity to ‘air the island’s dirty laundry in public’.
One would argue thst Jersey flourished during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, precisely when a more discreet and responsible attitude prevailed. And surely any reasonable observer can only conclude that we will not regain such a happy state of affairs until the island’s very own ‘enemy within’ have been brought to heel for once and for all.
One looks to Sir Philip to spearhead efforts to restore the values of decency, truth and honour to the heart of our island’s public discourse. To that extent one humbly posits that he begins by requiring all local bloggers to apply to the authorities for a licence before being allowed to comment on local affairs.
Such a measure would be entirely in keeping with local sensibilities, and would help to weed out any disruptive and ireesponsible element – thus going a long way to restoring Jersey’s good name abroad.
Proud Jerseyman
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“one wonders if our current economic problems are not a direct consequence of the treacherous and utterly reprehensible antics of those attention seeking States members and bloggers who seemingly revel in every opportunity to ‘air the island’s dirty laundry in public’.”
Have you not been taking any notice of the world news over the past 4 years since the global financial crisis began?
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Welcome back PJ
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I worked for a large bank in the 1970′s sealed bags of large domination notes in briefcases were brought in and paid in no questions asked. I would hope things are tighter now.
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PJ
“To that extent one humbly posits that he begins by requiring all local bloggers to apply to the authorities for a licence before being allowed to comment on local affairs”
Are you being serious?
Ever heard of “freedom of speech”??
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Hmmmm
Re previous posting No8
“Unfortunately there are still a few local rogue Trust Companies run by lawyers or advocates who have got involved in what is termed “aggressive tax avoidance” schemes which if these came to light in the UK would close us down.”
Couple of points – it may or may not be that rogue firms are run by lawyers or accountants – please let’s not tar all with the same brush.
The owners and operators have after all been approved by the regulator, who has a duty to protect Jersey’s good name.
The regulator answers to the States.
The power of the UK to close us down may just be overstated.
These schemes are technically legal but blatantly immoral.
Nothing technical – they are legal or illegal. There is no moral issue with tax – shame the UK PM muddies the waters with that observation.
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Thats good comming from him.
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Sorry. But this entire thread, including the article, are making my laugh loudly.
We already know that thos in power don’t want anyone to ‘shaft jersey internationally’. The bottom line is that there are huge questions still unanswered – evidenced questions at that – and those at the top in Jersey seem intent, by their actions, on digging their own graves.
Baillache lives in cloud cuckoo land – a land where no one should question his feudal reign over the island.
The comment about the Saville horror, is epseically pertinant. There WILL be questions asked by people outside the isalnd. And they won’t be able to be suddenly suspended….
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Yes it will be very interesting to see what becomes of UK investigations…
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Siobhan Gallichan
The worrying fact is that 17,000 individuals voted for this man. What planet are they on?
There’s no hope when a woman I work with voted for Baillache on the basis that “he seems like a nice man”. I find it amazing that someone with that level of intellect actually went to vote.
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I am sure Jersey has the reputation it deserves.Just ask Chris Swinson or Grahan Power.
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Yes PB, you stop damaging our reputation abroad
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Reputation?? 90% of the worlds population have never heard of Jersey,And as for Democracy in jersey i think it would be a bloody good idea !
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/jimmy-savile/9620223/Jimmy-Savile-He-was-the-tip-of-the-iceberg.html what is going to happen?
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I suggest Mr Bailhache reads the Telegraph 20/10/12 there us a full page article about J Savile and the HdlG story – it does not look good for Jersey.
I do not know the real story but this will run and run until the real truth comes out.
Until this is all laid to rest Jersey’s name will be mud
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Is that the same article which quotes Lenny harper, the policeman who decided there was insufficient evidence to charge savile in 2008 ?
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The police don’t decide who to charge – it’s the Atorney General…. I expect the police may well have tried to do something and were slapped down – it’s happened before and since.
Saying that, of course, there may well have been insufficient evidence…. we’ll have to wait and see.
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EXACTLY. The Telegraph article quoted Syvret, Power and Harper, all great supporters of Jersey! Bailhache’s point made better than he could have hoped.
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I think Jersey will continue to be under attack from inside and outside the Island until tax avoidance schemes are closed down. We are involved in these schemes and most are legal, however morally what Jersey is doing is wrong as its helping to create budget deficits in other countries thus creating hardship for many people. We also need to come clean with ownership of Trusts with a public register and avoid being involved with tax avoidance schemes to clean up our image. A plan B is what we need. Good business only.
We must not forget that our strong finances were created when we were a real tax haven( not something we can be proud of), however much of the rotten money and dodgy schemes have been eliminated.
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PJ,
What planet do you come from?
Yes Jersey flourished in the 1960′s 1970′s and 1980′s.
I well remember in the 1960′s and 1970′s when nearly every month a ‘commercial bank’ would go bankrupt and the owners and directors would still be living in their luxury homes and have luxury life styles, only the ‘poor little investors and small businesses’ would suffer.
And do you know what, this was all facilitated by solicitors, advocates and accountants!!
Even in the 2000′s ‘dodgy money’ in Jersey is still coming to light, yes held in banks, so we can add bankers to the above list.
Do not forget we have 1000′s of registered companies in Jersey, some that are associated with global mining, using 5 year old children, who just about earn enough to buy minimal food.
PJ if this what you and Philip Bailhache want that is up to you, however people like myself (more and more each day)reserve the right to complain and let the world know what is going on!!!!
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Siobhan – For the rest of us obviously living in an alternative reality to yourself these attacks are on us, the population of Jersey. Those in power = those elected by the people of Jersey for 3 years. Thank goodness that they do stand up to those from outside [and some from within] who want to “shaft” Jersey because we are Jersey.
You might spend most of your time in blog world but it is this reality that pays the bills. Where do you think all the money comes from to pay benefits. You need to watch the news and see what happens when a state runs out of money. You need to wake up to the reality that when things come tumbling down it will not be the rich who will suffer,
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Sanity,
I should like to suggest, politely, that you actually have a good read of some of the blogs. Then you may realise just what has been going on, just why people like PB are the ones who are really destroying Jersey’s reputaion.
The bloggers – and certain States members – are the ones trying to get a just end to all this so the island can move on and try to regain some kind of civilised reputation.
PB and his ilk desperatly don’t want that to happen. Why? Because if the full truth were to come out – not just about child abuse – yes, Jersey would be truly shafted. But then, so would certain people also. And those people have so much to loose.
The poor will suffer. Of course they will. It’s ALWAYS the poor who suffer because of the actions of the rich.
So, it becomes a question of personal morality. Do you stand up and say ‘NO!’, knowing that it could mean that people loose jobs etc? Or do you remain quiet, and let the injustice and… ‘dubious’ actions continue, safe in the knowledge that everything is warm and rosey for you?
Sometimes, doing the right thing is the hardest thing of all – not just for yourself, but for others, also..
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Mario
Examples of tax avoidance: Buying off the internet to save on GST; duty free at the airport; paying into a pension; investing in a capital rather than an income bond; investing in forestry. All these have varying degrees of acceptability and some even encouraged by government.
An example of “aggressive” tax avoidance would be a highly paid executive receiving a million pound loan in lieu of a bonus which would be taxable. There is no intention to repay the loan which is subsequently written off. The whole process whilst legal is in reality a sham. Governments can crack down but then this has adverse consequences on genuine investment which industry desperately needs.
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A very weak argument there Sanity. You know there a darned sight more difference between the tax vehicles open to the rich and big business versus joe bloggs. There are two sets of rules and this is out of order.
What do you think would happen if every taxpayer could do the same as the rich and big business? Thats right very little tax would be payed and everything would grind to a halt.
As for GST this penalises the poorer in society the most, i.e. it is regressive. However buying on the internet is also open to the rich and big business and I am sure they avail themselves of this technique to avoid even more tax.
So I take it in your example £999k would get around your definition of agressive tax avoidance.
What is genuine investment?
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Mr. Bailhache is right but equally, states members who do not listen to the voice of local people are wrong.
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Yup keep the money rolling in at ANY costs, corruption,incompetence, lawlessness be damned.
Anyone want to bet nothing will come of this Saville business & the raping of innocent children at Haut Del La Garenne. After all we can’t have Jerseys wonderful reputation sullied.
Days like these make me glad I left.
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Everything that was good about Jersey started to die when Frank Walker took charge as First Minister, everyone knows it is true. I will say no more than that. You decide.
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I agree with that entirely-very simply put.In fact it was during his “reign” that my husband and I decided we were leaving Jersey and we did.No regrets!
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Direct. To the point. An I have to say I agree
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Bailhache used the Liberation Day speech to air his views on HDLG, he is now a politician and he continues to try to airbrush away any blemishes on the face of corporate Jersey,he and his wider family and freinds have grown fat on the proceeds of Jerseys “image abroad” but until a real Man or Woman of integrity rises to the top of Jersey politics with a island wide mandate and says enough is enough we need to change we must change we will continue to see him and his toadies in the local media crying foul whilst the National Press reports on Child abuse and dirty finance,social media is here to stay,if you are a Politician or Public figure your corporate failings will eventually be exposed the BBC and Jersey states are currently finding this out.
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Siobhan – Yes; I have visited Blogland where the misfit inhabitants worship the conspiracy, the Americans never reached the moon and Senator Ozouf is an alien, but I have always returned to reality.
From my travels in Blogland I was struck at the differences in perception to the crimes you mention. Here in reality we were all horrified at the revelations of child abuse whereas in Blogland the reaction appears to be a joyful glee that here is a tool that can be used to “shaft” reality. In Blogland conspiracies abound as to why the subsequent investigations took so long and some very sick and seemingly unfounded accusations made, some against people not even born of in an position of influence at the time. The people of Blogland appear to believe that our States members are both corrupt morons, incapable of any intelligent or original though whilst at the same time super intelligent beings who control every aspect of our lives, the UK government and now even the European Courts. Here in reality both can’t be correct!
Do you think that just maybe the delays and difficulties in the subsequent prosecutions, just maybe, had something to do with Harper spending all his time investigating coconuts, tooth fairies, mass graves from an old Bergerac show and wining and dining journalists from the News of the World? Do you think that just maybe Mr Powers’s suspension, on full pay, was due to his failure to ensure that the investigation was handled properly? What would have happened had Harper’s famous expanding “dig” reached St Martins Church? And finally do you think that two former very senior police officers spending their retirement in Blogland is a tad suspicious?
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Aren’t you the one who said there are “Pheasants in the government”?
You’ll be suggesting that coconuts migrate next!
However, I agree more with your earlier statement…Jersey is governed by a flock of long-tailed game birds!
Go to YOUTUBE see MONTY PYTHON’s ‘THE ANNOYING PEASANT’…and you might understand why so may people dislike the present state of things.
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Sanity do you not see the bigger picture here?
All of us are victims of ‘loss of trust’ .That loss of trust poisons ,distorts and polarises.
Ironically it is the cliched aphorism of the initial obfuscator Ex Chief Minister Walker that holds true,’We are where we are!’.
Step off the childrens roundabout of name calling and blame . Look at what we CAN do to create a modern and transparent governance that all can trust even if you may disagree with some elements. The current situation is M.A.D.(in 60′s parlance).
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Hmm. You’ve trotted out some well known misconceptions – the coconut, the tooth fairy etc. Each of those have been answered fully, and shown to be incorrect.
The bloggers have shown evidence. Fact. Over and over their facts are there, on display. Deniers just simply dismiss them – who needs fact when you can use the tooth fairy?
I would sooner believe their detailed research then anything that the local accredited media come out with.
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Does anyone remember when Police Chief Power was first suspended. He asked for the records to prove when the disciplinary letters were produced. He was denied this for months by the States of Jersey.
eventually he took them to court and they were told by their own court to hand over the information.
This information proved the letters were drafted several days before the then Home Affairs Minister claimed to have beceom aware of any wrongdoing.
So Senator Bailhache, perhaps you should corry less about “deputies who claim corruption and gross imcompetence” and try stopping these things happening in the first place.
Just that one occassion I have described above is enough for some to claim “corruption and incompetence”. Yes Sir Philip, your belovd States of Jersey created letters to suspend some one days before the man who was gouing to sign them knew anything about it. Your beloved States of Jersey then spent a huge amount of effort and money denying Power access to these facts.
Does Sir Philip think this is all a good example of honesty, transparency and competence?
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I think maybe what Sir Phil is not liking so much is the recent on CNN/Fortune exposing Jersey’s corruption: http://bit.ly/ReEl3S
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Having read the article you have linked to there is no evidence of anything at all, there are a lot of allegations and sweeping statements but nothing else.
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Inanity – Problem is not with “modern and transparent governance”, but that most people look at it with their eyes shut. There is a bigger picture but it takes time to comprehend and much of it is not what we want to see so most tend to watch the football instead.
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Propaganda – “Does anyone remember when Police Chief Power was first suspended” Yes, after two years and millions of pounds wasted on the Harper / Coconut farce. I remember that by then the population of Jersey were screaming out to our politicians to take action, the home affairs minister went AWOL and the suspension was issued at an emergency meeting by the minister who had just stepped in. I also remember that is was openly admitted that this suspension had not been handled in accordance with the employment law but that subsequently a proper investigation was held and that a new suspension was properly instigated.
I also remember Senator Frank Walker publicly stating that Harper had an “open cheque” for a proper investigation, money that was then misappropriated via VIP travel and the courting of the News of the World.
So Propaganda – what exactly is your point?
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So what exactly is your point Sanity?
If it is to display total naivety at every opportunity you’re doing a grand job, well done.
If it is to try and convince people that Sir Philip is right, everything Jersey does is good and proper and leftie deputies peddling myths is so unhelpful, you’re not doing a very good job.
VIP travel, courting the News of the World, ha ha roll on floor laughing, you actually believed all that guff did you? You know, the stuff our Homes Affair Minister recently apologised for after the scrutiny BDO report.
You’re not concerned at all that a police chief was suspended with letters written days before his boss was informed of “concerns”?
You’re not concerned that they then suspend him another two times just to make sure one of them stuck?
You’re not concerned that the Wiltshire Police expenses in compiling their report make Lenny Harpers expenses look like a 5 year olds pocket money?
And the best bit, you quote Frank Walker to try and support your feeble argument. Seriously, stop it now, I’ve got tears rolling down my face.
Cased closed Sanity, if you choose to believe all that disproven nonsense good on you, what colour are the clouds and moon in your world?
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Ha…ha ..ha….Nearly fell in my soup….what a statement..! who could have done more damage than himself…Blunder after Gaff after high profile nonsense posturing…I can not take the man seriously..how out of touch can you get without being dangerous..someone have a word with him will you…Please..
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He is no more out of touch than David Cameron but then again most Oxbridge graduates are out of touch.
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We have always been told that our ‘Crown Officers’ were of the best.
We are told that to get the best we have to pay them highly.
I am afraid I have never believed that, I have always thought that our ‘Crown Officers’ come from a group of lawyers that were incapable of earning a good living in private practice.
‘Magistrate designate’ was ‘one step from being S.G, A.G, Deputy Bailiff or Bailiff’.
Do you remember Vernon Tomes being ‘side stepped’ by the then Bailiff Crill? in favour of P.B.? All because Vernon was to be seen in the Central Market on a Saturday afternoon with his carrier bags, this was before he went to the Post Horn pub. NOT THE JERSEY WAY !!!!.
So we could have had a good bailiff, but sadly it was not to be.
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Reading all these comments and being a trained
semilologist I can only conclude that there is either a States department of a dozen or so who regular contribute to this type of column, or a group of retired civil servants or public servants on very good pensions who wish to keep the Status Quo.
And I bet they all got their jobs because they had the pre-requesite 5 GCE’s at A to C.
Well they ‘sound as though they do’.
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Am afraid it’s a bit late in the day for worrying about Jersey’s reputation. Once it was famous for Bergerac and the Jersey Cows and now it’s infamous for where tax dodgers stash their cash and where Jimmy Savile abused vulnerable children – What a mess…
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Sir Philip has decreed that you’re not allowed to say things like that. Even if true, they are bad for our reputation; so quieten down, there’s a good chap.
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I’m afraid its the SOJ and those in high places that are the ones who have shafted Jersey by protecting paedophiles all these years whilst the abused were ignored like sacrificial lambs all to protect the so called “reputation” of Jersey and to please its Oligarchs.
However I feel the tide is slowly changing as more and more people are realising what is going on and are shocked by this injustice.
The noose is beginning to tighten around those who deserve it – and as the truth comes out – may those who were abused as children by those monsters get the justice they so deserve.
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43, 44, 45 and Marcel,
You’ve said it all.
PB, only got his job to keep Vernon Tomes out.
It is not always the best that get the ‘top jobs’. Just look at Walker, Ogley, Le Sueur and now Gorste.
I thought Gorste would be something different, but no, he has gone like the others.
We need more lefties and less of the others, that includes those who keep their heads below the parapits, so they can hang on to their 45 grand non jobs.
It can only get better, oh! yea, for the lefties that is.
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Well Sir Philip in the states sitting on tuesday you said “there was absolutly no cover up at Victoria college when you were on the board of governers” re the Jervis Dykes pedo but the Sharp report made it very clear that there was a cover up. And lets face it there are plenty of parents and people who at the time knew about just such a cover up. Sir Philip do you really think things like this just get forgotten in the mists of time?
Your answer was in reply from Deputy Pitman who had the b… to stand up to you.
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All this political comment about historic abuse is getting silly. Haven’t people got anything better to do?
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I was rather cynical about all the abuse stories as I know people who have been in care homes who were hit and treated harshly but no sexual content was involved.
However, since the J Savile revalations this puts the HdlG in a new light. Currently there are some 400 people claiming abuse by this one man and he was a regular vistor to HdlG.
Who knows what will come out?
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I wonder if all the Nazis actually left your island in 1945?
Tax avoidance is just that – not paying all tax due by seeking loopholes and dodgy schemes, feathering the pockets of corrupt lawyers/accountants, especially in tax havens like Jersey.
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I’m presuming here that you are an anglo,what exactly do you think is happening in your glorious homeland or do not read/listen to or watch any of your media? by the by the Nazi jibe is ignorant and lazy.Bonsoir ma cher.
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