Curtains Up

Readers will recall that I established my Blog last August to compliment my election. At the conclusion of my last posting, The Final Curtain on 1^st December I said that as I was no longer a States Member I had no right for my Blog to be called the Deputy Bob Hill Election Blog therefore that posting would be my last contribution in its present form.

Over the past months I have noted an increasing number of visits made to my blog not only by Island residents but by people world wide. I have also become aware of the increasing number of requests for me to continue with my Blog.

When giving due consideration to the matter I have decided to continue with my Blog albeit with a slight change of blog address. I hope that readers will appreciate the comments I hope to make in the ensuing months. Although I am no longer directly involved with the Island’s politics it does not mean that I no longer have an opinion or a voice.

Historic Abuse Inquiry.

I will begin by saying that I will be keeping an eye of the progress of the promised Committee of Inquiry into the Historical Child Abuse. It should be recalled that it was on the 2^nd of March last year that the States approved Senator Le Gresley’s proposition P19/2011 as amended by Deputy Tadier and my amendments. Verita who was commissioned to produce a report along with recommendations submitted it to the Council of Ministers at the beginning of November. Having been given a copy of the Report I believe that it contains nothing which is sensitive and as a commitment to open government it should be made public immediately after it has been considered by the Council of Ministers.

At the States Sitting on 6^th December, in his answer to a question without notice from Deputy Shona Pitman, Senator Gorst said that the matter was a priority for the Council of Ministers and was hoping that the Terms of Reference would come to the States within the first quarter of 2012. Let us hope that the date does not slip even further back.

Justice is too important to be left in the hands of the victims/survivors and their supporters, it involves society as a whole. I congratulate Mr and Mrs Lawrence for never giving up in their pursuit for justice. Cover ups appear in every society and it takes courage and endurance to expose it. The Lawrence case exposed many shortcomings in the English legal and policing systems yet there has been strong resistance to change. It has also been said that lessons have been learnt, but have they?

Electoral Commission

It has been reported that Senator Gorst is considering appointing Senator Bailhache to head the planned Electoral Commission into States Reform. Daniel Wimberley’s proposition P15/2011 was quite specific in that the Commission should be independent. I hope that Senator Gorst who along with 28 other Members supported the proposition will ensure that no sitting States Member is a member of the Electoral Commission. The same can be said for the Committee of Inquiry. I don’t know how many times I have heard the phrase “Lessons have been learnt” in connection with incidents in Jersey. If any lessons have been learnt, one of the first should be learning what independent and impartial means.

Golden Handshakes.

I was amused to read that the JEP is disappointed by its failure to obtain details of the “Golden Handshakes” given to a number of civil servants. One wonders where their journalists have been for the past three years. If States Members have been denied the information why should the JEP consider itself to have preferential treatment? What support did the JEP give to those “Meddling” States Members who had the audacity to attempt to obtain the details or indeed raise the matter?

Interestingly it appears that Connetable Crowcroft backs the JEP over the matter. It is a pity that the JEP did not back the Connetables proposition P182/2008 lodged in November 2008 requesting a review of procedure regarding the suspension of the former police chief. Had it done so, the review would probably have saved the tax payer around £2million and countless hours of States Members’ time. It may have also saved at least one golden handshake.