It might help readers to take a few steps back to see how the States arrived at its decision.
When the news broke about the alleged abuse in the Island there were calls for a public inquiry to discover how the abuse could have remained "undiscovered" for so many years. In an attempt to placate the concerns, on 27th March 2008 the Council of Ministers lodged R27/2008 which made a commitment to establish a Committee of Inquiry in accordance with Standing Order 146 in order to investigate any issues which remained unresolved in relation to historic abuse in the Island.
At the end of November 2010 the States Police reported that their investigations had been completed. I promptly lodged an Oral question for the States Sitting on 6th December asking the Chief Minister to inform Members of the actions he proposed to take to address the concerns emanating from the Police investigations. In response the Chief Minister made a statement in which he said the Council of Ministers would discuss the matter and would bring forward a report to the States.
On 1st February 2011 the Council of Ministers lodged its report R8/2O11 which in essence informed Members that it considered the matter closed. As a consequence Senator Le Gresley lodged his proposition asking the Council of Ministers to reconsider its decision. I was of the view that the Council of Ministers would be happy to re-consider but would stand by its original decision.
As one can see in R27/2008, the Council of Ministers of the day made a commitment to establish a Committee of Inquiry if a number of matters had not been resolved. In my view the matters had not been resolved and it was incumbent on the present Council of Ministers to establish a Committee of Inquiry to address those matters. I therefore lodged my proposition which actually called for Committee of Inquiry if Members were not satisfied that the original matters had been addressed. Deputy Tadier added another matter which the States approved along with some of the matters in my amendment.
As can be seen above 27 Members supported the Proposition as amended. Of the 11 who voted against 6 are current Ministers including our now Chief Minister Senator Gorst. It has been a long and torturous road and it is obvious that the "Secrecy Culture" still exists with all sorts of lame excuses being advanced to avoid an open investigation or inquiry. Since last March a number of questions have been asked relating to the progress of the Terms of Reference which will have to come back to the States via a proposition but progress has been extremely slow.
Last year the Chief Minister gave an assurance that those Members who had been closely involved with the matter, which were myself, Senator Le Gresley and Deputy Tadier along with a representative of the Care Leavers Association would have a part to play in drafting the Terms of Reference. Last June it was agreed that Verita would be engaged to bring forward proposals to assist in drafting the Terms of Reference and the subsequent Proposition. In late October Verita forwarded its report to the Council of Ministers and as per the agreement the three States Members were given a copy.
Although the Verita Report is supposed to be confidential, as mentioned in a previous Blog there is nothing controversial in it and I believe it should be made available to the public. Since receiving the Report I understand that the Council of Ministers has not consulted with any of the people who had been assured that their views would be sought.
At the last States Sitting, in answer to a question from Deputy Shona Pitman who had asked for a progress report, Senator Gorst stated that the matter was in hand and he hoped that something would be lodged by the end of March.. Given they way that the proposed Electoral Commission proposition has been hi-jacked one is left to wonder how the proposed Committee of Inquiry will turn out.
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A couple of Blogs ago I commented on the golden handshake saga which has been in the public domain for months with little interest shown by the media. Therefore it is amusing reading the JEP whose reporter's have got all exited because somehow they have persuaded Senator Gorst to come clean and admit the done deal. It does seem to be a bit late in the day to be claiming a victory when the battle has been fought by the so called Meddlers. One wonders why the JEP did not support those Members who lodged dozens of questions attempting to get to the bottom of the Police Chief's suspension and the key role played by the recipient of one of the golden handshakes. The recipient as Chief Executive also had oversight of the protracted suspension of the Hospital Consultant which cost the tax payer well over two million pounds, and also the Incinerator Euro debacle which we are told was even more costly.
Now that the JEP has at long last taken in interest in the matter it is hoped that they will be asking more questions such as why no one was taken to task over the mismanagement of the former police chief's suspension particularly as it was against the advice of the Crown Officers and has cost the tax payer well over a million pounds.
I welcome the news that the Auditor General will be investigating the matter and it will be interesting to know whether the Chief Executive Officer's original terms and conditions were amended during his tenure of office and if they were, who authorised it.
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At next week's Sitting the States will be asked to approve P4/2012 which is an amendment to the Standing Orders which requires the Greffier of the States to publish the register of interests of elected members on the States Assembly website and permits the Greffier to make further arrangements for publication of the register. The amendment will come into force one month after it is adopted by the States.
On 4th May last year I lodged P69/2011 asking the States to agree that the Register of States interests be published on line. It was a simple request given that it is possible for anyone to call into the States Bookshop and copy the details. However as usual there was dissent from some quarters and PPC was not really jumping up and down with support as one can read in its Comments. Even though its Chairman abstained, my proposition was approved by 35 votes to 9 with 2 abstentions. The necessary drafting has now been completed and hopefully the new House will stand by the decision made in June last year.
One interesting point to come from the debate was the concern that Bloggers may pop into the Bookshop, copy the info and then publish it on line. It is good to note that States Members are becoming aware of the influence that Bloggers are generating and is even influencing their decisions.
Bob.
ReplyDeleteThe JEP is, like you said, jumping up and down, patting themselves on the back as if it was all it's doing that exposed the Ogley Golden Handshake but where were they when members like yourself needed support?
The JEP, nor any of Jersey's State Media appear bothered that the £500,000 golden handshake of Ogley is chicken feed when it comes to the amount of money (possibly millions) that has been wasted by Ian Le Marquand in his desperate attempt to (unsuccessfully) pin something on the former Police Chief Graham Power QPM.
The TOR's for the Committee of Enquiry, as suggested by Verita, are long overdue for publication, and at least, shared with the Care Leavers. There is a strong argument to be had that they are of huge public interest so as the public are able to compare and contrast the original TOR's with the watered down version the COM are going to come up with and Jon Richardson has had an opportunity to get rid of any "part d" that might exist!
Bob.
ReplyDelete"It is good to note that States Members are becoming aware of the influence that Bloggers are generating"
Indeed THEY ARE
Rest assured Bob - if they try and scupper the COI there will be a massive hue and cry.
ReplyDeleteWe wait with bated breath........
Thank you for your observations.
ReplyDeleteWhen the TOR are published I shall be comparing them with Verita's recommendation and will act accordingly.
Spooky! Have you read the Jersey evening post today?
ReplyDeleteI am assuming that you are referring to the report that Frank Walker agreed to the deal because there was a possibility that Bill Ogley would leave for a higher salary. It is an interesting explanation and one wonders why the salary was increased to what was on offer elsewhere. However I am certain the explanation will be pursued by the Auditor General who will no doubt be asking for the relevant documentation and details of the States Members who were apparently making life difficult for Mr Ogley.
ReplyDeleteHi Bob,
ReplyDeleteGreat piece and nice to have you still with us, But I just have to say as you are well aware of, you made a mistake in the comment you made.
(The TOR's for the Committee of Enquiry, as suggested by Verita, are long overdue for publication, and at least, shared with the Care Leavers)
Bob you are aware the care leavers do not deal with all the victims of abuse, and we are sick of saying this and you know there are victims out there who have and want their own views on the COI and do not want somebody else saying it for them. And you agreed with this yourself as did members of states. So please remember their are other victims out their who have their own voices and it is not just the care leavers.
Thank You
I don't know where the mistake is. I checked with the Care Leavers Association before publishing the Blog above and they have not received the Verita report despite asking for it. You will recall that I made several pleas in my speeches and in questions asking that the Council of Ministers (COM) be more inclusive when considering the Terms of Reference.
ReplyDeleteVerita also ensured that anyone who wished to see them to discuss their concerns could do so, I gather that you discussed your concerns with them.
It is unfortunate that the COM has chosen to drag its feet and be inclusive, but what's new?
When the COM does lodge the TOR via a proposition should they be unsatisfactory it will open to you to lobby your Parish Connetable and Deputy to lodge an amendment.
" QUOTE FROM ABOVE""
ReplyDeleteLast year the Chief Minister gave an assurance that those Members who had been closely involved with the matter, which were myself, Senator Le Gresley and Deputy Tadier along with a representative of the Care Leavers Association would have a part to play in drafting the Terms of Reference.
This was the bit I was referring to. I understood from many States members that ALL victims were to be included. Whilst I totally appreciate the work carried out by the JCLA, (we are all fighting from the same corner),I just wanted to point out that there are many of us who do not belong to this organisation, we simply represent ourselves. I took your comment to mean that ONLY the JCLA were to be consulted regarding the drawing up of the TOR. Sorry if I read it wrong.
I don't know which States Members told you that all victims would be included, because it is non-starter because it would be to difficult. All victims could see Verita but I understand not many did. As previously mentioned no one has been consulted yet.
ReplyDeleteShall you be in the public gallery of the States for any of these debates Bob? We don't seem to be getting much leadership from our elected reps with regard to the Electoral Commission and surely we cannot expecty Dep Le Herissier to fight this most important battle alone....all hands to the pump methinks
ReplyDeleteI won't be in the Gallery tomorrow, as I know I would only be frustrated by not being able to participate and support Dep Le Herissier.
ReplyDeletePlease see my latest Blog.
Imagine my frustration - I have been campaigning for more than 40 years in Jersey and have never been a "participant".
ReplyDeleteThis is the reality for the many thousands of ordinary joes and jills who live in Jersey but have no effective represenation in government.
Our so called elected reps for the most part just do their own thing and pursue their own hobby horses if they seek reform at all.
Having just stood outside the States Chamber for many hours lobbying prior to Le Herissier's Electoral Commission debate - it is just simply amazing how many States Mambers will not even engage with eye contact - never mind discussion.
The lack of leadership shown by so many of our elected reps and their failure to show solidarity with protesters is a long standing disgrace and is a reform that can and will be remedied only by a change of attitude. No amount of re-jigging the make-up of the States will change this. Prima Donnas syndrome seems to be a fact of political life in Jersey and it is just simply amazing to observe how quickly those elected assume the superiority of office once they enter the Chamber.
Entering the States is one thing but also significant is the process for those who leave. You Bob are virtually unique as a States Member who not only took up so many causes but you have continued to campaign out of office here.
Stuart Syvret and Ted Vibert are others but their circumstances are unusual and somewhat different.
Mostly those who have enjoyed all the trappings of government just fade away into political oblivion as do so many failed candidates who promise everyting for an election or two but never support any group or cause once the States opportunity is past.