Bailiff’s Christmas Message – A Final Swipe at Harper and Power

Well, the Bailiff has done it again! In his typical ‘Jersey way’ of spin, William Bailhache publicly denounces the media and the child abuse scandal investigation.

This is the last time that I shall have the privilege, as Bailiff, of writing a Christmas message for readers of the JEP.

Retirement looms, although I hope that it will not involve a complete withdrawal from public life. Looking back over the last 12 months, it has been in some respects an annus horribilis for Jersey or, in plain English, a bad year.

The national and international media fastened upon some injudicious statements from the police in relation to their investigation into historic child abuse, and the Island was subjected to a torrent of wild and extravagant reports which most of us knew in our hearts to be untrue. A more sober assessment of the truth is now beginning to emerge.

All abuse of children is a shocking breach of trust, and we can but hope that any past wrongdoing will be exposed and appropriately punished. The extreme criticisms of Jersey have, however, been shown to be without foundation.

Sorry Billy, that drivel doesn’t pass muster!

…and the Island was subjected to a torrent of wild and extravagant reports which most of us knew in our hearts to be untrue.

Most of us knew in our hearts to be untrue? Is that you, your brother, Frank Walker, and the other clowns in the good, old boys club? A lot of people out here have a much different opinion.

A more sober assessment of the truth is now beginning to emerge.

Not by a long shot. Warcup, Gradwell and Lewis proved nothing with their shameful presser. Makes one wonder how may spin doctors are employed by the States of Jersey and how many conspiracy theories they can dream up.

…we can but hope that any past wrongdoing will be exposed and appropriately punished.

Not as long as the current legal system in Jersey is allowed to obstruct and interfere. Dismissing charges and sitting on investigative files for months won’t expose what has been carefully hidden for years.

The extreme criticisms of Jersey have, however, been shown to be without foundation.

Really? Guess it depends which side of the aisle you sit on – that of the privileged or with the brave, responsible folks who are attempting to get justice for the 100 victims who have come forward. That little fact is pretty hard to ignore.

Hey Billy, don’t let the door hit you on the way out!

If you have the stomach for it, to read more of his prattling go to The Rag – JEP.

The Rag On Haut de le Garenne and How Senator Syvret May Dismantle Life in Jersey

~Senator Syvret


Known as the mouthpiece of the ‘oligarchy’, the Jersey Evening Post or The Rag is the only newspaper on the island of Jersey.

Stuart Syvret has posted a great blog on the JEP’s latest editorial! He provides a very thorough deconstruction of the article, it’s rather tiresome attempt to gloss the scandal over and it’s continued attack on him.

Note: Bolding is my emphasis!

“It is undeniable that the present investigation into alleged historical child abuse at Haut de la Garenne and elsewhere has cast a dark shadow over Jersey and its people.”

“However, in spite of what some critics seem determined to assert neither the great majority of Islanders nor our political and legal establishments can be damned by awful events which, as far as we can tell, unfolded decades ago and clearly involved a restricted number of people.”

Sorry, the abuse wasn't decades ago - it went on for decades and continued up to at least two years ago. Maybe the JEP forgot about Simon Bellwood !

“It is possible that the Haut de la Garenne scandal could produce lasting effects that go beyond the scars that it will leave on the collective psyche of this Island. If Senator Stuart Syvret’s attempt to force the hand of British Justice Minister Jack Straw through a legal action calling for the intervention of English judges and prosecutors were to be successful, a constitutional precedent would be established.”

“This is not to say that the imposition of English judges would mark the immediate end of our status as a Crown Dependency – in fact, there are occasions when, for reasons of its own, the Royal Court calls in UK assistance in certain cases – but it would signal that the established order is not beyond challenge.

“It is, though, highly unlikely that the Senator is unaware of the possible far-reaching consequences of his foray into the English courts and of its potential for spurring a catastrophic reordering of not only the legal but also the political, social and economic life of the Island.”

It is very interesting to see The Rag’s spin. Their vocabulary is chosen with the greatest of care – notice, it’s all about the island, the ‘oligarchy’, and the demon that is Senator Syvret – no mention of the scores of victims, their suffering or the scars they have and will always carry!

To me, the rhetoric indicates the 'oligarchy' and JEP are the deer caught in the headlights.

As the good Senator says: “No critic, nor survivor, no campaigner, no politician – not even any national media - have stated that the ordinary people of Jersey are to be dammed for the awful events.”

“Only a fool or a liar could possible come to any conclusion other than that the Jersey oligarchy has – entirely – been the author of its own misfortune in this matter.”

Precisely Senator!

The entire article can be found here - Senator Stuart Syvret Blog