Not Worth Our Time

So with unemployment rife in Jersey what do we get from the Constable of St. Helier. Aside from block voting with other Constables we get the remarkably democratic 30-16 vote to change a street name from James Street to Rue de Funchal. Well done. I am sure the whole Island wanted this - what is basically a whim for a Constable.

What a ridiculous idea for these straitened times but it shows where the priorities of local politicians lie.

Incidentally of the new intake we have heard very little of our new Deputies other than Deputy Tadier. What has he done for the residents in their constinuencies. Probably they are all just rather ineffective and taking the money.

Jersey Harbours Poor Catering for Passengers

A short while ago I posted about the ridiculous catering facility at Havre des Pas Swimming Pool.

Well, let us say well done to Jersey Tourism. Word reaches me that the Harbour catering facility, you know the one that rips you off big time, decided it was time to close despite the fact that the Portsmouth Ferry was still due to leave as was a St. Malo ferry. This is because they hadn't been busy in the afternoon.

Here we are in a recession - well I am quite happy to report bad customer service to warn anyone visiting or departing Jersey via the harbour. In future eat out before you get to the Harbour. What the States should be doing is contracting out to caterers and firms who want the business not to firms that can ignore the customer at will.

Our do nothing States members would rather cut health services than upset their contractors.

Social Security Nonsense

So back to Social Security

As someone suggested via comments on an earlier post I wrote to Ian Gorst and I had an immediate response saying he would look into my situation. Since then nothing.

Social Security for the unemployed are worse than useless. All they can do is send me a bill at full rate for April, May and June notwithstanding I was technically employed during part of this time.

Of course, our great States, they think that I can easily afford £1,327.50 quarterly now that I have no income. There is no mechanism for any other payment. I went in and they tell me when they get the employers contributions they will assess it again and give me the exact amount I owe. I have to wait for a reminder and then visit them again. This is despite the fact that their demand says failure to pay by the 15 July 2009 may affect my entitlement to benefits. So they can't give me the answer I need until after the 15 July, have to waste money sending me a reminder because they are unable to perform, and despite 29 years continuous payment by myself insult me by telling me my benefits may be affected. Well carry on paying all those who have never worked and milk the system why don't you.

I am referred to as a customer. I am not a customer because this is an obligatory tax for what will turn out to be very little personal benefit.

For the unemployed and those with no source of income they need to urgently re-think this matter.

I must thank the department for doing absolutely nothing constructive to ease my stress and no doubt the stress of countless others in Jersey now placed in this position. I suppose it is a downside of being Jersey born, a previous high earner, and never having missed a payment for 29 years. Interestingly the staff member I spoke to said that she had to explain this quite a lot to people. Well wow, they really know how to look after the unemployed.

I see Gorst and the ministerial team are to meet "customers" on 21 July and a couple of days in August. Well I won't waste my time.

Havre des Pas Swimming Pool

I can't say I am very impressed by the Havre des Pas Swimming Pool area having taken my young son and his friends there recently. I was populated after school by teenagers who were clearly from Le Rocquier because they still had their school
uniforms on - I am not too sure what their English teacher is teaching them but their command of the "foul" English language was impressive.

Sitting at the cafe with other parents afterwards was also an experience. Starting to close up at 5.00pm even though the pool area is open to the public, i.e. lifeguard cover, until six. Hardly a good example for tourism. Equally quite how they have the right to close the upper deck for a non-existent private party is beyond me. Nevertheless whilst they were closing early clearly they have scant regard for their licence because there were a couple of men, who were also being a little "close" and touchy for want of a better expression, whose command of the foul English language was also impressive, who, on leaving voluntarily, together, could barely walk. Perhaps the police or the honorary police should pay a visit more often.