Jersey Twenty-Four Seven

Turning the Lights Off

noreply@blogger.com (Jersey247) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:06:00 +0000

I think, with the decision of the Housing Minister to suspend the eminently sensible change of policy, it may be time for the States to stop sitting and the last one in the chamber to turn the lights off.

Whilst certain politicians were up in arms about the situation, why can't they turn the situation on its head and see that local people who were primarily first time buyers and were now wanting to be first time sellers, had, because of the recession, no market to sell in to.

Having decided to change the rules, the Housing Minister had been sensible, this was fairer to all but not least of all to those who could get the economy moving again by themselves moving to new homes, thus stimulating the economy

It is impossible to see what economic benefit putting new drains in at Rouge Bouillon or resurfacing Victoria Avenue does to benefit the Island economically. We are told it is an economic stimulus when we are spending our money but where is it circulating in the wider economy.

No Liberation for the Workers

noreply@blogger.com (Jersey247) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:57:00 +0000

Why did our States members do such a disservice to the memory of Liberation day and the Island by refusing to allow the Monday as a Bank holiday. They slavishly followed the UK over the Boxing Day and created a fiasco there.

Did your local Deputy or Constable ask his voters what they wanted. I know mine certainly did not and quite frankly if he stands again it would take some persuasion for him now to receive my vote. Can they give the reason for the way they voted.

The States are clearly very out of touch with the electorate.

On top of that we have the Planning minister telling the citizens that even though world leaders couldn't agree the Copenhagen summit Jersey, the 9 x 5 Island, will go that bit further. Yes, even if its electorate does not want it to. The electorate wasn't very supportive of candidates standing on a green mandate in the last election.

Verita Report

noreply@blogger.com (Jersey247) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 08:01:00 +0000

The Verita reported, having spent 3 hours reading it yesterday, is almost damning of the management at the hospital. At last today, the local accredited media almost says as much as well.

It paints a picture also of heroic efforts in the operating theatre following what is referred to as the accident in the theatre. However what happened should never have happened. Particularly telling is the reference by one of the referees on the relevant CV which states that re-employment circumstances would occur "as a Registrar".

Reading through the report it is clear that this a telling failing of management. For too long in all walks of life we have encountered people who cover their backs and say it was not their fault. Something as simple as checking references and not following up has ultimately had terrible consequences and rather than look at themselves it appears blame has been sought to be apportioned unfairly on the one person who appears to have acted properly throughout. In addition, throughout this time, lawyers have vilified his character in Court, and people, whoever they may be, have spread rumours through the community.

Equally, accredited reporting throughout the time seems to have taken as fact situations that evidently weren't fact but reported them as such without taking a balanced view.

I am also not sure why some States members referred to the release of the report as having been to bury it because of the short notice they were given to read it. It was available on the States website last night and readable within 4 hours or so, which I did. So it cannot be beyond States members surely, to read, to understand and to be able to have questions ready - or am I missing something.

Papal Intervention

noreply@blogger.com (Jersey247) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:07:00 +0000

Pope Benedict XVI has urged Bishops to stand up against the UK government equality bill.

Whilst I am not Catholic nor particularly religious it is perhaps a timely and common sense intervention.

Our politics, be they local or national, have become characterized by the apparent prevalence of bowing down to minorities or to unelected quangos without listening to the majority who go about their business sighing in resignation at the latest nonsense this call to common sense is perhaps no bad thing.

Cutting Costs

noreply@blogger.com (Jersey247) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 07:56:00 +0000

From today parking charges in Jersey have risen.

Does the States assembly and ministers in particular have it in them to start making cuts in departments that are not needed. Are they looking at management structures and waste.

As has been said before on these pages most workers in the private sector have to pay for their parking which cost has just been put up by TTS. No doubt sitting round a table was a minister, assistant minister and civil servants finding the easy way to raise costs. Well surely they all public employees should pay parking costs in the same way the general public pay either in States parking or in privately rented spaces.

Those that park at South Hill, at Schools and use parking facilities reserved for them through the Island and this at the same rate as the private sector pays for parking.

Paying the Price

noreply@blogger.com (Jersey247) — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 19:51:00 +0000

It is apparent the UK government will not negotiate to attempt to release the British yacht couple Chandlers who are currently held captive in Somalia.

Whatever the rights and wrongs of the situation, particularly, perhaps, sailing in to dangerous waters peopled with pirates, but ultimately the government doesn't appear to be looking after British citizens. There could of course be things going on behind the scenes that the general public do not know about.

What is wrong with not paying a ransom is that it does the government absolutely no good in election terms given that it is apparent to the electorate that government will pay and bail out the banks, apparently protect the "human rights" of criminals, prosecute people protecting their own homes and apparently whilst ignoring the tax paying public and giving priority to all but the tax paying law abiding citizens.

In humanitarian terms for the Chandlers the government should surely pay the ransom.

An Economic Boost?

noreply@blogger.com (Jersey247) — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 16:25:00 +0000

I was wondering what real economic boost has been gained by the £44,000,000 spend on the economy.

Are the companies that are benefitting from the cash local companies and do they pay local tax. What gain does the Treasury think it is getting.

Also if it is the case that the States are pumping money in to the local economy why are they using a UK publishing house to undertake works for States mapping publications. They are currently telephoning local businesses to see if they want to advertise in the publication and also on the website.

Surely all States business should now be put through local businesses as a matter of policy.

A State of Constant Fear

noreply@blogger.com (Jersey247) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 07:23:00 +0000

I know these are difficult times both economically and in the wider world. However it seems that the authorities must always have the public in a state of constant fear or vigilance.

We have had throughout the autumn the swine flu that never really was and now that is fading out we have another alert. Undoubtedly there are risks from boh and one cannot underestimate fanaticism of those that would perpetrate evil deeds but do we constantly, as a population need to be in constant fear.

Schools and the Freeze

noreply@blogger.com (Jersey247) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 06:32:00 +0000

On the government website over the past 12 hours there has been a statement that the schools are likely to remain closed on Friday. On Channelonline and on the 6.40 TV bulletin it says they are likely to open. At 6.45 am no change on gov.je other than schools are likely to remain closed.

Again we see the joined up thinking. First off, we have many parents who have unreasonable employers and have to find care for their children. Not knowing until 6.40 each morning is an added stress to the day. But, of course, there is no accountability. Secondly, why wasn't the government website update when Channel had already told us the schools were open.

At6.45am is it too much for someone to type the line in to the website or is it outside someone's working hours.

The Snow

noreply@blogger.com (Jersey247) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 10:15:00 +0000

What a good thing for the children but perhaps not so welcome for the rest of us. Of course this year's snow will hopefully leave pleasant lasting memories for the children.

For once TTS have got their act together and actually salted the roads rather than gritting them. Where they have failed however is that whilst the traffic flows freely the pavements adjacent to the roads are treacherous underfoot with black ice. So much for pedestrian priority but aside from that there is not too much to complain about.

Perhaps if the horrible personnel departments of some businesses spent less time worrying about who and who has not made it in to the office and allowed a little leeway there would be less stressed and worried employees in these straitened times and therefore less traffic on the roads.

Old Harbours Run Deep

noreply@blogger.com (Jersey247) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 07:19:00 +0000

Rather than a civil servant, for that is what the Harbour Master is, stating that 2010 will be a year of consultation listening to boat owners before any decisions are made one has to question why any decisions need to be made. The reason of course is to keep civil servants in meaningful employment. I will lay my cards down. I am not a boat owner and I do not benefit from the Old Harbour.

However what is fundamentally wrong here is yet again government, as with so many other walks of life, is interfering in something that works quite well and clearly local boat owners are happy with. Local boat owners. These are the people who are also now subject to SOLAS regulations, which have been adapted to suit Jersey, and apparently make it near impossible for small boat owners to comply with the law.

What the Island should be looking to do rather than come up with grand schemes is to appoint consultants to conduct and root and branch review and time and motion study of the whole Island civil service through every department and outline where cuts need to be made and then make them. This should happen before any taxation review.

The Island could lead the world in its cost cutting from government.

A Little Bureaucracy

noreply@blogger.com (Jersey247) — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 16:32:00 +0000

So time to start another year.

In business I was wondering how difficult it is for the small businessman to get along. St. Helier now have the Town Centre Co-ordinator and a trade magazine.

But there are no amount of detractions for the small businessman. There are the rates forms to fill out. You have to apply to put a board outside a shop. You have to be told by the States when you are allowed to trade.

You have the regulation of undertakings telling you your staffing levels. Well surely this is at adds with the competition law if they are telling one business in a line of business that they can have 5 staff and another business in the same line 10 staff. Why should it be.

We have to fill in ITIS and Social Security forms and undertake most of the work and collect the taxes for those departments.

This creates bureaucracy, little jobs for people who are paid by the public through taxes or rates.

Stock Taking

noreply@blogger.com (Jersey247) — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 05:38:00 +0000

As the year comes to an end and a new one beckons it is generally time to take stock and look forward.

Generally I think that this year for personal reasons of redundancy at the beginning is best forgotten and then in some aspects it has bought new beginnings. Redundancy subsequently happened to many people locally and is still happening with little real assistance to those affected from the government. It is all very well pumping money in to the economy but what it doesn't do is affect people at the sharp end, those that are still chased for tax when money is running out or for social security because they have some savings and the letter dismissing them from their employer did not mention the word "redundancy".

For the recession has brought many bad times to many people but others also have suffered worse with ill health and also death of their loved ones through whatever cause. I think when one hears of the stories of heartbreak and the worry of those plagued by serious ill health it puts into perspective the traumas personally suffered during a year.

What one hopes for is a year of reasonable prosperity, peace of mind and good health for all and perhaps a little common sense to enter the thinking of our government.

Power to Common Sense

noreply@blogger.com (Jersey247) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:14:00 +0000

In current economic climate it was clearly sensible that no more onerous taxes were imposed on the hospitality industry. Of course the increase would be absorbed by the Public but there are additional costs in implementing the tax. So well done here to Deputy Power with his amendment to the 2010 budget.

The politics of envy tax to double the annual company fee was also defeated. What the Senator here fails to realise is that the people this tax would hit are not just finance companies but every local trader who has incorporated with limited liability. To think that this Senator actually sought to increase the taxation of small traders by 100% per year on their companies is nothing short of scandalous. The trouble of course with the politicians that wish to distribute wealth by use of social payments is that they do not realise where the money comes from in the first place. Those that employ people ultimately would have to cut costs and for small businesses this would mean saving money by cutting employment.

The place to make cuts is the bloated infrastructure of the States. The situation of too many staff doing one job.

For all States employees and indeed States members that have free parking - charge them for it. For instance at South Hill, at Customs, at the harbours, at the Airport, at the Parks. Make them pay what the ordinary citizen has to pay for parking in town. It is not unfair. It is a benefit that they can have valuable land given to them for parking.

The States should also stop outsourcing any local government project of whatever nature outside the Island. If it is to be outsourced it should be to Jersey based companies so that the employees are paid locally and taxed locally and the money is recycled. There is no excuse. There should also be no outside consultants paid with local money. If the States are to spend they must show that it is spent in the Island and they must have a valid reason shown as to why the work cannot be done in the Island before outsourcing takes place.

Internet and the Accredited Media

noreply@blogger.com (Jersey247) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:17:00 +0000

Here is an interesting link to an article by Daniel Hannan concerning his speech at the European Parliament.

The gist of the article is that the established press feel threatened by the Internet. It also has links to other articles on the same subject.

A number of local bloggers have expressed concern that the local "accredited" press are trying to stifle bloggers.

Well here at least is a hint that established MEPs are using the internet and it is causing concern to the established press.

Maybe other politicians in Jersey should start some blogs rather than leaving it to a couple of politicians locally.

The Decent Thing

noreply@blogger.com (Jersey247) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:39:00 +0000

Well it is good news that the Chairman of the Joint Christmas Appeal Charity has resigned. It is the decent thing in the light of his earlier comments.

Charity

noreply@blogger.com (Jersey247) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:24:00 +0000

Having read about the comments of the Jersey's Christmas Appeal concerning the local ACET and AIDS charity it would perhaps be appropriate that the public ignore the Jersey Christmas Appeal until the Chairman steps down.

It is all very well holding views on certain matters but trying to impose and influence your ignorance on others goes too far. Clearly this gentleman thinks he knows best for the Islands citizens and who and who they should not support.

It will be interesting to know whether there is any reduction in charitable donations as a result of his words.

Telecoms & Water

noreply@blogger.com (Jersey247) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:41:00 +0000

For the new intake to the States I was wondering what achievements they have made to benefit the wider community. Apart perhaps from Deputy Power in St. Brelade what are the local deputies doing for their community. Very little on the surface. I know in our area residents wished the speed of traffic to be reduced and this had been a concern of the electorate. Nothing was done.

Why are we, as taxpayers, still paying a salary to Senator Stuart Syvret. Whether he likes it or not his constituents are not just those that voted for him but the Island as a whole. Who is paying for his sojourn in London. Is he relying on the UK tax payer or on the benefaction of the MP.

But more importantly, apart from the JDM, I don't follow their politics, nothing has been said about the workers of Jersey Water and Jersey Telecom. Here are two companies which are owned by the States. The jobs are of real people with families, no doubt children in those families who are looking forward to Christmas. All the States can do is stand idly by and claim that this is competitive private enterprise. I would suggest that if Jersey Telecom wanted to make money it would do so by offering better customer service rather than demoralizing staff with talk of redundancy or compulsory redundancy.

The States of Jersey and the politicians (apart from the few mentioned above) should be ashamed of themselves in respect of Jersey Water and Jersey Telecom. They own the business. But as long as the States members take a salary it seems a case of looking after themselves even to the extent that they conduct constituency business from so called political asylum.

What the States needs to do is look at the wider civil service and the offices of various departments where 4 people can sit employed at our expense with clear desks and the JEP open the desk or the internet being browsed. No doubt there are other examples.

Fireworks

noreply@blogger.com (Jersey247) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:14:00 +0000

I see and endorse the comments and views on Tony's Musings concerning the Fireworks issue.

Not only do we have to hear them from the wretched Hallowe'en onwards but you can bet that we will all be hearing them at Midnight come New Year's Eve.

The Quality of A Politician

noreply@blogger.com (Jersey247) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:02:00 +0000

I suppose "earning" a salary for being a States member and being talentless in to the bargain is what has qualified Deputy Vallois to make the crass irresponsible statement that there is no evidence of a recession in Jersey.

So to all of us who have been made unemployed, to those that can no longer pay for their children or their homes, to those that are in the 40's and are being overlooked by employers and employment agencies because of their age and experience - there is no recession.

Well there will be plenty of well qualified "in life" 40-50 year old unemployed people who in 2011 may as well stand against existing States members who are clearly there to take the money.

Thank you Deputy Vallois for being so offensive to those of us who have been made unemployed. And thanks no doubt come from all those in the private sector who will have been told no wage rise, don't complain otherwise it is effectively no job.

Brilliant, you typify the quality of some of our politicians.

But, thankfully Senator Ozouf gave the correct answer to counter Deputy Vallois' arrant nonsense.

Zero Ten EU Zero In

noreply@blogger.com (Jersey247) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:59:00 +0000

So the EU has zeroed in on Zero Ten.

Is this not an embarrassment for our political leaders. It seems like the whole thing will have to be re-thought.

Despite the fact that the Chief Minister had assured us that the UK and EU had approved zero ten this is not the case.

So what now?

Surely the time has come where Jersey says "what is the UK doing for us" - would we not benefit from negotiating with the EU, become a member of the EU and accept the grants for roads and infrastructure and abandon Housing qualifications and say "Jersey is a nice place to live" all are welcome if you can afford the prices. The EU funds could also be put to social housing so all levels of society could benefit.

A simplistic initial view, but someone has to do something, rather than pontificate and do nothing.

Green Freedom (or lack of it)

noreply@blogger.com (Jersey247) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:19:00 +0000

Something very interesting struck me on the comments blog of a local politician concerning the Clameur de Haro blog. There was a comment which was totally off topic which criticised CdeH for being a "denier" of global warming. But the person that had submitted the comment also went on to post again to express thanks for the comment being posted but more chillingly to ask "Thanks Senator! Any idea who CdeH is?". Why would he want to know. If someone wishes to be anonymous let them be so.

The gist of the comment was "Increasing numbers"? Ha ha HA HA HA Hardy har Har ha!!!!!!! If you're going to tell a lie, I suppose it helps to make it a big one (wasn't it Goebbels who said something like that?)". The comment then went on to say "One of the most irritating aspects about deniers is the way they get all uppity when they are described as such - it sure demonstrates how out of touch with reality they are. Excuse me....etc".

Of course it is very easy to turn that argument on its head and refer to the global warming theorists.

The trouble is, everyone is entitled to an opinion, and in our society, to freedom of speech. Why do the green element get so uppity when someone doesn't agree with them. More so, if you have already stood for election, and been soundly rejected on your platform, does it not tell you that not everyone agrees with you. Clearly the element of freedom of speech to the green lobby is an irritant to be ridiculed and ruled out. Even better to find out the true identity of the author. Why?

Town Park Vote Fiasco

noreply@blogger.com (Jersey247) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 14:45:00 +0000

The JEP reported on the States decision to spend £10m on a town park. It is interesting to look at the votes for (including the erroneous vote of Senator MacLean) and wonder where the politicians that want the park really think the money comes from. Do they really believe that the majority of the Island wants a town park. That would have been something to put to referendum.

But no, we have politicians who do little for the people, but vote to spend our money. We have a States owned body, Jersey Post, competing against Island businesses.

We now have Jersey Telecom, another States owned business, advertising in the recruitment section of the Times for a Chief Executive Officer, using a recruitment agency called Brooklands Recruitment based in the UK. Are the Jersey based businesses not good enough for them?

Back to the town park, is this vision of loveliness going to replicate the other town parks, People's Park and The Parade and provide us with benches peopled with drunks and feral youth, which make them such a delight to walk through during the day. Will it be home to a ten hour Rock in the Town Park concert which the neighbours will be forced to listen to.

The politicians could have had a better suggestion - these are hard times - £10m - what could we spend it on - well if we must spend it what about a cost of living rise for the workers or spend it on cleaning the weeds from the roads.

Lloyds & BBC & a Data Protection Question

noreply@blogger.com (Jersey247) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:34:00 +0000

I do not know how anyone can regard the local BBC as supporters of our government when they happily pronounce guilty the Lloyds TSB finance worker covertly filmed by Panorama.

This person is employed by Lloyds TSB and has been suspended. I do not know him but his sales patter must surely have had authority from the bank. Further the method he was promoting is not illegal, whether or not we as the public or taxpayers like it or not.

As far as he was concerned he was speaking to a genuine customer. In these days of "Know Your Client" perhaps he should have asked for more information. But, what about his Data Protection, his right to privacy. To his knowledge when speaking to this prospective "client", he was speaking privately and having a conversation that he had every right not to believe was being taped and even worse, published on television. His face will now be known to Channel Islanders and to the British public at large. He was only doing his job. What support has he had from his employers. Precious little I would say.

Perhaps the employee and the Bank, rather than suspending the employee and hanging him out to dry without so much as a trial, should be pursuing the local BBC for publishing this clip without his permission and also Panorama. Thanks to the BBC for summary justice, however that is accredited journalism, the taxpayer funded BBC has probably ruined a career.

Whilst the tax question leaves a bad taste in everyone's mouth so does so called journalism where the journalist does not even care what happens to an individual, who no doubt has family to support. The BBC should be ashamed of themselves.

Not Worldsmart Definitely Homegrown

noreply@blogger.com (Jersey247) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 21:40:00 +0000

How many people experience difficulty with customer service and products supplied to them by Jersey Telecom.

Here is a company which claims to be Worldsmart and Homegrown. Well it is not very worldsmart and its professionalism is very definitely Homegrown.

It sells mobiles that freeze and when you take them back "you were lucky because it was in the warranty period". No, I wasn't lucky, it's defective goods.

A new business customer has to wait well over a week to be set up.

On another mobile it constantly has errors and the technical fix after queuing for the best part of half an hour in their shop upstairs at a business section is "take the battery out".

Send a text message and it doesn't arrive with the local recipient on the same JT network for at least an hour. This is recently.

The internet broadband is intermittent to the point that users in some parts of the island depending on their IP address can't access the internet.

And now they have already given loyal staff redundancy notices, people with families, who are locally born. How many J category employees does JT have, are they remaining in employment?

If only we could have a decent ground landline competitor with their own infrastructure or indeed if a major player could take over JT so that it could be part of a company with proper telecom resources and not just a small Island company serving it's customers poorly.

Any one else had problems with mobiles, broadband and telephones recently. Leave a comment.