So PPC had their May Day public meeting but only dumb animals need have attended.
Our jolly team of elected so called representatives Gallichan, Le Marquand, Fox, Tadier and Martin kicked the talking ball around the table for about an hour with Greffiers De La Haye and Harris acting as rather expensive goalies – but it was really all the usual waste of time and money. The result was to defer to another day, to carry out research and to consult (in other words find some other country’s restrictive policies to follow) but the blogging public in attendance were not allowed to speak or share their extensive knowledge.
“Sit down and shut up” was the order of the day and the existing rules stand – so no improved access to States sittings for the plebs – and maintain the status quo and the special privileges that the “accredited press” already enjoy.
But it’s obvious where PPC are heading – more controls and another layer of bureaucracy to give only selected bloggers a badge so that they can join in sometimes provided that they “behave” themselves and are subject to a code of discipline.
It’s amazing that our representatives ever allowed electricity into the States building so we should not be surprised that the potential role of the internet is seen only as good PROVIDED that the establishment maintains control over it. Thus, the cheap option of putting so much essential government information on the often useless and confusing gov.je website has been embraced - rather than publishing it in paper hardcopy form through the Greffe and Parish Halls and other public user points – and make sure that blog journalism is kept firmly under governmental control by REGULATION in future.
BUT we on “The Voice” know that Channel TV have attempted to blow the whole fiasco wide open by applying to televise States meetings LIVE! (if that’s the correct word!) and of course if they are given permission to bring in their cameras – how will PPC keep out the bloggers too and all public meetings will be in the same boat……..
AND won’t Denzil Dimwit and his team at the Boring Brainwashing Corporation really be so annoyed…….Open a bottle Hamish the end of the world is nigh.
Watch this SPACE – you saw it here 1st!
Submitted by Thomas Wellard.
Haigh Refuses to Commit to ‘National Care Service’ Manifesto Pledge
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19 hours ago
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12 comments:
I think it is high time the States was televised so we can see whose there - and who has "nipped out". The number of instances of States being inquorate last year (old States) was very high!
Even a webcam (fixed position wide angle) would be an improvement.
We should not be obsessed just with the States Chamber metings. There are many so called "public meetings" that take place within the inadequately refurbished States Chamber/Royal Court building and the use of cameras and other forms of modern technology are strictly controlled and resisted throughout.
Other meetings take place in various locations like the old Magistrates Court or St Pauls Centre
but they are always arranged primarily for the convenience and ease of "our government" rather than a participating public.
Acoustics are universally appalling because our leaders really do not care whether they can be heard by the public or not because they are not really talking with or even to us. Thus, it is more important to preserve the wood pannelled cosy club atmosphere of the States Chambeer than to make it accessible to all.
Access is not just about disabilities and discrimination against minorities. Access is about full public participation and being enabled to know what is going on and to have equal status in the exchange of information and ideas.
Blogging is just another tool in the bag of free expression. This government - like governments the world over - will resist any efforts that threaten the existing power structure. So it is just as important for government to keep out wheelchair users as bloggers and their video cameras because they all chip away at established prejudices and practices.
Even our newest and most enthusiastic elected representatives will soon be observed to "fall in love" with the trappings of the cosy club and its pseudo historical importance and traditions.
Unfortunately, governmental buildings and their inadequate faciliies cannot be replaced through the ballot box so easily as our "elected representatives."
People, would you imagine being televised at work all the time??? Would you be willing being watched while you work???? I dont think so. Dont you trust your elected politicians anymore??? You have elected them last year, and now you want to watch them working while debating for you. Does it sound right, doesn`t it??? Let them work without any harassment, they are Jersey States Members elected by yourself people, so you should trust them that they make right votes and decisions for the Island.
I think this is a good idea. We can see who is snoozing!
Yesterday 35 members of Jersey's 90,000 population turned out to hear the "public meeting" scrutiny panel meeting at Fort Regent. The JEP were allowed to click photos of all and sundry but Derek de la Haye, Assistant Director of Ed.Sport and Culture objected to video recording by "The Voice" and so, armed with the word of the new Education Civil Servant Gods, our "elected representatives" Le Herissier, Pitman, Tadier, Vallois and Butcher complied without a word of protest.
So the battle to protect free expression will be lost in Jersey. If our politicians are still not resovled to protect free speech after Stuart Syvret's arresst et al then there really is no hope for us.
And this week is supposed to be crowned by our "Liberation Day". What a joke!
Show me the Human Rights protection in Jersey for women or children, or against racism or ageism or disability. Now tell me why did people give their lives in 1914-1918 and 1939-45 and why were so many people reduced to living wrecks? Just so that we might go shopping or not on Liberation Day? Is that the ONLY issue in 2009?
If Senator Syvret had not done anything wrong he would not have been arrested. He cannot name and shame people on his blog without giving us concrete evidence, which he doesn't reveal.
Re "People, would you imagine being televised at work all the time??? Would you be willing being watched while you work???? I dont think so."
Where have you been living? The truth is that most people who work for large corporations are on CCTV while they work. In addition, their emails, web access, and phone calls are monitored and in some companies, their keyboard activity is recorded and measured for performance purposes.
Most of the offices I've worked in for the last ten years have had either CCTV or web cam. My job is not of public interest, so obviously I wouldn't want it to be televised (how boring would that be?).
But that is not the issue. The issue is that we have a right to see and hear the people we elected debating issues that affect us. That is why the British Parliament is now televised as are most of the committee meetings.
It is just a modern form of Hansard, but more relevant because we can actually witness and judge the performance of the people we voted for. It's not enough that they persuade us to vote for them but we never then see how effective or true to their principles they are.
As far as I know, nobody is suggesting that all meetings are televised, such as routine committee meetings, but certainly States sittings and all public committee meetings should be.
All other meetings should be accurately minuted for later inspection.
Re "If Senator Syvret had not done anything wrong he would not have been arrested."
What a terribly naive delusion to be burdened with.
The police arrest thousands of people who have done nothing wrong - they are then released without charge. It's part of routine investigation.
Unless it's a high-profile case, you never hear about it. Some high profile cases, you do hear about it.
Unfortunately, because there are so many people in the world with your unenlightened attitude, those innocent people have their reputations trashed.
Not only are innocent people arrested, they are sometimes charged and convicted. Keep an open mind, and hope that one day they don't come knocking on your door.
Re "He cannot name and shame people on his blog without giving us concrete evidence, which he doesn't reveal."
Er, that's the point isn't it? He has revealed documents on his blog, which is why the cops confiscated his computer and other personal effects.
It's interesting how he's criticized using contradictory arguments: isn't it terrible that Senator Syvret reveals all those confidential documents on his blog; and, if Senator Syvret has the evidence, why doesn't he publish it?
Which is it to be?
By the way, what was the official response to the document he published related to a halted police investigation into potential serial killing at the Jersey Hospital?
I suppose the public will have to wait for someone to leak that in ten years time.
"People, would you imagine being televised at work all the time???"
States Members, or any politician anywhere in the world, are never recorded/televised while they work "all the time".
They all have private offices, can work at home, or where ever they choose, and without anyone keeping track of what hours they work, or what they're doing all day.
In other words, they enjoy privileged working conditions.
Only their debates, and some meetings, are broadcast. All of which is in the public interest.
"People, would you imagine being televised at work all the time??? Would you be willing being watched while you work???? I dont think so. Dont you trust your elected politicians anymore??? You have elected them last year, and now you want to watch them working while debating for you. Does it sound right, doesn`t it??? Let them work without any harassment, they are Jersey States Members elected by yourself people, so you should trust them that they make right votes and decisions for the Island."
Oh dear, what knee-jerk nonsense.
First point: "Would you be willing being watched while you work???? "
No, but I'm not being paid by the public to work for the public. Believe it or not, we, the people, are the employers of the politicians.
Second point: The British parliament functions perfectly well under regular public scrutiny via live video cameras, webcams, TV and radio broadcasts. The shock you exhibit at the thought of Jersey politicians being exposed in even a fraction of the same manner seems naive to say the least.
Maybe you need to take a peek at the outside world once in a while?
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