THE Council of Ministers could be forced to reconsider their decision not to hold a Committee of Inquiry into the historical abuse investigation.
Senator Francis Le Gresley has lodged a proposition calling for a debate on the issue.
Meanwhile, former deputy police chief Lenny Harper says that by not holding an inquiry, Jersey would lose the opportunity to expose the ‘full extent of the brutalities’ inflicted at Haut de la Garenne, the former children’s home.
The man who headed the historical child abuse inquiry has reacted to Wednesday’s announcement by Chief Minister Terry Le Sueur that there will not be a committee of inquiry.
In a letter to the editor in today’s Jersey Evening Post, the now retired police officer said: ‘Such a committee would have seen the trickle of truth turn into a torrent and the full extent of the brutalities inflicted on the victims as well as the lengths gone to in attempts to cover it up would have been exposed for the world to see.’
Haut de la Garenne The police investigation began after allegations of abuse at former children's home Haut de la Garenne
Money seized from criminals could fund an official inquiry into an historic child abuse investigation, according to Senator Francis Le Gresley.
The chief minister announced this week that no further action would be taken after the police investigation closed, and it was questionable whether an inquiry could find what had happened.
But Senator Francis Le Gresley has asked members to rethink that decision.
He said islanders need an independent inquiry.
He added the committee of inquiry would be expensive, but the criminal offences confiscation fund contains £6.5m and he believes that is an appropriate use of that money.
Senator Le Gresley said "it was completely wrong" that politicians were not given the chance to debate the report that decided there should be no inquiry.
He said such an important issue, which has dominated the headlines for the past three years, should be discussed in the House.
"A committee of inquiry was promised by the Council of Ministers once all the prosecution had been completed," he said.
JERSEY is to have its own Police Authority after States Members unanimously agreed to de-politicise the Island’s police force.
There was nothing but praise for Home Affairs Minister Ian Le Marquand in the Chamber yesterday as his proposal to establish the body as a buffer between his role and the States of Jersey Police was adopted unanimously.
It was particularly welcomed by Members who had expressed serious concerns about the conduct of some officers of the States of Jersey Police in recent years and was repeatedly described as a ‘step in the right direction’.
THE Council of Ministers could be forced to reconsider their decision not to hold a Committee of Inquiry into the historical abuse investigation.
Senator Francis Le Gresley has lodged a proposition calling for a debate on the issue.
Meanwhile, former deputy police chief Lenny Harper says that by not holding an inquiry, Jersey would lose the opportunity to expose the ‘full extent of the brutalities’ inflicted at Haut de la Garenne, the former children’s home.
The man who headed the historical child abuse inquiry has reacted to Wednesday’s announcement by Chief Minister Terry Le Sueur that there will not be a committee of inquiry.
In a letter to the editor in today’s Jersey Evening Post, the now retired police officer said: ‘Such a committee would have seen the trickle of truth turn into a torrent and the full extent of the brutalities inflicted on the victims as well as the lengths gone to in attempts to cover it up would have been exposed for the world to see.’
HOUSING Minister Sean Power has resigned after being found to have broken the Data Protection Law by sending a confidential and personal email to a States colleague on to a third party.
Deputy Power – who has held the post of Housing Minister for just over six months – was told to quit or be sacked by the Council of Ministers yesterday lunchtime after being ruled to have broken the law by the Data Protection Commission.
This morning, Deputy Power said: ‘I have put my hand up and made a mistake and been slapped down by the Council of Ministers.’
THERE will be no Committee of Inquiry into historical child abuse at Haut de la Garenne or anywhere else, the Chief Minister announced yesterday.
In a brief statement on behalf of the Council of Ministers in the States, Senator Terry Le Sueur said that no significant issues remained that needed to be examined.
Yesterday’s statement by the Chief Minister has caused deep dismay among victims who believe that they have yet to see justice.
Jersey's Council of Ministers have done a U-turn on their promise to hold a committee of inquiry into historic child abuse.
When the allegations around Haut de la Garenne broke in 2008 it was feared it was the worst case of abuse anywhere in the UK.
Shortly afterwards the Council proposed to hold a committee of inquiry once all the prosecutions were dealt with.
However, they have now changed their mind.
The Council say it would achieve nothing and would cost millions.
The news has angered those both outside and inside the States.
The Jersey Care Leavers' Association (JCLA), who represent victims of abuse on the island, say they are 'dismayed' at the decision and said it was "the final straw" for them.
They released a statement, which said: "It is with the utmost dismay that we hear today that the Council of Ministers has reneged on a promise made in 2008 to hold a full Committee of Enquiry into the Historical Abuse enquiry.
"This really has to be the final straw for us, and the anger felt towards the Council of Ministers over this decision is beyond comprehension.
"Time and again we have been let down by the States of Jersey, from our childhood right through to this very sad day.
"The lack of caring and the clear intention of the Council of Ministers to not bring closure to this matter, means that exactly the opposite will happen and the public will still have grave misgivings about the whole handling of this affair and the now so transparent cover-up of the historic child abuse investigation."
They added that there had been no consultation with the JCLA over the decision.
Deputy Sean Power Deputy Sean Power said he thinks the Council of Ministers have overreacted to his mistake
Deputy Sean Power has resigned as Jersey's housing minister after breaching data protection laws.
He said he passed on an email he found lying on a printer in the States building in August last year.
The Deputy said he felt like he had let down Housing Department staff, but did not feel his error was that serious.
He said the Council of Ministers put pressure on him to stand down after he breached data protection laws and the Code of Conduct for Ministers.
Not long after becoming Housing Minister, Deputy Power said he came across an email on a printer in the States building and with workmen around, he decided to take it home because of the sensitive nature of what it contained.
The e-mail correspondence between two female States Members referred to the former Senator Stuart Syvret and his personal situation.
Deputy Power forwarded it to the Data Protection Commissioner - and also a third party - and in doing that he breached the Data Protection Code.
He said he accepted that he did breach the rules but claims the Council of Ministers put pressure on him to resign.
He said the worry it has caused him affected his health.
The Chief Minister, Terry Le Sueur, made a statement in the States Chamber earlier about Deputy Power resigning.
He said he acknowledged that he had received the Deputy's resignation as housing minister and he would bring forward his nomination for a replacement at the next States meeting.
The Housing Minister has resigned after seven months in the job after being discovered to have leaked private emails.
Deputy Sean Power was advised by the Chief Minister to resign or face a vote of no confidence.
Deputy Power admitted in a statement that he was found to have breached data protection laws after passing on emails that belonged to another Deputy.
In his statement he said: "At a meeting today, the Council of Ministers has expressed a view that I should resign as Housing Minister and I now do so".
He went on to explain that he had found printed-out emails in the States Building on 5th August 2010 between the Deputy of Grouville, Carolyn Labey, and Deputy Judy Martin.
These emails also included correspondence between the Deputy of Grouville and former Senator Stuart Syvret.
Deputy Power admitted in his statement that he scanned these emails and said it was in order to seek advice on what to do.
These emails were later found on internet sites.
He said: "I scanned the document and emailed it to myself. I put the email in my bag. My feelings in those minutes were at best, confused."
Deputy Power said he took the email back to his office and posted it to the Data Protection Commissioner.
He said he also scanned the emails and then emailed the document on to one person to ask them for their advice.
It was this move, he said, that caused him to - unintentionally, he claims - breach the Data Protection Code.
He said: "My mistake was this act of scanning and forwarding to a third party".
Deputy Power defended his actions and said of the emails: "The contents were, in my opinion, salacious and I did want the Data Protection Commissioner to see it".
Deputy Power said he will continue his duties as Deputy of St Brelade.
He was only recently appointed Housing Minister in June.
In a statement Deputy Labey said:
"Deputy Sean Power has made the right decision. His actions were inappropriate for a Minister and a States Member.
"As well as breaching the Data Protection 2005 Law, they also breached the Ministerial Code of Conduct and indeed the States Members Code of Conduct."
"I do not agree or concur with his recollection of events outlined in his Press Release.
"However neither do I wish to be drawn any further on this matter as I believe all families are entitled to their privacy."
Speaking live on Channel Report Deputy Power wasn't willing to apologise to Deputy Labey for his actions.
