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A £200k memorial to those abused in Jersey's care system could take the form of a playground, garden or fountain, the Children's Minister has said, as he confirmed it will be pressing ahead amid vast public opposition.
Responding to an e-petition calling for the Weighbridge-based project to be stopped, Senator Sam Mézec said explained that halting it wouldn't make the £200,000 earmarked for the project available for other children’s services.
The petition was started by someone called ‘William’, who says he is a “survivor” of the island’s care system and “enraged” at the proposals.
He said that “this money could be spent elsewhere and do more good than a memorial will ever do".
Pictured: The petition has gained over 2,300 signatures (accurate at the time of writing).
The memorial was originally devised by a Citizens Panel – made up of care-experienced individuals tasked with deciding how the island would respond to the findings of the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry (IJCI) into historic failings within the local care system.
Responding to the petition, which has now been signed by over 2,300 signatures, the Minister for Children said that whilst the Government “understand and appreciate islanders’ concerns about the memorial,” it’s going to be “a key part” of Jersey’s response to the Care Inquiry.
Speaking about the decision to press on with the memorial plans, Senator Mézec said: “We recognise this is a sensitive issue and there will be opportunity for the public to be involved in what is a key part of the Government’s response to the Care Inquiry.
“The memorial must be a sensitive focus for reflection and an enduring promise to Jersey’s children. I would, therefore, encourage islanders to engage with the project by helping choose the final design, which might be a garden, a playground, a sculpture, a fountain or something interactive.”
Pictured: The care memorial plans were devised as part of the island's response to the Care Inquiry findings.
Many islanders have called for the money to be used elsewhere – either within the redress scheme for survivors of abuse in Jersey or in other children’s services. Commenting on this aspect of the public’s concerns, the Minister remarked: “The funding allocated for the memorial has not been diverted from frontline services or either of the redress schemes, but secured from the £23million allocated for the Care Inquiry process.”
He continued: “This represents a one-off pot of money which is not available for recurring costs such as staff or services for children. Reversing the decision to commission the memorial would not automatically release £200,000 for other children’s projects.”
Designers, artists, engineers and architects have been invited to submit designs for the Weighbridge Place memorial and the Minister hopes to involve islanders in picking the final design before announcing it in July.
The community will be invited to an exhibition of shortlisted designs in June to share their feedback.
“This will ensure everyone’s views are taken into consideration when making the final decision,” Senator Mézec explained. “We have not defined what form the memorial should take so applicants can creatively respond to the design brief.”
If the petition reaches 5,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in the States Assembly.
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