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Welcome to the first edition of POLITICS DISASSEMBLED from Express. Ahead of every States Assembly meeting, we’ll be disassembling the agenda to help you make sense of the goings-on in Jersey’s political world…and throwing in a bit of insider insight and gossip for good measure.
If there are other areas of the island’s political goings-on you want Express to disassemble, let us know. You can find contact details at the end of the piece.
Here’s your DISASSEMBLED digest for this week’s States Assembly sitting…
Facing questions without notice this week are the Ministers for Home Affairs, Infrastructure and the Chief Minister.
What do we expect them to be questioned about? Well, States Members get free rein here, and may already have some questions in mind, but might we suggest…
COIN HOARD: It’s an age-old tactic to save controversial news until just before Christmas, and that’s exactly what the Government did when it came to letting the public know that the years-long saga over Le Catillon II had come to an end - with a payment of more than twice the price suggested by British Museum-based professionals, the Treasure Valuation Committee.
So why did the Government decide to give this respected institution a slap in the face, against the advice of Jersey Heritage and even senior civil servants? And are Ministers at all concerned about allegations from the archeological community that they may have set a precedent for “inflated” payments to finders, which may prevent museums from recuperating items of significant historic interest in future? Worth an ask…
SICKNESS IN HEALTH: Today, Express has an extraordinary account from a senior medical professional of a staffing crisis in the hospital. Difficulties with Health recruitment aren’t new news, but the picture the medic paints of what is going on right now is particularly stark. They came forward to share a professional view amid concerns of Government “spin” over the Samarès Ward debate.
Perhaps the Chief Minister, as head of the States Employment Board, and the individual under whose authority Communications fall, might wish to address this?
But before that quick-fire round of questioning without notice occurs, we’ve got oral questions with notice to get through - that is to say, the ones Ministers have been told about in advance, and had their officers so kindly prepare some answers for them to read out.
This morning, the States Assembly cycled through six of those questions, before breaking for the funeral of Gary Burgess.
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN: One response that stood out so far was from Home Affairs Deputy Gregory Guida, who revealed that, in 2020, 20% of all violent crime was perpetrated by a male suspect against a female victim.
When it came to sexual crime, 93% of victims of sexual offences in a domestic setting are female.
He said there were other initiatives currently “in the process of launching” that would aim to tackle this. Express will have more on this story later today.
There are many other questions that may make for interesting listening this afternoon, but some that piqued our interest include…
SPOTLIGHT ON CARE HOMES: When covid started kicking off again late last year, remember the Government loosened care home staffing regulations? Deputy Kevin Pamplin is following up on this, asking the Environment Minister for an update.
ROAD RAGE: After islanders reported being driven round the bend by the Havre des Pas roadworks, Senator Sam Mézec is asking if the Infrastructure Minister will be doing anything to minimise disruption.
WELCOME BACK: After a period of maternity leave and absence, top Scrutineer-turned-Assistant Environment Minister Deputy Jess Perchard is today asking her first question since November 2020. She’ll be asking for statistics relating to the important topic of homelessness.
SAMARES WARD: Senator Steve Pallett’s push to get Samarès Ward reopened will undoubtedly be the most important - and potentially most heated - debate of the week.
The argument is simple: since rehabilitation services were moved to the General Hospital’s Plemont Ward, the care islanders are getting is not as good as previously. Islanders who have experience of strokes and rehabilitative care think so, medics think so, even the Government has admitted improvements are needed.
Sounds like a no-brainer, right?
The issue is, this debate is about so much more than that. It’s the first big test of the Jersey Care Model, which is all about moving as much care out of wards and into the community.
It’s also got everything to do with the future hospital. Could reopening Overdale-based Samarès disrupt everything? Definitely.
Also, let’s not forget that the Progress Party - of which Senator Steve Pallett is a member - want to go back to the old ‘Future Hospital’ plans of revamping the current Gloucester Street facility. So expect some cheeky motion-opposers to throw out accusations that this is about ‘Our Hospital’ annihilation rather than rehabilitation.
Despite rapidly filming and publishing a promotional video for Plemont Ward, and scheduling urgent briefings with politicians and the media in the past seven days alone, Health Minister Deputy Richard Renouf says the Government is not - repeat, NOT - panicking.
We’ll see how they fare when the debate starts.
REMEMBERING LEN: States Members are due to debate whether or not to name the new Emergencies Services facility after the Home Affairs Minister Len Norman, who passed away last year. Of course, it won’t be a debate - it should be a session filled with touching tributes to a man who gave a near-lifetime of service to the island. Expect this one to pass unanimously.
MUSICAL CHAIRS: With the election due to be distinctly party political, States Members are starting to think about their seats. Not in the electoral sense - literally, where they might sit in the Chamber in future. Currently, Reform Jersey and Progress’s politicians aren’t allowed to sit together - but some States Members are suggesting this should change, and that parties should be able to sit in their factions.
With Senators set to be removed from the Chamber after the election, a game of musical chairs is definitely going to happen, but the Greffe is yet to lay down the exact new rules of the game and how parties fit in.
Let it be known that Express is firmly against this motion. Why? Because the current system makes for some rib-tickling bed- or should we say 'Chamber-fellows'. Senator Sam Mézec next to Senator Sarah Ferguson for one… and what would we do if we were denied the monthly giggle of seeing Senator Le Fondré rolling his eyes behind Senator Kristina Moore?
Got any States Assembly gossip to fill our News team's appetites? Or want to suggest any other areas of political life you'd like disassembled? Let us know! Email us HERE or slide into our DMs on Twitter.
Read the full order paper for today's States Assembly meeting HERE.
If you want to watch the action unfold live in the States Chamber, you can do so from 14:15 today HERE.
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