Any Questions out East?

Tuesday 24 February 2015

It’s the turn of Islanders out east to put their hands up and quiz our politicians and local business men and women - and this time the Education Minister is in the hotseat.

Deputy Rod Bryans is one of three politicians in the line-up for the second “Any Questions” event at St Clement’s Parish Hall from 7.30 pm tonight.

Deputy Bryans will be joined by the parish Constable Len Norman and Deputy Sam Mezec, as well as Advocate Vicky Milner and blogger Rico Sorda.

The monthly event launched last month in St Brelade and is organised by change.je – an independent campaign group set up for the public to engage with politics.

Around seventy people turned out to that to quiz the panel that included the Chief Minister on issues including the development of the Esplanade Quarter and parking in St Helier, but it was a question about student finance that had Senator Ian Gorst promising to investigate a new Jersey-based loans scheme.

Founder of change.je Christian May said: “We were delighted by the response of the public to the first event and by the candour of the panel, who answered difficult questions with frankness and good humour. I believe that this is exactly the form of political interaction that has been missing in Jersey, and the audience walked away satisfied that they had been able to get their questions asked and answered publically.”

Each of the panel members are asked to comment on questions taken from the audience as well as some that have been emailed or tweeted through beforehand and ends with them being asked to give yes or no answers to pressing questions facing the Island. The event will again be chaired by Bailiwick Express news editor Ben Queree.

Change.je’s Head of Communications James Rondel said: “Our first event showed that there is an appetite for dynamic and open political debate in the Island, and not the stale three-minute responses of the election hustings. It was especially encouraging to see so many young people in St Brelade’s who were prepared to stand up and ask their questions.

"We have a very diverse panel with ranging political and personal views for the St Clement’s event, and I am sure that it will lead to some very interesting discussion. I would encourage all members of the public, whether resident in St Clement or not, to come ready with their questions to challenge our panel on the night of 24^th February 2015.”

If you have any questions you want to put to the panel before the event you can using the hashtag #anyquestionsjsy