A Predictable Start to the Demonstration

Today's anti-GST rally in the Royal Square started with a predictably laughable action on behalf of the establishment. The demonstration was planned to start at 12:30, a schedule that had been publicised for at least three days beforehand (and I am sure much sooner still); however upon the arrival of 12:30, with a nearly-full Royal Square waiting patiently, the crowd was informed by Time4Change/Reform that the rally would now be starting at 13:00 . . . because the Bailiff was having lunch and did not want to be disturbed! He didn't appear too bothered by the load machinery being used on the opposite building site, which I can assure you was much loader than the microphone speakers being used.

Mr. Nick Le Cornu has kindly offered to send me a copy of the Bailiff's letter via email, which I promise to post here as soon as I receive it.

After this rather sickening incident I must say the demonstration proceeded rekarkably well, with many different speakers stating their case against GST (and certain States members in general). This was not any normal 'pop-demonstration' though, at least I do not believe so; there was a real sense of genuine passion from all speakers who have been personally affected by this tax (as opposed to a bunch of millionaires saying they have been affected for the sake of public support). Much was covered in all, and I found it both emotionally-charged, powerful, and educational - exactly what a good demonstration should be.

Many papers were available to the crowd, most notably a full list of the 28 States members who voted for the implementation of GST, which I will reproduce for you below (this list was also read aloud at the rally, followed by loud booing from the crowd following certain names near the top of the list):

Frank Walker, Senator
Terry Le Sueur, Senator
Wendy Kinnard, Senator
Paul Routier, Senator
Mike Vibert, Senator
Philip Ozouf, Senator
Jim Perchard, Senator
Patrick Ryan, Deputy for St Helier No. 1
Alan Maclean, Deputy for St Helier No. 2
John Fox, Deputy for St Helier No. 3
Jacqueline Huet, Deputy for St Helier No. 3
Guy de Faye, Deputy of St Helier No. 3
Sarah Ferguson, Deputy for St Brelade No. 1
Peter Troy, Deputy for St Brelade No. 2
Ian Gorst, Deputy for St Clement
Dan Murphy, Constable of Grouville
Andrew Lewis, Deputy for St John
Geoffrey Fisher, Constable of St Lawrence
John Le Fondre, Deputy for St Lawrence
Silvanus Yates, Constable of St Martin
Juliette Gallichan, Deputy for St Mary
Ken Vibert, Constable of St Ouen
James Reed, Deputy for St Ouen
Thomas du Feu, Constable of St Peter
Collin Egre, Deputy for St Peter
Peter Hanning, Constable of St Saviour *
John Gallichan, Constable of Trinity
Anne Pryke, Deputy for Trinity

Senator Terry Le Main (Housing Minister) and Senator Freddie Cohen (Minister for Planning & Environment) were absent on the day of the GST vote, but have consistently supported the tax since then. Neither will face election this autumn.

* I must say that although Mr. Hanning voted for GST, he has shown great interest in the St Saviour Woodland, which I believe shows a genuine interest in the welfare of both wildlife and residents in the Parish.

I would also like to use this post to mention the minimum of three police officers present at the demonstration:

I have not seen one police officer walking through town in the last few months (of course I am sure they do, but the fact that I have not seen one after near-daily visits tells me that there are not many of them there). In fact to be entirely honest I cannot remember the last time I saw a police officer on foot anywhere in Jersey. In town at night I have never, and I mean never, seen a police officer; so why on Earth were there three of them at the demonstration today?

Just over a year ago I was assaulted in town at night (nothing severe), and to be honest a police officer would have been a very welcome sight at the time, but there was not one! I can only assume they are too scared, which is in no way sarcastic; what other reason is there? Surely town at night, a place of many 'drunk and disorderly' people, a place of potentially dangerous people, should be a priority for the police force?!

I apologise but that is something I just needed to get off my chest; the sight of three police officers chatting to each other jokingly with stretched grins across their faces whilst there is undoubtedly a crime being committed somewhere was a sight I could not simply dismiss. Maybe in another post I will explain my reasons for disliking the police force, but not here.

As mentioned earlier I will post the Bailiff's letter whenever I receive it. Check back soon.

- Benjamin Langlois


Update (08/05/2008):
The YouTube video of the GST demonstration mentioned in a recent comment can now be viewed below for all who could not attend the demonstration in person. Unfortunately YouTube will only allow me to publish a low-quality copy here, however the higher-quality version can be found at the following link: High Quality Video

This video was filmed by crapaudvision, who has kindly given me permission to publish his video here. You can visit crapaudvision's YouTube Channel by clicking here.