Occupation & Liberation

astonished
surely it's time for Bailhache and Walker to go.Go now while there's a shred of dignity left, resign for all our sake's. RESIGN NOW.

Blithering Idiot
I've watched the full interview a few times, and every time i watch it i still cannot see the Child Abuse enquiry having any link whatsoever to the celebration of Liberation. It just seemed an excuse for the Bailiff to try and clear the governments name in the whole enquiry. Fair enough he wants to clear his governments name, but this was absolutely the wrong place to do it. He should have realised that making this speech would have completely overshadowed the day itself, and it has. Local TV news headlined with the speech rather than the celebration of Liberation itself. So very bad move in my view. What he also failed to realise is that every time the media reported on the child abuse enquiry, it was based on information given by the police, Lenny Harper especially. It was speculation on behalf of the police, not the media. So if he wants to blame anybody for the misinformation, blame his own police force! The media simply reported on information that was given to them. I can't of course speak for tabloids though, as i never read them.

Tony
I looked in vain for interviews with the crowds, with people who had been here on liberation day. Instead we had lots of speeches by people who hadn't, at least 50% of which wasn't on the subject of liberation day. I heard Iris Le Feuvre on BBC Radio Jersey, and at least she was talking about the liberation, and what it was like to have experienced it first hand.

Notso Civil -Servant
Well then so much for liberation and freedom, it appears in Jersey some are more free than others to speak theIr minds. Bailhace and Walker are given total freedom of expression whilst others including brave elected representatives free electorate are silenced. The speeches on Liberation day by Walker and Bailache were a disgrace and a cynical misapproriation of a day where freedom is rightly celebrated and toasted. People died for freedom in society yet in Jersey in 2008 we are ruled by an elite class who will do anything to prevent democracy taking away their wealthy privelige. Bring Panorama back with a really determined investigative journalist to look deeper into the corrupt Jersey Elite classess then perhaps for once and for all we can enjoy the free democracy that millions died for over 60 years ago.

Edward Read
Phillip Bailhache and Frank Walker brought shame to this island with their self-centred liberation day speeches. It was nauseating hearing them abuse their positions in such a manner. They should resign for the embarrassment they have foisted upon the people of this island. You don't speak for me, Frank Walker. You don't speak for me , Phillip Bailhache. As usual, you speak only for yourselves.

Red Rag
Appalling case of double standards. Not that long ago Walker critisised individuals for "politicising" a rally of rememberance in the Royal Square. Here we see the Bayleaf and Walker "politicising" a rally for rememberance at Liberation Square. Can these two not get it right between them? I also found it sadly ironic that the Bayleaf ordered that the recent protest against GST was delayed so that he could eat his lunch. Was it not lost on him that the protest was, amongst other things, condemning GST on our food!!! Viva La Revolution, Marie Antoinette is alive and kicking. "Let them eat cake"

Ex pat
Well well well, it doesn't surprise me that ernie and bernie decided to use lib day to launch an attack on the media, like many have said what do they expect? Oh yeah the government probably expected them to ignore the stories, and not publish anything. Remind you of any establishment. It astonishes me that they use THIS day to spin their political tittle tac. Where we really liberated on May 9th 1945? have a good think about that.

Cheesey
The comments expressed by these two hopeless individuals,on the most sacred day in our historical calender,must rank as the most disgusting and insensitive ever made on this increasingly foul little rock!I am appalled that characters such as Phil & Frank can be allowed to utter such downright filth.I thought,for a short while,that I was the only one with such views but one has only to glance at the local blogs and forums on the web to realise the depth of feeling and resentment that these two senior figures have stirred up.Please,please,please,for the good of this island and its ordinary folk GO ASAP!

Lucy
I'm in total agreement with Isobel totally shameful what has it got to do with the Liberation,that they have to use this day as a platform to blame the Media outside the Island, they thankfully have brought a spotlight to illuminate the darker reaches of this Island.What did they expect the Media would do, that's what the media does and anyone with any intelligence will realise this.I feel it was for the good as it has brought more victims forward to tell their awful Stories. What are the Bailiff and Mr Walker frighten off the "Island been Shafted" Shame on them both.

Carl
It was not the right time or place for political speeches like those - how they dare to do that is beyond me, considering how they silenced the Father of the House from being political at Christmas! I'm glad I wasn't present - I'd have shouted my disgust and would probably have ended up in custody!

bruce
When the media frenzy started over the abuse allegations, the chief minister and the baliff should have been at the forefront, standing up with honesty and integrity offering a balanced and moral position on behalf of the island.

What we got was a slagging match in the media, Walker's humiliation on tv and radio about his fears of how this would smear jersey's international appeal and a farcical ineptitude in dealing with the national media.

Its no good the baliff bleating on about how horrible the gobal media machine is, if he and others have performed so abysmally in front of it.

Secondly, is it appropriate for the baliff and the chief minister to hijack liberation day speeches for their own fumbling and pathetic attempts at political spin, but not acceptable for syvret to speak freely at the christmas states sitting, or for GST protests earlier this week? Moronic hypocracy, especially on a day that celebrates our freedoms.

Both the baliff's and the chief minister's speeches blended half truths and skewed perspectives with generalisations over freedom with a stunning lack of skill and and credibilty.

The baliff's oratory ability is truely awful, and the lack of raputrous applause that greeted his blither of a speech speaks volumes.

The sight of the baliff standing there with his ministers behind him sitting in dark glasses looked like a cross between the muppet show and some nasty mafia gangster film, and is a truely ironic and iconic image of jersey on liberation day in 2008.

steve
The Baliff and chief minister should resign after their speeches yesterday ,it looks like a case one one rule for them and another one for other states members yesterday like christmas was not the day for those speeches but as it is the Baliff and cheif minister no one will say a word .

isobelwaby@hotmail.com
It is a great pity that the Bailiff and the Chief Minister did not make sensible use of this day, offer their resignations and really liberate the people of jersey. Instead gave pathetic speeches relating to the national and international press who unlike their own local rag have the freedom to publish the facts.