On Trust

Two letters in the Jersey Evening Post looked at the subjects of secrecy and freedom.

The first looked at the recent trip to the UK regarding the Haut de La Garenne affair, and again highlighted the lack of information; it did not mention that Jersey has no Freedom of Information Law comparable to the UK, but what I think, reading the letter, it does show apart from that is the lack of trust people have in elected officials. Much as Tony Blair and New Labour managed to destroy the British People's trust, however slender, in politics, the Jersey Government is doing nothing to endear itself to the trust of its people.

We are told that two of the Island's public servants, the Attorney General and Bill Ogley – requested a meeting to discuss the Haut de la Garenne affair and indeed flew to London for that purpose. Amazingly, we are also told that Senator Walker refused to say whether such a meeting was taking place, leaving us to learn the necessary details from the UK. When will Senator Walker finally get the message that he was elected to act for the people of this Island and that the culture of secrecy which he seems determined to perpetuate will surely lead to the eventual downfall of Jersey's constitutional arrangements?

The second letter takes a different view, about how free the Islanders are, and how free speech is allowed. It highlights, quite correctly, the hyperbole coming from a certain section of the public about Jersey.

WE heard Nick Le Cornu being interviewed on BBC Radio 4, when he compared Jersey society to the old eastern bloc countries, in particular Nicolae Ceausescu's Romania. We understand that Mr Le Cornu's point was that Jersey is a closed society where people are afraid to say what they think and feel. The fact that he is allowed to make these rather outlandish accusations just shows how wrong he is. We find his political rantings rather strange, as he is someone who has quite freely used letters and articles in your publication to make his points. Also, the fact that he has the platform of the BBC nationwide to broadcast his views just proves that we are a free and open Island.

What does this have to do with trust? I think that the States of Jersey, and the Council of Ministers need much more transparency" (to use a buzz word) than at present, and if they fail to realise this, then conspiracy theories will abound. Paul A. Silverstein, a professor of anthropology, notes how "conspiracy theories are the primary means through which information is exchanged and personal posturing accomplished in a game of hermeneutic one-upmanship", but how these also become legitimate because of the lack of openness from governments: "Conspiracy theories' legitimacy.. derives largely from the tactical manipulation of knowledge and secrecy by the government."

The past record of "concealments" at Haut de La Garenne, Blanchepierre, Victoria College, Greenfields, where victims have not been heard, or only heard after truth of events has emerged, can only be addressed by a deliberate effort to counterbalance that; whether Jersey politicians have the will to do this remains to be seen. But until they do - and the first letter gives an example of what should not be happening ( - there should have been notification before, and a briefing to the public afterwards- ), then conspiracy theories will flourish, and Jersey society will become awash with malicious gossip, and society will be polarised.