SENATOR STUART SYVRET

[Fritz]

If you get sent to the "Naughty Step", Its located at Notthejep.


LOL.

[Stuart Syvret]

Conductor

I do plan to respond to your comments and those of others at some stage – but give me a break – I’m working 18 hour days, 6 days a week as it is.

I have to prioritise.

Whilst I think citizen media is great, and I’m willing to engage with people, if I tried to attempt to respond to every internet string which referred to me – that is all I would be doing – 24/7.

As far as Jersey Charter is concerned – all will be revealed.

But as I said in another post – right now, my task on behalf of my constituents is to sue Jack Straw. He and Baroness Scotland have had final notice of legal action served on them by John Hemming and me. Which they will ignore, of course, so I’ve been speaking to the lawyers today, and John Hemming has incorporated me as a director of Families for Justice Ltd – under which banner we are going to mount the action.

Standing orders requires that all members of the States must declare any directorships they hold – so I’ve notified the Greffe to add the fact I’m a director of FfJ to my page.

But the wonderful thing about this is I can now apply to join – yep – the IOD! Isn’t that fun?

I might even run for a place on its committee.

Right now, I could certainly use some of the IOD’s irrational, utopian fantasy – to give me a holiday from reality.

Stuart.

[Conductor]

Okay, point taken.  I was just a tiny bit concerned that the question may have been an aggravating one for you because we like you coming on here.

Do you not like the IOD though?  I thought their views played on Talkback last week when they aired the recordings of the strategic plan debate were at least better than Walker's cosy vision of "everything is rosy".

[Deputy Dawg]

Conductor

I do plan to respond to your comments and those of others at some stage – but give me a break – I’m working 18 hour days, 6 days a week as it is.

Thanks Stuart,

I think most people here understand and appreciate the fact that you are even coming here and explaining details to the electorate, something that your "friends" in politics should also be doing over different medias.

I don't want to and can't speak for everyone, but would expect that most will be understanding of your need for time in order to reply to any questions. I myself have a few, but I will wait until you mention that you have at least an hour spare.

Cheers.

 

[Eastern correspondent]

Senator Syvret is against increasing population and is out of kilter with the majority of States Members, I have high hopes for his Jerey Charter but he will have to capture even more of the electorate and with the media and establishment against him he has a real struggle ahead.

Those politicians that have swallowed hook line and sinker the establishment theory - that the only way forward for Jersey is population growth and regressive taxation. The hypothesis that by growing the population you will increase/ generate income - HAVE LET US DOWN -  fpr example Ozouf, Le Sueur, Le Main and De Faye.

There are States members who dont buy into the establishment theory -
 
Southern and Pitman of the JDA for example who are regularly demonised in the media for daring to be left wing but are part funded  by the highly reputable Joseph Rowntree Foundation.


As a long term investment and for those in the know 'buy to let' must be an attractive long term investment as the 'high net worth tax producing  J cat essentials  will need somewhere to live.

The plan has been hatched slowly - Imagine Jersey was a prime example of Establishment spin, I suspect that housing regs will be changed slightly to accomodate the buy to let investment prospects. Qualified people cannot even afford to buy at the lower end of the market, and someone has to purchase/rent the Dandara and Harcourt properties.

What has T Le Main done to help locals, 60plus shared equity Dandara Dens is it??? in how many years as housing president? Great!

Sold off housing stock, great!

Allowed whole estates to fall into disrepair, great!

Achieved very little real progress in getting families out of lodging houses...great!

Only 51% of people are homeowners in Jersey cmpare that to 76% in Guernsey great!

Le Main always has an answer to critism however with not a lot of substance and plenty rhetoric, he does not know how many properties have been sold to outside investors, or local wealthy residents - WHY NOT

The apathetic attitude of the electorate does not give me much hope of an about turn in social policy, in fact we shall probably see more pro growth and pro establishment politcians voted in this year with I suspect a turnout of 30% or less.

Stuart Syvret and more of his ilk are needed in our assembly.

[King Rollo]

Only 51% of people are homeowners in Jersey cmpare that to 76% in Guernsey great!

EC - if those stats are accurate,  then the con about wealth passing to the island is shot.  Home ownership is and always has been the most accurate marker for the fiscal well  being of a community, city or state.

The quoted percentage of 51% must produce a staggering per capita income to the landlords, which of course switches to the banks as home ownership increases.

Is it any wonder the elders do not want change?  Do the maths on rental income and weep.  Simplistic view it might be - but money talks and the rest walks (or in this case unfortunatley rents!

 

[plus_ca_change]

Home ownership is and always has been the most accurate marker for the fiscal well  being of a community, city or state.
 

That might possibly be true in the UK, but in general I believe it is not the case across the world, Certainly when I last looked seriously (over a dedcade ago!!) Bangladesh was a very poor country -very high home ownership, and one of the lowest home ownership rates was Switzerland. 

I think you will find a much stronger link between investment returns for landlords and tax reliefs on mortgages for owner occupiers and measures of community wealth.

[Jason the Maverick]

Southern and Pitman of the JDA for example who are regularly demonised in the media for daring to be left wing but are part funded  by the highly reputable Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

If they are not strong enough to take critics then they shouldn't be in politics.  Are you also saying that the pair of them get money from a foundation as well as a states salary?  If that it true then it is disgusting and makes them complete hypocrites to the low paid. 

In relation to population growth, I think the main problem is the funding of their 1/2 billion in the red final salary pension scheme and SS pension scheme in the future.  They need to get new people into the island to pay for the next generation.  The whole idea is flawed though because inflation is already putting people off from coming here and the people that are here, are getting sick of the place.

[plus_ca_change]

In relation to population growth, I think the main problem is the funding of their 1/2 billion in the red final salary pension scheme and SS pension scheme in the future.  They need to get new people into the island to pay for the next generation.  The whole idea is flawed though because inflation is already putting people off from coming here and the people that are here, are getting sick of the place.

But surely your vast economic knowledge would tell you that inflation erodes the present discounted value of future pension payments and deficits. 

[mysterious stranger]

Can I comment (politely!) that this thread seems to be at risk of veering off topic? Just a reminder...

[Jason the Maverick]

But surely your vast economic knowledge would tell you that inflation erodes the present discounted value of future pension payments and deficits. 

It is 1/2 Billion in the red already.  With the way the world markets are that will probably be more now.  They are therefore adding more taxes to pump everything up because States workers are still on final salary and many pensions are linked to the RPI. 

I do not think we are going off topic, because Stuart has been a critic of current policy.  The basis of bringing more people in (so I understand) is so that they will pay tax to keep the elderly going.  But the knock on effect with supply and demand for housing which we are witnessing is bringing up other problems for local people.

Its a mess. 



 

[mysterious stranger]

Point taken-my only issue is that we could say that Stuart would have a different opinion/position to many others in the States Assembly and we could talk about anything under the current heading by following your argument-I'm concerned that this thread is connected with Senator Syvret, then we should have a debate about ssues directly connected-such as the things he actually says, does or writes. I wouldn't want a negative comments about "issue A' to be unneccesarily associated with Stuart-even though I disgree with him about a lot of stuff. Politics isn't a fair arena and he has enough things said against him (in an unjust way, I mean) already. Fairs fair.

[nobs]

I've noticed that Stuart is very happy to accept anti-masonic postings on his blog, and I have also read much of the same stuff elswhere on this one. I've tried to ask him to explain why he encourages anti-masonic sentiment, but he never replies.  Maybe this link would be of interest - http://www.jerseymason.org.uk/craft_charity.html 

[plus_ca_change]

I've noticed that Stuart is very happy to accept anti-masonic postings on his blog, and I have also read much of the same stuff elswhere on this one. I've tried to ask him to explain why he encourages anti-masonic sentiment, but he never replies.  Maybe this link would be of interest - http://www.jerseymason.org.uk/craft_charity.html 

Interesting link.  So the 600 freemasons of Jersey donated a little over £60,000 to charity last year.  Thats £100 per freemason.   Not really that much to brag about is it?

[nobs]

I'm not a mason by the way, but I know a few and I just don't understand why they get such a bad press. The ones I know are just ordinary guys, nothing more sinister that Lions Club or Round Table. The reason I posted this, is more about hypocrisy. If I had been head of health services and been happy to accept £40,000 worth of important medical equipment from an organisation, I wouldn't let all and sundry trash them on my blog.