Call for Senator Ozouf to resign as Treasury Minister over Lime Grove House debacle

 

 The following submission was made to Senator Philip Ozouf's personal blog, but has yet to be posted. One wonders why? The Senator is waiting whilst swinging on the end of the rope. Will the Mountaineer regain a foothold or fall?

Submission by Tom Gruchy to Senator Philip Ozouf’s Blog dated 9 September 2011 regarding Lime Grove House – St Helier.

“I have attended most of the Scrutiny hearings regarding this failed project and been impressed by the professionalism of expert witnesses.

On the other hand, I have been appalled at the blustering and bullying attitude of yourself and the inconsistencies of your evidence.

In spite of the large team assembled by your Treasury Department to support you and your actions I have heard more than enough to convince me that your decision to abandon this project was wrong.

Your decision is certainly not supported by the spurious reasons offered before the Scrutiny Panel or the written statements offered by you since.

The financial loss to the public of Jersey by your personal decision could be many £millions and this is of course particularly blameworthy since you are forcing cuts and your CSR policies elsewhere.

The further delays in providing adequate accommodation to an already demoralised Police department is just one part of the considerable practical, public loss arising from this and related developments.

The reputational damage that has been caused to so many by your words and actions must also be considered and it is possible that legal actions will follow from those who have been damaged.

All in all, I hope that you will take the earliest opportunity to step back and to reconsider your ministerial position. I have no doubt that the Scrutiny Panel must publish a damning report of your department’s behaviour very soon. But we are now in the midst of Jersey’s first ever General Election and there are many other important issues that need to be discussed with the electorate. If you now allow this particular failure to dominate the elections and if you leave the public in any doubts about your political future it will be especially unfortunate for the democratic process.

Of course, the failure is a very important issue and needs to be discussed as part of the election process but such matters in Jersey have a habit of dragging on for years with reports being made upon reports - and those who are blameworthy allowed to slip away into the fog.

On this occasion, I would ask that you make the clearest statement now about your own position. I think that your resignation is inevitable but I am aware of the personal; magnitude of such a decision for you since politics is an important part of your life.

In all the circumstances I invite you, in the public interest, to make the appropriate announcement.”