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It had to be a foggy morning. What else could have so perfectly summed up the position we are now in on the island’s ‘Future Hospital’?
Just as the current building itself was shrouded from view from most of the rest of town this morning, so its future now seems to have become far more obscure.
Whichever way you see Jersey politics, today’s major developments in perhaps the most important decision facing the island – one that is, without cliché, a matter of life and death – will likely give sufficient proof-points for your opinions.
Is the report by Constable Chris Taylor’s panel a courageous bid to call “stop” on a project they sincerely believe has been fouled by the political machinations of their ministerial predecessors?
For those who accuse our politicians of being all talk and no action, consider for a moment the strength it has taken for a group of them to opt for saying “no” and accepting the wave of public opprobrium that will inevitably follow.
When we call for leadership in our politicians, is this not it?
Pictured: The review board took the bold decision to blow the site debate wide open in their explosive report.
Constable Taylor was visibly shaken at the media conference called to present the report – shaken not by the media’s questioning, but by his previous meeting with the Future Hospital team, which hugely overran as he needed to dust himself off after metaphorically leaping in front of them, palm raised and facing the traffic flow.
Their reaction was etched clearly on his face. To them, he had become a politician even more unpopular than Theresa May on the day she pushed her head into the Brexit cannon and dared her political ‘colleagues’ to shout “fire!”
Alternatively, in a project which has become the biggest political farce the island has yet seen – and that includes our attempts to define a population policy – is today’s report not further evidence of our politicians’ inability first to make a decision, and then to stick to it?
Despite the inadequacies in the political management of the project to date – ok, that is big hurdle to clear – the States have made a clear decision to build next to the current site, and officers are now just trying to get on and implement that. Why rip open the deeply uneasy peace, particularly since decisions have already been implemented to buy parts of Kensington Place?
Pictured: Decisions have already been implemented to buy parts of Kensington Place.
Why subject everyone (oh god, please no) to the Battle of the People’s Park version 2? How about Overdale? No, it should be Warwick Farm! I always thought St Saviour’s Hospital was perfect! The Waterfront? Far, far too valuable - way better to save it for a cinema, KFC, Pizza Hut... and social housing.
But that’s exactly where we are. Who needs Brexit to confuse, divide and muddle the chattering classes? Our very own Christmas disaster movie has begun early, and it’s being played out in super-ultra-amazing 4k, 3D Real Life against the forlorn and wintry backdrop of St Helier itself, all the way through until January.
Crack open the popcorn and enjoy. Just don’t get ill.
What a mess: Report blows open site debate
Q&A: The “political mess” – and how we got in it
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