VIDEO: Chief Minister - "I am shocked. I am saddened. I am sorry."

Tuesday 04 July 2017

The Chief Minister has moved to assure children in Jersey’s care system that they are part of the Island’s “family” and “will not be forgotten” following harrowing revelations that children were abandoned and abused in Island care homes over a period of more than 50 years.

His comments come following the publication of the highly-critical Independent Jersey Care Inquiry report – a three-year investigation into failings and abuse within the Island’s childcare system, chaired by Frances Oldham QC.

In a statement just two hours following the report’s release, Senator Ian Gorst said that acting upon the report’s concerns would become a “number one priority” for the government.

He admitted that the Jersey government and care services had “failed children who needed our care; who needed to be protected and listened to”, apologising for the “unpalatable truths” that were, “…swept under the carpet because it was the easiest thing to do.”

Pictured: Speaking from the Jersey Archives at 17:20 yesterday - 20 minutes later than originally scheduled - the Chief Minister said that the records would remain in the “Island’s collective memory.”

“I am shocked. I am saddened. I am sorry,” he said.

Following the report’s claim that some children “may still be at risk”, the Chief Minister said that he “will not rest until we have done all that we can do to change that.”

Throughout the review, the ‘Jersey Way’ – an impression that Island authorities were more concerned about reputation than children’s welfare – was widely criticised as being a factor in why so many children’s stories of abuse were ignored. Prioritisation of the finance industry over social concerns was also blasted heavily, but Senator Gorst claimed that this was no longer the case in Jersey, and that his government had promoted social legislation more than any other previously, having introduced mental health legislation and borrowed money to bring Jersey homes up to UK living standards.

The Inquiry report laid out eight key recommendations for the improvement of future services – one of which was to destroy the notorious Haut de la Garenne former children’s home, a site where numerous children were found to have suffered emotional, physical and sexual abuse.

Pictured: The Jersey Care Inquiry report recommended that Haut de la Garenne - a symbol of "shameful history" and "trauma" - be demolished for victims' sake.

While the Chief Minister declined to comment specifically on the changes he would put in place before having digested the full “harrowing” report, which is around 1,000 pages long, he stated: “If the desire is to demolish [Haut de la Garenne] and put in its place a modern building fit for the future… then I’m committed to doing it.”

Moreover, he pledged to work to “build a new culture - one which puts children first.”

“Where one child failed, is one too many,” he added. He later reached out to those currently within care, stating: “We have not forgotten you. You are at the forefront of our mind. We are sorry if we have forgotten you in the past. If you have concerns today… We stand ready to listen. We stand ready to support you. You are our child. We see you as part of our family.”

Video: Chief Minister Ian Gorst tells victims of abuse in Island care homes, "I am deeply sorry."

The Minister symbolically conducted his speech from Jersey Archive – the location where the Inquiry records will be kept, so that the abuse does not escape the “Island’s collective memory.”

The full report can be read here.