Jersey is hosting the International Whaling Commission (IWC) sixty third annual meeting. Delegates and NGO’s from over eighty countries are attending, sounds pretty prestigious doesn’t it? It would be if any other country had offered to host it!
There have been persistent rumors of corruption surrounding the IWC. Specifically some small nations are believed to have their fees paid “in cash” by other members, particularly Japan. Unsurprisingly these small nations frequently vote with Japan and the whalers. This year the UK have proposed measures to, shall we say, clean or tidy things up. This could stop the practice of paying the fees in cash at the conference(s). The UK, and others, clearly believes there is a problem surrounding the IWC, money, ethics and votes………Jersey welcomes the IWC. Incidentally Jersey is not a member of the IWC and has no vote.
So whom did Jersey’s government send to this environmentally sensitive meeting to give the welcoming address? The environment Minister? The newly appointed International Relations representative? The Chief Minister perhaps? No they sent Senator Alan Maclean the Economic Development Minister! Good old Jersey seizing any old opportunity to make a couple of quid, no matter where it comes from. Although there is merit in Jersey promoting itself as a conference centre, was it wise to link up with a body surrounded by allegations of corruption and vote rigging?
Why did Jersey not invite the “Sea Shepherds” as Monaco did in 1997? Did Jersey have any idea what it was getting into inviting the IWC? Were they simply blinded by the opportunity to promote our conference industry?
Sea Shepherd Captain Paul Watson thinks Jersey could have got it wrong. Hosting this conference could further damage Jersey’s already battered reputation, that the recently departed Lieutenant Governor told us could take decades to restore.
Team Voice has no knowledge of the workings of the IWC. The opinions of Captain Paul Watson are his own.
9 comments:
Interesting observations from the esteemed captain Watson. Jersey's government is so incompetent their usual obsession with image gets overlooked for a dodgy business oppertunity.
Do you think any of those corrupt small states keep their blood money in Jersey?
I love a good protest. I think they are right to protest. I drove along St. Saviours road three times today just to beep my horn in support. They loved it. They went wild. These people are free spitited and they see the world very differently to the way governments do, especially bad ones like ours. They see the solutions in advance. In short they are very intelligent. Captain Watson was proof of that.
It was a mistake to host it without agreeing to open a public dialogue with the protestors in advance. At least that way its becomes more palatable to make the economic agrument. We do need more conferences but the people who are paid to attract this vast market need to be a bit more right on.
So expect a gigantic phone hackers conference next month. Who will we get to open that?
Way to support the oceans, Jersey. Boo. Weak.
If there was a phone hackers conference in Jersey I'm sure Senator Ben Shenton would be the best person to represent the Jersey Government and make the welcoming speech.
A bit more straight talking, excellent.
VFP.
The Skull, the "evidence" and THE MEDIA
And if things couldnt get any worse for the conference centre they banned Paul Watson in an act of pettyness. Welcome to Jersey in 2011. Dissent is not tolerated.
VFP.
Jersey's media called into question by Bloggers at SCRUTINY HEARING.
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