SSTAG's second public meeting at the Eastern Cood Companions Club was a great success although the time and location did not suit everybody. We cannot please everybody etc....but will continue with meetings in other parishes and locations in the future.
The lounge at Le Marais suited this particular meeting extremely well and encouraged a more relaxed atmosphere to discuss what turned out to be the main item on the agenda.
It was good to hear from the three States Members present and several had apologised in advance with prior engagements so we are confident that SSTAG is progressing and gaining in credibility. Rome was not built in a day etc and several new public members signed up so we are very optimistic.
The first part of the meeting was devoted to an introduction to SSTAG because most faces were new and it was especially good to hear from the founder of a Housing Association from another States complex and to discuss mutual housing and social concerns.
We are not in competion with other groups and are keen to make working contacts.
We stressed again that SSTAG has been formed in response to changes that have already taken place and the huge reforms that are planned within the next year by the States in the provision of housing, social security and health besides all the other things - such as a new bus service contractor - which will affect ALL of us.
During such public discussions it is always interesting to hear about practical problems such as windows falling out from 14th floor States' flats as well as concerns about immigration and population controls.
SSTAG needs just this sort of feedback to build up knowledge and to be able to speak on the basis of certainty and we want States Members to hear the discussions at first hand too.
A future meeting will include a discussion on immigration matters and suggestions are invited.
Coincidentally, we introduced a Romanian couple to Chief Minister Gorst for a chance discussion in the Royal Square and it's a pity that the video camera was not to hand. Even in that ten minutes encounter a great deal of useful information was exchanged and we hope that "immigrants" are being fully consulted in the official discussions currently taking place. They have a great deal of knowledge - and understanding - of the problems and their "wider view" needs to be heard.
As this piece is being written, the discussion about the safe housing of convicted sex offenders is still taking place on BBC Radio and it is quite incredible how much attention has been given to the subject by the "accredited media". Obviously we are very pleased to have brought this matter to a general public attention and that an official review is to be undertaken to find out what went wrong etc. For SSTAG this is a very real and significant result and hopefully demonstrates that we are a serious group with realistic aims and objectives. We wish that the media would take as much interest in the rest of our agenda but we appreciate that this was a simple single issue with strong emotive elements - so ideal to report upon.
We devoted about one hour to this discussion following an explanation from (Probation Officer) Mike Cutland regarding the workings of "JMAPPA." He took some flack during a "lively" exchange which was useful and informative all round but of course the underlying problems are yet to be examined.
We don't propose to write at length here about this discussion but if anybody who was present would like to submit a summary or a view we shall be pleased to publish it. The media were present and have already published much information on the matter which is - as we have tried to stress - just an aspect of SSTAG's wide terms of reference. We don't want to devote much more time to this single issue at the moment - We have done our bit!
We shall announce soon the date and venue for our next public meeting and as always are keen to hear of suitable and accessible places that can be used at little or no cost.
If you are reading this and have not yet joined - membership of SSTAG is free to the unwaged and just £5 per annum for the waged and we welcome any financial contributions......
