DEPUTY chief minister Bernard Flouquet is today at the centre of a race row after telling a racist joke at a press briefing.
Opening a presentation yesterday on the work needed at Guernsey Airport, he told journalists he wanted to lighten the mood with a funny story he had heard.
It included a reference to American president-elect Barack Obama and the Americans agreeing to allow golliwogs to be put back on jam jars in return for being allowed to use the Queen’s head on their stamps.
Deputy Flouquet, pictured, last night issued an unreserved apology. However, pressure on him to resign as deputy Chief Minister was growing this morning as a result of the gaffe.
Callers to a Radio Guernsey phone-in were very critical and many felt he should go. Additionally, his Policy Council colleagues refused to say anything, radio reported, suggesting it does not know how to respond to a hugely unwise remark by the minister.
At the press conference, Deputy Flouquet had said: ‘A little joke was said that apparently the British Government - and I took this quite seriously when it was said to me - that the British Government had agreed with President Bush in America, and we all know that he’s going out of that position and Barack Obama is going to be taking over, the agreement was the Americans were looking for permission to use the sovereign’s face on all their stamps and, in return to show their appreciation, they would allow Britain to put the golliwog back on the jam jar.’
No one there laughed.
‘And now you may think that’s not right to say, but I thought it was a very humorous joke, quite honestly,’ said Deputy Flouquet.
Commerce and Employment minister Carla McNulty Bauer was sitting next to him and shook her head.
‘It’s not very PC,’ she said to Deputy Flouquet.
The deputy chief minister later said: ‘I would wish to make an unequivocal apology for my comments made this afternoon. I have the utmost respect for president-elect Obama and intended no offence.’
Deputy Flouquet added that those close to him knew he had supported Obama throughout the US elections.
‘I believed in what he stood for.’
nÊIn September 2001, Conservative Richard Eddy resigned as deputy leader of Bristol City Council after he adopted a golliwog as his office mascot, a gesture criticised by race equality campaigners. He claimed he was trying to make a point about political correctness.
Article posted on 21st November, 2008 - 2.29pm
123 Article Comments
oh come on people, we`ve all told a joke before thats a bit close to the mark in one way or another, just because he`s in politics doesnt mean he`s perfect!! And also many other politicians have said wrong and bad things but they have just never been unfortunate enough to have it recorded!!
Report abuse
What a stupid comment for a senior politician to make.
Flouquet should consider his position very seriously.
Report abuse
PLEASE TAKE THIS IN THE SPIRIT THAT IT WAS OFFERED
NO HARM MENT JUST POOR JUDGEMENT AT THE TIME
LETS ALL MOVE ON AND DON`T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF
IN LIFE ,WE HAVE MUCH MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES TO DEAL WITH ,IN THIS ISLAND LETS ALL WORK TOGETHER FOR THE COMMON GOOD AND ALL REAP THE REWARDS AS A COMMUNITY A LA PERCHOINE !!!!!!!
Report abuse
I agree with Brodie and Richard. It was certainly very foolish and misguided but nothing more. Deputy Flouquet should be severely reprimanded and warned about his future behaviour but that should be the end of it. Maybe he should also make a suitable public donation to a local charity to back up his apology.
Report abuse
Seriously,
if people find this offensive then they really need to lighten up.
One thing for sure though, is that we really dont need the media, guernsey press included, to start blowing this out of proportion.
There are other far more important issues out there that the states members need to be dealing with rather than answering questions about what they think Deputy Chief Minister Flouquet has said.
Report abuse
Oh come on, lighten up. There’ll be someone saying Cobo Alice is rascist against whites next.
Report abuse
The comment shows a complete and utter lack of judgement and is deeply offensive to many people in this island and beyond. If his judgement is so wrong on this, how can anyone have confidence in his political judgement more generally? The answer is: they can’t and therefore he should resign as Deputy Chief Minister.
Report abuse
It was clearly an inappropriate ‘joke’ which fell flat. But he is a good States Member and ambassador for this Island and whilst ill-judged I think its ridiculous the way some people (and in particular the local radio stations) are treating this.
Let’s focus on the real important issues for this Island and not misplaced gags.
Report abuse
Giving unacceptable comment , is a huge embarrassment to the outsite world. Think twice before you speak !!!!
Report abuse
He ought to resign or be sacked. It is such a massive error of judgement to tell a joke like that about an individual (not a race in general, which would be bad enough) and anyone who makes such an idiotic move should not hold an office of such seniorority. Isn’t Obama someone we ought to extend upmost courtesy to, bearing in mind the damage that he could do to our finances should he pursue an anti offshore jurisdiction policy. Flouquet is a fool, and a dangerous one at that.
Report abuse
Some of the supportive comments for this are startling. “Lighten up”? Well, before you go supporting this embarassment for Guernsey and it’s people maybe you should go and have a word with yourself and ask just why racism is so offensive and unnacptable in any form. His position is untenable, whether the joke was funny or not is beside the point, it was racist and he should not be in public office. his judgement and intelligence are severely flawed and he is not fit to represent Guernsey at any level.
Report abuse
I agree with those who say lighten up!
What happened to freedom of speech and having a laugh!
I have every respect for the Guernsey Press and Radio Guernsey and other media and it is good to hear both sides of a story however I do think the media have hyped this up too much and are taking things out of proportion.
Us Guernsey Donkeys can take a joke and even our Jersey friends don’t take offence when we call them crapauds!
I sympathise with Deputy Flouquet for the bad press he is having. He is doing a good job in the States where he has inherited a lot of problems which must cause him a lot of stress so surely he should be forgiven for a “light moment” even if it was at an inappropriate time.
Haven’t we all had moments when we wish we hadn’t said something!
Mr Flouquet is of French descendance, who like us Guerns, say it “as it is” and sometimes open their mouth before the brain is in gear.
You only have to look at previous French Presidents for putting “their foot in it” several times and they managed to stay in government!
Let’s concentrate on more important things and stop putting the boot in!
Report abuse
I’m very glad that this display of ignorance has highlighted how out of tune this man is.
It would be marvellous for the island if he removed himself as quickly as possible from official duties so that his obvious disdain for educated & disinterested expert opinion on matters such as the insane energy from waste plant can be prevented from causing more long term damage to Guernsey’s top heavy & now fragile economy.
Choice joke (sic) & good timing Bernard, time to leave the building.
Report abuse
Say it as it is? Utter nonsense. So a defence of racism is ’saying it how it is’? Using your ‘logic’ Flouqet was calling Obama a golliwog. Indefensible and crass and please do not tar all of us ‘French descendents’ with the same brush. Some of us have standards.
Report abuse
If this is had been a joke about a Jersey man Engish man, Irish man, Scotts man it would have still be racialist. It would still be discrimination against another race.. It would still be illegal..
But no one would care ?
Report abuse
I am astounded at the number of people who seem to think that this is just an inapproriate joke that fell flat. This “joke” is a racist comment pure and simple. That so many people fund this even remotely acceptable is shocking reflection of the level of racism in Guenrsey as a whole.
Report abuse
Lets face it, if we said this between our friends would we face any such persecution? No. It was meant as a joke, and although perhaps not the best time, place, or audience it was simply lack of judgement rather than a deliberately racist slur.
How petty of us to make such a big deal out of all of this! Look around, there’s more important news to concentrate on. Stop making a mountain out of a mole hill everyone and lets just, this once, let it slide.
Thats just my thoughts…
Report abuse
OK he said a bad Joke, I think the media should focus on more important things, yes it was wrong what he said, He’s said he was sorry. The media are like children sometimes, wanting to get someone else into trouble.
Plus I don’t think they are much better, then him for repeating showing the article on the news and playing it on the radio. Surely this is more insulting then the one off Joke he made. This man has done a lot for this island and I think that’s what needs to be looked at
Report abuse
It wasn’t even a funny joke, it’s the sort of thing that you would have heard in a junior school playground 30 years ago.
It just goes to show that he’s no comedian, I also think it highlights the fact that he’s no politician either. Maybe he should do the island a favour and steer clear of both in future…
Report abuse
Anyone wanting this guy to quit needs to have a serious word with themselves… Come on people - this is 2008… The world has gone PC mad & is quite pathetic - just for once lets not follow the pack like the Guernsey sheep we tend to be…
TIme to wake up & get real… If all people have in their lives is to poke their noses in stuff like this then they are very very sad…
Report abuse
Don’t they call this assignation
Report abuse
This man should go….now! What sort of message does that send out for Guernsey, a Senior Politician should know and behave better. And by the way Mr Flouquet, President Elect Obama is twice the man you will ever be!
Report abuse
The real issue here is that this ‘joke’ demonstrated a complete lack of forsight and compasion. The fact that such a complete lack of forsight and compasion has come from a politician is worrying. But coming from the deputy chief minister, now that is utterly unacceptable.
I have personally suffered descrimination due to my ‘appearance’ by a local civil servant, sanctioned by his executive officer and verified by a high ranking politician (who couldn’t be bothered to even see me. My point here is that there is something very ‘wrong’ about the authority in this island which shows no signs of dispersing.
Report abuse
He should be sacked instantly for this racist remark! This IS NOT a joke - they are the words of an ignorant man. Bernard Flouquet step down NOW we have no respect for you.
Report abuse
This comment was made by the States Deputy Chief Minister, a very important position which has obviously gone to Deputy Flouquet’s head.
Deputy Rihoy said it was naivety and do we really want this person representing us overseas.
I heard that he further compounded this error by saying he enjoyed jokes like that.
My wife is a retired headteacher from a multi racial school in Liverpool, if her or one of her staff had said what the Deputy said they would have had a one way bus ticket home.
Let’s get real we have to maintain our position and relationships with the rest of the world. We need intelligent people to represent us. Dont think that an issue like this is not important, it is.
Report abuse
It is pathetic that somebody in Guernsey gets pilloried because he is a man of a certain age that grew up with emblems on Jam Jars and every little girl had one. What a stupid PC World we live in.
Report abuse
So we should “lighten up” when a senior politician tells a joke in public, indeed on the air, referring to the race of the US president elect in a derogatory way. I suppose only a honky or cracker could think this is trivial in the context.
If this (badly told) joke had been recited in the pub or the parlour among a group of friends and/or relatives, it might just have been acceptable - otherwise it is gratuitously offensive.
Report abuse
This is being blown out of proportion. Fair enough it may have had a racist slant to it and i’m not condoning that in any way, but look at all the gaffes the Duke of Edinburgh and others have made over the years that were equally racist or discriminatory - there are websites devoted to these sorts of gaffes.
The difference here is that the local media relish reports that are derogatory to the States and they will inflame such events whenever possible.
This is being sensationalised to try and inflame the situation further.
Do you whingers honestly believe that no-one in the island has ever told a racist joke before? It was just the audience in this case that made the comment a ‘gaffe’.
Get a life! Start campaining about the real issues in the island and not some mis-times comment.
Report abuse
A disgraceful remark from somebody who should know better; poor judgement is a dangerous thing for a man in his position. This sort of attitude, joke or not, has no place in the States and is an embarrassment for Guernsey in the wider world. He should go immediately, or the States are essentially seen to condone his behaviour.
Report abuse
Well Brodie you may well be right, we may have all told the odd dodgy joke or made the odd comment that one shouldn’t do, the issue here is this guy is in public life and as such should have enough nounce to keep his trap shut when it comes to rasist and infantile jokes. What he does and says in private is his business but to come out with a joke/comment like that when in public is not acceptable.
Report abuse
I don’t agree with the ‘lighten up’ comments, he was at a press conference, with, i assume, a prepared speech and he said a racist remark.this shows total lack of judgement for someone in his position. i think he should go, and not just for this but to save us from his decisions on a mass burn incinerator. why he ever was given a post in a department or dept chief minister i’ll never know, i guess our rubbish system is to blsame and a shocking ‘jobs for the boys’ attitude in the states. the same is true i feel of trott. They scraped in in the election and should be on the back benches where the public clearly wants them. and if this is out of order well you can just ‘lighten up’ cant you.
Report abuse
Anyone who regards Flouquet’s ‘joke’ as acceptable is ignorant, small-minded and backward-thinking. But let’s face it, there are still plenty of them around - I think they’re known as ‘Guerns’. Flouquet should resign. He is an embarrassment to those of us who are educated and living in the 21st century.
Report abuse
Why was the golliwog removed from the jar in the first place?Are we not moving from the sublime to the ridiculas,do we have to look over our shoulder every time we speak?Does every word made in jest have to be blown out of all proportion.
Report abuse
After reading all of these comments, I am some what angered. Guernsey is becoming more and more everyday a multi-cultured society, which we can only learn from.
The worrying thing is if this is condoned, what are we teaching our children? What would happen if a child was to be called a racial name at school, by another child? That child would be taught that it is incorrect to label someone for being different to them and shown the correct way to address someone, by their name!
It is a shame that Deputy Flouquet is obviously not up to speed on what is politically correct, and surely in his position, this would be something he should be hot on.
Maybe he should not have to resign and I am sure that Barrack has come across worse comments over the past couple of weeks, by shallow minded people and in turn would probably shrug his shoulders at this as I am sure that he is a bigger person not to let such a stupid careless comment upset him and put is down to sheer ignorance, but Deputy Flouquet, what about all the other people you have offended? Do they get an apology???
Report abuse
I agree totally with comments made by Phil. It is precisely because Bernard Flouquet holds an important and influencial position in the States that we should expect him along with every other elected government official, to act in an appropriate manner and not to use language that is likely to cause offence or have a detrimental impact on Guernsey’s image to the outside world. If he were just someone who had told this ’so called’ joke, in a pub over a glass of beer to his mates then those who say ‘lighten up’ or ‘ he just made an unfortuate mistake’ might have a point as the impact and audience would have been so much smaller. But he is not just a bloke telling a joke in a pub. The fact that he chose to say what he did, at the beginning of a press briefing (unbelieveable !!), when the cameras and sound equipment would be on him only goes to show the total lack of judgement that the man has. He is not fit to hold public office and represent our island in any capacity and should resign or be pushed - I care not which. I can only hope, that this event does not get a wider airing in the national or international media, which would be diasatrous for Guernsey plc in so many ways. I await, with interest to see what sanctions, if any, are taken against this man who in my opinion has not a little touch of arrogance in thinking that he could get away with such an appalling stunt.
Report abuse
The very fact that our Deputy Chief Minister thinks this appropriate at a press conference sums up his clear lack of intelligence. How can we trust someone such as this to have anything to do with any decision making process that will cost the Island millions of pounds.
The Deputy Chief Minister is a joke. He should resign or be removed from office.
Report abuse
I applaud Bryn’s and Nicola’s comments and echo their sentiment. There is NO supporting comments like this in society. We have to stamp out racism for once and all! Actually put yourself in Mr Flouquet’s situation, at what point would this of even ever seemed appropriate or mildly amusing?! - even going back 30yrs!! Mr Flouquet is massively out of touch and has to step down for the good of the islands international reputation. We do not need poorly educated individuals like this running the island.
Report abuse
Lack of appropriateness, understanding, bad timing and misjudgement, shocker, that’s never happened before with a States member.
Everyone is very keen to jump on the PC bandwagon. Stupid it might have been been but I doubt there is one person amongst us that has not been sent, passed on or read a slightly offensive email, text or joke before. Possibly the wrong crowd and maybe something that should have been reserved for closed doors (and I always think there are some people who protest too much at times like this!) but seriously is this the worst thing happening in Guernsey and the world at the moment?
Report abuse
Me thinks Bernard has been watching a vintage episode of “Love thy Neighbour” on DVD?
I say bring back the Robertsons Golly!
Report abuse
Call that a joke ?
If he had Googled ‘Obama jokes’ he would have had a choice of 11,300,000 to pick from, which puts this silly utterance into some perspective
No doubt if he keeps his head down for two or three days this false media frenzy will die down, but this will follow him for the rest of his days just as Trott’s dentistry threat will surface every now and then to embarrass him
Political Correctness has become a very real danger in all walks of life but especially it seems in UK local Councils where many have barred the word Christmas in case it offends the Muslims
The word ‘gay’ has taken on a whole new meaning since I was at school
I believe the Canadians call Indians ‘First Nationers’
How far should we let it go before the English language becomes unrecognisible ?
Report abuse
Don’t give up the day job and never think about going into comedy…. that’s all there is to say.
Report abuse
“Golliwog” was World War II British naval slang for a Gauloise cigarette, which had tobacco which was nearly black in colour.
* The American rock group Creedence Clearwater Revival was known as “The Golliwogs” and under this name they released a number of singles on the Fantasy label before they rose to prominence. Golliwog is also a Slovenian punkrock/hardcore band.
* In unofficial military parlance of some countries which has become less common nowadays, the term “golliwog” was used to indicate a piece of equipment that has been tuned, upgraded, and possibly customised to the point where it is no longer similar to the stock item it started as. The term stems from the fact that although the Golliwog itself was black – its standard form was featureless in a sense – it was always represented as decorated smartly with, for example, ribbons and bows. It could be said to be found always dressed up in finery; no Golliwog was ever seen dressed conservatively.
* The sixth movement of Claude Debussy’s Children’s Corner is titled “Golliwogg’s Cakewalk”, inspired by the American dance.
* Golliwog is the former name of a popular line of cocoa biscuits in Australia. First released in the 1960s, they were renamed by manufacturer Arnott’s in the mid-1990s and are now sold under the name of “Scalliwag”.
* Golliwog was a term used to refer to bullfrog tadpoles in southwest Missouri and the Ozarks.
* Golliwog is a solo-single by ABBA member Agnetha Fältskog from 1974.
* Contortion; In a rag doll or golliwog act, one or two assistants bend, shake and carry the contortionist in such a way as to convince the audience that the disguised performer is actually a limp, life-sized doll. The act usually ends by stuffing the doll into a small box, after which the performer gets out and takes off the costume.
* Golliwogg is featured in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen as the pilot of an interdimensional ship, along with the Dutch dolls. Golliwogg is said to be a creature made of dark matter in the book.
These are just a few meanings i found on the net…..a joke is a joke and that should be the end of the subject….the P.C brigade are taking things too far yet again and trying to cloud the real problems with this island. listen to the joke before you just post on here and say he should be sacked…..sacked for what? a joke that fell flat?
Report abuse
Leigh - a Golliwog is also a children’s doll, popular in less enlightened times, which mirrored the racial caricature adopted by “Black and White Minstrels”. This stereotype exaggerated a black person’s physical features for the amusement of a white audience and parodied the “Uncle Tom” behaviour of subservient black slaves.
I have to assume Mr Flouquet was not comparing Mr Obama to a Gauloise cigarette or a bullfrog tadpole but to the Golliwog doll that used to appear on jam jars. In this context I regard his comments as highly offensive and downright racist.
Report abuse
Excuse me, but in reference to Bernard Flouquet’s jam jar label faux pas? Who is Cobo Alice? Thanks.
Mike
Report abuse
Well done for finding wiki on you pc Leigh Haines. The only reference that Flouqet was making was towards the ethnicity / colour of Mr Obama so there is no relevance to your cut’n'paste. Just what kind of idiotic world are we living in when people defend racism, use PC and Do-good as derogatory terms and forgive bad comedy?
This has been not just a bad day for the deputy chief minister but also one for me personally having to read how readily and wrongly people jumping to his defence.
Report abuse
This man has to resign,what an inappropriate comment for a senior politician to make, if a civil servent had made that comment in public they would reduced to a lower grade or dismissed
Report abuse
Hmmm thanks for the definition. However, we all know what Flouquet meant when he used the terminology. The problem here is that whilst some narrow-minded idiots above may be able to justify this sort of ‘joke’ in a pub environment, this comes from someone representing the people of Guernsey! All this does is reinforce the view of those on the mainland that Guernsey is just a backward narrow minded dot in the middle of the Channel. He should go! Clearly not fit to represent the Island.
Report abuse
His lack of control with such a throw away comment shows what this mans character is all about. An ex builder trying to pretend he is professional just because he is a member of the states. Pah! Mr Trott ought to be concerned with the loose lips of his ‘amabassadors’. You have been caught out now and shown your true colours. You shouldnt have even dared think it let alone say it. I know racism in Guernsey is very alive as I hear racist comments often but this man should be made an example of - go and get another job or go back to building, you are clearly not responsible nor decent enough to be considered an ‘ambassador’ of Guernsey.
Report abuse
No matter how we feel about political correctness gone mad, this episode demonstrates crass stupidity. In his position he may have to represent Guernsey on the world stage and should be aware of all its sensibilities. Guernsey’s reputation is already in tatters without this. We need goodwill towards this Island and not the animosity this incident is likely to create. He has forfeited his international credibility and should resign or be relieved of his political mandate.
Report abuse
I am as appalled by certain reactions to this story as I am to Mr Flouquet’s comments! There is no position for people of his mind set in the government of our island. Not much chance of him resigning though as our “chief minister” has made it clear that ignorant, childish comments are perfectly acceptable. I hope that this story travels all the way to Obama and that he puts Guernsey at the very top of his tax haven hit list. Then maybe our politicians will be too busy dealing with the mess that we find our finance industry in than cracking crass and racist “jokes”. Disgusted.
Report abuse
Certainly made you all forget about the runway repairs doubling in cost though eh?
Report abuse
re: ‘Ray’, your all-encompassing comment ( in connection with the Bernard Flouquet ‘Golliwog’ affair) that ‘Canadians’ call their Aboriginal Indians ‘First Nationers’ is incorrect.
To do so would be akin to saying all ‘Guerns’ call Guernsey folk of French ancestry - or even Stone de Croze himself - ‘First Nation’( which we know old Stone is!) simply because they - or ‘Stone’ or their/his ancestors - were supposedly the first to ever set foot on Guernsey. How would the rest of Guernseys population take to that? A hot topic for pub-talk I’ll bet.
In Canada’s British Columbia it is more serious than pointless ‘name calling’ though. British Columbia’s Aboriginal Indians (including those who call themselves ‘First Nations’) have through the Supreme Court of Canada successfuly laid claim to the whole of British Columbia stating that the land and everything upon it - yes, everything upon it - is rightfully theirs because they were in Canada ‘first’. Oh, and that includes the fish in the ocean too, or at least what fish remain in the ocean. But that’s another story.)
Getting back to your ‘First Nationers’ Ray, it is true some Canadian Indian Bands do call themselves ‘First Nations’( not ‘Nationers’) while others retain their original Indian name ( such as the ‘Haida’). However, and due to our so-called ‘politically correct’ current times, Canadian politicians, the media, and some Canadians do refer to Canada’s Aboriginal Indians as ‘First Nations’. But in that vein, what comes next? Are those of French ancestry to be called ‘Second Nation’? The English ‘Third Nation’. The Italians ‘Fourth Nation’, the Chinese ‘Fifth’ etc etc and on through literally scores of different nationalities? Ridiculous isn’t it. And, some would say, extremely ‘racist’.
At gass roots level though it is my experience that most Canadians choose to believe there is only one ‘First’ Nation in Canada - a ‘First’ Nation that forever will remain - and that, my friend, is the NATION of CANADIANS.
Mike
Report abuse
This has been picked up by the Daily Mail - “A senior politician was today facing calls to resign after joking that in the wake of Barack Obama’s election golliwogs should be put back on jam jars…..Deputy Chief Minister of Guernsey Bernard Flouquet made his shocking comment at a press conference about the island’s airport….Stunning his audience into silence, ”
Oh brother - now is not only Flouquet’s name mud - so is Guernsey’s - where apparently its OK to make racist jokes. He needs to go before this row hurts Guernsey more than it has already.
Report abuse
Imagine the UK Deputy Prime Minister or the French Deputy President saying this in public. It is appalling bad taste and naive beyond belief that a modern-day politician could begin to imagine it acceptable to come out with a such a blatantly racist joke in front of the media. Only in Guernsey would he receive the amount of apparent support he has. The world has moved on, clearly Guernsey is lagging woefully behind. He should relinquish the post of Deputy Chief Minister forthwith (either willingly or with a firm shove). You cannot make mistakes of this magnitude and continue to represent the island at ministerial level.
Report abuse
Now admittedly, I don’t like Mr. Flouquet very much. Maybe even less that I like the Americans, but why is it that I can’t get worked up about this?
Oh, I remember. It’s because I am still worked up about a small child being tortured and murdered under the noses of inept and unaccountable social workers in the UK.
An investigation into allegations concerning a children’s home where it is starting to look like the whitewash has been placed on order. That one has got me worked up a bit too.
Mr. Flouquet’s faux pas just doesn’t do it for me in comparison!
Bad choice of audience? Yes.
Bad choice of material? Probably.
Something worth getting worked up about? I think not.
This is all about priorities. I only get worked up about things that really matter.
Now. P.C. zealots. Just don’t get me started on them!
Report abuse
The fact is he is putting Guernsey’s reputation at risk. What a ridiculous thing to say, to a room full of Journos! Idiot. Goliwogs are linked to the repression of black people, a time of institionalised racism, that is why they are so offensive. All the people who are defending him - don’t you understand how inappropriate this was? “Oh a bit of racism, nothing to worry about”.
Report abuse
it’s not about the ‘racist’ joke, but its about it came out from a politician to a president to be…it is ridiculous and embarrassing for the whole nation…how unprofessional…know your limit!
Report abuse
The man has to resign asap. His joke was crass and racist but the context is the killer. He is our second head of state who should be trying to make us look able and grown up in a big bad world. Guernsey the tax haven is tonight being judged further by its Dep Chief Minister’s stunningly inept display. Clearly he had the joke on his mind and had considered its merits, instead of zapping it instantly from his memory like anyone capable of respect would. He actually thought it had merit. That measures his abiltiy to judge in 2008 and it concludes he is akin to a fool. Someone please ask him what he was thinking?! Did he think he was still giggling with Lyndon in the lavs at Frossard House where the joke should have stayed?! Things are quiet now as he prays for a miracle, but the longer his resignation is in coming the greater the scorn and damage that will be heaped on this island by 2008 decent reasonable people the world over. Goodbye Bernie.
Report abuse
Leigh Haines.
That was a long post for not very much. Seems to me you have missed the point entirely. If you really believe that the call for removal is the result of the quality of a joke, you either haven’t read the thread through properly or don’t understand the nature of the job of politician.
Arguably the most important qualities of a politician are (in no particular order), 1. Intelligence, 2. Foresight, 3. Compasion, 4. Diplomacy, 5. Eloquance.
Anyone can make a mistake, I think we can all accept that, and provided the consequences are not too severe the error is forgiven and we move on. However this was not just an error demonstrating a lack of intelligence or foresight, or compasion, or diplomacy. This error demonstrated a lack of intelligence AND foresight AND compasion AND diplomacy. Unfortunately the eloquance it was delivered with just served to heighten the embarrassment.
Anyway, when all is said and done he will remain in office. After all who else will ram unpopular policies down the throats of the electorate.
The way deputies are elected to ministerial office must surely be brought into question.
Report abuse
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1088357/British-politician-jokes-UK-golliwog-jam-jars-Obamas-elected.html
WHAT CAN I SAY. WELL DONE BERNIE!!!!!! (NOT)!!!!!!!
Report abuse
Leave him alone - he made a misjudgement, cracked a joke that was neither funny nor particularly offensive, apologized and that should be the end of it, and the PC brigade should stop trying to hound him out of office
Report abuse
Oh great - its in the Daily Telegraph now: “Bernard Flouquet, 61, joked that following the election of Mr Obama golliwogs should be put back on jam jars”. Resign. Now.
Report abuse
This speaks volumes about the ignorance of many in the island.
Those defending Flouquet’s crass remarks, might like to ask, if he would have been so keen to crack the joke, if there had been single black face in the room?
I hope he does the decent thing, and realises that his cosy little briefing in a States building, is being repeated all over the world. And discussed - who cares, eh?
Report abuse
For those of us non-Guerns who are offended with the above mentioned comment by Flouquet but who are also wondering what Cobo Alice is(!!) I have conducted some non-Guern research. It’s a doll. An ugly one at that. It looks like it was intended to frighten children at Christmas rather than entertain them. And it must have come from Cobo. Anyway, back to the subject matter. Flouquet, you’re an idiot. And a thick uneducated one at that. Maybe you should travel a bit more and perhaps (well, one can all but hope) you’ll notice that the world does not end at Pleinmont and does not solely consist of “Guerns”. Resign. Do it before you do any more damage to Guernsey Plc.
Report abuse
I wonder how many of the posts made in support of Deputy Chief Minister Bernard Flouquet were made by my fellow white folks.
If us white folks had experienced the rabid intolerance and hatred that black people have experienced throught history because of the colour of their skin. We would understand why jokes about them by us white folks, who have played and still play a part in that racial hatred, jokes that we think flippant and harmless are so very offensive to them.
That Deputy Chief Minister Bernard Flouquet should think it alright make such a joke in a press conference illustrates a man out of touch with the world today.
Guernsey has received a great deal of negative publicity of late the last thing it needed was it’s Deputy Chief Minister Bernard Flouquet behaving with such crass stupidy. Resign Mr
Flouquet.
Report abuse
Well I think Bernie Flouks is a brilliant comedian and should be on the Stage! (It leaves in 5 minutes-boom boom!)
Report abuse
I feel that the stunned silence and the look of shock and horror at others around Deputy Flouquet said it all. Worse still our second in charge still felt it suitable to stand by this so called joke by saying he felt it amusing at the time. Glad he is in the minority cos with people like him in power it is no wonder war and terrorists feel a need to make their actions speak for themselves.
The Daily Mirror have got hold of this! Good! It will be passed onto all the other media companies to make a meal over. He must be sacked. To save some sort of face over this if nothing else! If he actually expected people to be holding their ribs over this then he is a fool and the joke is left to us to pay the consequences fore.
What is this going to do for our so called accord with Obama! Not that we ever had one! This man has every right and reason to make future business with anything United States related impossible. Their name says it all. Does our elected want this island to become the Divided State?
Our people in power are fools. It is nice that they are big enough to display this in public and also to the world press. Flouquet needs to ride out of this Island on a horse cloaked in white from head to foot carrying a burning cross.
What has this cost us in respect of reputation as well as a highly regulated and respected place to do business? We are quickly becoming a laughing stock and the world are waiting patiently for the next nail to drive into our coffin! It won’t be long before this presents itself!
Report abuse
Well seeing as “Golliwog” is used as a racial slur I think its a pretty awful joke.. If a member of parliament used this term he would be out faster than you can imagine. Not everyone in Guernsey is racist but there are a rather old fashioned few who think it is acceptable to use this term and many others which I’m sure we have all heard, but for me I actually manage to get off the Island quite allot and have have managed to avoid the dreaded Island mentality and have mingled with people whose surnames are Le Page or Le Prevost. I think the attitude needs to change.. This guy has just confirmed what allot of people think about Guernsey mentality and that’s sad.
Report abuse
Jokes in private are one thing - jokes as a senior political figure are another.
His comments demean black people, and case he didn’t notice the next American president is black.
Lewis Hamilton is black.
This is total racism out and out - he has to go.
The Police arrest people for these kind of statements in the UK as it causes social unrest.
I think there should be freedom of speech, in that he can attack Obama on his policies, or whatever, but he is discriminating against his colour.
Outrageous.
Still - it does not surprise me as most Guernsey people are as racist as any I have ever known (hence all the comments herein saying ‘get over it’ ‘taken out of proportion’ etc).
How many black people are on Guernsey?
Five years ago there were one or two, now there are 20 or 30.
Senior States members are racist and sexist.
This guy has to resign.
Report abuse
This is a huge embarrassment for the island. Coming from an ambassador for the island, it makes Guernsey look like an ignorant backwater. I am cringing. Shame on you Mr Flouquet.
Report abuse
Much as I hate the Daily Mail, I thought this comment from the head of the British Humanist Society apt and succint:
‘I find it worrying that a Minister, or anyone holding public office, is not committed to equality and respect for everyone, regardless of their race, gender, religion or belief, or indeed any such personal characteristic.
‘This isn’t about political correctness, it’s about dignity and respect, and it does matter.’
Report abuse
This is just appalling for Guernsey. To have a senior politician bring the island into such disrepute at a difficult time such as this is extraordinary.
This will be all over the internet within the next few days, and Guernsey will now be associated with his ridiculous ‘humour’.
He should just resign and move on. Then he can tell these puerile jokes to other like minded people and they can all have a good laugh in private - without offending anyone….
It is about dignity. He has none left. He should go immediately.
Report abuse
Mike Murray
Thanks for the explanation about Canada and the ‘First Nations’
As a kid I was always playing Cowboys and Indians and the point I was trying to make was why was it deemed necessary to drop the word Indian from the vocabulary ?
There might be some reason in Canadian history which I don’t understand but it seems such a pity that people have to tread on eggshells just because someone has decided that a much used innocent term or phrase has become politically incorrect
Going back to Flouquet, if you watch the TV clip of his silly utterance it is plain to see that the man did not have a racist thought in his head as he spoke those words. He really thought he could break the ice with a very weak joke. His Chief advisor knew what was coming because he could be seen putting his hand over his face as Flouquet began to speak which indicates that Flouquet had already told him the ‘joke’earlier.
Perhaps the advisor should be sacked for not advising Flouquet properly?
Report abuse
Whether the joke was good or bad is immaterial. And it matters not that it was a joke. It does matter that President-elect Obama was likened to a demeaning caricature.
Oh, and the epithet ‘Guern’ is not without unfortunate undertones. Don’t use it.
Report abuse
“Bernard Flouquet joked that following the election of Mr Obama golliwogs should be put back on jam jars” - Daily Telegraph.
How irresponsible. Resign now! You’ve brought disgrace to the island.
Report abuse
We are in real trouble firstly the Chief Minister abuses a fellow deputy with the FOULEST language then his deputy racially abuses the President Elect of the most powerful nation in the World.
BOTH SHOULD GO.
They wont and they will not be held resp[onsible for the Financial mess Guernsey finds itself in.
Harry
Report abuse
I don’t know whether to be more shocked by the original racist comments of Bernard Flouquet or by the attitude of the apoligists who claim “its not that bad don’t blow it out of all proportion”. I hope that is not a common view or else we must surely be a covertly racist community, and as a local who loves his island that would sadden me. It matters not that gollywogs used to be in children’s books that we read and loved as toddlers or that they appeared on jam jars. What matters is that for the last 30 or 40 years the term “gollywog” has been a common term of abuse used by pathetic white racists to demean black people. As such for anybody to describe any black person as a “gollywog” is a nasty and stupid bit of racist abuse. For an island leader to use the term to describe the newly elected president of the USA is is just mind blowingly stupid, unfunny, and will make any right thinking islander cringe. The issue is not just that he made a stupid mistake, its more that no one who wasn’t covertly racist could ever make such a mistake as they could not bring themselves to throw cheap insults at someone simply because they were black. I predict that this will be allowed to pass by the States as if it is nothing of consequence”. What a sorry pass we have come to.
Report abuse
I felt ashamed to be a Guernsey person and wish to disance myself completely from B.Flouquet’s
disgusting behaviour. Yes, he must go, as any
elected member of the States who shames Guernsey
should. We trust them and indeed we vote them in so they are obliged to listen to their people. I do not want this stupidity out in the public domain in my name by association as a Guernsey woman
Report abuse
explain the joke to me in plain english please…i would like to know where it implies that obama is a golliwog…the joke would be the same if it was about mrs clinton…nobody was called a golliwog. i dont seem to remember anybody moaning about obama calling himself a mutt not long ago……i find it sad when we have people moaning about golliwogs when there are many more important things to worry about.
Report abuse
i looked on ebay for golliwogs…250 items listed today…are they classed as racist? if you cant talk about golliwogs why can you still buy them? did you know that father christmas is black in many european countries….we could go on and on about this sort of thing….time to lay it to rest
Report abuse
I wondered when CS and BB’S Guru PR would add his PC views .Why is it all these Guardian readers never get outraged when the EU and individual countries make unfair accusations about the Islands and threaten the Islands future? Let us see some passion when people attack the Island which is every five minutes and are totally unfair with their criticisms I never realised there were so many pathetic souls.
Report abuse
Just one further thought for the PC brigade there are only two postings for the poor Landsbanki people that lost all their savings.
For goodness sake get your priorities in order you heartless people.
I find so many people uncaring about important affairs and totally ill-informed on matters that can affect the Islands. Many people can only be bothered to post comments when they see they can give a Politician a good kicking and smell blood. The usual suspects in the States are always not to far away from perpetrating scandal. It is always the same people aided and abetted by the media who many times ignore the really important issues. These same people in the States really are quite lost on important issues and really are not very attuned. If they were at School they would they would be the classroom sneak. I wonder who rang up all the papers to put the boot in to Bernard .Would it not be a wonderful thing to see on some peoples phone records if a States member blew the whistle on his colleague?
Report abuse
leigh haines
If your views represent a wider opinion then we are in for a fall.
I am sure that you would be the first to react at being ‘labelled’.
As a rich ‘country’, who exactly is educating us?
Report abuse
sorry, i got my facts wrong. it is not father xmas who is black. it is his helper…zwarte piet. who now, thanks to the pc brigade, has to change his life story.
Report abuse
yeah Mr Roffey, because you were “perfect” whilst you were a deputy werent you, people in glass houses…. etc. as i said on the very first comment not one of us can claim we have never ever said anything that is not now classed as politically correct, we`ve ALL done it, let he who is without sin….. and all that!!!!
Report abuse
Just shows you what ignoramouses Guernseymen and women are voting into the States.
It wasn’t so long ago that as a child I was taunted because I was from English parentage - an Outsider in an Island I was born in. Told to “got back to where I came from”. How pathetic. But as a child, I was intimidated by “true Guernsey people”. How much worse it would have been had I been black or asian. How many people on this island remember calling other people “Pork and Cheese”? Does that ring any bells to anyone perhaps? Racism has always been here, sadly. I think Flouquet should go - because he sends the wrong message out.
Report abuse
Dear Brodie,
I’m not sure this is the right place for a debate but you miss my point. I am certainly not claiming “perfection” when I was a deputy - or before or since come to that! Nor do I expect perfection in my current representatives as politicians are human beings. What I am saying is that blatant and offensive racism from those in positions of power and leadership is simply unacceptable - full stop. Those who dismiss the “joke” as a harmless gaff show total disregard for the offense such ignorant jibes can cause. It is not the “PC” brigade who have made the term gollywog unacceptable it is the racists who have employed it as a term of abuse.
Report abuse
Hilarious! The fact that so many Guernsey residents are backing this type of racism! Never mind how it makes Flouquet look, don’t you realise how it makes your whole island look by backing him!!! Hilarious!!!!
Report abuse
Yes it was a stupid comment for a senior politician to make. We have all said things we wish we hadn’t and at the end of the day he issued a sincere apology, why can’t people forgive and forget anymore? Was it that bad that he should have his carrier torn to shreds? Let’s put it to bed now and move on to important things like running the island.
p.s. No I am not a fan of Bernard Flouquet and disagree about a lot of what he says but that aside lets let him carry on with the job he has been elected to do and change things at the next election if that’s what you want!
Report abuse
Dominic
You need to get out and talk to real people. The level of feeling is that high that people want to leave Guernsey rather than be associated with this utterly contemptible arrogant stupidity. How anyone can equate racism to the finance industry is just mind-boggling. HE SAID IT ON TV! Not in a pub, not giggling with his mates, not in private, he openly made a highly racist remark as ambassador of Guernsey to the world media.
Guernsey has always been inherently racist, most island populations are, this just highlights - and the apologists just make it worse, that ‘foreigners’ just exist to be the butt of tasteless jokes.
Keep your racism behind closed doors, Dominic and others, you weaken your subsequent comments by defending the indefensible.
I wonder why golliwogs became the symbol of a jam maker? Could it be that the sugar cane used to make the jam was raised by african slaves in the Caribbean? Us whiteys made a pretty penny out of misery and people seek to perpetuate the myth that casual bigotry is nothing more than ‘harmless fun’. You apologists need to do some research into why people are angry about this. The man must resign, it was a gross error and one that should be punishable by sacking, but let us give him the benefit of the doubt and let him walk with the remains of his dignity. What a shambles.
Report abuse
As a regular visitor to the Island, I was dismayed to hear about this matter and that the Minister has not done the decent thing and resigned.
Any member of the Guernsey public can make a formal complaint about this individuals conduct, to the States Members Conduct Panel. They are from what I have read ‘independent’ and can judge if the Minister in breach of the following section of the Conduct Code “28th September 2006″. Sections 8 and 9:
8. Members shall at all times conduct themselves in a manner
which will tend to maintain and strengthen the public’s trust
and confidence in the integrity of the States of Deliberation
and never undertake any action which would bring the States,
or its Members generally, into disrepute.
9. Members shall at all times treat other Members, civil servants
and members of the public with respect and courtesy and
without malice, notwithstanding the disagreements on issues
and policy which are a normal part of the political process.”
Anyone can download this from the http://www.gov.gg/ccm/navigation/government/states-members-and-committees/code-of-conduct/
Guernsey needs to act fast, these remarks will damage the island’s economy.
Report abuse
the chinese call the white people red haired devils…the blacks can call whites honkies….we call jersey men toads and they call us donkeys….we will never stop name calling..little kids do it in the playground, without any help from us so called adults…Bernie has said sorry and he did it very quickly…give this a rest now as it is turning into a good old fashioned guernsey witch-hunt…oh and by the way..until you get to know other races by talking to them as humans, you will never understand what a small minded island we live on.
Report abuse
leigh haines
I don’t really care what Flouquet thinks behind closed doors. These doors were not closed and he was very much in front of them. You would not catch the Shanghai ambassadors calling us donkeys, nor would Nelson Mandela refer to Lyndon Trott as a ‘honkie’, so why is acceptable that Flouquet alludes to black people being golliwogs? It was a rubbish ‘joke’ said completely out of turn, in the worst possible circumstances. There is only one way to educate our children into what is and is not acceptable; by having our public representatives being accountable for errors of judgement.
Otherwise we learn nothing.
Oh, and please explain what the Guardian has to do with people being offended by crass racist humour?
Report abuse
Did you know that in August this year in the Queen’s own gift shop on the Sandringham Estate there was allegedly a basket full of golliwogs for sale. If this was the case I’m sure HMQ meant no harm just as I’m sure Bernard Flouquet meant no harm.
Report abuse
Unlike you Fast Robert I get off the Island frequently and have many black friends and I have consulted them and they feel what is all the fuss about. Most of these people live in the real World instead of a closed Society that really do not get much excitement in their life. A Politician makes a mistake and you would think the end of the World is coming.
BB, CS, PR and you Fast Robert love this kind of thing as they feel they can bring down a hard working honest person.If you listened to the phone in a Jewish gentleman stood up for Bernard and stated how he looked after him when he worked for Bernard.
One of my Black friends who works in the finance industry believes that the Island has some serious problems coming their way and much more to worry about than some silly joke that does not affect our future in any way.
So Fast Robert go back to damming the Island which seems to be your favourite pastime.
Report abuse
“Meaning no harm” is not good enough. If he can make this serious error of judgement then what is he doing in a position of power? What is his record? Has he succeeded for Guernsey? Is this another success? Let’s have a proper assessment (although it is true that his lack of popularity was quite evident on the last election) and a true reading of public intent. I would be quite happy [with the result] if a majority came out in favour of Flouquet, in the same way as I am happy that my views, and those of others may not be popular, but this ’secret society’ of power that is running Guernsey to the dogs needs some accountability.
This is not a call to mob rule. The many heated political exchanges I find myself in often agree to a degree: In a jurisdiction as small as Guernsey more weight needs to apportioned to the voters’ aspirations.
Report abuse
Leigh Haines, I just want to comment on your comment, follows: You said: “oh and by the way..until you get to know other races by talking to them as humans, you will never understand what a small minded island we live on”.
I have got to know other races, as I am married to a Nigerian man and yes I am a local Guernsey Girl.
So before you assume that people in Guernsey are not open to multi-culture, please think 1st. I would not want my children to be subject to any racial abuse, it is not right and if my child ever spoke to another child in a degroatory fashion, they would be told off by myself and my husband for being so wrong!
Report abuse
That he should resign (at the very least as Deputy Chief Minister) is beyond question but what gets me is the attitude of the collection of apologists and closet racists who seek to excuse the inexcusable via these posts. What an ignorant, insular, ill-educated, semi-literate (their grammar, by and large, is as awful as the ‘joke’ that they think is so funny) bunch of small-minded Guernsey bigots! Before they add me to their ‘PC Brigade’ and ‘outsiders’ hate list I would point out that I am a Guernsey person too and that I have railed often against the excesses of political correctness. It’s just that in this case the offending words were cheap, nasty, not at all funny, utterly racist and uttered knowingly by a senior ’statesman’ in a room full of journalists with the cameras running. Talk about defend the indefensible!
Report abuse
You might be interested to know that in Barack Obama’s autobiography he states that his father was ‘as black as the ace of spades’. Is he being rascist against his own race?!?
Report abuse
The guy has to go. This is why Guernsey is often seen as Toy-Town because our politicians (as a sorry representation of our people) are so backwards that they moon walk into the States Chambers
Report abuse
SJames| November 22, 2008 at 8:48 pm
Absolutely outrageous behaviour from one of our senior politicians. Do we want to be seen as a laughing stock, locally, nationally and maybe internationally over this ill judged crass, racist joke.
Comments like this are not a mistake - quite the contrary - his senior Civil Servants body language clearly indicated he knew what was coming and cringed - he was told by his Deputy colleague, it was ‘not PC’ did he flinch - did he hell! He responded by saying ‘I am interested in jokes like that’ - only when the porverbial hit the media fan did a well paid ‘press officer’ issue and apology on his behalf.
We have heard nothing from the Chief Minister -amazing how they all run to ground.
Only two politicians have had the courage to quite rightly condem his comments - well done Carole Steere and Barry Brehaut. Very disappointed in John Gollop!
As Deputy Flouquet is Head of External Affairs - does this mean ‘he may’ in the future need to meet with President Obama - what colour Flouquets face then?????
Have integrity Bernard - resign before you are pushed!!!’
Diversity Champion
Report abuse
In the States, it is completly acceptable for the African American community to have a million black man march on the National Mall, yet it would be completly unacceptable for the white race to do anything of the sort. A common street greeting between two black men would be “Hey N….R, whats happening”. Meanwhile I would never dare use that word because I am white.This is reverse racism. Reverse racism is racism indeed.Has this mentality come to Guernsey? After living in the “Land of the free” for much of my life I feel qualifyed to make this comment and Barrack Obamas upcoming presidency I hope is going to make everyone think about this issue from a new perspective.The black race at least in America is hardly a persecuted minority any more.Lets not persecute anyone here on this platform either.
Report abuse
Mr Flouquet’s comment came from a someon who recently aspired to be the island’s prime minister - its senior political role. If this is his level of diplomatic ability, then he should not be allowed into the outside world to represent the island. To do this in a press conference was quite incredible. This was not a silly gaff - this was a real eye-opener for those who put their trust in him to be our reprentative. He has breached that trust and should therefore resign, certainly from the post and possibly from the States.
Report abuse
What the election of Obama has proven is that the colour of your skin is irrelavent. Good.
Flouquet’s comments prove that he hasn’t quite understood that fact.
And for the PC bashers out there this issue has nothing to do with that at all.
Bring back Island wide elections - I can then not vote for Trott or Flouquet!
Report abuse
So the news has now reached the UK media including the Mail and Telegraph. How embarrassing is that for this island. We need to act to show that this is unacceptable behaviour for a senior politician. Deputy Flouquet should resign as Deputy Chief Minister but not as a Deputy. He has made a stupid mistake which unfortunately shows his lack of competence for representing Guernsey on the international stage but at this stage of a financial crisis we cant afford to waste time on finding new Deputies.
I find it amazing that Commerce and Employment Minister Carla McNaulty Bauer and Social Security Minister Mark Dorey on the Sunday phone in were concerned that he should never has said that…… in front of the cameras and media and they debated whether he was informed if the cameras were rolling. You have missed the point and your comments really worry me about your competence. He should not have made the comments at all. You seemed more concerned that he should not say such things in front of the media. Typical politician views - if you are not found out you can get away with it! May be you have been in the States too long - its about being right or wrong, honest or dishonest not about being caught!
Report abuse
Stop supporting this idiotic gaffe, it makes you look small minded and ignorant. He hardly has a glowing testimony of success as a politician and his reputation as a comedian is now also in tatters. I’m surprised that so many people feel that a “little bit of racism” is OK and go on to justify it by stating all their wide experiences of racial banter…all from a white point of view and mostly confined within 45 sq miles!
Regardless of all the “good old Bernie” comments he is the second most senior politician in a community that earns most of its money from international finance…how stupid. The man did wrong, the man should have known better, the man should resign.
Report abuse
Isn’t freedom of speak wonderful thing that everybody on this site is allowed.
We live in a country that we’re aloud to speak our mind..
But reading these blogs I think some of you want communism back
Minister should tow the party line and only do/think as they are told ??.
Does this make us a free world ?.
Report abuse
Deputy Flouquet has just shown up the high professional standard that our island government works to — no wonder the island falling apart at the seams!
Sack the current bunch of incompetent States members (that will be most of them),hold an island wide election and trim our government to ten or so people which would save many thousands of pounds a year in wages, does the UK have 40+ politicians per 70000 people?
I think not.
Report abuse
No matter what one’s personal views are on Deputy Flouquet’s “joke” the fact of the matter is that he has been elected to be a “serious” politician and global ambassador for the whole island. This means always being politically correct and being aware of your actions. His gaff (and initial reluctance to apologise) clearly shows he is unsuited for the position; therefore he should resign. His lack of suitability for the position will further be shown if he does not at least offer to resign; it will demonstrate he’s happy to put his ego above the good of the island.
On a closing note I would say Barry Paint’s comments on the matter in today’s press are just as worrying, he thinks the media should have omitted to report the matter, meaning we have yet another deputy who is happier to hide the truth than deal with any outcome.
Report abuse
Sack him and bring back the decent and hardworking Mike Hadley!
Report abuse
It does not suprise me that a lot of people on this post support the Deputy - half of Guernsey is racist.
If you think this statement contrite then look up the meaning of racism.
I agree we are all a bit too PC, but he is in a position of influence and power, not some bloke reading the Sun working on a building site (this does’nt excuse it either however geodemographics and upbringing dictate response to racism).
If it were a Police officer everyone bar no-one would be baying for his blood and demanding he go, that is because we expect the Police to be impartial and professional at all times, without any room for error. Should they make a mistake people are ready to give them a public thrashing.
This man is no different - he should go; in fact, by Bernard.
Report abuse
How many of the current crop of deputies have publicly stated their position on this? What will Lyndon Trott say to the Americans when they come calling?
Report abuse
Mike Hadley! he wants to open the flood gates with regard to population. Not sure if that is such a good idea in the current economic climate.
The wider issue today is that it is now in the national press.
It will be up to the back benchers to decide whether or not a stupid joke which was made in haste and has subsequently backfired is going to do this island any good in a years time.
Lets face it the war drums of the US president elect and Gordon Brown and Darling along with other European officials are on the horizon to make the lives of offshore tax jurisdictions difficult.
The question will be, do islanders want an embarrassing joke hanging over their second officer in charge if things get hot in the kitchen in the future.
Report abuse
It was a joke, from someone more mature in his years and if people had any sense they would have ignored it! but no! here we are days later still talking about it. For goodness sake….let it go!
Report abuse
Instead of us all spending countless hours wasting our time on a silly joke which was a mistake made by a human being let us hope Richard Murphy will defend the threats that we have heard from Europe, America, OECD, Vince Cable. I did email Richard and he promised to debate with us soon but did make the point he is flat out at the moment. Let us see if the PC brigade agrees that all our futures should come under threat from the outside World .Let us also see if the same amount of people are as indignant when their futures are at risk.
I wonder if Richard Digard could conduct an interview with R M and let us have a serious debate our about our futures in a small part of a recent email RM said “In the light of comments Alistair Darling made about the Isle of Man a week or so ago I do not think there is anyone who can doubt his intentions: the mood of Barack Obama has reached Whitehall”.
Did anybody hear Richard Murphy’s broadcast this morning when Murphy said Jersey was bust with two years of reserves left this is really shock and awe and Lawrence be careful you might get what you wish for. Anybody going to get indignant about what Alistair Darling said yesterday?
Report abuse
I urge all those people with an iota of sense and no business loyalties to Mr Flouquet (Mr & Mr Haines)to complain directly to the baillif Under the section ‘Members’ Conduct’ sections;
no.8. Members shall at all times conduct themselves in a manner which will tend to maintain and strengthen the public’s trust and confidence in the integrity of the States of Deliberation and never undertake any action which would bring the States, or its Members generally, into disrepute.
no.9 Members shall at all times treat other Members, civil servants and members of the public with respect and courtesy and without malice, notwithstanding the disagreements on issues and policy which are a normal part of the political process.
Personal Conduct
*Accountability - Members are accountable for their decisions and actions to the States and the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office.
*Leadership - Members shall promote and support these principles by leadership and example.
Report abuse
It gets worse…this isn’t some bumbling misguided moment of madness as some of the pro-posters would have us all believe…he was actually warned not to tell the “joke” in public but, regardless, went ahead. This smacks of arrogance and gross stupidity…forget the racist element (although I don’t think you should) he actively chose to go against other peoples advice and used his own “judgement” in front of journalists so it isn’t unreasonable for people to think that this incident underlines his unsuitability to represent Guernsey, at any level.
Report abuse
I find it amazing that people are commenting here saying that “people need to lighten up,” and find it almost as infuriating as Flouqut making the joke in the first place. I can only imagine that this is in part due to the very sheltered lives that people in Guernsey lead, where they possibly do not become exposed to issues such as racism which people living on the mainland and beyond are more familiar with (by my use of the word “mainland” note that I am an out-and-out Guernseyman). Racial stereotype is a highly sensitive subject and I’m pretty sure that any derogatory reference to it in UK politics would be met with countrywide outrage.
Report abuse
Mr Flouquet has to go , quite simple unacceptable behaviour, had I been so stupid as to make comments like that where I work , I would quite rightly be suspended and I would expect to be so.
However I am sure the States will close ranks and he will make some apology.
It is such a shame that we have not got politicians who demand his resignation and are quite happy to sit on the fence. some goverment!
Report abuse
This just goes great with the image the rest of the world has of us now.
It sits beautifully with the rich, Beastiality loving people The Sun has already said we are, doesn’t it.
Report abuse
Guernsey was exploiting its “tax avoidance” options way back in the late 1800s when Keiller’s (credited with inventing modern marmalade as we know it….)moved their operations to Guernsey to avoid paying tax on sugar cane. If Flouquet has his way we could avoid the impending doom of the crack down on offshore financial centres and set Guernsey up as a centre for the marmalade industry once again! Let’s just hope he doesn’t get involved with creating the visual for our new product….
Report abuse
Thanks David ( Cranch)for pointing out that the word ‘Guern’ should never be used. At first blush I was startled to read your directive,so I did my own research! To my surprise I find
( on the internet) that ‘Guern’ means ‘Gay person’ and the word is …’many times associated with Guernville, California and it’s well known gay community’.
Cor, Stone de Croze eh! Whatever’s next! And here’s me, 70 now, literally doing a daily ‘Berni F’ by claiming all my life that I’m a proud ‘Guern’!! No wonder my mates step lively when I tell em! Ah well, live and let live eh. Happy Christmas everyone!
Mike
Report abuse
News of Mr Flouquet’s remark has reached me in Southern Spain. It is an outrage in 2008 that someone in political office shows such a lack of intelligence and brings such shame on my hone island.
There is ABSOLUTELY no way he can stay in office unless Guernsey wants to become a laughing stock amongst any educated people. The damage he has done is immeasurable and in my opinion will have repercussions for both the tourism and financial industries. I feel ashamed to have to answer my friends who have heard of the story.
Wise up Guernsey - yes, you’re a wonderful place, no, you can’t possibly allow yourself tobe associated with such blatant racism.
Report abuse