Threats against Lyndon Trott are investigated
Thursday 5th March 2009, 11:30AM GMT.
POLICE are investigating after threats were allegedly made against Chief Minister Lyndon Trott.
Neither Deputy Trott (pictured) nor the Policy Council would comment.
When asked whether the police were investigating threats against Deputy Trott, Inspector Trevor Coleman said: ‘I can confirm that the police are aware of the matter but we do not comment on security matters.’
However, Frossard House sources have confirmed that the police have informed the chief minister that they are taking the threats seriously and that security has been stepped up.
It is not clear when the threats were made, but all deputies have been lobbied hard by disgruntled savers after the Landsbanki Guernsey collapse.
Radio reports suggested that might be the source of the complaint, but the Landsbanki Guernsey Depositors’ Action Group has been quick to distance itself.
‘The Landsbanki Guernsey Depositors’ Action Group is dismayed at and unequivocally condemns the making of personal threats to deputies,’ said a spokesman.
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I , like most people do not condone threats of any sort against anybody , and in the case of the threats against the chief minister whatever they are, and whether they be real or imagined , i wonder why the police have reacted so swiftly to “stepping up security” he personally ,or the position he holds are not subject, as far as we know to the attentions of any terrorist groups he is not an mp and not a prime minister (not an important one anyway) , so why ,at undoubted great expense to the already beleaugered taxpayer are the boys in the ray bans and patent leather shoes being broken out , the point is lyndon ,that every day ,in the real world of people who keep the island running like doctors, nurses,some court officials , prison workers, social services, public transport drivers etc ,etc threats are made and quite often scary promises of actual physical abuse are uttered ,these people do not get the sort of protection which should enable them to carry out their jobs without having to worry about this , so why should you ? i fear this may go a long way to fuelling your perception of your own self importance
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Without knowing the severity of the threats, or the nature of the threats it’s impossible to say if the polices reactions to the threats have been overzealous or not, however, to say Lyndon Trot isn’t high profile enough to deserve protection, is a bit silly, he is one of the senior and high profile politicians here. So, I would say police protection is needed for any threat. Better than them sitting in the office flicking paper clips.
By the way, I dislike Lyndon as much as the average person, but I do feel sorry for him.
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I agree with davee, however, why is it he can get all this attention at taxpayers be-costing,
When he made a threat to another member nothing was done about it–
Isn’t this therefore another case of Goose and Gander, or if you so wish – One rule for the rich and one for the poor.
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This is just a smoke screen. The old chestnut that our states love to run with when things don’t go to plan. The CM has ran out of answers. He doesn’t want to hear all the questions put to him by the consortium because it will show just how little effort he has invested into this disgraceful fiasco.
All further meetings with the consortium members will be cancelled then. Only due to security purposes of course. How convenient Mr Trott. You’ve have had your property security brought up to the finest standards at the taxpayers expense. Lovely.
Also very convenient with the economic trends going on at the moment. Recessions tend to lead to a sharp increase in criminal activity. CM’s pad will be as secure as a bank vault and he will sleep easy at night.
How much has all this cost us then? Are we going to see prosecutions to support these allegations or is it going to go cold after a few weeks?
Are the public at least going to be enlightened on the severity of these threats? I very much doubt it.
At the end of the day people that make threats are all mouth and no action. The ones that are to be taken seriously are the ones that don’t.
I wonder if DCM will be next in line for a full security analysis on his residence. He happened to see an ethnic man loitering outside his property.
This is Guernsey and our politicians need to wake up. If it was Russia or Afghanistan then I would have no problem with all and every security measures taking place.
I feel this is all very tactical and also adds to the CM’s delusions of grandeur. Where it all ends up is quite possibly out of our hands. Select members of the states travelling around the Island in bullet and bomb proof executive motors. Armed bodyguards and every extra thrown in for peace of mind and only befitting a man of his fine position.
I feel the CM would do well to spend a month with a police force in London. Take the DCM and his book of jokes along also. They would last a couple of hours and make a hasty retreat to a nuclear bomb shelter, adapted into a place fit for Guernseys prime minister and deputy of course, and coming in 15 million over budget due to hidden expenses. Lovely palatial place though and good value for two of the Islands finest.
Maybe he has had a few unkind words sent to him in the post. What would he expect greeting cards with bar tokens inside for all his fine efforts. A lot of people are sick of him but I doubt he needs to fear for his safety.
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Let’s have the proof then Mr Trott, no more smoke and mirrors.
I notice that no official finger has been pointed at Landsbanki depositors.
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Are these the same threats as the ones he allegedly received last year and he used as an excuse not to meet with Landsbanki depositors at that time. Or are these new threats that he can now use as an excuse to avoid keeping his latest promise to meet Landsbanki depositors. The timing would seem to be more than just coincidence.
I do not condone threats of any kind, however these do sound like desperate allegations from a politician who is fast running out of answers and who has not been adverse to allegedly using threats himself in the past.
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Well said paul, What has this man done for his island and for the people of Landsbanki, He says words and then revokes them. Poor Lyndon Trott.
He will not be liked now or never so he better get used to it. It’s called reaping what you sow.
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Surely if he is having serious threats made against him could be seen as grounds for raising a vote of confidence (or not).
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Not much support there for your chief minister.!!
It seems as if some of you islanders ( and voters ?) have him sussed !
We have heard that he is not adverse to issuing
the odd threat himself, not exactly statesman-like behaviour.
Better he stops worrying about unlikely threats and applies some creative thought to helping the Landsbanki Victims to the benefit of them and the island’s reputation.
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I don’t like what I’m seeing here at all. Some of you almost appear to be excusing threatening behaviour. I find this unacceptable, irrespective of what has gone before; even more concerning, as has been suggested, there has been a direct threat LT’s family.
Shame on you.
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Our CM is starting to become as popular as Robert Mugabe.
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Jackie,
I have not seen any comments on this site excusing threatening behavior, you must be reading something else.
I also do not see anywhere where it has been suggested that the CM’s family have been threatene, as you suggest, in either case threatening behaviour is unacceptable. However, we have only the Chief Minister’s word that he was threatened.
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I think Lyndon Trott should learn to distinguish between criticism and threats, surely with his insider knowledge of threats (ask Deputy Brehaut for comment) he should be aware of the difference.
Politicians have always been subject to criticism – someone today commented to me about Tom Ogier when he was at IDC, but they have always taken it in their stride. I cannot recall the likes of Roger Berry, John Langlois, Bill Bell, Blanche Dorey and recently Stuart Falla wingeing on about the safety of their families – in fact we could easily have believed they didn’t even have families such was their dedication to their politics.
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Jackie
None of us excuse threatening behaviour, we abhor it, specially if the CM’s family are involved.
What most of the contributors here are doing is casting doubt on the perceived threat and the obtuse pointing of the finger at Landsbanki depositors.
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Well said, Jackie. Also good points Josh.
Paul – to compare Trott to Mugabe is ludicrous, even in terms of his popularity – or lack of it. With respect, please read the news and compare the situation in Zimbabwe to Guernsey before making such silly comments.
Steven – since when are threats against a politican cause for a vote of no confidence? If that were the case, I imagine Barack Obama would be facing a similar vote on an almost daily basis.
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When my mother (80 years old) had threats shouted at her (from 2 yards away by drugged up louts) she stood her ground. Lyndon Trott is a big girl’s blouse!
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Jackie, wake up and smell the coffee will you. I saw LT in town on Sat with his son and he was not approached, sworn at or looked a bit worried. In fact no one took any notice of the man. This is a ploy by LT to raise his profile. He is not a statesman or anyone important. He does not have any power at all but he wants the power and he will do all he can in ensuring he gets it at any cost…..
I think the Police should come clean on the level of threats made and how much this appalling fiasco is costing us the tax payer.
I am ashamed to call myself a Guern. What is happening to our island…………
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Hi Jackie. Of cause everybody condemns threatening behavior, what ever form it takes.
Whoever the victims are, and especially involving families, they should be protected by the the law. The ones making the threats, should have the full force of the law brought against them
That also goes for somebody, who threatens to knock your F!!! block off, regardless to say, even if, he thinks and the authorities think,is to important to punish.
lt also looks to me as though there are some PR people, on this site, looking after their masters.
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Threats aside, it is obvious Mr Trott is not well liked, and it is fair to assume that Landsbanki depositors are not happy with his inaction on their behalf.
However I am sure they would not stoop to such levels and I think Mr Trott and/or the police should openly state that there is no connection, because human nature assumes there is no smoke without fire.
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I think that Barry Brehaut should also have police protection.
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Jackie – spot on.
I also do not like the tone of some of these posts and others on the site – especially the Landsbanki thread.
“Victims, Mugabe, Landsbanki” – get a life amd move on.
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No one should feel physically afraid however it would be nice to know what type of threats have been made to avoid criticism regarding smoke screens.
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The threats from Landsbanki Depositors are a ‘RED HERRING’
The alledged threat to CM Trott has come to give Mt.Trott a let out when he reneged on meeting Landsbanki Depositors and may also to be being used to throw attention away from the yawning black hole in the Islands budget, which appear to have been caused when you know who was Treasury Minister two years ago.
None of our association is involved in any threat and I think that Mr.Trott has perhaps a very good spin Doctor maybe Allister Cambell.
It is said that a country get the government it deserves, personally I don’t think that you deserve this one.
Once again ‘Forget any Landsbanki Threat. it is pure nonsence and spin!!!.
Landsbanki (ex-pats G20 Action Group)
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Whilst I do not know the severity of the threats made against Mr Trott, I think it is in the public interest that we do. After all we, the taxpayer, will be paying his security bill.
Meanwhile, I do not think that he has much to worry about, after his recent performance in the corridors of power. The “Joe Calzaghe” of Guernsey politics could go a few pugilistic rounds with most.
The calibre of this politician has left most of us in no doubt of his prowess, just like his Deputy.
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its noticable that today comes the announcement that we are in an even bigger hole than could be imagined ,tax gathering -wise ,WE heard today, and the politicians knew a few days ago presumably ,about the time lyndon stood up and started squealing ,he did this before ,when awkward questions were being asked about zero life sorry(10) and on that occasion he deflected the publics eye to fallagate i’m wise to these tactics my kids used to do it .
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Will the police inquiry into threats made against our beloved CM, take as long as all the inquirys into the overspends.
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But it may take as long as the investigation into the £20k from Customs.
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Threats of any kind against the Dear Leader cannot be tolerated in a civilised society no matter what the DL’s supposed shortcomings.
Being subject to such threats from whatever source may give Mr Trott pause for thought when he himself feels like making threats.
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