Saturday, 7 April 2018

Bryans in the clear?

Is Rod Bryans in the clear?

After a short investigation, the Deputy for St. Helier No.2 has been cleared of all the allegations leveled against him by Health Minister Andrew Green. According to the investigation's report, there were three central allegations:
1. That an anonymous letter sent to Education director Justin Donovan’s house in 2017 alleged that Deputy Bryans was ‘overly familiar’ with female members of staff.
2. A specific incident in which Deputy Bryans was alleged to have unzipped Social Security Minister Susie Pinel’s dress to bra level and commented on its colour.
3.‘General disquiet’ about his attitude and interactions with female members of staff. However, Commissioner for Standards Paul Kernaghan couldn't find a single person to testify against Bryans or who made any complaints about his behavior whatsoever, so the investigation has concluded with Bryans being exonerated.

Is it just me, or does this all come off as slightly sketchy? Let's see: Green, a minister - therefore, Bryans' political ally - with no discernible reason to wish to get Bryans sacked, makes a complaint accusing Bryans of seriously inappropriate behavior. On investigation, the CfS finds a load of blank faces, with no-one willing to say a word. Pinel initially refuses to co-operate with the investigation, and then when she does, she mysteriously has no detailed memory of the incident, along with Senators Maclean and Routier, who apparently were in the room at the time. Now, I'm not saying that Bryans is guilty of anything, but Green has no reason to simply have made those allegations up - what does he gain from a government minister being stitched up in a fake sexual harassment scandal? Pinel's initial refusal to co-operate and subsequent convenient bout of amnesia also raises issues - if there was nothing to hide, why would she refuse to co-operate? And then, what's to blame for her sudden change of heart?

Again - I'm certainly not implying that Bryans is guilty of wrongdoing. However, it's clear to see that there are some crater-sized holes in the official story.

Surely this warrants further investigation?

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