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'Islamophobia' in Guernsey behind no refugees decision
caption "Guernsey has donated money to UNHCR, UNICEF and Save the Children to support their aid efforts in Syria and neighbouring countries"
"Islamophobia" among Guernsey's residents was partly behind the island's decision not to accept refugees, its chief minister has said.
Jonathan Le Tocq said "negativity" would make it difficult to guarantee the safety of any Syrian refugees on the island.
Though most people on the island had shown compassion, he said, there was a danger others would be unwelcoming.
Aid worker Eddie Parks branded the minister's comments "disgraceful".
It was an "awful awful commentary" on Guernsey, Mr Parks, a former journalist, said.
The island had an "amazing reputation" for accepting "other people coming in from outside" going back to the mid-19th Century, he added.
Mr Le Tocq's comments followed the announcement that Guernsey would not accept Syrian refugees as part of the UK's Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme.
Jersey has already confirmed that it will not take in any Syrian refugees.
Chief minister of Guernsey, Jonathan Le Tocq
Image caption
Mr Le Tocq said some residents in Guernsey had offered to accommodate refugees in their homes
Mr Le Tocq said: "There's certainly a lot of Islamophobia and negativity that's been around and that would entail that it would be difficult for us to ensure that [the refugees] would find the sorts of security and stability here in Guernsey, were they to be resettled here, in the same way as they are, say, in other parts of the UK."
He said "that vulnerability", along with concerns about infrastructure, was one of the reasons why the Policy Council had decided not to accept refugees.
But he said he was particularly disappointed with that decision.
The Guernsey Overseas Aid Commission has donated £90,000 to charities working to help people involved in the refugee crisis.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-guernsey-35511771
caption "Guernsey has donated money to UNHCR, UNICEF and Save the Children to support their aid efforts in Syria and neighbouring countries"
"Islamophobia" among Guernsey's residents was partly behind the island's decision not to accept refugees, its chief minister has said.
Jonathan Le Tocq said "negativity" would make it difficult to guarantee the safety of any Syrian refugees on the island.
Though most people on the island had shown compassion, he said, there was a danger others would be unwelcoming.
Aid worker Eddie Parks branded the minister's comments "disgraceful".
It was an "awful awful commentary" on Guernsey, Mr Parks, a former journalist, said.
The island had an "amazing reputation" for accepting "other people coming in from outside" going back to the mid-19th Century, he added.
Mr Le Tocq's comments followed the announcement that Guernsey would not accept Syrian refugees as part of the UK's Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme.
Jersey has already confirmed that it will not take in any Syrian refugees.
Chief minister of Guernsey, Jonathan Le Tocq
Image caption
Mr Le Tocq said some residents in Guernsey had offered to accommodate refugees in their homes
Mr Le Tocq said: "There's certainly a lot of Islamophobia and negativity that's been around and that would entail that it would be difficult for us to ensure that [the refugees] would find the sorts of security and stability here in Guernsey, were they to be resettled here, in the same way as they are, say, in other parts of the UK."
He said "that vulnerability", along with concerns about infrastructure, was one of the reasons why the Policy Council had decided not to accept refugees.
But he said he was particularly disappointed with that decision.
The Guernsey Overseas Aid Commission has donated £90,000 to charities working to help people involved in the refugee crisis.
.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-guernsey-35511771
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Replies: 16
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tbf they probably wouldn't let me pitch up there either...
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You don't have to be Islamaphobic to reject Syrian immigrants.
Just ask Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE. |
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Just common sense required !
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going to get pretty crowded very soon.
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For using common sense they are branded Islamaphobic.
Its not even worth saying well done Guernsey, all they've done is the obvious in protecting their population. |
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I can't believe the man from the home island of Matt Le Tissier said that
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But they are missing out on nice people like this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szOfEbmnN8E The shirts seem to suggest thay are banned from a Mosque, not quite sure what thats supposed to mean. Ridicule is the way to beat them. |
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I once took a plane from cornwall to guernsey, 8 seater, i shat myself but put on a brave face for my daughter.
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is that the plane thats narrower than your average family car?
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Probably Brymon airways from Plymouth, went to Jersey with them, only one pilot nearing pension age - twin prop technology.
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I once took a plane from cornwall to guernsey, 8 seater, i shat myself but put on a brave face for my daughter.
Stiff upper lip Ibrahima. That's the spirit. Sadly on this occasion I fear that the smell would probably still have given you away. Especially in such a confined space and no dog to blame it on. |
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Le Toq has now apologised for this after a backlash at home and the way it has been reported.
Ibra they were called islanders then replaced with trilanders (both planes had rows of 2 seats)....gets smelly with cats and dogs on them The trilanders are now not fit for purpose and being replaced by Dorniers..which aren't a whole lot better |
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WW2 bombers?
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Jersey just a few miles off the Cherbourg peninsular. Surprised it isn't our equivalent of Lampedusa.
Then again maybe the migrants have access to legal advice that tells them their legal position if they claim asylum there, or Gibraltar, and it's different from mainland UK. |
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Maybe some there remember the last invaders,remember the unpleasantness.
It may be nearly 80 years ago but those last invaders were gentlemen compared to the current crop. |
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They probabyl heard about the boys home !
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