Compensation petition close to triggering States response

Compensation petition close to triggering States response

June Summers Shaw has been leading a campaign for the States to introduce a compensation scheme similar to one that is available in the UK for victims of mesothelioma – a deadly cancer often caused by exposure to asbestos.

The petition, which has been live for around a week, has already gathered more than 750 signatures. The petition has been launched by Mrs Summers Shaw, the wife of former teacher Keith Shaw, who died in 2012, days after being diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma.

Mrs Summers Shaw, who claims that her husband was exposed to asbestos fibres while working at Highlands College, has been working with fellow Islanders Melissa Vismer, whose father recently died from mesothelioma, and Dr Nigel Minihane to raise awareness of the issue.

Under recently implemented laws regarding e-petitions, Islanders can lobby States Members by starting or signing online petitions. Those which garner more than 1,000 signatures will get an official response from the relevant minister while petitions with more than 5,000 signatures will be considered by the States for debate.

The introduction of e-petitions came after the States approved a proposition from Deputy Scott Wickenden.

Mrs Summers Shaw said: ‘There has been a few problems with the online petitions as some of the IP addresses were being routed through Guernsey but the States have been working really hard to address that and we are delighted with the response people have given it.

‘To get over 700 signatures in such a short space of time is great and we’re hoping we will get over 1,000 this weekend.

‘This is not an issue that is going to go away. The States don’t know where asbestos is and it is not being monitored and more people are going to become exposed as a result.’

It is estimated that around three people die each year in Jersey from mesothelioma. Mrs Summers Shaw said it was ‘absolutely shameful’ that asbestos was present in a large number of the Island’s schools and that the States should be running a scheme to remove it. She added: ‘We would have liked to have launched the petition earlier but we knew the online system was coming in and wanted to wait for that because we knew it would be easier for people.

‘We have been very pleased with the response so far and we will continue to try to raise awareness of the issues and encourage more people to sign the petition.

Earlier this month, the discovery of possible asbestos-related material in an electrical cupboard at Fort Regent led to the closure of several parts of the complex.

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