Jersey offers moral support to Sark
Saturday 13th December 2008, 9:59AM GMT.
JERSEY will use its influence to ensure that the democratic will of the people of Sark is respected, Treasury Minister Philip Ozouf has said.
He also pledged to support the island’s residents after the decision of the Barclay brothers to shut down their businesses in Sark and lay off more than 100 people. A letter on behalf of the States has been sent to Sark by the Bailiff.
The Barclay brothers made the decision to ‘withdraw investment’ after Sarkees voted against the newspaper tycoons’ reform agenda in the island’s first full elections which marked the end of 450 years of feudal rule.
Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay, who are the owners of the Telegraph newspapers and who have spent a fortune challenging Sark’s traditions in the High Court, responded by closing all their businesses. The move left all the shops, restaurants and other businesses on one side of the Avenue closed as well as, among other firms, the Aval du Creux, Dixcart and La Moinerie hotels. Building work has also been suspended across the island.
• Picture: Reg Guille takes part in Sark’s first fully democratic elections
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What a good day for democracy and the people! And a classic case of both ‘hoist by your own petard’ – it was the Barclays who pushed for an election and then they failed to win seats! Also a classic case of running away from a game with the ball, because you only want to play by the rules when the rules go your way.
Congratulations to Sark, and do not worry about the Barclays closing things down – short term it will be hard for people who lost their jobs, but long term it will be better for Sark than being run and owned by billionaires.
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I remember writing to the national newspapers running the story and the people of our smallest islands when it was mooted that the Barclay Brothers were about to buy into the Channel Islands, to warn them about supporting them. Most people with too much money are not good for our Islands.
Beware foreigners bearing gifts . . . I know it will be hard for a time but better to be rid of them.
My heart belongs to the Channel Islands, even tho’ I’m exiled in the UK.
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Well said, Jersey.
DH (St Brelade)
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Can anyone define the morality of billionaire landlords taking away the incomes of people, at such an emotive & sensitive time as Christmas because they didn’t get what they wanted?
Is the situation in Sark so polarised that they cannot or will not talk to or work with the members elected by the people?
Could this sort of thing happen in Jersey where the finance industry wants particular candidates and applies leverage on people to bring them in, even though its not in the best interests of Jersey?
Sorry…perhaps its already happened!
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And when pip ozouf is finished in sark can he make sure the democratic will of the people of jersey is respected…. thanks
rs
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This tragedy for Sark is a warning for us all in Jersey. If you let your economy become too dependent on too small a number of individuals or corporations you become what is known as a ‘captured state’ – one that basically has no real choice other than to do what your paymasters tell you. It is however the deepest of ironies that, in trying to push through democratic reforms, the Barclays are behaving like feudal despots. You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar, boys.
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Long live Sark!
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go back to what you were sark it is what made sark and worked for over 400 years so why change because of bully boy tactics from two brothers who were not even local. It’s about time us few locals stuck together !
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This week has been nothing short of monumental for the tiny community of Sark. We have witnessed the culmination of a constitutional reform process that commenced circa 1997 when Sark was told that the historic constitution was not ECHR compliant. The road to democracy has been a long and winding one with many twists and turns. The evolution of Sark’s own democracy has only just begun.
The influence of outsiders and absentee landlords has been significant. The Barclay Brothers believed that they could somehow buy political influence in Sark through a combination of investment, job creation, philanthropy and a vitriolic propaganda campaign. They totally failed to engage the hearts and minds of the population. Their mis-guided attempts have been rejected by the Sark electorate. The people of Sark have resoundingly voted in favour of retaining the essence of their traditional, old fashioned, quaint and unique quirky community based values. The vote on Wednesday was essentially a rejection of the “corporate-isation” of Sark.
The Barclays are now posturing and shamelessly using local people and small business enterprises as hostages to try and reclaim their political ambitions. .
It is still, very much, “business as usual” on Sark. The essence of community has not, and will not, change. The Barclays preferred vision for Sark has been roundly rejected by the electorate. The rural economy of Sark has traditionally comprised a diverse mix of small, owner-managed businesses based essentially around farming, fishing and tourism. This will continue. Sark accepts that the island economy and fragile infrastruture requires capital investment. However this should, at all times, be relevant and sympathetic to Sark’s needs and requirements.
Long live democracy on Sark. Long live the independence of all the Channel Islands.
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Well done Sark.
Here’s an idea. Why not raise income tax on Brechquo to 99%?!
It would get my vote. (unfortunately I live in Wiltshire)
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Rico never ceases to amaze with his ramblings, quote – “And when pip ozouf is finished in sark can he make sure the democratic will of the people of jersey is respected…. thanks
rs”
We just had democratic elections, yet the funny thing about this is the areas of the votes which are now under Police investigation for (alleged) postal voting rigging. If Rico Sorda actually understood anything about democracy then he would realise that Jersey is in a much better position than Sark.
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Senator Ozouf, please engage brain before you speak.
The Barclay brothers have exercised their rights and thrown all their toys out of the pram, bully boy tactics which will win no friends. Nevertheless, this spate does raise some very serious issues with regard to human rights, government and the royal privilege. Sark’s government has worked well for 450 years as a benevolent dictatorship, nonetheless a dictatorship.
The separation of role between government and judiciary is fundamental to the protection of human rights. You have only to look at the recent history of Pakistan, where lawyers took to the streets in protest this fundamental right. This is the matter which remains at issue between the people of Sark and the Barclay brothers.
In all of this both Barclay brothers and Senator Syvret stand on common ground, though neither would relish the politics of the other. Treasury Minister Philip should take care not to adopt a jingoistic tone is support of democracy when our own system of government has yet to be reformed.
Sark has acknowledged the need to cast off the feudal vestiges of servitude and should be applauded for taking the first tentative steps. If Senator Ozouf proposes the people of Jersey show solidarity with Sank on this ‘long march’, good. If not, Senator Ozouf keep quite!
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I’m sure the Sark story is broader and deeper than we could imagine. Whatever is ones view on the Barclay brothers, is it not time for the feudal system to go into the history books?
Democracy rules !
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“Theres a Boat every day and a plane in the morning”.
Jersey beware those words!!!
It is a democratic right for anyone to leave and take their money with them.
Morals do not enter into it.
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Well said “Optimist”. Sark needs to move into the 21st century.
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Why when the 21st century is rotten to the core. Well done the good people of Sark,
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Whatever PJG you get more than what you give thats y your here, it’s only fair you respect Jersey people wishes in fact anyone that lives and works for Jersey , we live in a democracy if you don’t respect other people’s wishes then I suggest you find yourself your own planet – this one is taken.
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Ron, rotten, I cannot deny, but there is a lot of good as well. Good things to name a few are; social justice, racial discrimination abolished, health care for all, mortality rate up by 30 years, no more dictators in the first world, ie kings and queens. The world is really not that bad today!
Ric, Jersey and non-Jersey people are of the same standing before God, the EU and all nations. There really is no difference between us. I embrace you Brother Ric!
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RIC
if you are saying we should respect the wishes of everyone, including the Barclay brothers right to legaly do as they wish with their legaly gotten, taxed wealth,then I agree with you.
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Sara, seriously? What Jersey just went through voting wise is NOT democracy! No-one I know here thinks it is either and they are exceptionally intelligent people.
People tinhk it’s democracy if they get the result THEY wanted, so wait till it’s a result that you don’t want and then see what you think about your ‘democracy’!
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