From Sue Daly.
I’M writing to thank friends in Jersey for their support over the last few days. It’s meant a great deal to many of us here in Sark. Things are not nearly so bad here as you may have heard. Only around 40 genuine Sark residents have been affected and some have already found employment locally. There was no unemployment in Sark before the Barclays came and in the very near future it is hoped there won’t be now that they have left.
As for the businesses they own, those with proper signed leases are still able to trade, which includes the book shop in the Avenue and the superb La Moinerie Hotel and Restaurant. Some of the smaller businesses which have closed I personally won’t miss, as they duplicated and therefore undermined existing businesses.
If the Dixcart and Aval du Creux Hotels do remain closed next year we will lose 71 beds but will still have 355, so it won’t be the devastating blow to tourism that’s been predicted. So Sark is very much still open for business and remains a magical, tranquil and fabulously beautiful island.
I look forward to seeing Jersey visitors again next year and can assure them of a very warm welcome.
La Vieille Maison,
Sark.