FOR the moment, the battle between Brecqhou and Sark over the extent of Isle of Sark Shipping’s right to an absolute monopoly on passengers and freight is a war of words. Unless, however, peace is negotiated, the skirmish will become a bitter conflict with only lawyers benefitting.
Friends of Sark - and there are many here and around the world - are becoming increasingly concerned by what is happening to what was once described as the last bastion of feudalism in Europe. It is a sleepy, beautiful place but not without problems. It has suffered over the years from chronic underinvestment, its enthusiasm for the remnants of the Sark Lark is holding back development of Guernsey’s own international personality and the power brokers of the soon-to-be-reformed Chief Pleas are out of step with those they lead.
The clearest example was Sark’s people saying that, yes, they did want a wholly elected Chamber, an outcome Chief Pleas did everything to delay.
Now, Isle of Sark Shipping, owned by and on behalf of islanders, is contemplating expensive legal action over an issue that a Guernsey police investigation found did not exist, an issue which is approved by Chief Pleas’ own Shipping Committee and an action for which allegedly insolvent Isle of Sark Shipping may be unable to pay.
The legal channels open to it are, in any event, questionable and its recent interest in opening a Sark-France link seems to have less to do with new business but more with extending its monopoly on carrying building materials in a further attempt to exclude the Brecqhou Warrior from facilitating developments in Sark.
In any event, it is ultimately pointless. Should Brecqhou choose, it could overcome any obstacle placed in its way - or simply pull the plug on the jobs and investment that it alone is creating.
Not everyone agrees with the way Brecqhou operates, but its intentions in Sark appear genuine enough and ultimately beneficial to a struggling community.
For that reason alone, jaw-jaw would be preferable to war-war and in everyone’s best interests.
Brecqhou’s argument has consistently been that the ruling tenants put nothing into the island and ran it for themselves.
On the latest evidence, it is difficult to disagree.
Time for jaw-jaw, not war-war
FOR the moment, the battle between Brecqhou and Sark over the extent of Isle of Sark Shipping’s right to an absolute monopoly on passengers and freight is a war of words. Unless, however, peace is negotiated, the skirmish will become a bitter conflict with only lawyers benefitting.
Friends of Sark - and there are many here and around the world - are becoming increasingly concerned by what is happening to what was once described as the last bastion of feudalism in Europe. It is a sleepy, beautiful place but not without problems. It has suffered over the years from chronic underinvestment, its enthusiasm for the remnants of the Sark Lark is holding back development of Guernsey’s own international personality and the power brokers of the soon-to-be-reformed Chief Pleas are out of step with those they lead.
The clearest example was Sark’s people saying that, yes, they did want a wholly elected Chamber, an outcome Chief Pleas did everything to delay.
Now, Isle of Sark Shipping, owned by and on behalf of islanders, is contemplating expensive legal action over an issue that a Guernsey police investigation found did not exist, an issue which is approved by Chief Pleas’ own Shipping Committee and an action for which allegedly insolvent Isle of Sark Shipping may be unable to pay.
The legal channels open to it are, in any event, questionable and its recent interest in opening a Sark-France link seems to have less to do with new business but more with extending its monopoly on carrying building materials in a further attempt to exclude the Brecqhou Warrior from facilitating developments in Sark.
In any event, it is ultimately pointless. Should Brecqhou choose, it could overcome any obstacle placed in its way - or simply pull the plug on the jobs and investment that it alone is creating.
Not everyone agrees with the way Brecqhou operates, but its intentions in Sark appear genuine enough and ultimately beneficial to a struggling community.
For that reason alone, jaw-jaw would be preferable to war-war and in everyone’s best interests.
Brecqhou’s argument has consistently been that the ruling tenants put nothing into the island and ran it for themselves.
On the latest evidence, it is difficult to disagree.
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