This Is Guernsey

By Phil Falle

THE president of Sark’s most important political committee is standing down from Chief Pleas.

In a surprise move, General Purposes and Advisory president Roger Olsen announced just 48 hours before nominations closed that he was not seeking re-election.

Deputy Olsen (pictured), who has gained a reputation for hard work during his time in Chief Pleas – particularly on complex issues such as the use of Sark territorial waters for tidal power generation – cited personal reasons in his message to current members.

On a personal note, I will miss him, not least because he was one of the few people in Chief Pleas who paid more than lip service to the concept of open government – an approach which was both refreshing and helpful.

As to the forthcoming election, 12% of voters will be candidates. Put into perspective, it equates to hundreds of candidates in Guernsey and millions in the United Kingdom.

Whether it will produce the government Sark needs at this important point in the island’s history is something only time will tell.

That said, there are those who have argued for some time that seeking to elect 28 members – nearly 6% of the electoral roll – in one fell swoop is a recipe for confusion that can only result in us getting the government we deserve.

It’s not a view I entirely share. Generally speaking, voters can’t have too much of a choice and given that this is the only occasion on which 28 will be elected, I don’t think it’s too much of a hardship, providing people think carefully about where on a large ballot paper they put their Xs.

I am more concerned at the effect that the number of candidates will have on hustings meetings. At present just one has been arranged and that is for a couple of hours from 5.30pm on Monday.

Called by four members of the current assembly (and I applaud their initiative), it is envisaged that each candidate will have a small area of the Island Hall in which to talk to voters on a one-to-one basis. That’s fine as far as it goes but there are many who share my view that it is also important to listen to people speaking and answering questions in a debating forum.

A reluctance to do that at the hustings perhaps equates to a similar reluctance in Chief Pleas and that does nothing for the democratic process. What Sark cannot afford is directly elected representatives who, like some members of the current house, become Trappist monks and never move their lips other than to record their presence or vote.

Good news now about Sark Shipping, although, true to form, it did not come directly from the company. Shipping Committee president Tony Le Lievre revealed that the Bon Marin has undergone a survey in France and the hull and propeller shafts were found to be in excellent condition.

Deputy Le Lievre said that the reason for making the news public was that it was nice to have good news about shipping and also to remove doubts about the serviceability of the vessel. Full marks to the deputy, but he’s doing what the company should be doing but never does. Hopefully public relations will soon surface from the bottom of Sark Shipping’s agenda.

The Christmas lights will be switched on next Friday at 5.45pm. Father Christmas and Miss Sark Princess, Amelia Southern, will perform the ceremony from La Petite Poule’s courtyard at the end of The Avenue.

I’m told that the shops will stay open late and several will be offering refreshments.

I need say no more really.

• The email address for comment is fallesark@sark.net

Article posted on 28th November, 2008 - 10.00am