SARK is renewing its battle with Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay over freight shipments to the island.
Chief Pleas will discuss this month a proposition that would block the Brecqhou Warrior from unloading cargo in Sark, a move apparently aimed at forcing the brothers’ development company to use Isle of Sark Shipping.
This is not the first time Sark representatives have tried to stop the shipments and it again heightens tensions over the brothers’ multi-million pound development project in the island.
The proposition to be discussed is to uphold The Alderney and Sark (Licensing of Vessels) Law, 1951 ‘and so safeguard the revenue of Isle of Sark Shipping Company’.
‘No licence has been granted to the Brecqhou Warrior yet she continues to unload building materials, plant and equipment in Sark originating from Guernsey,’ said Harbours Committee chairman Conseiller Jan Guy and Shipping Committee deputy chairman Conseiller Andrew Cook.
‘These cargoes are used for building and restoration work on hotels and other commercial ventures in Sark.’
The Brecqhou Chief and Brecqhou Lass are licensed to carry a limited number of passengers temporarily.
‘The Shipping and Harbours and Pilotage Committees believe that the licensing system should be enforced, both to ensure the continued long-term viability of IoSS and to uphold the law.
‘The committees are asking Chief Pleas to formally endorse their proposal to refuse access to Sark harbours to vessels which are neither licensed nor excluded according to the law.’
The Law Officers are drafting a new law that will move licensing powers from the Lt-Governor to Sark’s Chief Pleas and Alderney.
But that is not likely to be in place until 2010.
Under the 1951 Law, IoSS, which is owned by Chief Pleas, has a monopoly on carrying cargo.
In January 2008, the then Shipping Committee wrote to Sark Estate Management stating that it had no objection to it bringing cargo to Sark using the Brecqhou Warrior.
But in March, Chief Pleas passed a proposition that rejected the unauthorised letter. No further action was taken and the shipments continued.
If the proposition is passed, the committees would tell Brecqhou Developments saying that after 31 May no unlicensed vessels will be allowed to unload cargo from Guernsey in Sark.
Article posted on 3rd April, 2009 - 12.30pm
7 Article Comments
Total waste of time. The Barclay brothers using Isle of Sark Shipping is never going to happen. I’m sure they would rather see Isle of Sark shipping sink (excuse the pun) rather than provide them with any additional revenue…and in their shoes I’d probably feel the same.
I also have it in the back of my mind that although they can’t ship goods from Guernsey that there is nothing preventing them shipping in direct from France for example. Perhaps someone could confirm but if that is the case then this whole thing could end up costing Guernsey suppliers.
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This smacks of protectionism. Sark desperately needs investment from Brecqhou or whatever other source. Surely Chief Pleas must recognise, encourage and welcome this?
Investment brings vibrancy and jobs.
A sensible compromise is called for? Brecqhou is possibly charged adequate harbour and crane dues – based on tonnage – to cover the loss of IoSS freight revenue?
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Sark is again going out of its way to stir up what once were muddy waters. Are they wishing to bring their economy to a standstill? Sark Shipping is on its knees. That is nobodies fault other than their own.
The brecqhou boats are well within their rights to ship from France the U.K or anywhere else other than Guernsey. They can also ship from Guernsey to their own Island and then onto Sark.
Just because SS is pretty much bankrupt shows bad sportsmanship and sour grapes. In times like these a tiny Island with tiny minded elected representatives needs all the friends that they can muster.
The bottom line here is the fact that there is no competition regulation authority in Sark. There is little else as a matter of fact unless it suits Sarks own self fulfilling and financing ways.
So some may have spotted an anomaly then. So what. What are they going to do about it? Absolutely nothing is my guess. They have not got the money to mount a legal challenge.
They are in no position to call on the services of the Guernsey legal system either. Straight away there is a conflict of interest and the case would be thrown out at the outset.
Basically unless Sark wishes stump up huge legal expenses then it is wise for them too shut up and enjoy the money which is being injected into their economy.
If what the Barclays are doing is so wrong then the question I would like the elected to answer is how the newish road laying tractor managed to magically appear on the Island then?
Sauce for the goose I expect.
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They love the Barclays when they are using their boat to replace Flying Christine though don’t they?
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Here they go again! It the same as in the previous government,they sit round a table trying to think of something else to have a go about.
It is the start of the summer season, everyone should be sitting down discussing how to make this a good tourist season, getting their businesses ready for the tourists who have to pay a heavy price to get to Sark and discussing ways of making the tourists time on Sark a wonderful experience so that they return next time for a longer stay.
Instead it seems, from a distance, as if nothing on island has changed. Whatever outsiders do, they are a permanent target for the disgruntled, bored or ‘the have nothing else to do with themselve’ brigade.
Recent past experiences suggest that it is high time everyone gets on the same page. Work hard together to make businesses on island work. Encourage all businesses on island run, in the norm, by hardworking people who love the island and just want to serve their fellow islanders and tourists alike. To do this one needs a happy environment. a happy successful island and to be able to sit back at the end of the season enjoying the wonderful island you are lucky enough to living on.
As Sarkdog Millionaire says, surely, as an island you are charging landing fees for any goods landed on island by any ship plus crane usage. If necessary increase the charges, but do not throw the baby out with the bathwater as nothing is achieved and usually the end result is an embarrassed backing down once these daft ideas prove too impractical to enact.
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So are residents returning to Sark from Guernsey in their own boats going to be banned from bringing anything back ,, Wether that be D I Y materials, food ,, etc ,, or are IOSS going to employ someone to patrol the harbours day and night,,, and take them to court aswell, because what is the difference,, please someone explain,, I,m sure that they get charged for the use of the Island crane, and to say this action is shortsighted in the present economic situation is an understatement,, do the people who propossed this think that Sark is somehow going to be immune from this recession,,,or has it been brought up by those that live in their very guilded cages and don,t have to concern themselves with earning in living,,,,,,It seems that certain quarters on the Island are determined to continue their fighting with the Barclays regardless of the consequences for the majority, and who is going to pay for any legal fees involved,, no doubt the tax payers, and considering that the tax is conveniently capped here., the wealthly don,t need to worry it will be Joe Bloggs who picks up the difference the same Joe Bloggs that is going to see his earnings already hit by the recession,,I,m not pro- Barclay Or Anti Sark, just amazed that the people who where elected to do the best for the Island ,could be so niave or arrogant as to consider spending what could very easily ammount to thousands of pounds on such an untimely cause,,but it is always easy to spend other peoples money, and not to have to worry about having ammounts disclosed to the electorate.Surely there is room here for compromise, eg landing fees per tonne etc, does it always have to be done under the threat of court action,, maybe negotiate,,, and that applies to both sides ,,,as this constant threatening by both sides is damaging to the Islands reputation which both sides profess to love so dearly …
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For everyones sake, IoSS, give it a rest and concentrate on what the great majority of the population of Sark is desperate for – Tourists – If you can find the money for another possible legal action why oh why can’t you use it to bring the fares down….
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